The practitioner centred COPGS 2019 on Citizenship, Governance and Accountability in Health is designed as meeting point of practice, think-tanks and policy in community centred health systems. Participating in COPGS 2019 will provide a unique opportunity for researchers, policy makers, donors, development and policy experts to interact and dialogue with the 'foot-soldiers' of community-centred accountability practice from around the world. As a participant one will get the opportunity to witness, engage with and experience the following: open sharing and learning on diverse social accountability practices and approaches through practical examples; debates on evolving paradigms and political economy of policy making in global health and its impact on the accountability ecosystem; new insights around the principles and practice of social accountability to achieve global health goals, especially as articulated in SDGs. There are five over-arching themes to the symposium; community action, indigenous people, reproductive health, private health sector and health care workers.
Jobs and Announcements
Health-e News Service is looking for a dynamic Managing Editor to lead Africa's first independent health news agency. The successful candidate must have vision about how to develop a multimedia organization; experience in managing a non-profit organization; ability to fundraising; commitment to social justice and a well-functioning public health system. Key performance areas include: managing a diverse multimedia organisation, including editorial oversight over an award-winning team of journalists; overseeing the development and implementation of an annual strategic plan; fundraising and donors relations; managing client relations and expanding the client base. The candidate needs to have at least eight years management experience, extending fundraising experience, editorial management skills and at least a bachelor’s degree. The position is located in Johannesburg although consideration will be given to Cape Town-based candidates. Salary is in line with experience. Preference will be given to candidates from previously disadvantaged groups.
Hearing loss, especially disabling hearing loss, is associated with delayed cognitive development in children and early cognitive decline in older adults. Hearing loss was highlighted at the World Health Assembly in 2017, when Member States unanimously adopted a resolution to develop public health strategies to integrate ear and hearing care within countries’ primary health-care systems. Against this background, the Bulletin of the World Health Organization will publish a theme issue on the public health approach of hearing loss. Papers are welcomed which focus on identifying and filling the gaps in evidence across comprehensive hearing-care services, from promotion of ear and hearing care, to screening, hearing devices and rehabilitation. In particular, the papers should report on unmet needs, outcomes of services, and effective and sustainable initiatives to reach underserved groups. Submission of papers reporting on both the magnitude of diseases and conditions, such as ear infections, meningitis and rubella, that can affect hearing, are encouraged, as well as papers addressing health system issues and promoting an intersectoral approach to ear and hearing care, such as looking beyond health. As much as possible, papers should seek to integrate examples from low- and middle-income countries across life course.
The main theme for this conference will be ‘Technology for health systems transformation and attainment of the UN-Sustainable Development Goals’. The key note speech will be on 'Invest in Digital Health to catalyse East Africa to attain the UN-Sustainable Development Goals’. Various sub-themes will be presented and discussed during the first two days of the conference. Each sub-theme will start with a state-of-the-art presentation, after which evidence-based scientific material will be presented. The presentations will lead to recommendations on technologies for health system decision making, diseases and the improvement of healthcare service delivery and health outcomes. Further sub-themes relate to the health financing and health knowledge management through digital technologies and solutions.
The Wellcome Trust invite photographers and other image makers from all disciplines to enter the Wellcome Photography Prize, which celebrates compelling imagery that captures stories of health, medicine and science. Wellcome are looking for entries that can captivate people with stories of science and medicine, and start conversations about some of the health challenges people face. The winner of each category will receive £1,250, with the overall winner receiving a prize of £15,000. Prizes will be presented at an awards ceremony in London on 3 July 2019. All the winning and shortlisted entries will go on show in a major public exhibition at Lethaby Gallery, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, from 4-13 July 2019. If you’re a winner, Wellcome will also offer opportunities to take part in events to showcase your work to a range of audiences. The winning images receive extensive international media coverage each year. There are four categories in the competition: Social perspectives – explore how health and illness affect the way we live; Hidden worlds – reveal details hidden to the naked eye; Medicine in focus – show health and healthcare up close and personal; Outbreaks (2019 theme) – capture the impact of disease as it spreads.
At major meetings, advances in HIV management focuses mainly on either adults or children, leaving out adolescents. To meet this need for international interchange in order to bring the field forward, Virology Education and partners have initiated the International Workshop on HIV & Adolescence: challenges and solutions. This workshop is for multidisciplinary experts working with adolescents affected by HIV. It aims to share experiences, knowledge and best practices in optimizing care for adolescents living with HIV. The program will cover the spectrum of developmental changes in adolescents including social, behavioral, physiological and biological aspects and the impact of an HIV positive status, and prevention programs, testing, treatment and support services among adolescents.
The Children’s Institute has developed a cutting-edge short course in child rights and child law for health and allied professionals - including training on consent to medical treatment and the reporting of child abuse and neglect as outlined in the new Children’s Act and amendments to the Sexual Offences Act. This five-day intensive course provides an opportunity for doctors, nurses, social workers and allied professionals to explore how best can better give effect to children’s rights in their practice, and is accredited with both the Health Professions Council of South Africa and the SA Council for Social Service Professions. The course is accredited by both the Health Professions Council of South Africa and the SA Council for Social Service Professions, and is targeted at doctors, nurses, educators, social workers and allied professionals who are responsible for child health at all levels of the health care system.
This fellowship programme is aimed at African scholars who have obtained a doctoral degree within the preceding seven years and who hold an academic position at a university or research institution anywhere in Africa. Candidates should have established a research programme and have completed a post-doctoral fellowship or equivalent post-PhD programme. All disciplines are considered. Iso Lomso Fellowships provide an early career opportunity for Africa’s brightest minds in academia. Fellows will enjoy: a three-year attachment during which time they may spend a total of ten months in residence to develop and pursue a long-term research programme at a sister institute for advanced study in North America, Europe or elsewhere. The fellowship includes funding to attend up to two international conferences or training workshops; support to convene a workshop with collaborators and lecturer replacement subsidy for the fellow’s home institution during residency periods.
The International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action will take place from 21–27 October 2018, with particular focus on eliminating lead paint in all countries by 2020. Lead poisoning is preventable, yet in 2016 lead exposure was estimated to account for 540 000 deaths and 13.9 million years lost to disability and death due to the long-term health effects, with the highest burden being in developing regions. Of particular concern is the role lead exposure plays in the development of intellectual disability in children. Even though this problem is widely recognised, it remains a key concern of healthcare providers and public health officials worldwide. The World Health Organisation has produced campaign materials for organisations to plan a local event with government, industry or civil society.
Hearing loss, especially disabling hearing loss, is associated with delayed cognitive development in children and early cognitive decline in older adults. Hearing loss was highlighted at the World Health Assembly in 2017, when Member States unanimously adopted a resolution to develop public health strategies to integrate ear and hearing care within countries’ primary health-care systems. Against this background, the Bulletin of the World Health Organization will publish a theme issue on the public health approach of hearing loss. Papers are welcomed which focus on identifying and filling the gaps in evidence across comprehensive hearing-care services, from promotion of ear and hearing care, to screening, hearing devices and rehabilitation. In particular, the papers should report on unmet needs, outcomes of services, and effective and sustainable initiatives to reach underserved groups. Submission of papers reporting on both the magnitude of diseases and conditions, such as ear infections, meningitis and rubella, that can affect hearing, are encouraged, as well as papers addressing health system issues and promoting an intersectoral approach to ear and hearing care, such as looking beyond health. As much as possible, papers should seek to integrate examples from low- and middle-income countries across life course.