The 5th International Public Health Conference organized by the Association for Public Health Teaching, Research and Service (APHTReS) was held from September 18 to 20, 2024 in Calabar, Nigeria.
Dr. Godwin Aja, president of the organization, is also a faculty member in the AIIAS Public Health Department. He reports on how AIIAS, as a partner institution, showcased a commitment to public health education and contributed to global health discussions.
AIIAS’ presence at the conference highlighted the institution’s academic excellence and
fostered awareness of its programs in public health, which are becoming increasingly
recognized for enhanced emphasis on research. During the conference’s opening and plenary
sessions, Dr. Aja underscored the institution’s integral role in shaping the future of public health
education, particularly for low- and middle-income countries.
AIIAS has consistently contributed to advancing public health through its unique focus on ethics, leadership, and interdisciplinary research remarked Prof. Aja. The conference’s theme of “Interprofessional Collaboration in Public Health Teaching, Research, and Service” called for breaking down silos in public health to address complex global health challenges.
Dr. Aja also took part in several networking events, engaging in discussions about potential
partnerships and collaborations with attendees and institutions. These conversations centered
on joint research projects. As a result, attendees expressed interest in exploring the possibility
of enrolling in AIIAS’ graduate programs.
This year’s conference was a milestone in APHTReS’s history, which began in 2013. Since
becoming a registered non-governmental, non-profit organization in 2015, the association has
experienced steady growth.
“We are pleased that our faculty, who come from almost every continent of the world, carry out
leadership activities that benefit the global needs,” states AIIAS president Dr. Ginger Ketting-
Weller. “Dr. Aja’s notable leadership role at this conference is an excellent example of the
influence of AIIAS in the larger academic arena. Such roles also enhance the perspectives our
professors bring back to the classroom for use in preparing their students for leadership.”
Dr. Godwin Aja, the president of the Association for Public Health Teaching, Research and Service (APHTReS) based in Nigeria, is also a faculty member in the AIIAS Public Health Department.
