Innovative public health education, research, and policies for health equity and strengthened health systems in Africa: contributions from the Association of Schools of Public Health in Africa
1
1 Association of Schools of Public Health in Africa, Accra, Ghana
2
2 Tropical Institute of Community Health and Development (TICH), Kisumu, Kenya
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1225
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The Association of Schools of Public Health in Africa (ASPHA) is a continental network that aims to promote public health education, research and advocacy within Africa. The ASPHA Network of members is driving innovative efforts to achieve greater health equity, health system robustness and population health in Africa. Our commitment as ASPHA is for change in public health capacities and policies to address the health challenges that confront Africa today.
METHODS:
A review of ASPHA's strategic frameworks, recent conferences, capacity building activities and collaborative research projects was done. The main data sources were ASPHA’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, conference proceedings, policy briefs, and partnership reports. Qualitative content analysis revealed innovative methods in curriculum, community-engaged research and advocacy which bridge the gap between academia, policy and practice for health impact.
RESULTS:
Innovations underway at ASPHA include co-creation of competency-based curricula around digital health and One Health paradigms that embed digital health, specific to Africa's unique socio-ecological and cultural contexts. The Network has encouraged cross-sectoral partnerships mainly through conference presentations by which academic health researchers’ focus on both social determinants of health research and implementation of evidence-based policy interventions that promote health policies related to universal health coverage and epidemic preparedness. ASPHA leadership, through its members in capacity enhancing, has supported public health practitioners and the academic workforce, creating a more knowledgeable workforce available to address communicable and non-communicable disease burden and further equity. These initiatives align with the aims of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and situate ASPHA as a key instrument of sustainable health improvement.
CONCLUSIONS:
Integrative innovation in education, research and policy is one of the contributions ASPHA is making in a bid to create equitable systems of health and to better the lives of people across Africa.
The Association of Schools of Public Health in Africa (ASPHA) is a continental network that aims to promote public health education, research and advocacy within Africa. The ASPHA Network of members is driving innovative efforts to achieve greater health equity, health system robustness and population health in Africa. Our commitment as ASPHA is for change in public health capacities and policies to address the health challenges that confront Africa today.
METHODS:
A review of ASPHA's strategic frameworks, recent conferences, capacity building activities and collaborative research projects was done. The main data sources were ASPHA’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, conference proceedings, policy briefs, and partnership reports. Qualitative content analysis revealed innovative methods in curriculum, community-engaged research and advocacy which bridge the gap between academia, policy and practice for health impact.
RESULTS:
Innovations underway at ASPHA include co-creation of competency-based curricula around digital health and One Health paradigms that embed digital health, specific to Africa's unique socio-ecological and cultural contexts. The Network has encouraged cross-sectoral partnerships mainly through conference presentations by which academic health researchers’ focus on both social determinants of health research and implementation of evidence-based policy interventions that promote health policies related to universal health coverage and epidemic preparedness. ASPHA leadership, through its members in capacity enhancing, has supported public health practitioners and the academic workforce, creating a more knowledgeable workforce available to address communicable and non-communicable disease burden and further equity. These initiatives align with the aims of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and situate ASPHA as a key instrument of sustainable health improvement.
CONCLUSIONS:
Integrative innovation in education, research and policy is one of the contributions ASPHA is making in a bid to create equitable systems of health and to better the lives of people across Africa.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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