By Tommy Esau, Research Worker
Researchers from Atoifi Health Research Group made four presentations at the Solomon Islands Health Research Symposium, held in Honiara on 27 -28, August 2015. Researchers who attended included Humpress Harrington, Principal of Pacific Adventist University (Atoifi campus), Rowena Asugeni, Director of Nursing, Hillary Toloka, Research Nurse, and Helen Oloifana-Polosovai, Medical Laboratory Scientist, all of Atoifi Adventist Hospital. Also part of the group was Chief Esau Kekeubata, Dr David MacLaren, Senior Research Fellow, James Cook University, Australia and me (Tommy Esau, Research Worker).
The two-day program was organised by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Solomon Islands. The symposium aimed to help bridge the operational research – policy gap, to create public health policy informed by relevant health research. The Symposium was held to identify research needs, introduce new research and researchers from within Solomon Islands and strengthen the dialogue between health researchers and health policy makers.
The Atoifi Health research team were among the 74 participants from various organizations who have attended the program. Others were Dr Chris Becha Undersecretary Health , Ministry of Health and Medical services (MHMS) , National Referral hospital, WHO, SINU, Water and Sanitation (WASH), and other health professionals from other Non-Government Organizations.
About 25 presentations were made on Day One of the Symposium, including sessions about determinants of health; Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases; HIV and Tuberculosis, non-communicable diseases and strengthening health systems. Atoifi researchers presented three presentations on the first day, with Hillary presenting about the 2014 Measles outbreak investigation in East Kwaio, Humpress about the Elimination of Soil Transmitted Helminths in East Malaita: One village at a Time and Rowena about Tuberculosis. Rowena’s presentation was entitled, “Community and health service response to culturally safe tuberculosis at Atoifi.
On the day two of the program, the Atoifi Health research team talked about how they established a research programme and identify research questions. The team talked about the establishment of the Atoifi Health Research Group, its significance and outputs, and different methods used to identify research questions arising from the community and health service professionals.
Dr Mark Jacobs (Director of Division of Communicable Diseases -WHO Wester Pacific Region) commented during closing remarks, that “a lot of these presentations are examples of practical research which can be useful for Solomon Islands and other countries. A relationship between research and policy makers is important, to provide evidence based information. It requires right time and regular conversation.”
Dr Audrey Aumua (Country Director WHO Solomon Islands) also added “having national conversation like this creates an avenue to distribute useful information.” Dr Aumua went on to commend the presenters and participants who had demonstrated a high standard of presentations and contributed critical questions. “Good research which produces good evidence is important for health policy makers”, Dr Aumua said. Dr Audery also applauded the effort of Atoifi research team for the high level of presentations and for the team’s enthusiasm, despite the geographical barriers encountered by working at a remote Provincial location.
For more information about the presentations, or the Atoifi Health Research Group, please email: Mr Humpress Harrington humpress.harrington@gamil.com
Photo (L-R): Helen Oloifana-Polosovai, Rowena Asugeni, Humpress Harrington, Tommy Esau, David MacLaren, Esau Kekeubata, Hillary Toloka
