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Bamako, Mali, November 17, 2008 - Opening this morning, the Global Ministerial Forum on Research for Health brings together close to 1000 international participants to address global and national health research challenges.

A special panel today, chaired by Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, will feature research that addresses emerging solutions to chronic conditions. The session is jointly organized by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Global Health Research Initiative (GHRI), a partnership among five Canadian organizations.

Panellists will discuss practical experiences in effective intersectoral research, including the integration of tobacco control and cardio-respiratory health, salt iodization to prevent brain damage, and approaches to water and sanitation that focus on gender and social justice,

Panel: Emerging Solutions to Chronic Conditions: Practical experiences of intersectoral action for health
Date and Time: Monday November 17th, 2008, 16h20-18h20
Location: Room Moussa Keita
Chair: David Butler-Jones, Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
Speakers:

Dr. Hameda Deedat  -  (Eco-care trust, Steering Committee member of the Municipal Services Project, Steering Committee member of the South African Water Caucus) Access to Water: A gendered perspective on research, advocacy, and intersectoral action for health

Dr. Lucy Gilson - (UCT Knowledge Hub Leader – Health Systems as Determinants of Health, CSDH) Leveraging intersectoral action to address the social determinants of health: view from the health system

Dr. David Haxton  -(Executive Director, International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, formerly UNICEF) The Salt Iodization Stories

“This session goes beyond just theory to examine concrete cases that have shown tangible results, from which we can pull valuable lessons to address today’s pressing health challenges” explains Christina Zarowsky, Program Manager for the Research for Health Equity Program at IDRC.

IDRC is a leader in global health research, and has been actively involved in preparations for the Ministerial Forum. Leading up to opening of the Forum, IDRC met with more than 20 researchers and policy makers, primarily from West and Central Africa in Bamako. These ‘pre-Forum’ activities contributed to defining strategies to tackle health challenges within the region.

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About IDRC
Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is one of the world’s leading institutions in the generation and application of new knowledge to meet the challenges of international development. For nearly 40 years, IDRC has worked in close collaboration with researchers from the developing world to build healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous societies.

For information:
IDRC in Bamako
(223) 78 81 40 95
bmko.media@gmail.com

2008-11-17

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