2.1 Knowledge Co-Production
As a partnership, we recognize the interdependence of global health and other issues such as poverty, inequality, and climate change, and we are committed to working with a systems approach that considers the interconnectedness of these challenges. Through our research activities, we aim to advance mutual understanding of the social, economic, political and environmental determinants of global health crisis, and to develop and promote evidence-based interventions that address these determinants and improve the health of communities. We encourage international research collaboration in the area of critical global health, public health and other scientific subjects of mutual interest. We strive to be transparent and accountable in all of our work, and to leave a positive impact on the world through our research and outreach.”
Below are examples of research programs led by consortium members
- Multidisciplinary Analysis of Digitally Preventable Health System Gap for Crisis-Affected Population in Ethiopia, Nepal, and Kiribati
In the contemporary world, more than 1 billion people are on the move globally including 84 million who are forcibly displaced under the crisis. The number of people on the move is expected to grow due to climate change and environmental degradation resulting in more natural and man-made disasters. Crisis-resilient health system with emerging digital health technologies is promising to protect and improve the health of the crisis-affected population. However, the current top-down approach of digital health technologies lacks context-specific assessment of the health system gaps in the crisis-affected population or those in poor resource settings. To examine whether and how health system gaps in crisis-affected populations can be filled with digital technologies, this multidisciplinary research first focuses to identify digitally preventable health system gaps in the crisis-affected population. This study conducts a health system analysis of digitally preventable gaps and barriers to universal health coverage (UHC) in Nepal, Ethiopia, and Kiribati, in particular consideration of health service deliveries, health information, and health financing system for mobile and other crisis-affected populations in the primary healthcare setting. The research will then provide a systematic mapping of the current and potential use of digital technology to fill the system gaps and their evaluation using multidisciplinary techniques such as vulnerability analysis (VA) and Extended Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (ECEA). The evidence synthesized from three exemplary crisis contexts will strengthen the health system-oriented digital health strategies that are more integrative and feasible to the context-specific needs of crisis affected population.
- Global Mobility as Crisis Adaptation: Pandemic, Climate Change, and Digitalized Global Health
Human mobility and its health consequences have interacted with global transformation of pandemic and climate change. Human mobility is one of the key dimensions of social stratification, and certain groups or individuals disproportionally suffer from lack of opportunities for voluntary movement or more exposures to forced movement. In the glaoblized world, health and their social determinants have been more interconnected with the globalizing mobility and immobility of humans. Given the global impacts of COVID-19 pandemic and Climate Change on human mobility, this multidisciplinary study explores how pandemic and climate change have interacted with human mobility, and evaluate the multi-sectoral impacts of human immobility, and to identify the contemporary system gaps in the global health. In addition, given the AI and digital transformation, this study will examine social, economic, and ethical questions that arise from the emerging digitalization of the global health ecosystem to evaluate the feasibility of the digitalized, decentralized, and transnational health information system for mobile population.
- Migration and Non-Communicable Disease
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a major health burden worldwide but global NCD policies do not specifically address refugees and migrants. This interpretative synthesis of academic and grey literature published between 2010 and 2021 identified major challenges for NCDs in refugees and migrants because of the multifaceted dynamics of the migration processes. NCD risk factors are exacerbated by social determinants of health surrounding the migration process. Access to health care for NCDs can depend on the availability and affordability of health care in countries of origin, transit and destinations and on the type of migratory journey undertaken. Migrant-specific barriers in accessing NCD services include cultural and language differences, social exclusion, and discrimination; legal status can also be a significant barrier in some countries. Policy considerations are put forth on the need for strengthened governance and policies, research and data monitoring, and health service delivery to ensure inclusive NCD actions in internationally agreed goals and targets.
- Evaluating impact of Covid-19 on multi-sectoral humanitarian needs
Crisis-affected populations remain at serious risk of exclusion from essential services. This study found that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequalities in accessing services, as well as preexisting barriers and underlying vulnerabilities. Adoption of preventive measures varies widely across countries and sub-groups and in association with a range of factors. The secondary and indirect impacts of public health policies have further increased the severity of needs. Humanitarian actors must coordinate responses to increased needs at all levels. The indirect impacts of preventive public health policies on vulnerable groups must be considered in. How do vulnerable crisis-affected populations cope with the impact of the pandemic and COVID-19 preventive policy measures? This study took a multisectoral lens. It generated understanding on how the severity of needs has evolved, and how preventive measures were adopted by communities affected by humanitarian crisis. An exploratory and statistical analysis of representative household-level data from structured surveys of the Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) conducted in 2019 and 2020. Background data on each country’s COVID-19 outbreak, policy measures, and related impacts on humanitarian services was also analysed to answer these questions.
