August 31, 2016

Drexel University’s Shezda Afrin, BS PH ’19, is spending her summer in Bangladesh working with a non-profit assisting orphans in Dhaka.

Afrin, who considers Dhaka her second home, has been working at an orphanage and local health clinic led by Distressed Children and Infants (DCI), a non-profit organization helping poor children to access their rights to health, education, economic security and protection. She is teaching English to both staff and the girls at the orphanage. She’s also working with staff to develop computer skills, helping them learn to create spreadsheets and documents to help run the orphanage. 

At the nearby DCI health clinic, where eye care is a priority, Afrin is observing how doctors provide patient care in comparison with American medical care. She is in the process of proposing a campaign where she hopes to improve the sanitary conditions in these slum areas. "I have learned essential things here about operating an orphanage and local health clinics in underserved areas,” she reported via email over a spotty internet connection from Dhaka. 

"The Public Health professors I've had at Dornsife thus far have helped me realize inequalities and inequities much better,” said Afrin. "With every public health class that I will take in the future, I will relate it back to this experience. I will better comprehend what it takes to be a Public Health major."

Following this summer's experience at DCI, Afrin plans to develop a project to look at how the conditions in Bangladesh health clinics can improve using American healthcare approaches.  

She has lofty aspirations following graduation: "I intend to work for this organization as a professional.” She aims to raise funds for DCI, help in the Connecticut DCI office and visit DCI in Dhaka as often as possible. “I will use my experience to bring a change to the health crisis in the slums of my motherland, Bangladesh, and generate awareness about this noble organization in America."