Four new Health Ambassadors recruited to help diversify local research participation

Four new Health Ambassadors have been recruited to support diverse communities in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) with involvement in health and care research.

The Health Ambassadors initiative launched in 2022 and recently won a Health Services Research (HSR UK) 2023 Innovation in Inclusion Award. Caafi Health and People in Health West of England work jointly to coordinate the initiative as part of the BNSSG Integrated Care Board diverse Research Engagement Network, funded by NHS England.

Each new Ambassador has connections to diverse communities in the region and they are currently assisting with three research projects.

Researchers who need help to engage with diverse communities are invited to contact the Ambassadors at Research@caafihealth.com.

Meet the Health Ambassadors

Samina Baig

Samina has over 12 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, working as a medical representative and in sales management, as well as in curriculum development and European training.  She has a BSc in biomedical science. As a school governor and regular volunteer, she is an active member of the Bristol community.

Samina is passionate about healthcare and specifically about ensuring health equality for everyone. She has recently been supporting the Women Research Engagement Network (WREN) in recruiting members from minoritised groups for health research.

Amran Ahmed

Amran currently works as an acute dietitian and has more than eight years expertise supporting diverse communities within the health sector.  She is committed to helping minoritised communities realise the value of research and the need for their participation and involvement.

Amran’s educational background includes a master’s degree in public health with a focus on health promotion, a postgraduate degree in clinical dietetics, and a BSc in nutrition. Her primary areas of health research interest are eating disorders, mental health, and chronic diseases.

Alina Fieroiu

Alina’s interests and aspirations are driven by a genuine desire to make a positive impact on public health and wellness. Her interest lies in health education and sharing information about healthy living and disease prevention with others.

Community engagement is a key area of interest for Alina. Through her Health Ambassador role, she connects diverse local communities with the resources they need to improve their well-being, with the aim of making an ongoing and tangible difference to their lives.

Zia Haque

Zia has a wide range of engineering, management and business skills, and ran his own business for 20 years. During this time, he became a Fellow of the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management.

Over the years he has organised many fundraising events, raising money for Sickle Cell Thalassaemia, Diabetes Bristol, Prostate Cancer, Bristol Older People’s Forum and The Children’s Hospice South West.  He sits on the ITV West Diversity panel and is a qualified diabetes type 2 mentor who is committed to supporting people to improve their health.