Since delinking from the University of Malawi (Unima) three years ago, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes) has embarked on a transformative path that aligns with the national development goals, and this year, the institution marks a significant milestone towards excellence in health sciences education and research, writes LUCKY MKANDAWIRE.
During its third research dissemination conference (RDC) held earlier this month, Kuhes brought together about 800 researchers, innovators, scholars, healthcare professionals and policymakers.
Held under the theme ‘Research and Innovation Driving Health towards #MW2063’, the research feast featured 60 oral and 213 poster presentations.
The presentations were designed to cultivate momentous discussions while exploring latest advancements and exchanging ideas which exhibited progressive research that attends to critical issues in the health sector.
These great minds did not just convene in Blantyre for an academic discourse but were also solidly reminded of the fundamental task health plays in the broader national development context.
But as they say a healthy population is the foundation of social stability and economic growth, the RDC ensured that it charts the research and innovation path not only for a healthier but flourishing nation.
Although the aim of a university is to impart knowledge and produce skills through teaching, learning and application of knowledge, skills and aptitudes, over the past three years Kuhes has set the stage for engaging and thought-provoking research discourse.
Kuhes vice-chancellor Professor McPherson Mallewa observes that research and innovation are the engines of progress as they provide evidence, tools and solutions necessary to tackle the complex health challenges the country is facing today and those to be encountered in future.
The university settled for the theme as it underscores the critical role research and innovation plays in achieving the goal set out in the Malawi 2063.
“Whether it is the development of new treatments for non-communicable diseases, the implementation of cutting-edge technologies in healthcare delivery, or the creation of sustainable health systems that are resilient to shocks, research and innovation are indispensable,” observes Mallewa.
In the context of Malawi where health challenges are multifaceted and resources are limited, the vice-chancellor believes the need for evidence-based decision-making is paramount.
“We must leverage research to inform policy, guide resource allocation and design interventions that are both effective and efficient.
“This is not merely a theoretical exercise; it is a practical necessity. The health of our population, and by extension, the future of our nation, depends on it,” he says.
According to the National Health Research Policy (NHRP), for many years research in the country had been conducted without proper governance, financing and without adequate utilisation of research study results.
So, in 2019, government developed the first ever NHRP to guide the conduct of health research having realised its weight in generating evidence in health and ensuring the nation nurtures evidence-informed practice.
“Health research is important in health systems by provision of evidence that can be used for policy-making, development of clinical guidelines and planning of health-related programmes.
“For Malawi, there are pertinent diseases that continuously require health research outcomes to maintain the significant improvement in the provision of health services for citizens,” reads the NHRP.
Mallewa agrees with the policy noting while significant strides in health outcomes have been registered, challenges continue to persist, particularly with emerging threats and the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
“Research is crucial for identifying and addressing the root causes of health challenges, leading to targeted interventions for Malaria, HIV and Aids, and non-communicable diseases, which have significantly reduced their burden,” he says.
However, in her keynote presentation during the conference, Professor Salome Maswime from University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa observed investment in research infrastructure and the need for universities to teach students how to research at an early stage were crucial in improving health research.
In her presentation titled ‘Research and innovation driving the future of healthcare’, she said on average Africa currently has 198 researchers per a million people compared with 428 per million in Chile and over 4 000 per million in the United Kingdom and USA.
She also pointed out inadequate or poor facilities and infrastructure, equipment, human resources, limited research grants and poor governance in public universities as some of the barriers to research in Africa.
Statistics indicate that Africa has 25 percent of the world’s disease burden but only produces two percent of the world’s medical research.
“The hurdle to improving health care systems for Africa is the shortage of scientists and lack of meaningful medical research for the continent,” lamented Maswime, who is head of global surgery and also director for World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Integrated Clinical Care.
She fur ther chal l enged researchers not to be conducting research for fun but due to emerging issues in the healthcare that need to be resolved.
“People have got Nobel prizes for researches that they have done in Africa but some of us are yet to see how their researches have improved the health outcomes in Africa. We should not just be doing research for fun we have got a crisis in healthcare we want to solve,” she said.
Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda did not fail to notice the research indaba’s significance saying, in an interview, “I am very delighted with the developments taking place at Kuhes in terms of research and innovation.”
Chiponda also concurs with Maswime in challenging researchers to focus on addressing critical issues affecting the country such as maternal and child health, infectious diseases, NCDs and health systems strengthening instead of conducting researches out of interest.
She says: “These are modern times where we need to change how we apply procedures, our way of thinking and review the way we do things but to achieve that we need to be informed by research.”
The minister also observes in an era where the complexities of healthcare challenges are ever-increasing, the need for robust, research-driven strategies, has never been more vital.
“Research generates a wealth of data that serves as a foundation for our understanding of health issues, population needs, and the effectiveness of interventions.
“This data does not only provide insight into the current state of health status within our communities but also guides us in identifying areas for improvement,” she said.
The minister also noted research could reveal trends in disease prevalence, the effectiveness of various treatment modalities, and the social determinants affecting health.
“The evidence generated from Kuhes’ research plays a critical role in evidence-based policymaking. By providing robust data and insights, the university helps the ministry in crafting policies that are grounded in scientific evidence and best practices.
“This collaboration ensures that our health policies are not only visionary but also practical and effective,” explains Chiponda.
For director of higher education at Ministry of Education Levis Eneya the conference reflected the country’s collective aspiration to harness the transformative power of research and innovation as pivotal forces in advancing the national health agenda.
Eneya believes health research benefits from diverse perspectives, encompassing medicine, public health, social sciences, engineering, as well as technology.
According to him, there had been a substantial increase in research publications between 2020 and 2022 exceeding the projected goals of 198 publications by 2025 and 300 publications by 2030.
But when all is said and done, the million-dollar question remains: Malawian universities including Kuhes have been conducting research for a long time what’s there to show?
“Their dedication to research, education, and innovation has made a significant difference in the lives of Malawians and has contributed to the advancement of our health sector.
“Let us continue strengthening our partnership and work together to achieve our shared goals. By combining our efforts, we can drive health innovation, improve health outcomes, and build a healthier future for all Malawians,” concludes Chiponda.
