“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” ― James Baldwin
When Justice Moses Kwaku Aheto completed his BSc. in Statistics at the University of Cape Coast, he had only one desire ─ to acquire a critical skillset that would enable him to stand out. He had a big dream to contribute meaningfully to the development of his society.
His focus was on childhood malnutrition and mortality in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, he did not know the path to this dream.
His frantic search for universities in Ghana and abroad began. Thankfully, he discovered the University of Southampton in the UK whose offerings perfectly suited his dreams. Here, he studied MSc. Statistics with Applications in Medicine.
Following the successful completion of his programme, he continued his PhD in Statistics and Epidemiology at Lancaster University, also in the UK.
Why biostatistics?
Justice Aheto’s choice of specialising in biostatistics was inspired by the critical role that this field plays and will increasingly continue to play in our everyday lives, especially in addressing critical public health problems. All solutions proposed by biostatics are evidence-based.
Today, as a biostatistics expert, he develops and applies advanced and novel biostatistical/statistical methods which are underpinned by mathematical modelling to solve substantial public health problems, focusing on childhood malnutrition and mortality in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).
These are used to support policy-makers and programme managers responsible for the health and survival of children to make informed and evidence-based decisions regarding public health policies and intervention strategies.
Thankfully, Justice Aheto’s research outputs and biostatistical/statistical methodologies are used locally and globally by policy-makers, programme managers and international researchers to provide solutions to public health problems like childhood malnutrition and mortality in LMICs, including Ghana.
Using biostatistics as a tool, he is on a journey to change the world – one day at a time. In his bid to pass on the baton of knowledge, he has trained and is still training the critical mass of PhD, post-doctoral and Masters students in this field and its varied applications in Ghana and at the global level.
Highlights of UK study
Justice Aheto’s time spent in the UK was a life-changing one. He was dumbfounded by the unending effort of the universities to invest so much in their students through the continuous provision of modern research facilities that greatly enhanced their teaching and learning experiences. His experience in these universities facilitated his insatiable desire to acquire relevant technical know-how in his career.
His total learning experience was nothing short of fun. It changed his worldview about almost everything. He admits that UK universities have strong systems in place for both students and lecturers and a dedicated support team for international students, which includes the presence of vibrant students’ unions and other societies.
In the UK, he attended seminars and workshops on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. During his PhD studies especially, he was trained in personal development, time and stress management, setting clear boundaries and being flexible in busy work environments. He has always put these skills to great use, maintaining a healthy work-life balance while chasing his dreams.
Universities in the UK offer equal opportunities to all students. During his Master’s programme, Justice Aheto was appointed to serve on the Mathematics Academic Unit Programme Board as a board member and further elected as the Course Representative on the Southampton University Students Union (SUSU), where he actively represented post-graduate students from the School of Mathematics. His love for football also made him serve as a professional and certified football referee for the Lancashire County Football Association.
He served on the Faculty of Health and Medicine Research Committee of Lancaster University as a representative for research students during his PhD studies. This opportunity exposed him to like-minded people who are still a part of his network (net worth).
Justice Aheto’s key takeaway from his UK study was how balanced the teaching and learning methods were. This clear-cut balance between the job market and academia greatly benefitted him. This has vastly contributed to his meteoric rise to the rank of an Associate Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Ghana within a very short period of 6 years.
The excellent academic environment, especially with the student-lecturer relationship, helped him a great deal in his studies. At every point of need, there was someone to help. This help came right from the application process to his study completion. The enviable extracurricular activities organised by both students’ unions and the university also made the UK another home away from home.
The problem and the solution
In low and middle-income countries, the problem of childhood malnutrition and mortality is multi-faceted and continuous. The persistence of this problem has necessitated its continuous assessment using appropriate biostatistical/statistical methods to inform targeted policies and intervention strategies.
Courtesy of the problem-solving skills Justice Aheto was endowed with at the University of Southampton and Lancaster University, he is challenged to develop new biostatistical approaches to continuously investigate, monitor and evaluate the childhood malnutrition and mortality situation in Ghana and other LMICs. He is using novel but realistic mathematical models to identify new ways of mitigating the effects of malnutrition on childhood survival.
Soon, he has hopes of developing new biostatistical/statistical modelling methods and cost-effective approaches underpinned by mathematical modelling methods to provide new insights into childhood malnutrition and mortality.
This will lead to more sustainable, precise and high-impact policies and intervention strategies that will reduce childhood malnutrition and its associated morbidity and mortality. It is also his dream to establish a nutrition research rehabilitation centre to support malnourished children as part of the overall strategy to reduce childhood malnutrition and mortality.
However, the esteemed professor cannot fight the battle alone. Through engagement with his community, Justice Aheto hopes to recruit more soldiers into his army. He often visits junior high and senior high schools as well as universities to educate students on the need to study mathematically-related programmes like Biostatistics and Statistics. He uses such opportunities to create awareness about the critical role this field plays in their everyday lives.
Also, he intermittently undertakes a community-level screening to examine the nutritional status of children aged below five years. Those found to be malnourished are referred to health facilities for management. This is an intervention he desires to scale up soon.
As part of his community engagement, he dispatches his students to slums to research and educate their inhabitants on key health problems facing them. The students also provide actionable recommendations to relevant policy-makers, programme managers and other stakeholders.
The impact of studying in the UK
The role of international collaborations and knowledge exchange is pivotal in advancing scientific research and sustainability to provide sound and sustainable solutions to the myriad of challenges facing our society. Today, Prof. Justice Moses Kwaku Aheto has a wide network of international collaborators, thanks to his study in the UK; he has been able to maximise his resources courtesy of his network.
His international collaboration with the University of Southampton (in the UK) and University of South Florida (in the United States of America) yielded exceptional benefits to him and the society at large. Through these collaborations, he has had access to state-of-the-art research, teaching and learning facilities at both institutions to advance his research. This leap may not have been possible in his institution.
Prof. Aheto believes that his UK education prepared him sufficiently for the world of work. It was the launch pad that put him far ahead of others to make an impact in his society.
“UK education is designed to provide all the skills that can be used immediately. One is opened up to so many other opportunities outside the classroom that play a role in the total development of oneself,” he praises.
The associate professor is also impressed with the conscious effort of the UK education sector (via their universities and British Council) to follow and assess one’s output and impact on society after they have left school.
Those identified to have made an extraordinary impact are rewarded. As a UK Study Alumni Award recipient, he believes his story will inspire and influence the next generation of researchers and academics, especially those in the field of Biostatistics.
He strongly recommends UK education to aspiring researchers and academics in Ghana and beyond. For those who desire to be top-notch in any field, the UK is his only bet.
