Jonas Willingstorfer für VolkswagenStiftung
What can be done to combat the shortage of skilled workers in the medical sector? How can drug resistance be curbed? And what might the healthcare systems of the future look like? These are just some of the questions being addressed by five newly funded research projects.
How do mobility trends affect individual and societal health worldwide? What strategies can be developed to create resilient, equitable health systems in the face of global migration? The funding initiative 'Transdisciplinary Approaches to Mobility and Global Health' by the Volkswagen Foundation, Novo Nordisk Fonden and Wellcome Trust is dedicated to these central questions. Five projects have now been selected for funding. They stand out for their international and transdisciplinary collaboration, scientific originality and social relevance.
"Global health is inextricably linked to issues of mobility – from refugees and labor migration to cross-border disease risks. This complexity can only be addressed collaboratively: across disciplinary boundaries, in international dialogue, and together with local stakeholders," explains Dr. Nora Kottmann of the Volkswagen Foundation. The programme supports outstanding scientific projects that explore social, health and ethical challenges in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and develop sustainable solutions. Research teams from countries with different income levels work in an interdisciplinary manner and cooperate closely with local communities, authorities and NGOs worldwide.
Hitch-hiking East Africa: Spread of Artemisinin-Resistant Malaria through Mosquito and Human Mobility (Dr. Welmoed van Loon, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Jules Ndoli Minega, M.D., University Teaching Hospital of Butare, Rwanda; Dr Esto Bahizire, Catholic University of Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Dr Philip Koliopoulos, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz; Emmanuel Mande, Infectious Diseases Institute, Uganda; approx. 1.5 million euros)
Malaria is not only an extremely dangerous disease. In East Africa, parasites that cause malaria are increasingly developing resistance to the main drug artemisinin. This resistance could soon spread over long distances and to other countries via infected mosquitoes, which travel as 'stowaways' on night buses, for example, and via infected travellers. An interdisciplinary research team is investigating the spread of artemisinin resistance in four neighbouring countries in the Great Lakes region of East Africa. It is collecting detailed data and developing mathematical models to test targeted measures in resistance hotspots. Through collaboration with local stakeholders and the introduction of an early warning system, the resistance is to be effectively contained.
From Health System Transformation to Well-Being Ecosystems: Integrating Volatile Mobility Settings into Inclusive Development Pathways (TRANS-WELL) (Prof. Dr. Fred Krüger, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg; Dr. Astrid Knoblauch, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Switzerland; Prof. Pobsook Chamchong, Chiang Mai University, Thailand; Dr. Gonzalo Basile, Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Dominican Republic; Dr. Herminio Cossa, Manhiça Health Research Centre CISM, Mozambique; approx. 1.6 million euros)
The research team is investigating the interplay between migration and health in crisis areas where economic problems, violence and climate change are driving people to migrate. These mobility flows challenge conventional political approaches and measures. The team is committed to using approaches from southern countries to create inclusive political solutions tailored to the needs of those affected. Case studies from Mozambique, the Dominican Republic and Thailand show how an 'ecosystem of well-being' opens up new perspectives on social transformations. The team aims to develop an easy-to-use planning tool for health systems that prioritises social justice and sustainable development.
In this programme, the Volkswagen Foundation, together with the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Wellcome Trust, is funding interdisciplinary, international research projects involving non-academic partners that use innovative methods to investigate the links between mobility, health and well-being of local and mobile population groups.
Global Health Diasporas. How Mobile Health Professionals Abroad Improve Health of Minority Groups in Communities in Colombia, Ghana, and Sri Lanka (Prof. Dr. Uwe Hunger, Fulda University of Applied Sciences; Dr. Sascha Krannich, Justus Liebig University Giessen; Prof. Dr. Martin Nyaaba Adokiya, University for Development Studies, Ghana; Prof. Rajendra Surenthirakumaran, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka; Prof. Dr. Andres Cubillos, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia; approx. 1.6 million euros)
Many countries in the Global South, especially in rural regions, are struggling with a shortage of skilled workers in the healthcare system, while at the same time large numbers of medical professionals are migrating to wealthier countries. This 'medical brain drain' weakens domestic healthcare provision. But there are opportunities: return migration, knowledge transfer and investment can help strengthen health systems in countries of origin. The research team is investigating how health professionals living abroad can bring about positive change in Colombia, Ghana and Sri Lanka. The focus is on societal and social factors that influence the return of these professionals and on exchange with local communities.
Nexus4Her: Addressing the Nexus: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Mental Health of Young Refugee and Migrant Women in Ecuador and Uganda (Dr. Olena Ivanova, University of Munich Medical Centre; Dr. Elizabeth Kemigisha, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda; Dr. Bernardo Jose Vega Crespo, University of Cuenca, Ecuador; approx. 1 million euros)
The project fills a gap in support measures for young refugees and migrants, who often face high risks in the area of sexual and reproductive health but have little access to appropriate services. Many of those affected also suffer from mental health issues, which can be exacerbated by their life situation or health challenges. In Ecuador and Uganda, where health resources are scarce and cultural barriers are high, specially tailored strategies for holistic well-being are being developed. An interdisciplinary team consisting of experts in gynaecology, psychology, sociology, gender studies and digital health is focusing on a trauma-sensitive approach and best practice examples. The aim is to improve literacy, raise awareness among communities and providers, and facilitate access to tailored services.
Understanding the education and labour market consequences of Indonesia's quest to become the world's leading nurse exporting nation (Dr Julia Lohmann, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich; Prof. Ferry Efendi, Airlangga University, Indonesia; Prof. Dr Rini Rachmawaty, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia; Prof. Dr. Firman Witoelar Kartaadipoetra, Australian National University, Australia; approx. 1.4 million euros)
With the global demand for nurses on the rise, many countries in the Global South are sending their skilled workers abroad. Indonesia is at a turning point and wants to significantly increase the migration of nursing staff, which offers exciting insights into the impact on the domestic healthcare system. A team of experts from fields such as healthcare, nursing and business management is investigating how changes in the training and labour market entry of nursing staff are developing as a result of this migration policy. The team is analysing both the development and implementation of the migration policy and changes in nursing training and quality. The research team uses a broad range of methods to collect data from training institutions, nursing students and graduates. It hopes to gain important insights for global discussions on the migration of healthcare workers while addressing Indonesia's specific information needs.
