Students from Uppsalla University, Sweden were able to receive their certificates in the presence of the Swedish Ambassador at icddr,b recently. The students have spent the last ten days at the international health research organization’s Technical Training Unit, headed by Dr Aftab Uddin, for field work in Infectious Disease, as part of their Masters degree in Infection Biology.

To celebrate their success a certificate distribution ceremony was held at icddr,b to which Sweden’s new Ambassador, HE Charlotta Schlyter, herself a graduate of Upsalla University, attended as the Chief Guest. icddr,b was also honoured to have Ms. Sultana Afroz,   Additional Secretary, Nordic  Economic Relations Division,  Ministry of Finance, GoB   as the Special Guest.

HE Charlotta Schlyter, was clearly delighted to see students from her own former university and said, “What better example of Swedish and Bangladesh collaboration. It is truly wonderful.” She went on to highlight the partnership between SIDA and icddr,b, saying , “Our relationship is growing in so many ways - staring even before independence’ and went on to say,  ‘It is hard to think of any organisation which would be better representative of the relationship. Your annual report is a page turner and truly impressive. Showing how icddr,b has contributed so much to health advances - truly a fantastic story, partners from the very beginning.”

Dr Johanna Lindahl, Faculty Representative from Uppsalla University, stressed that Bangladesh offers students the opportunity to see health care in action in a low cost setting, saying that it showed ‘how difficult it can be in Bangladesh - understanding the challenges not just funding, but infrastructure and cultural challenges too.’

The lively celebration included contributions from students as well as guests. Master’s student, Martin  Karl Johan Holmer,  thanked icddr,b and said ‘We’re now glad to call ourselves Ambassadors of icddr,b and will talk about the life saving work you do when we return to Sweden.’

Ms Armana Ahmed, Head of icddr,b’s Research Administration, thanked the Ambassador for the long-lasting relationship between icddr,b and Swedish development agency, SIDA, one of icddr,b’s core funders.

Ms Sultana Afroz, from the Economic Relations Division, thanked SIDA for their long term support of Bangladesh  saying ‘we acknowledge the help they have given to icddrb’ and going on to say, ‘ So far SIDA has supported icddrb for 30 years’ and she went on to mention the excellent training work done by icddr,b’s Technical Training Unit stating that ‘since 1978, 50000 people have attended icddrb from 87 countries, it is gratifying to know this training foot print has reached all corners of the globe’. Ms Afroz, also suggested that further collaborations between Swedish Universities and icddr,b would be welcomed.

Deputy Executive Director, Mr Syed Monjural Islam, congratulated and thanked the students for studying at icddr,b and thanked the Ambassador and Additional Secretary for attending the ceremony.