About us

IRISH FORUM FOR GLOBAL HEALTH (IFGH)

Aim

The aim of the Irish Forum for Global Health is to contribute to improvement in the health of individuals and populations globally by creating networks that will promote research and education and advocate for investment in global health.

Objectives

    The specific objectives of the Irish Forum for Global Health are to:

  • build capacity by ensuring that students who graduate from health sciences courses in Irish third level institutions have the understanding, knowledge and ability to work on global health issues
  • enable our members to produce high quality collaborative research with partners in middle and low income countries to identify possible solutions to health problems in these settings
  • ensure that government, the donor community and civil society contribute more to addressing global health issues by raising awareness and advocating for a global health perspective.

Values

We believe that health is a basic human right and strive to achieve equity of access and quality in healthcare for all. We promote gender equality. Through partnership and collaboration we aim for sustainable development. Through capacity building and sharing expertise we aim to maintain the highest standards in education and research. Learning can best be achieved through partnerships and networks that pool resources and expertise. We believe that learning should be a two-way stream between the more and less developed countries and between richer and poorer communities.

Membership

Membership is open to any individual who has an interest in global health, regardless of disciplinary background. The Forum aims to be relevant to academics, policy makers, field workers, advocacy groups and the general public.

Activities

Communication

    We will:

  • facilitate communication between members
  • maintain a database of network members
  • develop a database of network members expertise
  • promote the forum and its activities to agencies with an interest in global health issues.
  • facilitate the formation of long-term links between education and research institutions in middle and low-income countries

Education

    We will:

  • identify current teaching and education needs on global health issues on undergraduate and postgraduate courses in health sciences
  • make recommendations for curriculum content
  • create a national network for global health education that will share curriculum development and teaching across institutions and provide a pool of teaching resources in the area of global health thus ensuring that national and international students are provided the opportunity to learn about the issues that impact on health globally

Research

    We will

  • connect people doing relevant research with individuals and organisations who can help them work more effectively
  • build a collaborative network of researchers interested in health research in middle and low-income countries
  • enable the development of research groups that address factors that impact on health globally, including within Ireland抯 multicultural society
  • focus on research that strengthens health systems in low and middle income countries.

Advocacy

    We will:

  • provide a platform for debate on global health and development by hosting seminars that bring together field, academic and policy expertise
  • advocate for the inclusion of a global health perspective in government and civil society initiatives pertaining to health and welfare
  • encourage practitioners to consider health and welfare issues both in Ireland and abroad from a global health perspective
  • seek support for global health research and education
  • contribute to the evidence base on the best approaches to tackling health problems and delivering healthcare