 Young Carers Project The Young Carers uKunakekela' KwaZulu (KZN) project is a large-scale panel study that is part of a larger national study that aims to gather information on the wellbeing of children affected by AIDS Unplanned ART Interruption Report Released Southern Africa is plagued by numerous crises that can lead to unplanned treatment interruptions for people on ART. HEARD's Gender Project: Recent Developments The Gender Project has two exciting recent developments. First, on 10 December 2009 the Project held its first Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting/   | Newsletter Issue 3 March 2010 Welcome
 Undercurrents in health systems research There is an upsurge in research and funding to 'strengthen health systems' in Africa. The reasons are well known. The 'emergency' response to HIV/AIDS supported large-scale interventions but now, it is realised, at a large cost to other health services and to efforts to keep abreast with the changing burden of disease, particularly the rise in illnesses associated with life style changes. Also, the public health services cannot keep up with the exodus of professional staff. However, there is already scepticism as to whether the new body of research will actually achieve anything for there has been sound research in the past which showed the need for change and what to do and yet, seemingly, there is little to show for it. This is a valid concern. New health policies may well reiterate past interventions that seemingly just tinker with the challenges; for example, paying doctors and nurses more to keep them in service, adding a few sophisticated facilities to deal with modern diseases or re-emphasising primary health care but defraying the cost by relying on poorly paid and ill-equipped 'community health workers'. Disability and HIV/AIDS issue and policy brief released.
Research utilisation at HEARD As HEARD develops its strategic direction for 2011 and beyond, 'research utilisation for impact' is at the centre of its focus. A foundation of HEARD's work is effective knowledge and information utilisation among researchers, within the public and private sectors, and among African leadership in all spheres. Moreover, in recent years, both in academia and in practice, interest has intensified in how to go about this utilisation and how to translate this knowledge and evidence into impact. This year, HEARD has begun an exciting process of strengthening its utilisation plans, policies and capacity. This process is drawing on the utilisation experience that already resides within the organisation, while also being built on utilisation resources and mechanisms that span its research programme, its two programmes supporting African leadership and regional capacity building and its communications and marketing function. If you are having problems viewing this email, View it online |
