Nadia A Sam-Agudu1, Elijah Paintsil2, Muktar H Aliyu3, Awewura Kwara4, Folasade Ogunsola5, Yaw A Afrane6, Chima Onoka7, Gordon A Awandare8, Gladys Amponsah9, Llewellyn J Cornelius10, Gabou Mendy11, Rachel Sturke12, Anita Ghansah13, George K Siberry14, Echezona E Ezeanolue15. 1. Institute of Human Virology and Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; International Research Center of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria; Department of Paediatrics, University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences, Cape Coast, Ghana. Electronic address: nsam-agudu@ihv.umaryland.edu. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. 3. Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, Nashville, TN; Department of Preventive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN. 4. Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL. 5. Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria. 6. Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana. 7. Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria. 8. West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana. 9. School of Anaesthesia, Ridge Regional Hospital, Accra, Ghana. 10. School of Social Work, University of Georgia Athens, Athens, GA. 11. Healing Healthcare, New Orleans, LA. 12. Division of International Policy, Planning, and Evaluation and Center for Global Health Studies, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. 13. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Legon, Ghana. 14. Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, Washington, DC. 15. School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV; College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Global health research in resource-limited countries has been largely sponsored and led by foreign institutions. Thus, these countries' training capacity and productivity in global health research is limited. Local participation at all levels of global health knowledge generation promotes equitable access to evidence-based solutions. Additionally, leadership inclusive of competent local professionals promotes best outcomes for local contextualization and implementation of successful global health solutions. Among the sub-Saharan African regions, West Africa in particular lags in research infrastructure, productivity, and impact in global health research. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, experts discuss strategies for scaling up West Africa's participation in global health evidence generation using examples from Ghana and Nigeria. METHODS: We conducted an online and professional network search to identify grants awarded for global health research and research education in Ghana and Nigeria. Principal investigators, global health educators, and representatives of funding institutions were invited to add their knowledge and expertise with regard to strengthening research capacity in West Africa. FINDINGS: While there has been some progress in obtaining foreign funding, foreign institutions still dominate local research. Local research funding opportunities in the 2 countries were found to be insufficient, disjointed, poorly sustained, and inadequately publicized, indicating weak infrastructure. As a result, research training programs produce graduates who ultimately fail to launch independent investigator careers because of lack of mentoring and poor infrastructural support. CONCLUSIONS: Research funding and training opportunities in Ghana and Nigeria remain inadequate. RECOMMENDATIONS: We recommend systems-level changes in mentoring, collaboration, and funding to drive the global health research agenda in these countries. Additionally, research training programs should be evaluated not only by numbers of individuals graduated but also by numbers of independent investigators and grants funded. Through equitable collaborations, infrastructure, and mentoring, West Africa can match the rest of Africa in impactful global health research.
BACKGROUND: Global health research in resource-limited countries has been largely sponsored and led by foreign institutions. Thus, these countries' training capacity and productivity in global health research is limited. Local participation at all levels of global health knowledge generation promotes equitable access to evidence-based solutions. Additionally, leadership inclusive of competent local professionals promotes best outcomes for local contextualization and implementation of successful global health solutions. Among the sub-Saharan African regions, West Africa in particular lags in research infrastructure, productivity, and impact in global health research. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, experts discuss strategies for scaling up West Africa's participation in global health evidence generation using examples from Ghana and Nigeria. METHODS: We conducted an online and professional network search to identify grants awarded for global health research and research education in Ghana and Nigeria. Principal investigators, global health educators, and representatives of funding institutions were invited to add their knowledge and expertise with regard to strengthening research capacity in West Africa. FINDINGS: While there has been some progress in obtaining foreign funding, foreign institutions still dominate local research. Local research funding opportunities in the 2 countries were found to be insufficient, disjointed, poorly sustained, and inadequately publicized, indicating weak infrastructure. As a result, research training programs produce graduates who ultimately fail to launch independent investigator careers because of lack of mentoring and poor infrastructural support. CONCLUSIONS: Research funding and training opportunities in Ghana and Nigeria remain inadequate. RECOMMENDATIONS: We recommend systems-level changes in mentoring, collaboration, and funding to drive the global health research agenda in these countries. Additionally, research training programs should be evaluated not only by numbers of individuals graduated but also by numbers of independent investigators and grants funded. Through equitable collaborations, infrastructure, and mentoring, West Africa can match the rest of Africa in impactful global health research.
Authors: Nadia A Sam-Agudu; Muktar H Aliyu; Olusegun A Adeyemi; Frank Oronsaye; Bolanle Oyeledun; Amaka G Ogidi; Echezona E Ezeanolue Journal: Health Res Policy Syst Date: 2018-04-17
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Authors: Echezona E Ezeanolue; Theddeus Iheanacho; Dina V Patel; Shatabdi Patel; Nadia Sam-Agudu; Michael Obiefune; Patrick Dakum; Prosper Okonkwo; Ayodotun Olutola; Hadiza Khamofu; Bolanle Oyeledun; Sani Aliyu; Muyiwa Aina; Andy Eyo; John Oko; Timothy Akinmurele; Obinna Oleribe; Usman Gebi; Muktar H Aliyu; Rachel Sturke; George Siberry Journal: Ann Glob Health Date: 2019-06-18 Impact factor: 2.462
Authors: Chimaraoke O Izugbara; Caroline W Kabiru; Djesika Amendah; Zacharie Tsala Dimbuene; Hermann Pythagore Pierre Donfouet; Esso-Hanam Atake; Marie-Gloriose Ingabire; Stephen Maluka; Joyce N Mumah; Matilu Mwau; Mollyne Ndinya; Kenneth Ngure; Estelle M Sidze; Charles Sossa; Abdramane Soura; Alex C Ezeh Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2017-12-04 Impact factor: 2.655