Latest Equinet Updates

The Regional Network on Equity and Health in Southern Africa (EQUINET) (www.equinetafrica.org) has noted that equity related work needs to define and build a more active role for important stakeholders in health. This means incorporating the power and ability that people (and social groups) have to make choices over health inputs and their capacity to use these choices to improve health. To do this requires a clearer analysis of the social dimensions of health and their role in health equity, i.e. the role of social networking and exclusion, of the forms and levels of participation and of how governance systems distribute power and authority over the resources needed for health. To understand these factors, EQUINET has been carrying out research work to evaluate the current and desired forms of participation within health systems in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania amongst other Southern African countries.
* Abstract Book
http://equinetafrica.org/bibl/docs/ABS012005gov.pdf

EQUINET invites middle to senior policymakers, academics and civil society members working in areas of trade and / or health from countries in East and Southern Africa to participate in a capacity building and research programme on trade and health.

EQUINET invites middle to senior policymakers, academics and civil society members working in areas of trade and / or health from countries in East and Southern Africa to participate in a capacity building and research programme on trade and health, i.e. to
* Participate in country-level training on trade and health to be held between January and March 2005
* In country level teams, to undertake and report on national assessments of trade and health, supported by technical and financial resources, between March and June 2005
* Review the country level assessments at a regional meeting in mid 2005
* Make recommendations on follow up of the programme

Equinet Regional Meeting On Participation And Governance In Health, Zambia, January 26-28 2004: Call Closes On December 5 2004

This call invites applicants to participate in and present work at the EQUINET regional meeting on participation and Governance in Health being held in co-operation with Centre for Health and Social Science Research (CHESSORE) Zambia and Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC) Zimbabwe in Lusaka, Zambia, January 26-28 2004.

The call:

EQUINET invites researchers and practitioners working on community participation and governance in health to participate in a regional meeting to
- Discuss and exchange evidence and experience on the impacts of community participation and joint community- health service structures on the performance of health systems
- Identify areas for follow up research, training and policy review to strengthen mechanisms for effective community involvement in health systems and for increased responsiveness of health services to community priorities and needs.

We invite interested organisations and individuals to submit an application to participate with information on their work and role in this area (see below). Applicants can also apply for EQUINET sponsorship to the meeting (see below). Applications need to be sent to the EQUINET secretariat by December 5 2004.

The programme:

The Regional Network on Equity and Health in Southern Africa (EQUINET) (www.equinetafrica.org) has noted that equity related work needs to define and build a more active role for important stakeholders in health, and to incorporate the power and ability people (and social groups) have to make choices over health inputs and their capacity to use these choices towards health. To do this requires a clearer analysis of the social dimensions of health and their role in health equity, i.e. the role of social networking and exclusion, of the forms and levels of participation and of how governance systems distribute power and authority over the resources needed for health. To understand these factors, EQUINET has been carrying out research work to evaluate the current and desired forms of participation within health systems in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania amongst other Southern African countries. This work has been co-ordinated by CHESSORE Zambia and TARSC Zimbabwe.

The multicountry programme explored the functioning of district and clinic level structures (neighbourhood and health centre committees and district health boards) for community participation in terms of whether they i. represent the interests of communities ii. have any role in health system performance and resource allocation iii. include community preferences in health planning and resource allocation iv. improve equity in resource allocation v. improve health system performance, especially in relation to equity The field studies and literature review in this programme explored outcomes in these areas, and how these outcomes were influenced by the functioning of these joint community- health service structures and deeper underlying determinants, including their legal status, authority and mandate.

The regional meeting:

The EQUINET/ CHESSORE/ TARSC regional meeting will be held in Lusaka, Zambia 26-28 January 2005 and will review the results of the multicountry programme and of other experiences in the region of joint health service and community structures for community participation in health, particularly in terms of their effectiveness representing community interests, and in improving the equity, relevance and quality of health systems. The meeting aims to share experience over a 3 day period from individuals and organisations working in east and southern Africa, and to use this to identify a follow-up programme of training, research and policy review in the region. EQUINET also propose to produce a book on participation, governance, equity and health in 2005 and will invite submissions from presentations to the regional meeting.

Call for participation and applications:

Interested applicants should submit a 1-2 page ‘expression of interest’ that outlines
- a title that summarises their work in this area
- an abstract of the research question, methods and key findings in this area OR a summary of the work they are doing in this area, that they would want to present at the meeting
- a personal CV,
- brief information on the institution that they work in, and
- a sample document written by the applicant on any relevant theme.
- An indication of whether they are self sponsored or whether they need sponsorship for travel, or accommodation,. or both

Applicants should submit this information by 5th December 2004 to the EQUINET secretariat admin@equinetafrica.org / Fax 263-4-737 220 and copy it to rene@tarsc.org and chessore@zamnet.zm

Applicants will be informed by 17th December 2004 on the outcome of their submission, including sponsorship and of the logistic details for the meeting. Participants of existing EQUINET programmes are welcome to apply.

Focal points for queries on this programme are Dr TJ Ngulube at the Centre for Health and Social Science Research Zambia and Dr R Loewenson (TARSC). Please send queries through admin@equinetafrica.org)