Health systems in times of peace and conflict

In this special “warm-up” episode for the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR2024) in Nagasaki, Japan, we explore the conference themes, their relevance to global health, and the critical role of resilient health systems in fragile settings. This episode offers insights for attendees and those interested in health systems worldwide, examining the intersection of conflict and crisis, climate resilience, justice, and governance in building sustainable, people-centered health systems. ReBUILD for Resilience team members share how their work aligns with the conference themes, highlighting the importance of supporting vulnerable communities in challenging contexts.

See 'useful links' for previous health systems strengthening episodes.

In this episode:

Kate Hawkins - Managing Director, Pamoja Communications

Kate has extensive experience working with research partners to develop strategies, engage stakeholders, and create impactful communication products. Skilled at translating academic research for diverse audiences, she has years of experience across NGOs, academia, and the private sector. Kate has managed numerous websites and platforms to promote research and foster partnerships, enhancing demand for research communications by engaging policymakers, brokering academia-government partnerships, and building capacity for evidence use.

Joanna Khalil – Research Fellow, American University of Beirut and ReBUILD for Resilience

Joanna is a research fellow and a public health practitioner working with various communities around Lebanon, including refugees, in formal and informal settlements. Her key strength is qualitative research methodology.

She has been involved in a multinational research study, exploring tobacco and waterpipe smoking, as well as health warnings, translating findings to policies. She carried out baseline assessments and evaluations of health and social centres in underprivileged areas and refugee camps, aiming at strengthening the health response in emergencies on topics related to reproductive health, mental health, education, WASH, cash assistance, emergency relief, resilience and child labour.

Shophika Regmi - Senior Manager: Health System Research, Evaluation and Learning, HERD International, Nepal

Shophika Regmi is a health systems researcher at HERD International, Nepal, leading learning site research for the ReBUILD for Resilience consortium. With over a decade of experience, her work focuses on enhancing local health system resilience through improved governance and evidence-based planning. Shophika has led numerous projects to strengthen health outcomes for marginalised groups across areas like maternal health, nutrition, climate change, and health information systems.

Useful links:

• Health Systems Financing in Fragile Settings
• Migration, Displacement and Health Systems
• Non-state and informal actors in fragile settings
• The Health Workforce in Times of Crisis
• Gender, health systems resilience and equity
• Revisiting Resilience in Health Systems Research
• HSR Global Symposium on Health Systems Research | HSR 2024
• Introducing ReBUILD for Resilience - health systems researchRebuild Consortium

Want to hear more podcasts like this?

Follow Connecting Citizens to Science on your usual podcast platform or YouTube to hear more about current research and debates within global health.

The podcast covers topics like health systems strengthening, gender and intersectionality, tropical diseases (NTDs, TB, Malaria), maternal and child healthcare, mental health, vector-borne diseases, climate change, and co-production approaches.

If you would like your project or programme to feature in an episode or mini-series, get in touch with the producers of Connecting Citizens to Science, the SCL Agency.