Despite observed differences in healthcare delivery systems across Africa and Asia, countries on both continents share similar factors that influence health and healthcare. These include demographic, epidemiologic, economic, social, cultural, and political factors. They also face similar challenges such as (i) difficulties expanding healthcare access to large population groups, many of which live in poverty, (ii) addressing the unfinished agenda of deaths from infections and maternal and child health conditions, (iii) difficulties in service delivery reorganization to match changing population and disease patterns, and (iv) emerging diseases accelerated by climate change, some of which have epidemic and pandemic potential.
This academic dialogue series aims to create a flow and exchange of ideas surrounding their similar global health issues between the two continents. These dialogues bring together speakers, experts, global leaders, scholars, and researchers from Asia, Africa, and all across Duke University to discuss these issues and encourage collaboration to expand on the current research on the following topics.
- Tackling the unfinished agenda of maternal and child health in Africa and Asia: Promising directions to address maternal mortality challenges
- Achieving sustainable financing of universal health coverage
- Transforming from vertical to horizontal health programs
- Addressing the impacts of climate change on health
See respective tabs for details on each seminar.
This project is funded by the Duke Africa Initiative
Project Team:
Ekene Osakwe, Graduate research assistant, Duke Global Health Institute
Kiara Ekeigwe, Undergraduate research assistant, Duke University
The agenda of eliminating preventable deaths in mothers and children in both Africa and Asia remains unfinished as sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia contributed to 86% of the global maternal deaths in 2017. Though there have been great strides in each continent’s attempts at reduction, 60% in MMR and in Southern Asia and 40% in sub-Saharan Africa since 2000, continuous work is necessary for continuing this reduction especially due to the diversion of attention due to other health challenges in both continents.
This seminar, moderated by Dr. Megan Huchko, was co-hosted with the Center for Global Reproductive Health and focused on highlighting key initiatives undertaken by countries, in collaboration with non-government entities and the private sector to address maternal mortality issues across both continents. The webinar was held on Friday, April 22, 2022. The following speakers participated in this seminar.
- Dr. Qian Long, Assistant Professor, Duke Kunshan University
- Mariam Claeson, Former director of MNCH at BMGF, former head of Global Financing Facility, currently based at the Karolinska Institute
- Jacquelyn Caglia, MERCK for Mothers
- Nick Pearson, Founder and CEO of Jacaranda Health
Universal health coverage (UHC) aims to provide equitable, quality health services and financial risk protection to all. Varying levels of progress exist across both continents due to similar challenges such as insufficient domestic resource mobilization, fragmented delivery of care, high burdens of both infectious and non-communicable diseases, pockets of poverty and vulnerability, and weak public health care systems. This dialogue will aim to allow experts to share their knowledge and experience on the financing of UHC while developing a research agenda for this topic. Details of the seminar will be coming soon.
The Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals for health led to an increased focus on key health interventions for major diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and maternal and child health, In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), a vertical program approach funded by donors was adopted to control these diseases in siloes. However, the vertical program approach within countries for different diseases has led to inefficiencies and a lack of coordination within the health system. The shift from vertical to horizontal programs is necessary in continuing program efficiency and effectiveness in LMICs. The aim of this dialogue is to identify health systems that encourage this system-wide, integrated approach by the use of collaboration between health systems experts and previous work on this topic. Details of the seminar will be coming soon.
The impact of climate change on health is evident in its effect on disease patterns, especially seen in Africa and Asia. Resurgence in mosquito-borne diseases and zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential suggest to experts that the rapid environmental, demographic, technological and social change are increasing the frequency of zoonotic diseases.
Linda S Birnbaum, PhD, DABT, ATS, will present “The Intersection of Global Environmental Health and Climate Change” on Friday, October 21 12:00-1:15 pm Eastern. While climate change may be the existential challenge the world faces, we also must deal with overwhelming additional environmental challenges to global health. Health disparities, water and soil pollution, microbial threats all challenge our knowledge as well as our future. What are some of the key research needs facing us at this time? And how can we address them?
Dr. Birnbaum is the former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of the National Institutes of Health, and the National Toxicology Program (NTP). After retirement, she was granted scientist emeritus status and still maintains a laboratory. As a board-certified toxicologist, Birnbaum served as a federal scientist for 40 years. Prior to her appointment as NIEHS and NTP Director in 2009, she spent 19 years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where she directed the largest division focusing on environmental health research. A Scholar in Residence with the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, Dr. Birnbaum is also an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland in Australia, the School of Public Health of Yale University, the Gillings School of Global Public Health, the Curriculum in Toxicology, and the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
This seminar will be presented in Field Auditorium (room 1112), Grainger Hall on the Duke University campus. Dr. Birnbaum’s seminar is a catalyst event to bring researchers together to start a conversation on climate change and health in Africa and Asia.
We kindly ask ALL individuals who are interested in attending (whether in person or virtually) to please fill out this registration form by 1 pm Eastern on Monday, October 17.
Attending virtually? In addition to the form linked above, you must register HERE to receive the Zoom link.
