Transcript Project overview and progress [PPTX]

National Workshop on Planning for the
GEOHealth Hub for Interdisciplinary
Research and Training
project overview and progress
Kiros Berhane, PhD, Professor
Department of Preventive Medicine
University of Southern California
Outline
Project Overview
Motivation for the GEOHealth Hub
Specific Aims
The Investigative Team
Institutional Partners & Stakeholders
Progress
GEOHealtb Hub National Workshop
Motivation: Why a GEOHealth Hub?
 East African Region already facing multiple challenges
 Malnutrition,
Poverty
Infectious diseases
Threat of NCDs emerging
 Burden of disease from environmental and occupational
hazards is a growing concern
 Health consequences of climate change are emerging
issues at the global scale
 Lack of data and limited human capacity in key areas
 A need for a comprehensive systematic review and
strategic action
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Geographic Focus & Institutional Setup
AAU SPH
- HOARECN
- IDS
FMOH
EEPA
MOLSA
PAN-Ethiopia
….
Makerere SPH
 via HOARECN
GEOHealtb Hub National Workshop
AAU
+
USC
Specific Aims
Aim 1:
 To conduct a survey to identify current research,
educational, policy and regulatory activities
(Governmental, academic, NGO)
to identify gaps in these activities
to evaluate needs for strengthening capacity
Aim 2:
 To analyze findings of inventory and conduct
planning workshops
 To develop innovative & cost-effective solutions
to identified training, research and policy needs
GEOHealtb Hub National Workshop
Specific Aims
Aim 3:
 To develop a strategic research plan for the full hub
proposal
 To address critical evidence gaps for mitigation of
environmental and occupational health problems
 Focus on priority areas of national and regional
stakeholders
Aim 4:
 To establish a capacity building framework for the full
hub proposal for
curriculum development and enhancement of training
programs
focus areas of environmental /occupational health in the
region.
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Specific Aims
Aim 5:
 Create a framework for translating research findings into
preventive action
 Focus on medical, public health, and regulatory sectors
 Partnership with working appropriate organizations in the
region
Aim 6:
 Provide an immersion experience in environmental health
research and training for AAU principal scientists
 focus on curriculum development and training for the hub
 Via workshops in Ethiopia and visits AAU  USC
Aim 7:
 Create regional networking platforms to develop regional
buy-in for the full GEOHealth hub
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Progress: Mechanism
Weekly teleconferences on key and relevant
issues
Reciprocal visits between AAU and USC
Dedicated teams organized by focus themes
Lively exchanges of documents and
instruments between teams
Active engagement by major stakeholders
GEOHealtb Hub National Workshop
Progress: Inception
 Inception meeting at AAU (Dec., 2012)
 To launch project
 To reach consensus on themes
for SANA - Ethiopia
 To formulate SANA instruments
 To meet and brief high level
government officials
GEOHealtb Hub National Workshop
Progress: SANA for Ethiopia
 What is SANA?
A systematic process for conducting analysis of the
prevailing situation and assessment of needs and
priorities
Situational Analysis (SA)
Critical review of published/grey literature
Assessment of current situation on research, policy and
physical/human capacity
Needs Assessment (NA)
Identification/prioritization of critical gaps in the scientific
evidence based on the SA
Prioritization of training and policy needs based on national
agenda
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Progress: SANA for Ethiopia
 Process organized around four themes: Policy and three
focus areas
 Air pollution and health
 Occupational health and safety
 Climate change and health
 Technical teams organized by theme (both lead
investigators and research assistants)
 Survey Instruments developed for formal interviews
 A computerized database system developed (a modified
version of HELDS) for compiling information
 Process facilitated through weekly calls, active editing
process, and retreats
 First draft completed in preparation for the national
workshop
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Progress: Maturing Partnerships
 Visit by AAU delegation to USC in April, 2013
Scientific exchanges: seminars
Capacity building: AQMD, USC-Spatial Sciences, etc.
 Efforts to expand the environmental health
portfolio
Clean cookstoves and child/maternal health
Exposure assessment capacity building
 Preparations for Year 2: beyond Ethiopia
 More African and US partnerships for the full hub
Possible consolidation: e.g., UGANDA planning grant
Possible US partners: e.g., University of Wisconsin
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Next Steps
• National workshop in Addis Ababa (July, 2013) to
finalize plans for full hub
• Finalizing the SANA document based on feedback from
the national workshop
• Expansion to other three countries in Year 2
• RFA for full hub expected in Fall, 2014
• Submission of full hub application in Spring 2015
• Focus will be on training (curriculum development) and
research output
• Hopefully the beginning of a sustained collaboration…
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Thank You
GEOHealtb Hub National Workshop