Research and Policy Advocacy
According to research published on BMC Medical Ethics Journal, 2012, policy reforms in health in Africa, still faces numerous challenges given the lack and promotion of a research culture. It ascertains that "Health related research in Africa still faces a lot of ethical hurdles which can be successfully crossed only if capacity building in the continent involves harmonized capacity building and promotion of young researchers (especially university students) in health related research"
Based on this premise, VAHA strategically aims at contributing to improved health care policy and minimizing the prevalence of NCDs in local communities. Through this, the organization champions the process of investigating common risk factors to prevailing diseases in communities, while mentoring and incorporating young researchers into community research.
The strength of this program area revolves around the assertion that "Knowledge is Power" and strives to harness and build a network of knowledge based advocates for community health research.
Key Strategies
- Capacity Building through seminars, workshops and conferences for promoting novel and innovative approaches to solving health problems.
- Data Collection (following evidence based research) for better health advocacy.
- Awareness Raising on the need to conduct need based research for young researchers.
Core Program Values
- Transparent/Evidence Based Research
- Promoting field research for improved policy making
- Empowering young researchers, especially female researchers to contribute to effecting the desired change.
- Committed to building a network of "Community researchers" for policy advocacy.
- Promoting Access to Quality and Viable Data
Cross section of participants at Women in Evidence Based Research training, Regional Hospital Bamenda, 2016.