Malaria and TB - EQUI-TB Knowledge Programme
Overview
Policy makers, researchers and communities need to work together to tackle ill-health and inequity and good communication strengthens this process.
Communicating research means that results are more likely to have an impact where it is needed most – in developing countries.
However, gaps in communication are preventing a coordinated approach. Most problematic are the gulfs between the people who commission research, the people who conduct research, and the people who the research is meant to benefit.
Programmes like the EQUI-TB Knowledge Programme at the Liverpool School
of Tropical Medicine are demonstrating good practice and ensuring that
their research findings are well communicated and publicly available for
policy makers and practitioners in both the North and South. They approached
Healthlink Worldwide to support the communication and dissemination component
of their work. This has included synthesizing research findings into accessible
policy briefs, advising on media strategies, supporting international forums,
and strengthening a community of practice by organizing an interactive
lunchtime discussion.
The UK Department for International Development is now stipulating that at least 10% of research budgets in the new research consortias are spent on communication. This means that communication must be an integral part of the research process from the start. Many research institutes do not have the time, skills and experience in-house to be able to do this effectively. This is where Healthlink Worldwide is able to offer a range of expertise including advice on research communication strategies, activities to strengthen the capacity of research programmes and using strategic alliances and networks to bridge those gaps. This ultimately increases the impact of the research.
The policy papers are drawn from multi-disciplinary academic and operational
research carried out in Malawi, China, Zambia, Ethiopia and London as part
of the EQUI-TB Knowledge Programme, funded by DFID. They describe key findings
and suggest policy recommendations.
Read the five policy papers (also available on the EQUI-TB knowledge programme website):
Barriers to accessing TB care PDF (4 pages, 124 KB)
Who is most vulnerable to TB PDF (4 pages, 114 KB)
Research on Equity and Community Health (REACH) PDF (4 pages, 292 KB)
TB control in China PDF (4 pages 223 KB)
Strengthening research capacity to improve TB control (4 pages 587 KB)
If you would like to order printed copies of the policy papers please use the order form in the resources section of the website