Indian-origin scientist commits to improve public health

Dr Monica Rana is pursuing her scientific research in Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh, India. She is currently visiting Melbourne to attend the 15th World Congress on Public Health.

Public Health Researcher Dr Monica Rana at SBS Melbourne studio Source: Supplied

The 15th World Congress on Public Health celebrated the 50th anniversary of the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) this year.

Dr Monica Rana was one of the delegates who gathered from over 83 countries in Melbourne, from 3-7 of April 2017.

Dr Rana presented two of her research projects:  Reproductive health awareness among adolescent girls and the prevalence of bullying and its correlates among school going adolescents in Chandigarh, India.

Below listen to Dr Monica Rana's full interview with SBS Punjabi's Preetinder Singh Grewal:

Dr Monica Rana at the Melbourne conference Source: Supplied

Dr Rana is in public health research from last four years. Her current research focus is maternal, adolescent and child health.

She has research papers on health inequalities, awareness level of adolescent girls in reproductive and sexual health.

Currently in her PhD, she is investigating bullying problem among 6th to 10th grade students in Chandigarh and its correlates like behavioural and emotional difficulties in mental health.  

She is also in process of designing school based intervention program to reduce bullying problem in schools and to improve mental health in the respective areas.

Source: Supplied

World health day is celebrated every year on 7^th April to increase awareness on a health related topic and is celebrated all across the world by doing awareness campaigns, talks and putting up posters. 

This year’s World Health Day (7^th April) theme is "Depression - let's talk".