The South African Field Epidemiology Training Programme (SAFETP) is requesting applications for the incoming 2017 class from qualified health professionals with an interest in public health and commitment to public service. The programme is a combination of didactic and practical training in which the resident is grounded in the academic basics of public health and is assigned to field sites where s/he learns by doing while being mentored by supervisors in projects that address key public health priorities. This residency programme is a two year, full time training, from which residents graduate with a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Pretoria. The 2017 cohort will begin in January 2017 and end in December 2018. The training focuses on investigations of public health outbreaks (an acute health event or other epidemiological activity) and using epidemiology and biostatistics to conduct descriptive and analytical studies. Bursaries/stipends may be available for select South African applicants fulfilling predefined criteria. For applicants applying from other African countries - the eligibility requirements still apply and the international applicant must have the required visa and permissions to study in South Africa. The applicants must ensure that all the costs related to participation in SAFETP are fully covered for the 2 years of training – salaries/stipends, university registration and tuition fees, accommodation, travel and accommodation to investigate outbreaks. Further information available on the website.
Jobs and Announcements
The Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH) is organizing the Fourth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Vancouver at the Vancouver Convention Centre on behalf of Health Systems Global (HSG). The theme for 2016 is “Resilient and responsive health systems for a changing world”. The Global Symposium on Health Systems Research is hosted every two years by HSG to bring together its members with the full range of players involved in health systems and policy research. The Symposium aims to share new state-of-the-art evidence; review the progress and challenges towards implementation of the global agenda of priority research; identify and discuss the approaches to strengthen the scientific rigour of health systems research including concepts, frameworks, measures and methods; and facilitate greater research collaboration and learning communities across disciplines, sectors, initiatives and countries.
This call for papers entitled ‘Gender and health inequalities: intersections with other relevant axes of oppression’ aims to generate knowledge about how gender inequalities in health/disease/mortality/and access to health care systems interact with other important axes of oppression (race/ethnicity, social class, religion, and/or migratory status, among others) through different levels of power (from the global to the local) at different lifetime stages for a population. It also aims to contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between gender (in)equalities and health (inequalities). The editors welcome different types of contributions: empirical research, theoretical papers, methodological papers, and reviews. Studies aiming to contribute to developing gender and social theories building on intersectional, ecosocial, relational, or biosocial approaches are welcome. Also of interest are methodological papers using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods, and are particularly studies that explore means of better addressing the complexity of analysing health inequalities according to this multidimensional or multiple approach. The editors also welcome papers that address not only issues of dominance and/or suffering but also those about resistance, agency, resilience, and/or empowerment. They encourage submissions from researchers working in low-, middle-, and high-income countries.
The International AIDS Conference is a 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 state of affairs, evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learnt, and collectively chart a course forward. The AIDS 2016 programme will present new scientific knowledge and offer many opportunities for structured dialogue on the major issues facing the global response to HIV.
The Public Health Association of South Africa 2016 Conference builds on the 2015 Conference theme of “Health and Sustainable Development: The Future”. The 2016 Conference will focus on how public health education as well as practice will need to transform to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2016 Conference will feature workshops, satellite sessions, panel discussions, oral and poster presentations and site visits. The panel debate format of 2015 will be retained with National Health Insurance a potential topic. The 2016 Conference forms part of the University of Fort Hare’s centenary and this very special occasion will be marked during the opening of the conference.
The UNU-WIDER PhD Internship Programme gives registered doctoral students an opportunity to utilize the resources and facilities at UNU-WIDER for their PhD dissertation or thesis research, and to work with UNU-WIDER researchers in areas of mutual interest. PhD interns typically spend 3 consecutive months at UNU-WIDER and return to their home institution afterwards. They prepare one or more research papers and present a seminar on their research findings. PhD interns may also have the opportunity to publish their research in UNU-WIDER’s working paper series. Applicants must be enrolled in a PhD programme and have shown ability to conduct research on developing economies. Candidates working in other social sciences may apply but should keep in mind that UNU-WIDER is an economics-focused institute. Candidates should be fluent in oral and written English and possess good quantitative and/or qualitative analytical skills. Preference is given to applicants who are living or working in developing countries and who are at later stages of the PhD. For further information see the website.
This congress is taking place at a time of unprecedented challenges in population nutrition. Global and national food systems are increasingly concentrated and globalised, with small scale food production being rapidly marginalised in countries where such activity previously predominated. In many countries people are mobilising to defend their rights and taking action to recover and preserve indigenous and environmentally sustainable food systems. Several African countries are experiencing a ‘nutrition transition’ but are not yet as advanced along this trajectory as is South Africa, your host country. Together with ‘Big Food’ – large corporations in the food system – South African food companies (manufacturers and retailers) are expanding into Sub-Saharan Africa, influencing many countries’ food environments and nutritional indicators. Hence, South Africa’s experience and policies can inform improved understanding and policy making on the continent and can also provide a platform for all concerned with the impact of the food system on the health of humanity and our planet. The holding of the WPHNA Congress in South Africa has the potential to inform key policy makers and researchers and significantly shape the food and nutrition policy landscape in South Africa, Africa and beyond.
TRUST Equitable Research Partnerships invites the submission of case studies identifying the risks of exporting non-ethical research practices to low and middle income countries. The TRUST project addresses the risks of ethics dumping - that is the export of research practices that would be considered unethical in Europe - for both public and privately funded research. With the globalisation of research activities, there is an increasing risk of research involving sensitive ethical issues being conducted by European organisations outside the European Union, without proper compliance structures and follow-up. To contribute to the research, TRUST are launching this bottom-up call. Five full case studies will be funded from successful applicants to this competition. These cases must refer to research undertaken in low or middle income countries by researchers, sponsors or funders from high income countries; in any field of research (e.g. life sciences, social sciences, agriculture, environment, animals, security, etc.). The deadline for submission of abstracts is March 2nd, 2016 with full submission of selected proposals on May 2nd 2016. The five winners will each receive €2,000. The competition is part of the TRUST project, co-funded by the European Commission under grant number 664771.
The United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines is calling for contributions by interested stakeholders that address the misalignment between the rights of inventors, international human rights law, trade rules and public health where it impedes the innovation of and access to health technologies. In particular the High-Level Panel will consider contributions that promote research, development, innovation and increase access to medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and related health technologies to improve the health and wellbeing of all, as envisaged by Sustainable Development Goal 3, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development more broadly. Submitted contributions should be evidence-informed and include references to the principles, literature and models upon which the contribution is based. The contributions should reflect, align and demonstrate how it will support the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in particular, Sustainable Development Goal 3, that aims to improve the health and wellbeing for all, and where applicable, indicate the political, financial or other requirements to the implement of the proposed ideas.
The Symposium invites abstracts for individual presentations, linked to the following sub-themes: Enhancing health system resilience: absorbing shocks and sustaining gains in every setting; Equity, rights, gender and ethics: maintaining responsiveness through values-based health systems; Engaging power and politics in promoting health and public value; Implementing improvement and innovation in health services and systems; New partnerships and collaborations for health system research and development; Future reciprocal learning and evaluation approaches for health system development. Abstracts in a given sub-theme may address any of the Symposium’s traditional ‘field-building dimensions’: Cutting-edge research, Innovative research approaches and measures, Novel strategies for developing capacity, Learning communities and knowledge translation, Innovative practice in health systems development. See website for details.