The African Health Economics and Policy Association (AfHEA) is hosting the fifth Scientific Conference in Accra, Ghana from 11 to 14 March, 2019. The broad theme of the conference is: Securing PHC for all: the foundation for making progress on UHC in Africa. This broad theme acknowledges the important role of PHC in the achievement of UHC. Strengthening PHC improves equity, accessibility and quality of care. Similarly, UHC ensures access to needed good quality health services irrespective of ability to pay. The two are therefore closely related. PHC is the main gateway to healthcare for the majority of the population, especially for those living in rural and underserved communities. A well-functioning PHC system will be able to respond to the health care needs of most of the population, including preventive, promotive and non-specialist clinical care, at a much lower cost than if similar services were provided at higher levels of the health care system. The conference will explore how securing PHC for all is a more cost-effective way to move towards the UHC agenda of any country, particularly for low income and lower middle income countries (LICs/LMICs) where the resource constraints are more severe.
Jobs and Announcements
UNRISD invites expressions of interest from researchers to prepare papers that will feed into the development of a research proposal for a project on the relationship between universities and social inequalities in low- and middle-income countries. With the persistent and rising inequalities of present day encompassing not only income and wealth but also inequalities across race, gender, ethnicity and geographic region, it is critical to reinvent, reimagine and strengthen a wide range of policies and institutions that can play a role in overcoming inequalities. This call and the subsequent research project to be developed focuses on universities as one such institution. The project proposal will focus on the role of universities in reinforcing or lessening social inequalities in low- and middle-income countries. It will explore the following questions: What potential does higher education have today to increase social mobility, reduce inequality and contribute to the advancement of society through the production of knowledge and skills? Are institutions of higher education contributing to inequality rather than equality, and if so, through what specific actions and mechanisms? How can the transformative potential of such institutions be fully harnessed for overcoming inequality?
This conference aims to provide delegates with an opportunity to present and learn about new evidence-based knowledge concerning health systems/services/practice to enable public health nursing to contribute to the achievement of the targets of Goal 3 of the UN Sustainable Goals. Because of their global significance and relevance to Public Health Nursing, it was agreed to explore the contribution of public health nursing to achieving Goal 3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals ‘good health and well being’ as a working title for the conference. The sub themes will focus on the role of public health nursing in achieving the targets of Goal 3 at every aspect and every population group including the elderly, maternal and child groups, people with disabilities, health care systems and safe environments. The focus is on; HIV/AIDS testing, disclosure, access and adherence to care; adolescent reproductive health; public health leadership and governance; health systems integration; rural, county and national levels; infectious disease management; community health strategy; public health workforce, labour relations and mental health.
The O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center (Washington, DC) has launched a guide to Health Equity Programs of Action. The Institute offers a systematic, systemic, and inclusive approach to reduce unjust health gaps between populations. It aims to empower the people who experience these inequities and help to establish a sustained national focus on health equity. This implementation framework is based on seven principles: Empowering participation and inclusive leadership; maximizing health equity;
health systems and beyond: social determinants of health; every population counts; actions, targets and timelines; comprehensive accountability; and sustained high-level political commitment. The O'Neill Institute is interested to discuss collaborations and opportunities for taking this approach forward.
Organized by the Africa Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Virology Education, ICREID is a global platform that will bring together experts from around the world involved in emerging diseases in an interactive conference setting. Being the first to be held on the continent, the organisers invite healthcare professionals, researchers, public health experts and policy makers involved in treatment, research, discovery and development of drugs and vaccines in the field of re-emerging infectious diseases. Presentations include reflections on 100 years of Pandemic Flu and other Emerging Infections and analyses of the World Bank and Pandemic Preparedness. There are also talks on lassa fever, cholera and Rift Valley fever, on health economics in outbreak management and on the standardisation of research ethics during public health emergencies in Africa.
The Government of Cabo Verde and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa will jointly host The Second WHO Africa Health Forum on the theme: Achieving Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa: The Africa people want to see. The WHO Africa Health Forum Organizing team, also take this opportunity to call on partners to report on what they have been doing in delivering on the Call-to-Action from The First WHO Africa Health Forum - Putting People First: The Road to Universal Health Coverage in Africa.
Every iteration of AHAIC builds on the success of the previous one to bring more nuance and action to conversations on health in Africa. The 2017 conference, which was held in Nairobi, Kenya, brought together over 1000 stakeholders to discuss systems and innovations needed to enable Africa to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. AHAIC 2019 will convene stakeholders from across sectors and around the world to take forward critical conversations initiated in Nairobi to explore what it will take for Africa to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030. Confirmed speakers include Dr Diane Gashumba, Minister of Health, Republic of Rwanda, Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO, Amref Health Africa and Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organization.
As part of its editorial programming for 2019-2021, the journal Justice Spatiale | Spatial Justice is opening a permanent call for contribution to its different sections : 1) Focus for peer review papers ; 2) Public Spaces for general interventions, interviews or position papers on issues related to spatial justice; 3) JSSJ Reviews for books reviews. Justice Spatiale | Spatial Justice is an international electronic journal whose concept was born in Nanterre, France, precisely where Henri Lefebvre taught, and this is in no way a coincidence as there is a strong relation between the concept of spatial justice and the Lefebvrian concepts of production of space (“production de l’espace”) and right to the city (“droit à la ville”). The journal Justice Spatiale | Spatial Justice is committed to interdisciplinary approaches and encourages cross-cutting research. Another primary objective is to create sustained linkages between the English-speaking and the French-speaking scientific communities. The journal is therefore completely bilingual. The electronic medium also has the potential to expand the traditional definition of the academic article since it enables the combination of text, images (static and animated) and sounds.
The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) is seeking a highly motivated individual with outstanding technical and managerial capabilities to play a key role in either the Sexual and Reproductive Health and/or Congenital Syphilis programs in South Africa. The Program Manager will shape strategy, manage and provide technical input to a large and growing CHAI team. CHAI works in a fast-paced and results-driven environment. This individual would manage a growing team, at national and provincial levels, and shape CHAI’s engagement. Thus, they should have exceptional communication and analytical skills, be a strong strategic thinker and be able to adapt to differing program needs. CHAI places great value on commitment to excellence, resourcefulness, responsibility, tenacity, flexibility, independence, energy, work ethic and humility. The Manager will be based in Pretoria, South Africa and report to CHAI South Africa’s leadership team. The Manager’s key responsibilities include, but are not limited to support NDoH in all areas ranging from either sexual reproductive health and/or congenital syphilis; with respect to planning and implementation, ensuring CHAI’s ongoing alignment with the DoH strategic goals and priorities, oversee the translation of objectives provided by the government, donors, and other partner organizations into clear activity plans, and provide guidance to a team and DoH on prioritization of initiatives, manage and establish collaborative relationships with the DoH, suppliers, partner organizations and other relevant stakeholders. The qualifications and requirements for the position will include an advanced degree in a related field such as health economics, public health, financial management, business preferred, 5 to 7 years of professional experience in demanding, results-oriented environments in the public sector and/or private sector, excellent problem solving, analytical and quantitative skills, including attention to detail and experience in modeling using Microsoft Excel among others.
The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) is seeking a highly motivated individual with outstanding technical and managerial capabilities to play a leadership role in the SRMNH program in South Africa. The Senior Program Manager will shape strategy, manage and provide technical input to a large and growing CHAI team across the areas of Sexual Reproductive Health, Maternal Neonatal Health. S/he will work with a range of partners and subject matter experts and report into CHAI South Africa’s leadership team. The Manager will be based in Pretoria, South Africa and report to CHAI South Africa’s leadership team. The key responsibilities will not be limited to the following supervise a team of CHAI staff working at the national and provincial level providing strategic direction, managerial and technical support as well as quality assurance for the portfolio, work with CHAI staff and the government in program areas ranging from sexual reproductive health and maternal and neonatal health, work with CHAI staff and the government in the scale-up of a health services including strategy and design, development and implementation of evidence-based strategic and operational plans, manage senior level stakeholder relationships; coordinate and participate in technical working groups. The qualifications and requirements for the position will include an advanced degree in a related field such as health economics, public health, financial management, business preferred; a clinical background is an added advantage but not required, 7-10 years of professional experience in demanding, results-oriented environments in the public sector and/or private sector, entrepreneurial mindset; demonstrated ability to work independently on complex projects and solve challenging problems, in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment among others.