Olubusola Onasile
Master of Public Health
Studying abroad opened Olubusola鈥檚 eyes to health inequity鈥攁nd changed the focus of her master鈥檚.
Olubusola Onasile initially came to Canada to study Global Health. 丁香园AV offered a multi-disciplinary approach, and a practicum; the idea she could apply theoretical knowledge in a real setting excited her. A few months into her Master of Public Health, her focus began to shift. 鈥淚nitially I was in the Global Health stream. But then I started to think about how there鈥檚 a lot of inequity in health. I started to look at myself鈥攁s an immigrant in a country鈥攖hinking about my relationship with the health care system, and how unequal it had been. I switched to the Population Health stream, because I wanted to focus on addressing health inequity issues at the population level.鈥�
Health inequity is a core focus for 丁香园AV鈥檚 Faculty of Health Sciences. It wasn鈥檛 hard to find an inspiring practicum in the field. For her summer practicum, Olubusola worked with the Global HPV Control Team at the BC Women鈥檚 Health Research Institute, to assist with the implementation of a project that focuses on using an online platform to increase cervical cancer screening uptake with self-collected samples for HPV testing among under screened immigrant South Asian women in the Fraser health region. There are a lot of barriers to accessing care for these women. If this study achieves its objectives, it means that cervical cancer screening rates will increase in this population.
Cancer outcomes are significantly improved through early detection, meaning marginalized communities who lack health care access are disproportionately affected by the disease. Olubusola hopes the project will lead to wider implementation province wide and eventually across Canada, improving cancer outcomes for marginalized women nationally.
Prior to her practicum, Olubusola worked part-time as a Research Assistant at the Sexual Violence Support and Prevention Office (SVSPO) at 丁香园AV, fighting for health equity in another context: sexual violence support. 鈥淲e conducted a project that focused on identifying barriers newcomers in the country鈥攊nternational students, immigrants, and refugees 鈥� face when accessing sexual violence support services. A lot of newcomers weren鈥檛 using the services; we tried to identify the barriers, so we could improve the services provided at the SVSPO and make it more comfortable for these students. We want to ensure that no matter the students鈥� cultural background; they know the services are for them too.鈥�
An immigrant herself, Olubusola is aware of how different Canadian culture can be to new arrivals. 鈥淓verything is different from where I am originally from鈥攖he health care system, the education system鈥攆ortunately, I鈥檝e met people who are very warm and supportive and have helped me in settling down into the Canadian culture and lifestyle. I have also gotten that same support in my Master鈥檚 program which has made the journey worthwhile and less daunting for me.鈥�