African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation together (ACHEST) with International Development Research Centre (IDRC) convened a two days Regional Consultation of health Think Tanks and academia on the fast tracking the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and public policy for better health outcomes in Eastern and Southern Africa.
The consultation meeting that ran from 13th to 14th October 2016 at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala brought together high-level delegates in the category of health experts, heads of policy research institutions, academia and media from the eight countries including: Canada, Ghana, Zambia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Dr. Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde, Director of Health Workforce, Education and Development
at the African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST) attended the Chinese Consortium of Universities Global Health (CUGH) conference that ran from 14th to15th October 2016 held at the Duke Kunshan University in China.

Dr Margaret Chan
Director-General of the World Health Organization

Prof. Francis Omaswa, the Executive Director of African Centre for Global Health and SocialProf. Francis Omaswa, Executive Director ACHEST speaking at the TICAD VI Commemoration Symposium and seated on the left is Dr. Ikou Tazikawe, Deputy Director General JAICA Transformation (ACHEST) made a keynote presentation at the Network for Human Resources for Health in Francophone Africa, TICAD VI Commemoration Symposium on Approaches for Solving HRH Challenges in Pursuit of UHC and The Roles of Regional Networks in the Global Health Trends on the 8th of September 2016 in Tokyo, Japan.

The objective of the high level symposium was to; share the activities and achievements of
Regional Network known as Reseou Vision Tokyo (RVT) that was created in 2012; b) to exchange opinions with specialists of various backgrounds about the common challenges that Francophone African countries confront in HRH; and c) to discuss effective roles of regional networks such as RVT and possible measures for relevant stakeholders to engage in HRH related activities sustainably and effectively.

Prof Francis Omaswa, while making his Keynote Speech titled: Challenges and Opportunities in Human Resources for Health in Africa cited that; “Africa is 11% of the world’s population, BUT half of the world’s burden of maternal and child deaths, 85% of Malaria cases, 67% of AIDS cases and 26% of underweight children are in Africa. Due to an increasing epidemic of non-communicable diseases, Africa is faced with a double burden of diseases, has the highest disease burden, yet the lowest level of financing for health.”

Robert Odedo, Chief Operations Officer and Dr. Vincent Ojoome the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation at African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST) participated in the regional level Health Systems Advocacy Partnership Theory of Change exercise in Lusaka, Zambia from the 30th August-1st September 2016.

The meeting that was convened by the Medical Transparence Alliance (MeTA) and facilitated by the PAMOJA consultant brought together members of the regional team that consists of three partner organizations that include; African Center for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST), Amref and Health Action international (HAI)/Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS).

“ACHEST’s expected outputs at the regional level is to lobby for a sustainable platform meant for advancing the Health Systems Advocacy agenda (HSA) at the African Union level for advancing evidence and space for dialogue which should live beyond the Health Systems Advocacy Partnership project.” Robert Odedo noted.
This project focuses on Human Resources for Health (HRH) and Sexual and Reproductive Health commodities and devices to review and ensure implementation of policies. The 5 year partnership project seeks to; build partnerships at the region and internationally, strengthen the health system through lobby and advocacy at the regional level on Human Resources for Health and Commodities on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights.
The different partners were assigned different roles. ACHEST was assigned to manage the procurement of a consultant to carry out the baseline survey while Amref Africa was assigned to come up with the Terms of Reference for the regional team comprising two members from the three partner organizations.

African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST) was represented by Dr. Patrick Kadama, Director Policy and Practice, Dr. Vincent Ojoome, Director Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr. Peter Eriki, Director Health Systems and Robert Odedo, the Chief Operations Officer at a Theory of Change workshop from 8th -15th August 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The workshop that was convened by Amref Flying Doctors coordinating office in Netherlands was facilitated by the PAMOJA consultants and had the seven context areas including: Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, the African region, the European Union region, Netherlands and the Global context in attendance.

The objectives of this workshop were: To understand the baseline plan and how it is structured; gain familiarity and confidence in using the baseline plan including validating indicators; increasing knowledge and skills in using specific data collection and analysis tools relevant for the completion of the baseline and review the work plan for completing the baseline and drafting the baseline reports.

At the end of the workshop the objectives of the workshop had been achieved and the different partners had gained more understanding of the baseline objectives, indicators and the tools to be used.

Workforce Migration Symposium organized by ACHEST in KampalaAfrican Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST) convened a high level Multi-stakeholder Health Workforce Migration Symposium at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala. The symposium that took place on the 16th August 2016 was premised on the theme: The Health Workforce Migration Crisis in Uganda; Understanding the Issues and Finding Solutions.

The State Minister for Primary Healthcare – Dr. Joyce Moriku while giving a speech during the symposium noted with much gratitude the progress through this project that has enabled the country for the first time to comply as a WHO member State, with timely reporting on the WHO Code of Practice this year, in March 2016. “The Ministry is available to provide ACHEST with any further information that may be required to take this work forward.” Dr. Moriku promised.

Ibadat Dhillon, WHO/ GHWA representative and the project lead in Geneva while presenting a comprehensive position paper on the Health Workforce Migration: A Global Perspective elicited on the WHO Global Code of Practice and gave an elaborate statistics on the migration of the health workforce from and to the different selected countries. He noted that, the number of migrant doctors and nurses working in OECD countries has increased by 60% over the past 10 years (from 1,130,068 to 1,807,948). “Investing in new health workforce employment opportunities may add broader socio-economic value to the economy and contribute to the implementation for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” Dhillon advised.

The African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation, the former Coordinating Centre for Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) together with the Nurses Education Partnership Initiative (NEPI) and University of Nairobi organized the 6th MEPI/NEPI Annual Symposium with the theme: Tackling Africa’s Health Challenges: Promoting Health Professions Education, Practice, Research and Retention of Health Workers.
The three days symposium ran from 2nd -4th August 2016 at Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. It brought together Professors, Doctors, Ministers of Health and Education, Academia, Media, Social Scientists, Students, among others from Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Canada, UK and USA.
ACHESTs, Prof. Francis Omaswa, Dr. Patrick Kadama and Dr. Peter Eriki at the Symposium in NairobiDuring the 6th Annual Symposium, African Forum for Research and Education in Health AFREhealth was launched as a sustainability measure and way forward for MEPI/NEPI. AfreHealth is an initiative that will be led and managed by the Africans in collaboration with partner organizations to promote research and education updates in member institutions. Training and capacity building of health professionals in research and teaching methods will constitute a core activity that will not only improve the caliber of health professionals on the continent, but will also facilitate access to grants in support of research which is critically needed in our search for new and innovative ways to treat the high disease burden.

Dr. Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde, Director, Health Workforce, Education and Development at African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST) attended the Network Towards Unity for Health (TUFH) conference in Shenyang, China from 26th-30th July 2016.

The conference that was premised on the theme: Building Trust: A Global Challenge for HealthDr. Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde making a presentation during the workshop in China Systems Reform brought together over 250 participants from over 30 countries around the world. The conference was structured in several formats that included; plenaries, poster presentations, workshops and a new unique format known as TUFH talks where several people made 5 minutes presentations to which the panel responded.

Dr. Kiguli-Malwadde also made a presentation at a workshop on: Networks that Impact Health Professions Education: Sharing Best practices. Her presentation highlighted a number of issues including new teaching methods, challenges in health systems and new ways of community engagements among others.

The conference gave participants an insight in the way the China health system works and how health professions education is conducted.

During the Conference held last year in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr. Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde was elected the Vice Secretary General of TUFH.

The next conference will be on Social accountability in Tunis and Prof. Francis Omaswa was proposed as a Key note speaker on leadership.

Dr. Patrick Kadama, Director of Policy and Strategy together with Robert Odedo, the Chief Operating Officer of African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST) presented progress on the Brain Drain to Brain Gain project that is been implemented by ACHEST in the Project Coordination meeting in New Delhi in India.

The meeting that ran from 31st May to 1st June 2016 registered a high level attendance by eminent persons who included among others: EC Project Partners: Anu Bakhshi (WHO India), Nilesh Budh (WHO India), Ibadat Dhillon (WHO HQ), JabulileDlamini (AIHLD South Africa), Dr. Patrick Kadama and Robert Odedo (ACHEST) HamsadvaniKuganatham (WHO India), Percy Mahlati (AIHLD South Africa), Prakin Suchaxaya (WHO India), Aisling Walsh (RCSI Ireland) and Pascal Zurn (WHO India).

Dr. Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde, Director of Health workforce, Education and Development at African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST) participated in the 4th East African Health Professional Educators Association annual conference held in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia from the 20th -22nd June 2016.

The conference attracted 250 participants from all the East African countries as well as Sudan, USA, Canada and Ethiopia with a comprehensive program premised on the theme, Quality ofDr. Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde presenting at the conference in Addis Ababa Health Sciences Education in sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Kiguli-Malwadde made two (2) presentations; one a plenary presentation titled: “The Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI), accomplishments, challenges & lessons learned.”
She also conducted a workshop on Promoting Women’s Health and Learning for Health Professions Students.
In her presentations Dr. Kiguli-Malwadde expounded on the accomplishments, challenges and lessons learned from MEPI project and some of the accomplishments sited included; supporting relevant research globally, increasing the numbers and quality of health care workers (HCWs) trained, retaining HCWs overtime in areas they are mostly needed. Meanwhile on Promoting Women’s Health and Learning for Health Professions Students, she called upon the participants to carry out interventions and advocacy that will improve the health of women.

The rich discussions elicited experiences of how reproductive health and rights have been in cooperated into the curricular of different schools; how gender related issues are tackled differently at different schools with some been made mandatory to be in cooperated in every course. It also focused on sexual violence, assault at universities among others.

The next annual conference will be held in June 2017 in Dar es Salam, Tanzania and it will focus on Women’s health as one of the key topics of discussion.

ACHEST’s Dr. Peter Kadama, Director of Policy and Strategy together with Dr. Vincent Ojoome Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at ACEST participated in the Health Systems Advocacy Partnership Theory of Change (ToC) validation workshop for the Netherlands from 27th-29th June 2016 in the Netherlands.

Participants of the workshop were drawn from the Health Systems Advocacy partners that include: Amref Flying doctor’s office in Leide, (Amref, Wemos, Health Action International, HAI, African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST) and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs representatives.

The workshop that was conducted by the Pamoja consultants established a shared understanding of indicator and baseline best practice in the context of the Theory of Change for the Netherlands.

From the workshop, partners agreed on the need for country specific ToC and baseline workshops. These specific workshops included the ones for; Uganda and Kenya.

Prof. Francis Omaswa, the Executive Director of African Centre for Global Health andProf. Francis Omaswa, ACHEST ED, Mr. Declan J. Magee, and President of the RCSI and prof.Krikor Erzingatsian during the award event. Social Transformation (ACHEST) was awarded the prestigious Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI. The fellowship was awarded on 21st April 2016 in Dublin for his extensive and outstanding work on health in Africa and globally.

Prof. Omaswa was the Founding President of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECA). COSECA fosters postgraduate education and training in surgery in ten countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The flamboyant occasion of the conferring of the Honorary Fellowship was presided over by the President of the RCSI Mr. Declan J. Magee and Prof. Omaswa was a keynote speaker as well.

After the launch of the Health Systems Advocacy (HSA) project in Uganda in March 2016 by theProf. Francis Omaswa, ACHEST Executive Director speaking at the Theory of Change workshop at Imperial Royal in Kampala four partners; AMREF Health Africa, the African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST), Health Action International (HAI) and WEMOS with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen the capacity of local organizations to advocate and influence sexual and reproductive health rights, the aforementioned partners on Monday 27th June 2016 launched a three days Theory of Change workshop to actualize and identify key areas for Uganda in the project.

Ms. Damalie Inhensiko and the other winners of the award at the celebration event in GenevaMs. Damali Inhensiko, an enrolled midwife at Inhula Health Centre II, in Luuka district, Busoga region received the 2016 International Health Workforce Award for her exceptional contribution to the health work force in her community.
Inhensiko received this award at the 69th World Health Assembly (WHA) that was held in Geneva in Switzerland from 23rd to 28th May 2016 to recognize outstanding health workers and individuals who have demonstrated significant achievements in the field of human resources for health (HRH).