Global Health Watch is putting out a call for the submission of country- or region-specific case studies and testimonies. These case studies and testimonies will form part of the electronic platform of the alternative world health and selected case studies shall also be incorporated into the final document of Global Health Watch 3 – scheduled for publication in 2011. Topics include: positive and negative examples of policies and actions to secure improved and equitable access to health care; examples of interventions to address public sector corruption and inefficiency; examples of effective, efficient and inclusive public health care systems; evidence showing the negative effects of commercialised health care on professional ethics; case studies on what is driving good and bad processes of decentralisation, with some analysis illustrative case studies of where deconcentration, devolution and delegation have worked, where it hasn’t worked and why; the good and bad practices bilateral and multi-lateral external funders on public health stewardship and on the performance of health care systems; examples of civil society resistance to the effect of privatised public water and electricity utilities on equitable and fair access; case studies of the positive and negative impact of multi-national corporations on health policy; case studies of the difficulty that governments have in responding to the needs and demands of multiple international agencies (creditors such as the World Bank, traditional bilateral external funders and relatively new institutions such as GAVI and the Global Fund). Global Health Watch is looking for concise submissions of 1,000 to 2,000 words with pictures.
Jobs and Announcements
The Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium (ITM) wants to encourage 'Emerging Voices' from developing countries to participate actively in international academic conferences and to raise their voice in the scientific debate. To identify those promising experts, it has launched an essay competition on how health research can foster significant progress towards universal health coverage in low-income countries. Applicants from developing countries are invited to submit a personal single-author essay. Authors must have been born on or after 1 January 1965. The essay can be in English or in French, and should not exceed 1,500 words. It will be accompanied by a short CV and a cover letter. The submission of an abstract related to the research the author is participating in is encouraged. Authors of selected essays will be invited to present their work at the colloquium of the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, from 8 to 10 November 2010 and to participate in the First Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Montreux, Switzerland, from 16 to 19 November 2010. A number of travel grants to participate in the Antwerp and Montreux events in November 2010 will be awarded.
The African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines (AJTCAM) will publish a special issue in 2011 entitled 'Reviews of modern tools in traditional medicines'. Experts in different fields may write on any of the following topics: specific case management studies in traditional medicines (malaria, diabetes, snake bites, cancer, infertility etc); traditional medical practice (general practice, psychiatry, traditional birth attendants etc) in different systems of traditional medicines; African traditional medicines; Chinese traditional medicines; Indian systems of medicines; complementary and alternative medicines; other systems of traditional medicines; evaluation of herbal products as potential medicines/drugs; clinical trials of herbal medicines; traditional medicines and HIV and AIDS – current research; chemical profiling of herbal medicines; cultivation of medicinal plants; safety evaluation of herbal products/medicines; standardisation of herbal medicines; packaging of herbal products; economics of herbal medicines; and biotechnology and traditional medicines.
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.
Small and medium-sized non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations can access funding opportunities from a new grant from the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) called the Development Innovation Fund. The application form has also been kept simple and is no longer than five pages. Any not-for-profit organisation located in a developing country can apply for funding. New organisations set up during last one or two years can also apply for this Fund. The organisation’s income during the last three years should not have exceeded more than £500,000. Project proposals can be submitted with budgetary requests of up to £60,000. Proposed projects may be awarded 100% funding support. There are three funding rounds but their timings have not been specified. Projects can be proposed for a period of 12 months only. The Fund has not specified any issue, theme or topic on which the funding will be prioritised. Applicant organisations can propose projects on any theme, such as from livelihood development, education and health, but all proposed interventions should directly work to reduce poverty in a developing country.
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.
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.
The University of the Western Cape Spring School is offering one-week courses over four weeks in September 2010 in parallel sessions by experts in their fields. Courses offer health workers exposure to the latest thinking in public health and opportunities to extend their own knowledge and skills in the field. Bookings are taken on a first-come first-served basis, as the courses are often over-subscribed. Courses are open to students registered in the SOPH Postgraduate Programme, health workers from the health and social services and the general public. Over the years, at least 6,000 participants, mainly nurses and middle level managers from all over South Africa and from many other African countries, have attended these professional development courses. Many participants have been sent by a health authority, an important indication that the services place value on our training courses. At the school, health and welfare professionals will be able to exchange ideas relevant to health services.
This international conference brings together leading researchers and industry representatives who will review important recent findings in parasite and vector biology, disease pathophysiology and immunology, disease treatment, prevention and control. Attendees will learn about the latest developments in key areas and initiatives that are at the forefront of malaria research. Topics include parasite and vector cell biology, disease pathogenesis, drug discovery, immunology and vaccine development, and disease control. All participants are invited to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations. A significant number of talks will be selected from registrants. The time allowed for selected oral presentations will be ten minutes with an additional five minutes for discussion.