Urbanus Azupogo awarded the 2026–2027 Ontario Graduate Scholarship

The Global Health Equity Collaborative Lab is pleased to congratulate Urbanus Wedaaba Azupogo on being selected to receive the Ontario Graduate Scholarship for International Students for the 2026–2027 academic year.

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is a merit-based award that promotes excellence in master’s and doctoral studies. At Queen’s University, the scholarship is valued at $15,000 for one academic year.

Urbanus is a PhD candidate in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University and a member of the GHE Collab, an interdisciplinary health research lab committed to advancing global health through rigorous research and equitable partnerships.

His doctoral research focuses on schistosomiasis in lakeside communities in Kisumu County, Kenya. He examines how everyday water-related activities, including paid work and unpaid household responsibilities, shape people’s exposure to the disease. His research also considers the roles of gender, seasonal and environmental conditions, household decision-making, and access to diagnosis and treatment.

A central message from Urbanus’s work is that exposure to schistosomiasis cannot be understood only as an individual choice. For many people, freshwater is essential for fishing, farming, collecting water, washing, caring for children, and supporting livestock. His research therefore asks how disease-control programmes can better reflect the realities of daily life and combine health information with safer water, practical ways to reduce risk, and dependable access to treatment.

“I am deeply grateful for this recognition. I sincerely thank my supervisor, Dr. Elijah Bisung, my committee members and referees, colleagues, research partners, and the participating communities in Kenya. Their guidance, support, and trust have been central to my research journey. This award strengthens my commitment to research that responds to people’s lived realities and contributes to more equitable public health action.”

The scholarship comes at an important stage of Urbanus’s doctoral studies and will support him as he completes his research and shares the findings with academic, policy, public health, and community audiences.

The GHE Collab congratulates Urbanus on this achievement and looks forward to the next stage of his work.