Starting a career in Global Health is
both daunting and exciting; in a field so vast there are endless avenues open
for exploration. Setting out we have at the forefront of out minds to remain
open minded and to strive for a multidisciplinary outlook, yet this may not be
such an easy reality as our careers progress and our focus narrows. So how do
we ensure as we maintain this broad vision, and continue to see beyond the
periphery as we move throughout careers?
The terms multidisciplinary and multisectoral are for me synonymous with Global Health. They speak of the need for people from varying sectors and background to come together and collaborate, pooling the resources, funds and brains to over come some of the greatest challenges. Yet I believe we use these phrases all too often, without ever truly considering what they mean for the way we work, both as individuals and institutions.
Far from static, these terms describe processes requiring of active participation. We need mainstreamed into the way we work in global health, yet I think we are someway off making this a reality.
Global health; still entrenched in silos?
First of all let’s take a step back
and look at the global health landscape, which I believe to a large extent is
still entrenched in silos. I use silos here as a metaphor for a lack of
connectivity between systems, processes or departments that strive for largely
the same goals, yet do so independently - and at times to the detriment of each
other.
To give some examples, the
agricultural and nutrition sectors have some of the same core aims - reducing child
malnutrition and mortality - yet at a research, programmatic and policy levels
there has been little collaboration. We also see silos within funding agencies,
an example being the Global Fund
who manages vast resources with the aim of preventing and treating HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria. While the vertical nature of the agency allows it to
maintain focus in reaching its goals, it does little for the broader aim of
strengthening the overall systems. Its hard to argue that a woman who survives
TB treatment, only to die during childbirth because of a lack a trained midwife
or adequate equipment is better off for the funds activities.
Seeing beyond organisational and institutional boundaries to determine where we could be doing better is essential for future success in global health. The OneHealth initiative - which aims to address human, animal and ecosystem health in conjunction - is an example of how knowledge and resources of a range of different sectors can be leveraged to work together on a common goals, yet such initiatives are few and far between.As individuals it may seem beyond us to challenge the ways that whole institutions and organisations works, but I believe at the core of the issue is the way we as individuals think about global health issues, and if we can change this, we can go some way to changing the way we work as a whole.
To give some examples, the
agricultural and nutrition sectors have some of the same core aims - reducing child
malnutrition and mortality - yet at a research, programmatic and policy levels
there has been little collaboration. We also see silos within funding agencies,
an example being the Global Fund
who manages vast resources with the aim of preventing and treating HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria. While the vertical nature of the agency allows it to
maintain focus in reaching its goals, it does little for the broader aim of
strengthening the overall systems. Its hard to argue that a woman who survives
TB treatment, only to die during childbirth because of a lack a trained midwife
or adequate equipment is better off for the funds activities.Seeing beyond organisational and institutional boundaries to determine where we could be doing better is essential for future success in global health. The OneHealth initiative - which aims to address human, animal and ecosystem health in conjunction - is an example of how knowledge and resources of a range of different sectors can be leveraged to work together on a common goals, yet such initiatives are few and far between.As individuals it may seem beyond us to challenge the ways that whole institutions and organisations works, but I believe at the core of the issue is the way we as individuals think about global health issues, and if we can change this, we can go some way to changing the way we work as a whole.
Keep looking outside your bubble
We all have to find our niche, and
once we do we strive for excellence to be the best in that specific area, and
invariably as we progress through our careers we will become more, not less
focused. This isn't negative, in fact it should be seen as a positive, as
people develop they become an increasingly vital resource. But its vital that as you become more
focused you continue to look outside of your bubble and see discover what is
happening elsewhere. We must be sceptical
and questioning of the ways in which we work, always looking for new ways to collaborate
and leverage each other’s resources and tools in ways that at first may not seem so
obvious, or easy.
At times this may seem counterintuitive. At some level global health is a bidding game between different sectors and disciplines, all vying for a portion of the same funding pot. But collaborations shouldn’t been seen as threat to each other’s purses, instead we need to focus on the inherent long-term value broad thinking and collaborative approaches can deliver for all of us.
At times this may seem counterintuitive. At some level global health is a bidding game between different sectors and disciplines, all vying for a portion of the same funding pot. But collaborations shouldn’t been seen as threat to each other’s purses, instead we need to focus on the inherent long-term value broad thinking and collaborative approaches can deliver for all of us.
Remember to come up for air
There are many global health challenges and all of them will require a concerted effort to overcome. I believe we will overcome them far quicker and more effectively by working together. So whether you're an old veteran or are just setting out in your career, make sure to take the time to come up for air and discover what is happening around you.
Keep searching, keep questioning and keep discovering.Thanks for reading
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