So, I went on a study excursion to international organisations in Geneva, and it was the highlight of my year.
How it all started
First, let me explain how I got this opportunity. I was selected as one of four interns in my MSc cohort to work at the Centre for Global Health and Intersectional Equity Research (CGHIER) at the University of Essex. It was a unique opportunity for me to have this experience while studying for my MSc Global Public Health. The timing couldn’t have been better; I had completed my coursework and was working on my dissertation. Balancing both was challenging, as I am painfully meticulous. I spend half a day choosing the perfect synonym and call it “research”. I obsess over the small things: the commas, fonts, perfect paragraph structure. It is what makes my work feel like mine, but it also means I sometimes get lost in the beginning and finish fewer things than I would like; I hope this piece won’t be among them. I have had to learn over the past couple of months that progress matters more than perfection, a lesson that would echo throughout the trip.
Over the last three months, I have learnt so much from all the brilliant minds at CGHIER. The work gave me purpose, and I often wondered how plain things might have felt without this experience. I am very proud of all the work we have been doing there. My MSc modules and working at the Centre had already begun reshaping how I thought about global health, from the ideas on paper to the people and institutions that bring them to life. I didn’t know it then, but that same shift would deepen even further in Geneva.
When Professor Anuj Kapilshrami, the director of CGHIER, informed us about the opportunity to participate in a study trip to Geneva as part of our internship with the centre, I was elated. It had been a difficult period for me, and that news completely lifted my spirits. It is quite interesting how something that might have been casual information to her had such a significant effect on me. I had dreamt of visiting those organisations in Geneva all my life, so I wasn’t going to deny myself the joy of anticipation. Of course, we still had to earn it; the trip wasn’t guaranteed just because we were interns. We had to show commitment and complete our deliverables, which became the perfect motivation. When the official email finally arrived, I was ecstatic. I applied for my Schengen visa, got it, and began preparing for what would become one of the most formative experiences of my academic journey. The trip was scheduled for 8 October 2025. It was a collaboration between the CGHIER and the University of Giessen, Germany.
Day 1: First impressions and humanitarian lessons
Landing in Geneva
We landed at Geneva Airport around 11 am Geneva time. We got through immigration very quickly, got our bags, and proceeded to our accommodation. On my way to the accommodation, we couldn’t help but notice the beautiful Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). As soon as we dropped our bags at the accommodation, we took a walk to Lake Geneva. In the distance, I saw the Jet d’Eau, Geneva’s iconic water fountain; it was such a beautiful sight. For the first time in months, I stopped thinking about assignments and deadlines. We took some pictures and had lunch while waiting for the rest of the team from the University of Giessen to join us.
Inside the Red Cross Museum
Our first scheduled visit, from 4 pm to 6 pm, was to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum; talk about getting straight to the action. We assembled at our meeting point around 3 pm, exchanged pleasantries, and conducted informal introductions among ourselves. Then, we headed to the museum. The museum shifted the day's vibe for me from the moment we stepped inside. This wasn’t in a negative way at all, but in a different way.
I was very excited to visit the museum, as I had heard and read about the Red Cross and its work since I was a child. However, it was more inspiring, thought-provoking, and humbling than exciting. I was drawn into the 150 years of humanitarian action across the globe. As I moved through the different sections of the museum’s permanent exhibition, titled “The Humanitarian Adventure”, I found myself quietly questioning what I would do if faced with the same choices. Each part of the exhibition told its own story, but together they told the story of how humanitarian actions affect the world.
One of the first rooms I visited sent a shiver down my spine that I can still feel while writing this blog. I gained access to the room through this passage, whose ceiling hung dozens of chains that swayed gently as people walked through. The sound of the links touching one another was soft, but a little unsettling. As I made my way through, I was curious about what those chains stood for. Inside, the walls were lined with photographs of children separated from their families during the Rwandan genocide, and these pictures were used to help reunite them with their families. There were also glass cabinets containing cards documenting the fates of civilians and prisoners of war following World War I. It was impossible not to feel the weight of memory in that room. The experience made me think about how memory and record-keeping are themselves acts of justice, tools that preserve dignity when systems fail to protect it.
I loved how the museum used different emotions to convey its central theme of humanitarian adventure. Bright screens, interactive games, and hands-on displays showed the importance of preparation, awareness, and the thin line between safety and disaster. It was strangely comforting to realise that being ready is also a kind of hope.
By the end of the visit, I felt both heavy and grateful: heavy because of the stories, and grateful because they reminded me of the quiet power of compassion that keeps the world from falling apart. It also deepened my understanding of global health, recognising that, before policy, data, or governance, there are human stories and an ethical responsibility to act with empathy.
As we were about to leave, I noticed a poster announcing a new temporary exhibition that starts the next day (oops) and will run until August 30, 2026. It is the first European solo show of Angélica Serech. Like Oliver Twist, I wished our visit had been a day later, but honestly, the permanent exhibition had already made my time in Geneva worthwhile. I said to myself as I was exiting the museum: “Bring on day 2!”.
Day 2: Inside Global Health Governance – Visit to WHO and IOM
Day 2 was when the world of global health began to feel real, not just the theories we study, but the complex systems, conversations, and compromises behind them.
Morning at the World Health Organization
The second day’s activities began with a visit to the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters for a series of presentations on global health governance. As we approached the building's entrance, flags of various countries lined the path, waving gently in the breeze. I slowed down to look at them and identified my home country, Nigeria, before continuing to the reception, where our digital badges were scanned, and we were ushered into our booked room.
Global Health Governance
The presentations began right on time. The first session on Global Health Governance sets the tone for a recurring theme I observed in all the presentations by everyone throughout the trip: the WHO’s normative role. The speaker explained that the organization sets standards and offers guidance, but cannot compel states to act. Its influence lies in persuasion and diplomacy rather than enforcement. I have always known, but I still found it quite interesting how often it was reiterated. Hearing this inside the WHO itself made me appreciate how global health operates through consensus-building and negotiation rather than command.
She also spoke candidly about the financial strains. There has been a budget cut from $6 billion to $4 billion over the last two years. The US, a significant funder of the WHO, has not paid in the last two years. She mentioned how this crisis might force the organization to restructure and avoid a similar situation in the future.
The organization aims to ensure that all countries are well represented and serve all member states, with a specific focus on vulnerable states. She spoke about limited youth representation within the organization, which resonated with me as a young professional hoping to make an impact on global health governance. However, the institution's internship programs are currently on hold. She also spoke about international legal instruments and took the time to answer all our questions.
Sexual and reproductive health and rights
The next session on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) was equally as educative and interactive. The speakers, Aasa Hanna Mari Nihlén and Christina Pallitto, spoke on issues surrounding adolescent health, abortion care, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and the different milestones achieved over the years. They stated that arguments in SRHR should incorporate public health, human rights, and the economy. The economic framing caught my attention. My experience working in maternal and reproductive health in Nigeria has taught me that access to care is rarely just a medical concern. When people can make decisions about their own bodies, it’s not only a matter of health or freedom; it shapes other aspects of their lives. Fewer complications mean lower healthcare costs, planned families lead to stronger communities, and empowered individuals contribute more fully to society.
Migration and health
Unsurprisingly, the third session on migration and health, just before the lunch break, was my favourite. It is a topic directly tied to my current work at CGHIER. There was no formal presentation, but the speaker explained her work with the WHO and how that also came under threat earlier this year. The WHO established the Health and Migration Programme in 2020, and the organization published its World Report on the Health of Refugees and Migrants in 2022. By last year, migration had become a major issue to address in the WHO; however, it completely disappeared from their agenda this year. After several consultations, the department is now operational again, but as a special initiative under the Environment Department. This made me realise how even with larger institutions, issues as critical as migration health can be susceptible to shifting priorities. It serves as a reminder that advocacy never truly ends; it simply takes on a new shape. This was the perfect time for us to get our lunch break.
Lunch reflections
I went with my colleagues to get a meal at the cafeteria. The process was so smooth and efficient, and the meal was excellent. The atmosphere felt like being both inside an international institution and a large university dining hall. Just sitting there and having my lunch made me think about how much goes on behind the scenes of global health. The meetings, the negotiations, and the quiet battles to keep certain topics on the agenda. From the outside, it is easy to imagine these institutions as flawless machines, but being there made it clear how human the whole process is. Every policy, every programme, has people behind it trying to keep it alive, often with limited time and shifting attention. Watching staff and delegates walk through the cafeteria, I couldn't help but wonder how many of them were fighting to ensure their own causes were kept alive.
Afternoon at the International Organization for Migration
Moving from the presentation on migration and health to visiting the IOM was a smooth transition that enhanced my experience at the IOM. Just as the previous speaker, Aleksandar Arnikov, did not give a formal presentation. He gave a brief explanation of his work over the years and his current work with the IOM. He explained the organization's role in public health. This occurs through several pillars of the organization. They include health assessment (of receiving countries), public health (strengthening of institutions and communities, Disease control and prevention, etc), public health emergencies, and mental health support for migrants. They noted that, unlike the WHO, they are much more operational. They work directly with migrants, refugees, and displaced communities, managing health screenings, psychosocial support, and emergency response on the ground. It was a great way to end the day.
Dinner and further reflections
We returned to our accommodation and later went out for a group dinner, where we continued sharing our reflections on our time in Geneva so far. We had this amazing Swiss cheese fondue. It was such a delightful and comforting experience for me. Sitting there, surrounded by people who had already started to feel like friends, I realised that this trip was not only about learning from institutions, but also about the small moments of connection in between. My experience in Geneva so far has been all I hoped for. Bring on day 3, I said!
Day 3: Health, diplomacy, and the United Nations
Our final day visiting international organizations in Geneva demonstrated how global health and diplomacy intersect, and how science, policy, and cooperation all contribute to achieving equity.
Morning at the World Health Organization
The day began with another morning visit to the World Health Organization. By this point, the routine felt familiar: the early start, the transport to the WHO, and the numerous flags waving outside the WHO headquarters. For me, the sessions that morning built on what we had learned the day before, but with a different focus on infectious-disease eradication and the systems that sustain it. Listening to the speakers, I began to appreciate how deeply interconnected the themes of health, migration, environment, and human rights really are. We had two presentations for that day: Polio eradication and Tuberculosis.
Polio eradication: The hardest mile
The presenter for this session was Oliver Rosenbauer. He took us through the history of efforts to eradicate this virus, from its origins to the present day. He spoke about the launch of the PolioPlus program by Rotary International in 1985, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative created in 1988, and the roles of GPEI partners. He explained how different partners such as the WHO, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rotary International, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have each played a unique role in this decades-long campaign. Hearing about the decades of work that brought the world so close to eradicating polio was profoundly inspiring. It showed how collective commitment can turn what once seemed impossible into reality. In a decade, we will be close to eradicating this disease, just as we did with smallpox.
Yet the discussion also reminded us that the “last mile” is always the hardest: insecurity in some parts of endemic countries, operational barriers, and the resurgence of vaccine hesitancy continue to threaten decades of progress. It was an example of how global health success still depends on trust, politics, and human behaviour.
Tuberculosis and the social determinants of health
Tauhidul Islam spoke on ending TB from a global context. He defined TB as a “social disease with medical complications”. The conversation linked this vision to the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. TB sits at the intersection of health, poverty, and inequality, and tackling it is as much about development and social justice as it is about medicine. He shared updates on current control strategies and the ongoing challenges in detection, treatment, and prevention, particularly in low and middle-income countries. It reminded me that public health victories are often temporary if systems are not built to sustain them. In 1993, the World Health Organization declared TB a global emergency, the first time it had ever done so for an infectious disease. More than thirty years later, that declaration still reminds us that progress takes both commitment and sound policy. We briefly discussed the Lusaka Agenda, a global framework launched in 2023 to strengthen health systems and enhance their resilience. The agenda highlights the need to move from isolated, disease-specific programmes toward stronger, unified systems.
Listening to both speakers, I was reminded that eradicating these diseases is not only a scientific challenge but also a moral one. Global health is a constant balancing act between science, politics, and perseverance.
Afternoon at the Palais des Nations
We made our way to the United Nations Office at Geneva, housed in the Palais des Nations, which translates to “Palace of Nations,” where we learned about the history, structure, and function of the UN. Ahead of us stood the famous Broken Chair monument, a reminder of both human strength and fragility. Walking toward the entrance, it was impossible not to feel the symbolism of it all, a space built on ideals of peace, dialogue, and shared responsibility. The security here was tighter than that at the WHO.
We stepped out of the building to the park side, and that was when we got a full view of the building. It was very magnificent and an architectural masterpiece. Our guide also shared the story of how the design was chosen and how complex the decision was. She also discussed the origins of the United Nations and its predecessor, the League of Nations, which was championed by President Woodrow Wilson after World War I.
At the park, we saw “Rebirth”, the artwork of Michelangelo Pistoletto, comprising 193 stones that represent the member states, which form three lined-up circles. We took pictures with our beside our respective nations. We also saw a tree from Hiroshima that had survived the atomic bombing. Looking at it, it reminded me that our stories are linked, and that what happens in one place can shape lives in another. The lesson I took away from this is how fragile peace can be and how easily progress can be undone. Our shared responsibility is not only to rebuild after conflict, but also to prevent its repetition through understanding and cooperation.
We eventually made our way into one of the conference rooms. I had watched a speech delivered in this same hall by Dr Margaret Chan, then WHO Director-General, during the sixty-eighth session of the World Health Assembly in 2015. It had been one of the essential readings for a week in my Introduction to Global Health module during my MSc about a year earlier. Seeing the hall in person initially felt a little underwhelming. But after sitting there for a while, I began to appreciate its simplicity. It was less about grandeur and more about purpose. I could almost imagine the voices from every corner of the world that had filled that space, each one trying in its own way to define justice and dignity.
I left the UN with a renewed sense of hope, reminded that the pursuit of a better world, better health, and equity is a complex and multifaceted process. Walking through those halls, I could see how decisions made in such spaces ripple into communities across the world, shaping lives in ways that often go unseen. It was both inspiring and humbling. To effect meaningful change, one must think beyond one’s own practice and collaborate with various sectors.
Reflections on the global health landscape
We had a reflective session after the UN visit with Professor Kapilshrami and other colleagues from the centre present, and it helped me connect the experiences of the three days I have been in the city with broader questions of global health, governmental structures, and health equity. Listening to everyone’s insights deepened my understanding of how interconnected our roles were. My journey in Global health has been a very interesting one, and coming here strengthened my resolve that I am on the right path.
Day 4: CERN visit and return to the UK
Our time visiting the international organizations in Geneva had come to an end, and our return flight to the UK was scheduled for the evening. We decided to go sightseeing at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) before leaving. It was a true masterpiece of physics and human collaboration. I can imagine a physicist in training having the same feeling coming here as I did when visiting the UN organizations.
Although I haven’t studied physics in over a decade, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the scale of innovation and curiosity that drives the work at CERN. It reminded me of a time, many years ago, when I was struggling to choose a course to study in the university and a career path before I picked my lifelong dream. The memory brought a quiet smile.
Standing there, surrounded by evidence of human innovation, I felt a deep appreciation for the many ways knowledge and discovery can shape our world, no matter the field we choose to pursue.
After the visit, we had lunch and made our way to the airport. I’ll truly miss Geneva, the city that gave me so much enlightenment, joy, and inspiration.
Final reflection
Looking back on my time in Geneva, I realise how much this experience deepened my understanding of what it means to work in global health. More than anything, this trip reminded me that leadership in global health begins with curiosity, compassion, and the courage to keep learning
This trip has been one of the best experiences I’ve had in years, and I’m grateful for every moment. I will forever be thankful to the University of Essex, Professor Anuj Kapilashrami, and Professor Michael Knipper for the opportunity. And just like that, I’ve come to the end of this blog. Yay, me!
