The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, an initiative of the Global Forum for Health Research in collaboration with the World Health Organization, has just published its first biennial review of the emerging field of health policy and systems research. The central concern of this book is how knowledge of health systems can be significantly increased and effectively applied to improve the health of the worst-off of the world's population.
Jobs and Announcements
New Publication: HIV/AIDS and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa
This publication is the first in a three part series on HIV/AIDS and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa with the overall objective of providing a resource base on issues of rural development in a broad sense in the times of HIV/AIDS. This first book discusses the impact of the epidemic as it has emerged over the last decades at different levels of the agricultural sector, namely the farming system level, the livelihood level, and the household level. In a further step, impact on the agricultural estate sector as well as pastoralism is discussed.
Further details: /newsletter/id/30572
New radio show on African health care systems: African Health Dialogues
African Views Radio: August 2011
Every Saturday at 12 noon Eastern Standard time, African Views Radio holds regular discussions on health care systems in Africa in a show called African Health Dialogues. The forum is accessible to online audiences live on air and also via podcast. There is also an opportunity for people to call in via phone to participate in the discussions from any part of the world. The first show aired on 30 July 2011 and explored the status of healthcare systems in Africa with respect to the past, present and future. The producers of the programme are inviting participants to call in and join the discussions.
New research consortium focuses on close-to-community healthcare
http://www.reachoutconsortium.org
A new 5-year, EU-funded programme comprising partners from Bangladesh (BRAC University), Ethiopia (Sidama Health Zone/TB Reach), Indonesia (Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology), Kenya (LVCT), Malawi (REACH Trust), Mozambique (University Eduardo Mondlane) will investigate the role of close-to-community health workers in improving health outcomes in Africa and Asia. Although interventions to promote community health workers are increasingly popular, it is not clear if this model of healthcare provision can work in all settings, and what support is needed to ensure quality services reach those most in need of them in poor and remote communities. Coordinated by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and supported by KIT, REACHOUT research will uncover the contribution of different close-to-community healthcare interventions to any improvements in practice and to find out what works, in which context and why.
New scientific research and writing mentorship initiative towards diversity in research on alcohol control policies
Call for applications: Closing date: 15 December 2020
The World Health Organization’s Less Alcohol Unit, Department of Health Promotion, the Alcohol Research Group (ARG) and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research have launched a new scientific research and writing mentorship initiative. The initiative aims to support early-stage researchers from low- and middle-income countries in their work to analyse, report and publish a study related to strengthening alcohol policies tackling the determinants driving the acceptability, availability and affordability of alcohol consumption. Overall, the initiative seeks to accelerate the finalization of scientific research with the support of expert mentors. Mentees (early-stage researchers) will be paired with mentors (senior academics) to participate in this 9-month initiative commencing no later than 1st January 2022. Through regular, at-distance access to mentors, the initiative aims to ensure researchers have the necessary guidance to finalize a study with contextually relevant results. Mentees are encouraged, and will be supported by their mentors, to submit their study findings for scientific publication. As an output of the initiative, a summary slide deck should be prepared for the further dissemination of results. A maximum of ten (10) mentees will be selected for the initial cohort.
New website: Governance, conflict and social development
The International Development Department- Governance Resource Centre (GSDRC)
This new site provides access to the best thinking on governance, conflict and social development. The GSDRC supports the knowledge needs of DFID and the wider development community in relation to governance, conflict and social development. The resource centre provides high quality, timely information to support project and programme planning, policy-making, and other activities in the field. A range of services are available to DFID and the public by visiting the links provided at the site printed above.
Newly formed Civil Society Coalition on HIV/AIDS UNGASS
ICASO
Following the recent announcement about the newly formed Civil Society (which is the transformation of the UNGASS Civil Society Steering Committee), this announcement provides readers with more information about the work of the Coalition, about options for getting involved, and who to contact to do so.
Further details: /newsletter/id/31298
Contact: ungass@icaso.org
Nineteenth FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics
4–9 October 2009: Cape Town, South Africa
The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) has finalised the dates of the Nineteenth FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The event –the largest gathering of obstetricians and gynecologists from around the world – will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. We aim to build on the immense success of the event that took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2006 by offering delegates, their partners, sponsors and exhibitors an educational and cultural experience. The World Congress is the only event on this scale that brings together specialists in obstetrics and gynecology from all parts of the world. The 2006 event attracted over 6,000 delegates from in excess of 120 countries and territories, and numbers are expected to be higher in 2009.
Nineteenth International Aids Conference: 22-27 July 2012, Washington DC
Registration open
The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Turning the tide together’. Policy makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic will meet to assess global progress, evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learnt, and collectively chart a course forward. The programme will present new scientific knowledge and offer many opportunities for structured dialogue on the major issues facing the global response to HIV. Sessions will focus on the latest issues in HIV science, policy and practice and will also seek to share key research findings, lessons learned, best practices, as well as identify gaps in knowledge. The conference will feature abstract-driven sessions, a daily plenary session, a variety of symposia sessions, professional development workshops, and independently organised satellite meetings. In addition, the conference programme will include a number of programme activities, such as the Global Village and the Youth Programme, which are an integral aspect of the International AIDS Conference.
Nineteenth International AIDS Conference: 22-27 July 2012, Washington DC
Registration open
The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Turning the tide together’. Policy makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic will meet to assess global progress, evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learnt, and collectively chart a course forward. The programme will present new scientific knowledge and offer many opportunities for structured dialogue on the major issues facing the global response to HIV. Sessions will focus on the latest issues in HIV science, policy and practice and will also seek to share key research findings, lessons learned, best practices, as well as identify gaps in knowledge. The conference will feature abstract-driven sessions, a daily plenary session, a variety of symposia sessions, professional development workshops, and independently organised satellite meetings. In addition, the conference programme will include a number of programme activities, such as the Global Village and the Youth Programme, which are an integral aspect of the International AIDS Conference.