Browsing by Author "Olivier, Jill"
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Item Health systems for all in the SDG era: Key reflections based on the Liverpool statement for the fifth global symposium on health systems research(Health Policy and Planning, 2019) George, Asha; Olivier, Jill; Glandon, Douglas; Kapilashrami, Anuj; Gilson, LucyThe year 2018 marked anniversaries of several significant milestones in public health: the birth of the UK National Health Service, the Alma Ata declaration and the Commission on Social Determinants of Health. The Fifth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Liverpool reflected on these foundational events and their significance for the maturing field of health policy and systems research (HPSR) and for our growing professional association, Health Systems Global (HSG; Text Box 1). The Symposium’s theme, Health Systems for All in the Sustainable Development Goal Era, encapsulated the spirit of those historical commitments and brought them forward into current con- texts, framing universal health coverage and beyond (5th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, 2018). Our democracies are under threat, our societies more polarized and our ecosystems undermined. Conflict and epidemics are not given adequate political attention, and across countries gender and intersectional inequalities remain glaring. It is amidst these contexts that our histories remind us of the progressive values that underpin ideal health systems. A key aim of HSG is to strengthen health systems by combining socially relevant science with effective, accountable and inclusive institutions to guide diverse social actors on the path to health and equity. In doing so, it is critical for health policy and systems researchers and practitioners to, above all, remain undaunted in striving for the realization of our aspirational goals despite these contemporary challenges.Item The multiple lenses on the community health system: Implications for policy, practice and research(2021-07) Schneider, Helen; Olivier, Jill; Orgill, MarshaCommunity health systems (CHSs) have historically been approached from multiple perspectives, with different purposes and methodological and disciplinary orientations. The terrain is, on the one hand, vast and diverse. On the other hand, under the banner of universal health coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a streamlined version of ‘community health’ is increasingly being consolidated in global health and donor communities. With the view to informing debate and practice, this paper seeks to synthesise approaches to the CHS into a set of ‘lenses,’ drawing on the collective and multi-disciplinary knowledge (both formal and experiential) of the authors, a collaborative network of 23 researchers from seven institutions across six countries (spanning low, middle and high income). With a common view of the CHS as a complex adaptive system, we propose four key lenses, referred to as programmatic, relational, collective action and critical lenses. The lenses represent different positionalities in community health, encompassing macro-level policy-maker, front-line and community vantage points, and purposes ranging from social justice to instrumental goals. We define and describe the main elements of each lens and their implications for thinking about policy, practice and research. Distilling a set of key lenses offers a way to make sense of a complex terrain, but also counters what may emerge as a dominant, single narrative on the CHS in global health. By making explicit and bringing together different lenses on the CHS, the limits and possibilities of each may be better appreciated, while promoting integrative, systems thinking in policy, practice and research.Item Strategic leadership capacity building for Sub-Saharan African health systems and public health governance: a multi-country assessment of essential competencies and optimal design for a Pan African DrPH(Oxford University Press, 2018) Agyepong, Irene Akua; Lehmann, Uta; Rutembemberwa, Elizeus; Babich, Suzanne M.; Frimpong, Edith; Kwamie, Aku; Olivier, Jill; Teddy, Gina; Hwabamungu, Boroto; Gilson, LucyLeadership capacity needs development and nurturing at all levels for strong health systems governance and improved outcomes. The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) is a professional, interdisciplinary terminal degree focused on strategic leadership capacity building. The concept is not new and there are several programmes globally–but none within Africa, despite its urgent need for strong strategic leadership in health. To address this gap, a consortium of institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa, UK and North America have embarked on a collaboration to develop and implement a pan-African DrPH with support from the Rockefeller Foundation. This paper presents findings of research to verify relevance, identify competencies and support programme design and customization. A mixed methods cross sectional multi-country study was conducted in Ghana, South Africa and Uganda. Data collection involved a non-exhaustive desk review, 34 key informant (KI) interviews with past and present health sector leaders and a questionnaire with closed and open ended items administered to 271 potential DrPH trainees. Most study participants saw the concept of a pan-African DrPH as relevant and timely. Strategic leadership competencies identified by KI included providing vision and inspiration for the organization, core personal values and character qualities such as integrity and trustworthiness, skills in adapting to situations and context and creating and maintaining effective change and systems. There was consensus that programme design should emphasize learning by doing and application of theory to professional practice. Short residential periods for peer-to-peer and peer-to-facilitator engagement and learning, interspaced with facilitated workplace based learning, including coaching and mentoring, was the preferred model for programme implementation. The introduction of a pan-African DrPH with a focus on strategic leadership is relevant and timely. Core competencies, optimal design and customization for the sub-Saharan African context has broad consensus in the study setting.