The International AIDS Conference is the premier gathering for those working in the field of HIV, as well as policy makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the pandemic. It is a chance to assess where we are in terms of the AIDS pandemic, evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learnt, and collectively chart a course forward. Given the 2010 deadline for universal access set by world leaders, AIDS 2010 will coincide with a major push for expanded access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. The programme will present new scientific knowledge and offer many opportunities for structured dialogue on the major issues facing the global response to HIV. A variety of session types – from abstract-driven presentations to symposia, bridging sessions and plenaries – will meet the needs of various participants. Other related activities, including the Global Village, satellite meetings, exhibitions and affiliated events, will offer an opportunity for professional development and networking.
Jobs and Announcements
All African health economists and health policy analysts, whether working in Africa or on research of relevance to Africa, are invited to submit abstracts for the Second Conference of the African Health Economics and Policy Association (AfHEA), which will be held in Dakar, Senegal from 15–19 March 2011 (these dates are provisional). The overall theme of this conference is 'Toward universal health coverage in Africa'. Abstracts are encouraged for research related to the sub-themes of the conference: health care financing for universal financial protection in Africa; promoting universal access to needed health services; and strategies and tactics for key steps to move towards universal coverage. Individuals are also encouraged to submit abstracts on any other interesting or topical research, especially on any aspect of the health system that could contribute to universal coverage. Abstracts may be submitted in English or French and must not exceed 400 words in length. It should indicate the aim and objectives of the paper, the methods used and the key findings.
The key aim of the Graça Machel Scholarship Programme is to help provide the female human resources necessary for economic, social and cultural development in the southern African region and to develop an educated and skilled workforce that can benefit the wider community. Scholarships that target women have long been recognised as an effective approach in addressing gender equality and eradicating poverty. By providing opportunities to study at postgraduate level, these scholarships aim to empower women and to equip them to take up leadership positions in order to have a direct impact in the communities, nations and region in which they live. These female scholars must be positive role models for other women. The scholarships are for female students from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe studying in South Africa. They are valid for two years’ postgraduate study and include payment of a maintenance allowance, travel, health insurance and tuition fees. Applicants must have at least two years’ relevant work experience.
The World Health Organization's Scientific Resource Group on Equity Analysis and Research, together with the Global Forum for Health Research and the People's Health Movement, have announced a call for research proposals from civil society organisations (CSOs) on the theme: ‘Advancing health equity through research and practice: Identifying what works to reduce health inequities’. In their proposals, CSOs may evaluate interventions they have implemented and their impacts both on health outcomes and on health equity. The interventions to be evaluated need to address social, economic and political determinants of health. The evaluation should examine inequities among different social groups, not only between one disadvantaged group and a population average. Interventions could potentially be adapted for implementation in other countries. Teams submitting expressions of interest should demonstrate expertise in research for health or development, ability to design evaluation studies and ability to analyse data to evaluate impacts of interventions on health and health equity. Demonstration of advanced writing skills will be an advantage. A budget and timeline must be included, specifying how the case award will contribute to the overall evaluation of the intervention.
The World Health Organization and partners will convene the inaugural global symposium on health systems research in 2010. Researchers, policy-makers, funders, and other stakeholders representing diverse constituencies will gather to share evidence, identify significant knowledge gaps, and set a research agenda that reflects the needs of lowand middle-income countries. The first symposium will be dedicated to improving the scientific evidence needed by health policy-makers and practitioners to inform their decisions related to accelerating universal health coverage. Young professionals working in or interested in the wide spectrum of health systems research are invited to submit essays covering one or more of the following areas of inquiry: the political economy of universal coverage; health system financing; scale-up of health services; and knowledge translation. Each submitted essay should reflect the young researcher’s unique perspective on a particular aspect(s) of health systems research. It should include structured arguments and critical analysis based on original quantitative and/or qualitative research, with the intent to demonstrate impact on health and health equity. The essay should be less technical and more provocative, idealistic and inspirational. It should demonstrate the 'human face' of health systems research.
Every year, the CIVICUS World Assembly offers about fifty activities grouped around the overall theme, an annual focus theme and sub-themes. The activities comprise plenary sessions, round tables, workshops, networking sessions and formal events. The 2010 World Assembly in Montreal will introduce the concept of interactive group discussions (or Parcours) for the first time. The overall theme of the CIVICUS World Assembly is 'Acting Together for a Just World'. Every year this is explored through a focus theme. In 2010 the focus theme will be 'Seeking Out Solutions'. This theme will address the issues of economy, development and climate. The Assembly has a number of aims. It offers: to provide first hand knowledge on the state of the art of civil society thinking; to establish cross-cutting relationships with civil society, business, media, government and donor organisation professionals from around the globe; in-depth exchange of expertise on how people from all sectors act together to (re)gain the power to enforce decisions; training and capacity building on a wide range of tangible skills e.g. fundraising, networking, mobilisation, volunteering, campaigning etc; and the opportunity to find partners and funding to realise and expand your projects.
This will be the first time MEDINFO is held in Africa. The Congress aims to boost exposure to grassroots healthcare delivery and the underpinning health information systems, as well as to open the door to new academic partnerships into the future and help to nurture a new breed of health informaticians. The theme for the Congress is ‘Partnerships for effective e-health solutions’, with a particular focus on how innovative collaborations can promote sustainable solutions to health challenges. Information and communication technologies may have enormous potential for improving the health and lives of individuals. Innovative and effective change using such technologies is reliant upon people working together in partnerships to create innovative and effective solutions to problems with particular regard to contextual and environmental factors. To this end, the Congress brings together the health informatics community from across the globe who are seeking to work together and share experiences and knowledge to promote sustainable solutions to global health challenges.
Up to three awards are available for outstanding health researchers from sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen their research skills and build partnerships with a United Kingdom (UK) research institution through a new pilot scheme jointly funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Department for International Development (DFID). The African Research Leader scheme is a highly prestigious award which aims to strengthen research leadership and capacity across sub-Saharan Africa by attracting and retaining researchers of high ability. The pilot scheme is open to all research areas within MRC’s remit that specifically address the priority health problems of people in developing countries and which cannot easily be achieved in the UK. The scope of the scheme includes biomedical and health research, including social sciences and public health research, and translational research relevant to African national and regional health needs and priorities. Awards of up to £500K will be offered to two or three research leaders.
The second South African tuberculosis (TB) conference will focus on partnerships and how solidarity among the state, private sector and civil society at all levels and structures can increase access to services and prevent people dying from a curable disease. Forging Strategic Partnerships to Fight TB and HIV is the theme for this Conference, which will build on the awareness and commitment made by 1,657 people who contributed to the success of the first South African TB Conference in 2008.
Three leading paediatric associations are uniting to host the 26th IPA Congress of Paediatrics in Johannesburg, South Africa from 4–9 August 2010. More than 5,000 participants are expected to attend this landmark event, the first IPA congress to be held in sub-Saharan Africa. It will unite paediatricians and health professionals working towards the target set by Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce child mortality by two thirds before 2015. The scientific programme is designed to meet the needs of general paediatricians from both the developed and the developing world. Plenary sessions will include: the MDGs and the current state of health of children in the world, and progress towards the MDGs; the state of the world’s newborns, including major issues determining maternal and newborn health in developing and developed countries; the determinants of health, such as genetics, nutrition and the environment; disasters and trauma affecting child health, such as disasters, crises and the worldwide epidemic of trauma; and the global burden of infectious diseases affecting children and the challenge of emerging infections.