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#OurNewPublication The future of public health doctoral education in Africa: transforming higher education institutions to enhance research and practice Abstract The African Union and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Call to Action in 2022 for Africa's New Public Health Order that underscored the need for increased capacity in the public health workforce. Additional domestic and global investments in public health workforce development are central to achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063 of the African Union, which aims to build and accelerate the implementation of continental frameworks for equitable, people-centred growth and development. Recognising the crucial role of higher education and research, we assessed the capabilities of public health doctoral training in schools and programmes of public health in Africa across three conceptual components: instructional, institutional, and external. Six inter-related and actionable recommendations were derived to advance doctoral training, research, and practice capacity within and between universities. These can be achieved through equitable partnerships between universities, research centres, and national, regional, and global public health institutions.

As a final year public health student in Nigeria, it sometimes gets confusing to envision what my future holds in this field. To gain more clarity and widen my knowledge in public health, I decided to take a free course on "Introduction to Impact Evaluation of Health Communication" through the Global Health Learning platform. The course provided valuable insights into assessing the effectiveness of health communication strategies, which is crucial for improving public health outcomes. Understanding how to measure the impact of these strategies allows for more informed decision-making and the development of more effective health interventions. This knowledge is particularly important in the context of public health in Nigeria, where effective communication can significantly influence health behaviors and outcomes. By applying these evaluation techniques, I hope to contribute to more successful public health initiatives and ultimately improve community health and well-being.

As Social Accountability is an essential concept in medical and allied health education that directs medical schools to serve their societies and communities.... our latest document summarizing the pioneering experience of the faculty of medicine of Sousse, in field of social accountability, has just appeared: "Addressing Health Inequities Through Social Accountability: A Compulsory Pathway to Universal Health Coverage — Case of The Faculty of Medicine Ibn El Jazzar of The University of Sousse, Tunisia" https://lnkd.in/dm7NBeR9

🌍 Bridging the Gap in Public Health Research and Training in Africa🌍 Recent findings in a policy brief published in The Lancet Public Health underscore the urgent need for equitable partnerships between universities, research centers, and public health institutions to bolster doctoral training and research in Africa. Africa faces a significant shortage of public health researchers, with only 80 researchers per million people compared to the global average of 1,081. By 2050, the continent will need 12,500 epidemiologists per million people to ensure global health security. At Africa Clinical Trials Solutions, we recognize the critical importance of advancing public health education to address these challenges. We are committed to supporting collaboration that enhance the capacity of public health workers and contribute to achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063 of the African Union. Let's work together to strengthen our public health workforce and create a healthier future for all. Contact us today: info@africa-cts.com or send us a DM here. #PublicHealth #HigherEducation #Africa #HealthSecurity #ClinicalResearch https://lnkd.in/ePYt5erS

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📢On September 27, #SSHRC, Canadian Institutes of Health Research | Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada and Michael Smith Health Research BC will launch a new joint initiative as part of ongoing efforts to support research on research (also known as meta-research) in the Canadian context. Meta-research is a vital element of the social sciences and humanities research landscape, as well as the broader multi-disciplinary research landscape, as it allows for greater insight into the ways in which research is conducted, evaluated, and supported. Grants will be valued at up to $200,000 each, over three years. SSHRC, CIHR, and Michael Smith Health Research BC aim to fund approximately 9 grants to applicants affiliated with eligible Canadian institutions. Learn more about this joint initiative: https://lnkd.in/ewNSwa9d The deadline to apply for this funding opportunity will be February 20, 2025. Stay tuned for the official launch of the Research on Research initiative on September 27!

A #literaturereview is essential in determining the necessity of your study by assessing existing research. This process can refines your research question and provides a broader context by comparing your findings with those of similar studies. The best research questions typically arise from previously observed findings and issues, which is why new researchers may find literature reviews particularly beneficial for enhancing their understanding of the topic. Reviews should be thorough, utilizing systematic methods to critically assess and present the methodologies and outcomes of the included studies. Despite their value, literature reviews come with challenges. They are often time-consuming, requiring expertise in identifying and analyzing suitable materials. It’s also important to recognize that past evidence may not always represent current thinking or states. To ensure your study is well-defined, clearly identify your #primaryobjective. A single, straightforward primary goal ensures a clear, achievable answer. Secondary questions should complement but not detract from the main objective, such as investigating potential side effects. Throughout the study process, from protocol development and SOP writing to data analysis, consistently address whether the research question is being answered. All collaborators and partners share the responsibility of monitoring this aspect. Developing a solid research question is foundational to creating a study protocol that facilitates a well-designed study capable of yielding results that could enhance health outcomes in a population. #literaturereview #researchquestion #medicine #clinicalresearch #research Research PLUS Africa Clinical Research Society of Kenya Professional Certificate in Clinical Research (PCCR)

I am happy to share that I have completed my PhD in Health Policy and Systems from the University of Ghana (UG) some weeks ago. I must admit that the journey was both challenging and fulfilling. Here are some highlights of the successes (Between 2018 and 2023) ************************************** Doctoral Fellowship positions held: ************************************** ➊ Doctoral Research Fellowship in Health Policy Analysis (HPA) at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, a highly competitive Global Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) position for top ten (10) most promising scholars in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) by the World Health Organization (WHO) Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) ➋ Doctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Health Policy Planning and Management of the UG- School of Public Health (UGSPH) ➌ Harvard Chan School of Public Health Doctoral research fellow and analytic team lead (through QuEST Network) for Ghana at the UGSPH on health care quality and health service utilization projects   *************************************** Jobs: *************************************** ➊ Tutor (Health Policy and System for Sexual and Reproductive Health)– London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) ➋ Senior Consultant at The World Bank working on Social Inclusion of the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) ➌ USAID Country Program Assistant for Ghana for the Global Health Evaluation and Learning Support Activity (GH EvaLS) for the mid-term evaluation of the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS-8) Program ➍ Maternal and Child Health Research Associate at the UGSPH ***************************************** Honors and Awards: ***************************************** ➊ WHO Health Policy Analysis Scholar ➋ UNICEF and Africa CDC Abstract Scholarship recipient ➌ International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) Conference and Education Scholarship for Patients and Patient representatives ➍ Health Systems Global (HSG) Health Systems Research speaker scholarship ➎ ISQua Inaugural Patient Inclusion Representative Scholarship ***************************************** Donor Funded Research Projects worked on: ****************************************** » » » WHO, USAID, The World Bank, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, R4D, Susan T. Buffett Foundation ***************************************** Appreciation: ****************************************** My sincere gratitude to all who have supported me on this journey, especially my HPA Mentor Prof Lucy Gilson and supervisory team Prof Patricia Akweongo, Dr Genevieve Cecilia Aryeetey and Prof JUSTICE MOSES KWAKU AHETO. Special thanks to Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research for the HPA fellowship and research grant. To Dr Eleanor Whyle, Dr Fidele Kanyimbu Mukinda (MD, MSc, PhD), Dr. Zubin Cyrus Shroff, Professor Helen Schneider, Dr Rakesh Parashar and #HPA Cohort 2 fellows, I say thank you!  

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚’𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞? Despite progress, Africa still faces significant health challenges, ranging from infectious diseases to non-communicable conditions like climate-induced health impacts. A recent study by Bukenya and colleagues. (2024) highlights the pressing need for more robust doctoral education in public health across the continent. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝟖𝟎 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎—𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. The authors emphasize a critical shortage of epidemiologists—Africa will need 12,500 by 2050 to ensure health security. 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟑𝟔% 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐁𝐮𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥., 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒). Furthermore, competency-based education is essential, yet only 59% of programs incorporate this framework, limiting graduates' readiness for real-world challenges. Accelerated investments in capacity-building, increased local financing, and fostering interprofessional education can drive a sustainable transformation in public health. This is not just a necessity but a strategic step towards achieving Africa's Agenda 2063 goals. Let's shape a healthier future together! #PublicHealth #HigherEducation #Africa2030 Justine Bukenya Derege Kebede Mwambi Henry Yemane Berhane Chelsey R. Canavan Tobias Chirwa Olufunmilayo Fawole Yawe David Guwatudde Isabel Madzorera, ScD Mosa Mashabela Ayoade Oduola Bruno Sunguya Amadou SALL Raji Tajudeen Wafaie Fawzi The ARISE Africa Foundation Luchuo Engelbert Bain

📢 Calling all medical students from universities across Sudan! I am conducting an important research study on the knowledge and attitudes toward Alzheimer’s disease among university students, and I need your valuable input. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and help improve awareness and support for individuals affected by it. Students from the following universities are invited to participate: University of Khartoum, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Alzaiem Alazhari University, Omdurman Islamic University, Ahfad University for Women, University of Gezira, University of Medical Sciences and Technology (UMST), Elrazi University, University of Bahri, Al-Neelain University, National University (Sudan), Alfashir University, Kassala University, Red Sea University, University of Kordofan, University of Dongola, Al-Salam University, University of Gadarif, Nile Valley University, and Shendi University. 📌 If you’re interested in contributing to this study, please complete the questionnaire through the following link: ID No 7 [https://lnkd.in/dZ4xxP8D] Your participation is crucial to gaining insights that can help shape future healthcare strategies for Alzheimer’s in Sudan. Thank you for your support! #MedicalResearch #AlzheimersAwareness #SudanMedicalStudents #HealthcareResearch #StudentParticipation #MedicalAwareness #SudanHealth