Bloom Public Health’s Post

Young people are at the forefront of change and Innovation and have the spirit to make things happen. Africa CDC and Partners recognize the fact that young people have ideas and skills, engaging them is key to the success of policies and programs that aim at improving health and well-being in Africa. Africa CDC will bring together 250 young Health Professionals from across Africa for the second edition of the youth Pre-conference on margin of the International Conference on Public Health In Africa taking place in Lusaka Zambia between the 25-26 of November 2023 under the theme: "YOUTH LEADERSHIP FOR A SAFER AND HEALTHIER AFRICA". Africa CDC #YPC2023 #youthleadershipinhealth

📌 On the sidelines of the 3rd International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2023), Africa CDC and GIZ African Union will organise an official side event titled "Strengthening Cooperation between Africa CDC and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) towards Africa's Health Security." The side event aims to explore ways to improve cooperation and collaboration between continental and regional bodies to ensure a safer and healthier Africa. Africa CDC and the RECs have distinct comparative advantages that can be harnessed to address the high disease burden in the continent. However, cooperation across both levels is still limited, with room for significant improvement. RECs are the building blocks of the African Union and have significant responsibilities to support the advancement of continental development goals. As the health sector plays a crucial role in the policy objectives of the RECs, they share the responsibility of delivering better health outcomes with continental and national institutions. It is therefore essential to increase intra and inter-regional integration and cooperation to improve health outcomes at all levels. Africa CDC and RECs provide a significant value proposition to the achievement of the Africa Health Strategy (2016 - 2030), various regional health strategies, as well as the New Public Health Order. The side event will showcase current collaboration between Africa CDC and the RECs and propose strategies for enhancing pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response in Africa. #AfricanUnion #RECs #Cooperation #Agenda2063 #ImprovedHealthOutcomes #CPHIA2023 Details of the side event can be found here 🔻

🌟 Insights from State Minister of Health 🌟 Dr Yvan Butera State Minister of Health, delivered a powerful message on the need for targeted and impactful interventions. Reflecting on the challenges faced in the past, he noted, "We’ve implemented numerous interventions over the years, but it’s often been difficult to discern which were truly effective. While some made a difference, valuable time and resources were spent. Moving forward, we need to understand the specific challenges in different regions and focus on low-cost interventions that deliver real impact." Dr. Butera emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, "We will work together with Africa Quantitative Sciences together with other institutions to tackle these issues head-on." His commitment to strategic, data-driven solutions highlights the essential role of partnerships in advancing healthcare in Rwanda.   #NextGenResearcher #EventLaunch #AQS #HealthcareInnovation #ResearchExcellence #RwandaHealth

The Importance of Research in Developing Effective Policies: A Case for Data-Driven Decisions in Africa Strong policies are the backbone of thriving societies. But how do we ensure these policies are truly effective? The answer lies in robust research. Research provides the critical evidence base that informs policy development across all sectors, from healthcare to education, infrastructure to economic development. Here's how: Identifying needs and gaps: Research helps us understand the root causes of problems and who is most affected. This targeted knowledge allows policymakers to tailor solutions that address the specific needs of a community. Evaluating potential solutions: Research isn't just about problems; it's about evidence-based solutions. By analyzing the effectiveness of existing programs and interventions elsewhere, policymakers can make informed choices about what might work best in their context. Monitoring and adapting: The best policies are constantly evolving. Research allows us to track the impact of implemented policies and identify areas for improvement, ensuring policies remain relevant and effective. A Recent Kenyan Example: Medical Oxygen in Bungoma Let's take a recent example; The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) conducted a research project assessing medical oxygen availability in Bungoma, Kenya. This vital research, referenced by Senator Wakoli in the Senate, provided crucial data on a critical healthcare issue. Armed with this research, policymakers can now: 1. Understand the scope of the problem: How big is the oxygen access gap in Bungoma? Who is most affected? And how about the country generally? 2. Develop targeted interventions: Is it a distribution issue? A storage issue? Research helps pinpoint the specific roadblocks to address. 3. Measure success: By monitoring oxygen availability after implementing solutions, policymakers can track progress and ensure lasting impact. The APHRC example perfectly illustrates the power of research in shaping effective policies. By investing in research and ensuring its findings reach policymakers, we can create a future where African nations have data-driven solutions for the challenges they face. What are your thoughts? Share your experiences with how research has informed policy development in your field or community. Let's keep the conversation going! #PolicyResearch #Africa #APHRC #DataDrivenSolutions

YOUR MENTAL FITNESS MATTERS.

Afya Plus “Stakeholders Engagement Model” has been instrumental in fostering local ownership, sustained commitment, and meaningful engagement across all stages of our projects implementation, encompassing participatory planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. At Afya Plus, we leverage this “robust model” to effectively share strategic information with our stakeholders and collaboratively design and scale-up locally identified solutions in a cost-effective manner. By fostering local ownership and harnessing locally available strategies and opportunities, we believe in adopting “game changer and big push” locally-led approaches to drive significant positive changes to the communities we serve. These efforts should aim at promoting inclusivity, efficiency, and sustainability of our interventions, ultimately fostering long-term prosperity, and empowering these communities on their journey towards self-reliance. To access the full documentation on our website, simply click the link in our bio to dive into the details. #LetCommunitiesLead USAID Pepfar Scholars Organization Amref Health Africa Tanzania Management and Development for Health (MDH) Ntuli Kapologwe Christian Social Services Commission CSSC PharmAccess Tanzania Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS) IntraHealth International tamisemi Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH)

🌍 Exciting News from Africa CDC: Institutionalizing Evidence-Informed Priority Setting for Health! I'm thrilled to share some exciting developments happening at Africa CDC to enhance public health across the continent. The Africa CDC’s Health Economics and Financing Programme (HEP), with support from a group of Health Economics Experts, has worked over the past year to develop frameworks for strengthening African Union Member States capacity to use Evidence-Informed priority setting in resource allocation decision-making, including in emergency preparedness and response. As a dedicated member of the Expert Working Group (EWG), tasked with developing guidance briefs for priority setting during public health emergencies, I'm particularly excited about attending an African Union Member States and Partners Consultative workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Scheduled from April 24 to April 27, 2024, this workshop marks an important step towards strengthening health systems in Africa. The focus? Validating and launching continental frameworks for institutionalizing Evidence-Informed Priority Setting and resource optimization processes in Africa. Why is this workshop significant? 1️⃣           #EmpoweringDecisionMakers: By prioritizing evidence-based approaches, we empower decision-makers to allocate resources effectively, especially during public health emergencies. 2️⃣           #StrengtheningHealthSystems: This workshop represents a proactive effort to strengthen health systems across Africa, ensuring better preparedness and resilience in the face of future challenges. 3️⃣           #CollaborationforImpact: Through collaboration with African Union Member States and technical partners, we aim to amplify our impact and drive meaningful change in public health. I'm honored to be a part of this initiative and look forward to contributing to the development of frameworks that will shape health priorities across the continent. It's a testament to Africa CDC's dedication to building a safer, healthier, and more prosperous Africa. Stay tuned for updates as we work towards evidence-based decision-making and improved health outcomes for all in Africa! #AfricaCDC #PublicHealth #PrioritySetting #HealthEquity #EvidenceInformed #HealthSystems #HealthEconomics #HealthPolicy #EmergencyResponse #DiseaseOutbreak #AfricaRising 🌍🔬

🌟Exciting update from CPHIA! 🌍 The annual International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) is organized by Africa CDC and provides a unique African-led platform for leaders across the continent to reflect on lessons learned in health and science, and align on a way forward for creating more resilient health systems. Today at #cphia2023 , R4D’s Seyni Mbaye presented the findings of a new study on the importance of inclusive policy dialogue for designing successful health system strengthening initiatives. The study focuses on the ideal nature of stakeholder-intensive policy dialogues — including the necessary extent of stakeholder inclusion and insights into common potential pitfalls — alongside methods to evaluate the success and value-added benefits of policy dialogue within the broader system. The study underscores the significance of inclusion and collaboration in the success of a health system strengthening process — and yet, inclusive policy dialogue is frequently overlooked in the planning and execution of health system interventions. 👉 Stay tuned for more info about this study! And kudos to our colleague Seyni for this important work! #inclusivepolicydialogue #systemsthinking #healthsystemstrengthening