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1. Launch of new multi-million dollar KwaZulu-Natal research powerhouse
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In a bold move to improve the health of people locally and globally, two research giants in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, are joining forces to form a ground-breaking new interdisciplinary institute to fight tuberculosis (TB), HIV and related diseases.
The new organisation, the Africa Health Research Institute, is located at the heart of South Africa's TB and HIV co-epidemic. It combines the renowned Africa Centre for Population Health's detailed population data from over 100 000 participants, with the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for TB-HIV's (K-RITH's) basic science, experimental medicine and world-class laboratory facilities.
The new venture is made possible through R1.2-billion (about $90 million) in grants from Wellcome Trust and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), with UCL (University College London) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) as significant academic partners.
The Africa Centre for Population Health is an INDEPTH member centre in South Africa.
Read full press statement here
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2. Dr Abbas Bhuiya takes a bow after 37 years at icddr,b
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Dr. Abbas Bhuiya, a demographer and statistician by training, and founding site leader of Chakaria Health and Demographic Surveillance System, has recently retired after 37 years of a very accomplished career at Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b).
Dr. Bhuiya holds an MA and PhD in Demography from Australian National University and BA Hons and MA in Statistics from Chittagong University in Bangladesh. During his long career at icddr,b he worked in various capacities in scientific and management positions.
He was the first Bangladeshi to be appointed as the second Deputy Executive Director of icddr,b. He was also the first Bangladeshi to hold the position of Executive Director (interim) of icddr,b for nine months between 2011-2012. Read more.
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3. Multi-centre paper on migration published
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A MADIMAH multi-centre paper on migration and all-cause mortality titled "Healthy or unhealthy migrants? Identifying internal migration effects on mortality in Africa using health and demographic surveillance systems of the INDEPTH network" has been published by Social Science & Medicine.
Among others, the paper concluded that the results confirm the diversity of the migration-mortality relationship over a range of rural and urban local areas in three African regions (South, East and West). The selection and exposure effects are very diverse across the continent and within each country. No single pattern fits all situations: only two sites (Manhiça and Kisumu HDSS) present with similar situations although being very distant. Read more
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News from our member centres
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1. Viral hepatitis in Bangladesh: Where lies the risk?
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On World Hepatitis Day (July 28), the World Health Organisation (WHO) member states envisage eliminating the Hepatitis virus as a major public health threat by 2030 with the new global strategy adopted during the World Health Assembly in May.
The WHO aims to increase awareness about viral hepatitis, an acute or chronic inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by five unrelated viruses - Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. These viruses are responsible for claiming the lives of 1.4 million yearly worldwide.
The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), an INDEPTH member centre in Bangladesh, is collaborating with the Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS), Canada; CIHR Canadian Trials Network (CTN), Canada; British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC), Canada and Save the Children, Bangladesh to introduce hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment among people who use opioid drugs in Dhaka. Read more
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2. Training data collectors of for Mother and Baby Friendly Initiative at NHRC
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Training of data collectors for the Community Assessment Survey for the Mother and Baby- Friendly Facility Initiative in the Upper East Region is currently underway at the Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC).
About 60 participants from eight districts (Bawku Municipal, Bolgatanga Municipal, Bongo district, Kassena-Nankana West district, Bawku West district, Builsa North district, Kassena-Nankana Municipal and Talensi district) are taking part in the one week training. Data collection is expected to start on August 1, 2016.
The NHRC is an INDEPTH member centre in Ghana. Read more
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3. Prof John Gyapong, “son” of NHRC is New Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences
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Professor John Gyapong, has been appointed the new Vice Chancellor for the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho. Until his appointment, Professor John Gyapong, was the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research Innovation and Development of the University of Ghana. He is a Public Health Physician and an Epidemiologist.
He practiced as a doctor at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi for two years and accepted a posting to the Upper East Region of Ghana where he worked for 7 years. During this period, he worked at the Ghana Vitamin A Supplementation Trials (VAST), which was the beginnings of the Navrongo Health Research Centre. During this period he run the Paediatric Unit of the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital and occasionally acted as the District Director of Health Services.
The NHRC is an INDEPTH member centre in Ghana. Read more
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Policy Engagement and Communications
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