MPH Practicum Student Spotlight: Bureqa Hashi

Bureqa Hashi, Master of Public Health student, presenting her findings from her practicum placement.

Bureqa Hashi is an incoming second-year Master of Public Health student at the University of Ottawa who completed her practicum term with the Threads lab this summer. She delivered a final presentation to the Threads team, which highlighted her research on the awareness and perceived consequences of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) among female community members in rural Madagascar.

Throughout her placement with the Threads lab, Bureqa gained valuable knowledge on the gaps in FGS awareness within Madagascar and various Sub-Saharan African countries, along with the many misconceptions surrounding the disease. She also had the opportunity to learn about the importance of interventions such as community education, and integration with sexual and reproductive health services for FGS prevention and control.

All smiles from Bureqa after the end of her presentation!

Hearing from the insights of international experts within the field of FGS and neglected tropical diseases during the lab’s FGS Workshop in May 2025 was deeply beneficial due to her strong interest in the field of neglected tropical diseases.

Bureqa’s overall experience with the Threads lab has further reinforced her passion for community empowerment, global health initiatives, and health equity.