<p>Her accent, Geneva-schooling and Oxford-University education might give away the fact that she has spent a lifetime abroad, but Priya Mannava is still very grounded in all things Indian.<br /><br />The pretty and articulate 25-year-old is knowledgeable and respectful of Indian customs, can speak Hindi and Telugu fluently, is proficient in bharatanatyam, and adds with a laugh: “I am very Indian. I was born here. I have spent holidays and I’ve worked here. And now, I have married a south Indian in a very traditional Indian ceremony!” <br /><br />Ballet & bharatanatyam<br />A public-health professional working in disease-prevention, Priya spent the first 12 years of her life in Niger, West Africa, where her awardwinning-scientist father was posted. She began her schooling there and also enrolled in tap-dance and ballet classes. <br />Her mother Vanaja, who wanted to keep her children in touch with Indian traditions while they were growing up abroad, enrolled Priya in bharatanatyam classes while on her annual holiday to Hyderabad. <br /><br />The Oxford dream <br />Later, her parents moved to Geneva where her father Dr Sivakumar Mannava is now Director, Climate Prediction and Adaptation Division, World Meteorological Organization. <br />After completing her schooling in Geneva, Priya acquired a B Sc from University College, London, where she was awarded Joint Best Finalist. She then got her M Sc in Global Health Science in first class with distinction from the University of Oxford. <br /><br />“It is the best place in the world to be for a student. Oxford University provides a highly stimulating environment given the very talented people of diverse backgrounds from across the world. The university helps you focus on learning and encourages you to develop an interest and passion for what you are doing.” <br /><br /> Along the way, Priya also learnt many languages. Besides her mother-tongue Telugu, Priya knows English, French, Hindi and Spanish. She performed her arangetram, acquired a diploma in dance and gave performances in Hyderabad, Geneva and at Oxford University.<br /><br />Pursuing her interest in disease epidemiology and international health, she worked at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tubercolosis and Malaria, the world’s leading multilateral donor for the three diseases. <br /><br />Finding her calling<br />She conducted qualitative and quantitative research on Global Fund grants in countries worldwide, and also wrote a few papers whose publication is forthcoming. <br /><br />Priya worked as consultant for World Health Organization and last year, she was selected as Young Voice in Research for Health when her essay on Health and Innovation was shortlisted in a competition held by the Global Forum for Health Research. <br /><br /> She credits her parents for all the success and happiness she has earned in life. <br />“My parents allowed me to make my own choices and follow my heart, while also being around for guidance and help whenever I wanted,” she says. <br /><br />She worked as Assistant Fellowship Director, and Red Ribbon Club Team Leader, at Public Health Management Institute, Hyderabad. In the process, Priya established and monitored the functioning of 18 Red Ribbon Clubs which seek to promote awareness of HIV-AIDS among youth. <br /><br />‘We need aware youth’ <br />Her work experience in India gave her interesting insights. When she visited the Freedom Foundation in Hyderabad, which works for HIV-AIDS patients and their families, she was glad to see that most families were supportive of their AIDS-affected family members.<br /><br />“It was unlike what we generally hear about such patients being shunned or discriminated against by their families and friends,” she says. <br /><br />In Chennai, she interacted with high-risk groups for HIV-AIDS and even visited pick-up points. She realised that these groups need more attention from health professionals. <br /><br />How can things be improved in the Indian healthcare system? At first, she hesitates to answer, not wanting to sound ‘judgmental’ or ‘preachy’.<br /><br />“There is a need in India for more government investment in health, especially preventive health care. There should be greater access to health products and services. Also, there should be better training facilities for doctors, nurses and paramedics who man HIV-AIDS centres. There is also a pressing need for spreading awareness about this health problem and its preventive aspects. Right now, awareness is not widespread or comprehensive enough,” she explains. <br /><br />Priya hopes to build her career in international health and “do field work in a developing country, setting up and managing preventive-health programmes.” Way to go, girl.</p>
<p>Her accent, Geneva-schooling and Oxford-University education might give away the fact that she has spent a lifetime abroad, but Priya Mannava is still very grounded in all things Indian.<br /><br />The pretty and articulate 25-year-old is knowledgeable and respectful of Indian customs, can speak Hindi and Telugu fluently, is proficient in bharatanatyam, and adds with a laugh: “I am very Indian. I was born here. I have spent holidays and I’ve worked here. And now, I have married a south Indian in a very traditional Indian ceremony!” <br /><br />Ballet & bharatanatyam<br />A public-health professional working in disease-prevention, Priya spent the first 12 years of her life in Niger, West Africa, where her awardwinning-scientist father was posted. She began her schooling there and also enrolled in tap-dance and ballet classes. <br />Her mother Vanaja, who wanted to keep her children in touch with Indian traditions while they were growing up abroad, enrolled Priya in bharatanatyam classes while on her annual holiday to Hyderabad. <br /><br />The Oxford dream <br />Later, her parents moved to Geneva where her father Dr Sivakumar Mannava is now Director, Climate Prediction and Adaptation Division, World Meteorological Organization. <br />After completing her schooling in Geneva, Priya acquired a B Sc from University College, London, where she was awarded Joint Best Finalist. She then got her M Sc in Global Health Science in first class with distinction from the University of Oxford. <br /><br />“It is the best place in the world to be for a student. Oxford University provides a highly stimulating environment given the very talented people of diverse backgrounds from across the world. The university helps you focus on learning and encourages you to develop an interest and passion for what you are doing.” <br /><br /> Along the way, Priya also learnt many languages. Besides her mother-tongue Telugu, Priya knows English, French, Hindi and Spanish. She performed her arangetram, acquired a diploma in dance and gave performances in Hyderabad, Geneva and at Oxford University.<br /><br />Pursuing her interest in disease epidemiology and international health, she worked at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tubercolosis and Malaria, the world’s leading multilateral donor for the three diseases. <br /><br />Finding her calling<br />She conducted qualitative and quantitative research on Global Fund grants in countries worldwide, and also wrote a few papers whose publication is forthcoming. <br /><br />Priya worked as consultant for World Health Organization and last year, she was selected as Young Voice in Research for Health when her essay on Health and Innovation was shortlisted in a competition held by the Global Forum for Health Research. <br /><br /> She credits her parents for all the success and happiness she has earned in life. <br />“My parents allowed me to make my own choices and follow my heart, while also being around for guidance and help whenever I wanted,” she says. <br /><br />She worked as Assistant Fellowship Director, and Red Ribbon Club Team Leader, at Public Health Management Institute, Hyderabad. In the process, Priya established and monitored the functioning of 18 Red Ribbon Clubs which seek to promote awareness of HIV-AIDS among youth. <br /><br />‘We need aware youth’ <br />Her work experience in India gave her interesting insights. When she visited the Freedom Foundation in Hyderabad, which works for HIV-AIDS patients and their families, she was glad to see that most families were supportive of their AIDS-affected family members.<br /><br />“It was unlike what we generally hear about such patients being shunned or discriminated against by their families and friends,” she says. <br /><br />In Chennai, she interacted with high-risk groups for HIV-AIDS and even visited pick-up points. She realised that these groups need more attention from health professionals. <br /><br />How can things be improved in the Indian healthcare system? At first, she hesitates to answer, not wanting to sound ‘judgmental’ or ‘preachy’.<br /><br />“There is a need in India for more government investment in health, especially preventive health care. There should be greater access to health products and services. Also, there should be better training facilities for doctors, nurses and paramedics who man HIV-AIDS centres. There is also a pressing need for spreading awareness about this health problem and its preventive aspects. Right now, awareness is not widespread or comprehensive enough,” she explains. <br /><br />Priya hopes to build her career in international health and “do field work in a developing country, setting up and managing preventive-health programmes.” Way to go, girl.</p>
