An International network of DSS sites involved in demographic and health research in developing countries
March 2008
From the Executive Director
Dr.Osman Sankoh
Dear INDEPTH family,
Another 30 days have ended, bidding farewell to March 2008. I have been quite watchful so that I am able to give you highlights about your Network.
Pivotal in March is our success in making for the first time the submission of abstracts for our AGMs fully online. Please go directly to the login page to submit your abstracts for AGM 2008 in Tanzania (22-26 September 2008) http://www.indepth2008.wsnw.net/login.html or through our website for more details on the AGM. Deadlines have been set.
Another important activity in March was a grant proposal finalization workshop in Accra by the INDEPTH ART-Rollout group which plans a study to assess the effects of the scale-up of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) on individuals, populations and health systems in the following five health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) sites in four countries: Agincourt (South Africa), Bandim (Guinea-Bissau), Ifakara (Tanzania), Kisumu and Nairobi (Kenya). Under the leadership of Dr. Nyovani Madise and other experts, scientists agreed in Accra the final components of the grant proposal which has taken two years to complete. A funder has indicated interest in this work, so please join me in wishing this determined group the best of luck with their submission.
Under our small grants cross-site program, the INDEPTH Vaccinations and Immunization Working Group succeeded in securing funds from the Secretariat to organize a data analysis workshop. This competitive small grants program has funds to support at least three INDEPTH sites working together. Check the website for more information.
The Secretariat has made a call to sites to nominate a leader for the Reproductive Health group. INDEPTH is very keen to develop an RH agenda that will involve several sites. Site leaders are kindly requested to send to us asap CVs of scientists they wish to recommend. Using our new incentive-based model, INDEPTH will provide support to the site whose scientist eventually becomes the leader of the RH group.
The Secretariat has introduced in March an INDEPTH fellowships program under an existing grant for HDSS-University collaboration. New MSc. graduates will be awarded competitive fellowships to work at HDSS sites. More information will soon be available on our website.
Dr. Cesario Martins from Portugese-speaking Bandim HDSS completed a one-month attachment at English-speaking Navrongo HDSS in Ghana on a travel grant from INDEPTH to improve his proficiency in English. English-speaking Kintampo HDSS in Ghana is willing to host a scientist from French-speaking Nouna HDSS in Burkina Faso. Arrangements are being made for this.
The Secretariat wishes to welcome a new kid in the INDEPTH family: Dr Joseph Inungu who recently joined our member site Nairobi Urban HDSS. In fact, Joseph has set the record that will be difficult to beat: two weeks after he started work at APHRC in Nairobi, he packed his bags to attend his first INDEPTH workshop in Accra.
Sites are encouraged to inform the Secretariat of new staff so that we introduce them to our increasingly important family.
To end this short message, I wish to highlight what we want from the sites, but also what we can give to the sites.
· Data managers from 20 sites will be coming to Ghana in mid May. We need from you:
o The obligatory minimum datasets to enable you stay in INDEPTH as a full member; and
o Your data to contribute to the 2nd edition of the INDEPTH mortality monograph.
o Please note that May 30 is the deadline for these datasets.
· We can give you:
o Small grants $25-30,000 for activities involving at least three sites;
o Travel support for your field staff to visit another site;
o Take over the cost for technical support to your site;
o Help with strategic planning process at your site;
o A senior scientist to your site for a short time to brainstorm on diverse issues with site staff; and
o A lot more…
Let me wish you a smooth slide in April, and don’t allow yourselves to be fooled on April 1 – It can be April Fools’ Day!
BETTER HEALTH INFORMATION FOR BETTER HEALTH POLICY
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February 2008 message from the Executive Diretcor
January 2008 message from the Executive Diretcor