Keira Inniss is one step closer to achieving her dream job thanks to the City of Bridgetown Credit Union and the Arnott Cato Foundation.
She is the 2020/2021 recipient of a scholarship facilitated in partnership by the two entities given to a student who is pursuing a masters in public health at the University of the West Indies (UWI).
In a virtual award ceremony held recently via Zoom, Inniss said she enjoyed helping others as a child and wanted to follow a career path associated with her passion.
“It is an honour to care for others and contribute to their wellbeing,” she said. “As a result, I enrolled in various programmes, starting as early as Brownies, to then enrolling in Key Club, where I visited geriatric homes, assisted in beach clean-ups and participated in health fairs.
“These opportunities inspired me to advance my knowledge in the healthcare field.”
Her passion for helping others at the community level led to an interest in the field of non-communicable diseases, which was strengthened after earning a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration and management at UWI Cave Hill campus last year.
Inniss wants to specialise in this area as her journey in healthcare continues.
“Non-communicable diseases, especially hypertension, tend to be a leading health concern within Barbados, and the prevalence rate seems to be exceedingly high. I have witnessed loved ones suffering from these diseases, and they can be avoided by just a change in lifestyle . . . I deem it best to continue my studies within a similar field.”
Inniss thanked everyone involved in facilitating the scholarship, adding that it would help her achieve her goal to have an impact in medical science. (SB)
