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CCIH Final Report and Evaluation  

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

The Canadian Conference for International Health (CCIH) has been convened annually for the past 14 years. It provides an opportunity for professionals and students working in international health, global health, and public health to share knowledge and experience, promote innovation and collaborative action, and network with like-minded persons. The CCIH remains the only annual conference in Canada that focuses primarily on international health and health in development, and is the only Canadian peer review forum for knowledge building and program development related to international health and development. It is also the primary space for Canadians working in international health to connect annually with each other and their partners in developing countries.  

 

 

 

 

Text Box: “Great session, it was quite stimulating on issues of ensuring adequate information is given to vulnerable groups before conducting research.” - Participant comment, CCIH 2007

In 2007, Canadian Society for International Health and the Canadian Coalition on Global Health Research worked together to envision and execute new formats for mutual learning to reflect on the evolving nature of collaboration between health and social development professionals and emphasize the interdependence of global health advocacy, research, knowledge translation, sharing and implementation. This collaboration is of particular significance as it represents the first time that such a partnership has been lead by a non-governmental organization (NGO) and a global health research organization. In years to come, the partnership between CSIH and the Coalition on Global Health Research will further emphasize the link between research and action to improve global health.

The CCIH has now become an important networking forum for practitioners, researchers, educators, policy makers and community advocates working at the inter-sect of health and development within and outside of Canada. The traditional separation of presentation streams into research, action, and advocacy will not be maintained. Rather, knowledge translation – from research to action and advocacy – is now the overarching theme of the Conference.

Text Box: Overarching Purpose of the CCIH   To provide an open and stimulating forum for practitioners, researchers, educators, policy makers, and community advocates to: ·     analyze controversial issues related to global health policy  from a variety of perspectives, including local and national; ·      share knowledge and experiences regarding the current theme; ·      increase theoretical understanding of the issues while contributing practical experiences to the debate; ·      build capacity in the core competencies of global health research; and ·      learn about success stories, effective strategies, and new opportunities to influence the global health agenda through research, advocacy, and action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each year, the Conference theme changes to reflect current and often diverse priorities in the health and development field. Recent past themes have included:

o        Who Cares? The Human Dimension of Global Health (2006)

o        Your Money or Your Life: Health in the Global Economy (2005);

o        The Politics of Health: Whose Reality Counts? (2004);

o        The Right to Health: Influencing the Global Agenda.  How Research, Advocacy and Action can Shape our Future (2003);

o        Poverty, Health & Equity: From Global Challenges to Innovative Solutions (2002);

o        Child and Youth Health: Action, Research and Advocacy (2001);

o        Health as a Bridge for World Peace (2000);

o        Shifting Global Environments for Health and Environment (1999);

o        Partnerships for Health: A Work in Progress (1998); and

o        Women's Health (1997).

  Text Box: 2007 Conference Theme:    Global Change and Health: Who are the Vulnerable? The theme for 2007 focused on better understanding threats to health from changes such as climate change, new technologies, and changes in social systems, circumstances that are generating vulnerability, and ways for responding to challenges – while creating a space for contributing to solutions. 

 

 

 

The Canadian Society for International Health and the Canadian Coalition on Global Health Research hosted its second continuing education day - “Building Capacity in Global Health Research for Development” - as part of the 14th Canadian Conference on International Health.

 This day of workshops took place on November 4th, at the Marriot Hotel in Ottawa and brought together:

  • Undergraduate and graduate students;
  • New global health researchers;
  • Global health researchers playing a mentorship or champion role;
  • Professionals or researchers who are considering pursuing global health research projects;
  • Health and social development experts: Policy, program and service delivery (doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, community health workers);
  • Governmental and nongovernmental organizations.

 Drawing on the successes of the previous year’s continuing education day, the workshops were held as a prelude to the official opening of the 14th Annual CCIH. The main goals of the day were capacity building and development of core competencies in global health research.

 The 2007 CCIH daily sub-themes were:

 Monday, November 5, 2007: What is the Challenge? The Broad Overview 

  • What do we mean by “global change”?
  • How are global change’s different dimensions evolving?  What are the trends?  
  • What are the implications of global changes that threaten health and well being? 
  • Is vulnerability distributed equally?  What ethical issues must we face

    Tuesday, November 6, 2007: Responding to Areas of Impact 

  • How are we building responses capable of addressing global change? What can we do?
  • What response capacities do we need at local, national, regional and global levels?
  • Are we acting effectively to protect those who are most vulnerable?
  • Are we achieving successes? Are we sharing experiences? Are we establishing alliances?

 Wednesday, November 7, 2007:  Shaping the Agenda 

  • How are we setting out to meet the challenges of global change? Are our processes adequate?
  • Are we using knowledge effectively to ensure we address the key issues?
  • Are equity concerns receiving adequate consideration alongside technical issues?
  • Are we building global capacities for meeting global challenges that connect to local levels?

Wednesday, November 7, 2007 - Closing Symposium

Global Change:  So What for Canada!

To conclude the conference, this special session was organized to consider how global change affects Canada—and what Canada should be doing about this. Action is needed both for our own future—but equally importantly, for the future of our planet.  This symposium is designed to provide a platform to do just that. This closing symposium will focus on how the agenda for addressing global change is being tackled in Canada in targeted areas. It also aims to “broaden the horizon” on the deliberations of the three main days of the Conference.

 

The Conference attracted a total of 307 participants (excluding speakers and presenters). 

Feedback from CCIH 2007’s conference participants indicated that ALL participants who completed the evaluation forms believed that the information available at this conference was useful and only 10% had expectations that were not met.  Their overall opinion and rating of the Conference is “excellent to very good” and many mentioned how satisfied they were with the line-up of plenary speakers. 

The presence of 23 presenters and 53 participants from LMICs was exceptional this year and the Conference program reflected this “added value”.   

The long-term results/developmental impact of the Conference and the concrete examples of how these will be felt at the grassroots level in developing countries are evident by reading the comments below.  This feedback confirmed that these participants will take back to their country a wide range of new contacts and potential project partners, as well as a new understanding of the current issues in globalization and health.  Their presence also provided potential partners for Canadians interested in working in the field or partnering on research projects.

 

The 2008 Conference will be planned, organized and hosted by CSIH in partnership with the Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research (CCGHR). The partnership between CSIH and the Coalition will further emphasize the link between research and action to improve global health.

 

  Text Box: 2008 Conference Theme:    Primary Health Care

 The theme for 2008 will be primary health care which will reinforce some of the global initiatives in health systems strengthening and the WHO World Health Report on Primary Health Care.

The Conference will aim to strike the right balance between theory and practice by engaging practitioners, researchers, educators, policy makers, and community advocates, while representing a significant opportunity for critical analysis, learning, sharing of experiences, and networking around some of the most controversial issues related to global health.

 

Please Note: CCIH 2007 Conference Highlights are available in a CD format, for more information, please contact ccih2008@csih.org 

 

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Contact Information
Canadian Conference on International Health
c/o Canadian Society for International Health

1 Nicholas St, Suite 1105
Ottawa, On K1N 7B7

Phone: 613 241-5785 x 326
Fax: 613 241-3845

email: ccih2008@csih.org