The rhetoric to fund research by Africa's governments must stop: Raising a new voice for improving the continent's health challenges over the next generation

The rhetoric to fund research by Africa's governments must stop: Raising a new voice for improving the continent's health challenges over the next generation

University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana in partnership with Health Systems Global host virtual convening on government’s unfulfilled promises to fund research.

In February 2020, a team from University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ghana was one of four in Africa that were selected by Health Systems Global (HSG) and awarded a small grant to undertake a convening.

These public policy discussions across Africa are aimed at stimulating communal efforts to draw insights on actions that will strengthen health policy systems research, and address an HSG priority of advocating for domestic funding of research across the continent.

UHAS, with the support of HSG, will hold its convening on 29 and 30 July to discuss the urgent need for full commitment by the governments of Ghana and other African countries to fulfill their obligations to fund research in their countries. The two-day event to be held via Zoom platform, will feature a multidisciplinary panel of experts engaging with political, policy and private actors over the theme: “The rhetoric to fund research by Africa’s Governments must stop: Raising a new voice for improving the continent’s health challenges over the next generation.”

The goal is to rally the combined influence of the high-level participants to lobby government to deliver on unfulfilled promises to fund research that will advance development priorities, and it will culminate in the drafting of a communiqué on funding for health research in Ghana that will be submitted to the President of the Republic and other identified actors.

Speakers

• Prof John Gyapong – Vice-Chancellor, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana
• Prof Hannah Akuffo – Senior Research Advisor, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
• Dr Joseph Okeibunor – World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa

Key highlights of the event will include break-away sessions where all participants will have opportunity to make significant contributions in groups and plenary sessions towards the convening objectives.