Student clubs - UWIHDA

UWIHDA helps students reach out to developing communities

A trip to Guyana while in the Health Studies program got Rohit Ramchandani (Health Studies ’04) hooked on global health. The experience was so profound that when Rohit returned to Waterloo he, along with friend Jon Chow (Health Studies ’04), founded the University of Waterloo International Health Development Association (UWIHDA).

UWIHDA is a non-profit club open to all Waterloo students. Members work to raise awareness of international health issues, and inspire social change. To meet this goal, UWIHDA organizes a range of events throughout the year including fundraising initiatives and hosting guest speakers who can share their expertise on global health issues. Past speakers have included Dr. Richard Heinzel, founder of Doctors Without Borders Canada, and most recently the founder of War Child Canada, Dr. Samantha Nutt.

In a further effort to improve the health of those living beyond our borders, UWIHDA members travel to developing countries to take part in international volunteer placements. Past trips have taken members to Tanzania, Bolivia, Nepal, Kenya, and Ghana. Students participate in outreach activities designed to address a diverse range of issues such as HIV/AIDS, prenatal care, and community justice.

To learn more about UWIHDA, and all of the student clubs available at Waterloo, visit https://wusa.ca/clubs/.