Uncategorized – Gillings Around the globe

Going Global with Gillings: Reflections on participating in the 2023 Union World Conference on Lung Disease, Paris

Posted on January 23, 2024January 26, 2024 by cmckay1

By Gunjan Dhawan

*Gunjan at the USAID booth, Union Conference 2023*

The fight against Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that continues to adversely affect lives globally. A major cause of ill health, it continues to be the second leading cause of death worldwide after coronavirus (COVID-19)[1]. Despite TB being a preventable and curable disease, over 10 million people contract TB every year¹. Thirty high-burden countries account for 87% of the total TB cases, and a total of 1.3 million people died of TB in 2022 alone[2]. Continuous global efforts to fight TB have saved an estimated 75 million lives since the year 2000². Sustained funding to support research and innovative solutions are required to accelerate the fight against TB.

The TB Data, Impact Assessment and Communications Hub (TB DIAH) project, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is a cornerstone of the Agency’s Accelerator initiative to enhance existing TB data and knowledge sharing and to strengthen national TB programs worldwide[3]. The project supports governments, policy makers, and program stakeholders with the generation, analysis, communication, and use of accurate, quality data for decision-making and scale up. Furthermore, TB DIAH provides the technical know-how to ensure optimal demand for and analysis of TB data, appropriate use of that information to measure performance and to inform national TB programs (NTPs)[4]. From the Performance-based M&E Framework (PBMEF), to assessments, to data dashboards and other resources, TB DIAH offers a range of data-based tools and frameworks to help improve tuberculosis programs worldwide⁴.

Global with Gillings
For over 100 years, the Union World Conference has brought together different stakeholders working to combat TB across the globe. These include the different ministries of health, and government agencies, researchers and academicians, funders, implementing partners and private sector. The forum provides a great opportunity for all stakeholders to showcase results outcomes, initiatives of evidence-based research and practice for prevention, treatment, cure, innovation and beyond in the fight against TB. After two years of virtual conferences sessions due to COVID, the four day-long Union World Conference on Lung Health, 2023 was held in-person between 15^th – 18^th November in Paris, France. With funders, implementers, policymakers, patient advocates, decision makers, bilateral agencies, and other industry stakeholders all under one roof, TB DIAH made a strong presence by highlighting the incredible work done to build and strengthen TB data use in national TB programs across different geographies from the 24 USAID TB priority countries.

Along with the TB DIAH team, I had the good fortune to attend and participate in this year’s Union World Conference on Lung Diseases. I have been supporting the project with the conceptualisation, design, and technical content development for a TB M&E eLearning course to build the capacity of professionals working in national TB programs (NTPs) on M&E of different programmatic and clinical TB indicators. The course will support understanding of TB M&E and surveillance systems and explore how USAID’s PBMEF, which provides standardized, high-quality indicators, can improve the generation of quality data, and support the analysis, interpretation, and use of that data to inform programming, identify gaps, and strengthen the overall system. With dedicated time allocated for the information session at the booth, conference participants stopped for an engaging discussion on upcoming eLearning courses, and PBMEF, with the team. During the conference days, I supported these information and knowledge sharing sessions at the USAID booth, where the project team highlighted TB DIAH’s work on the (PBMEF) and TB M&E eLearning modules.

TB DIAH - UNC team and partners at the conference — *TB DIAH – UNC team and partners at the conference*

Experiential Learning
After months of focusing on critical public health issues affecting the world, learning about cultural humility, and practicing research methods and measures, participating at a world conference which focused on tuberculosis, was truly an experiential learning opportunity. It was a firsthand experience of witnessing evidence-based interventions that were implemented in different health settings across the globe being showcased at a forum where funders and implementers, researchers, physicians, and decision makers were all under one roof. Partners, innovators, and implementers shared best practices and innovative solutions that showed tremendous impact in increasing access to TB services across TB high burden countries. Sharing space to showcase the ongoing work on the TB M&E eLearning module, engaging in knowledge sharing sessions, and getting feedback from fellow participants on our work, was exciting.

It gave a diverse exposure to the progress towards TB elimination in the world, discover breakthrough AI based solutions to improve TB detection and simultaneously cross learn from other public health researchers and practitioners. Furthermore, I took back the experience of sharing a common space and goal with the TB DIAH team and partners, former colleagues, new associations, and stalwarts in the field of Tuberculosis – all wrapped up in the backdrop of the City of Lights: Paris.

I am grateful to my supervisor Ms Ann Marie Fitzgerald for her constant encouragement and support. A big shout out to an amazing team-Rebecca Cornell Oser, Meredith Silver, Bridgit Adamou, Margie Joyce, David La’vel Johnson, and Darrell R Keyes without whom this experience would have been incomplete.

I am both grateful and excited as I continue my journey in Global Health!

*Shining bright – the majestic Eiffel Tower*

[1] Global tuberculosis report 2023. www.who.int. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240083851

[2] 10 facts on tuberculosis. www.who.int. Published October 26, 2022. https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/tuberculosis#:~:text=About%20one%20quarter%20of%20the

[3] TB DIAH – Capture data. Contextualize data. Strengthen TB programs worldwide. Accessed December 13, 2023. https://www.tbdiah.org/

[4] Project Overview and Objectives – TB DIAH. Accessed December 13, 2023. https://www.tbdiah.org/about/tb-diah-overview-and-objectives/

Summer of COVID-19 – Perspectives from a Barcalounger

Posted on August 12, 2020 by nayavill

I ended up having quite the busy summer from my parents’ basement barcalounger in Madison, WI. For about six weeks from mid-May until late June, I made a valiant effort to balance my time between keeping up with studying for my MCAT, and collecting news, social media, video blog, and other disseminated stories of North Carolina frontline health workers regarding their COVID-19 experience…along with the occasional Zoom trivia or game night with friends, Global Health Concentration social committee meeting, or meeting with the COVID Behind the Numbers project team. I only escaped my lounge lizard life for a few workouts a week, walking the dog, or a much needed socially distanced Sunday afternoon round of golf. While the effort was valiant, by early June, the MCAT had consumed my life, my mind, and my soul, as it does to so many pre-medical students.

Despite the preoccupation with the MCAT, I continued to follow video blogs, podcasts, and other social media posts from frontline healthcare workers through the up-and-downticks of the summer of COVID-19 in North Carolina. Obvious themes began to present themselves as I worked with my initial data: PPE shortage or surplus, preparedness, rural homecare facilities versus urban hospitals, and support and appreciation for frontline healthcare workers existed among others. However, underlying these themes were a few more compelling, yet unsettling themes. As I reviewed stories, no matter the position in healthcare from Emergency provider or administrator, to public health analyst, nurse, or homecare facility worker, I found a concern for mental health to be interwoven in the stories I read. Many healthcare workers described the stress of not knowing what is to come, if they were prepared, or if their PPE was effective in protecting them and consequently their families. Many used spending time outside during breaks, or keeping up with yoga, meditation, or other practices to alleviate the stress of the time.

While not always applicable to the specific healthcare workers telling stories, inequity flowed through aspects of almost every set of stories I analyzed. Throughout the data collection process, Latinx and African American communities in North Carolina bore the brunt of this outbreak in terms of disproportionate cases and deaths relative to the percentage of the population each group occupies in the state. The most promising aspect was that, from early on, public health and other healthcare workers acknowledged, or highlighted the importance of recognizing and addressing these inequities in their stories. However, the numbers have yet to even out, or even come close. Seeing the themes streaming from this project to this most recent Black Lives Matter movement and protests of police brutality, looking at two major historical events occurring at the same time, and analyzing how issues of ethics, equity, and empowerment overlapped was simultaneously heart wrenching and fascinating. One physician likened dealing with the pandemic to “building the airplane while flying it” and “knowing how to build the plane…[but] being thrown different parts at a time.” Once we recognize an equity issue exists – mid-pandemic or not – this part of the plane needs to take priority in design, build, and reinforcement before any other area.

Considering my interest in infectious disease and mixed methods research, it has been extremely rewarding to apply the skills I have acquired to this point in my public health career to such a pertinent project. It provided a fun twist in that we had the freedom to search and gather qualitative data from a variety of open sources, rather than more standard qualitative interviews, which hopefully will be done in the future. I feel this project has been extremely informative: from finding expected and unexpected themes, to the roller coaster of ups and downs seen in the pandemic, to looking at the pandemic in conjunction with a critical social movement, and more. During hard times, many people turn inward, and harbor their feelings, emotions, and opinions. With the social response and activism this summer, and throughout the pandemic, it’s incredibly encouraging to see so many facing outward, using their voices, and expressing their triumphs and hardships. Now, we need to turn to those whose voices remain stifled, amplify them, listen, and work to make real change.

– Kris

Unexpected Lessons in Global Health

Posted on August 11, 2020 by nayavill

It seems like just last week I was getting ready to start my practicum, and now suddenly I’m here wrapping everything up. As I begin to reflect on another summer work experience, I always enjoy realizing how out of all the things I’ve learned, very few are actually the things I was expecting to learn. Sure, I’ve learned plenty about intrapartum care in low-resource settings… I’ve read dozens of articles about patient experience, provider care, facility administration, and community involvement. I’ve had Zoom calls with a Haitian physician and program director and other midwives and researchers. I’ve written a literature review and a communications plan. And these are all good things—things I expected out of this summer.

But, this summer has been about so much more than those things. This summer I have also sat in on non-profit board meetings and consortium updates. I’ve been a part of engaging with donors and updating records. I’ve been active in supporting local health, even while working for a global organization. From my little desk in my Chapel Hill condo, I’ve been able to engage in far more than a research project, and I’ve learned some things I didn’t expect.

Some of the St. Antoinne school children enjoying the playground.

As part of their work in Haiti, Family Health Ministries supports children in an orphanage and school in Fondwa. This support would not be possible without the generosity of hundreds of donors from all across the United States. I’ve been sending each donor updates—a letter and some photos—on how the students are doing, and it struck me that global health work, especially in the NGO world, relies on contributions and support from all sorts of different people and places. Thus, the work is not just global in its destination, but also in its source. We all have the chance to be a part of global health work in some way, degree or not, which means wherever we are, we can be part of building a healthier world.

I’m about one third of the way through my cross-state trek… and I’m excited to “arrive” in Winston-Salem soon!

Back in May my preceptors shared that they wanted to be intentional about supporting local health alongside their global mission, especially during the pandemic. We all signed up for the Blue Ridge to the Beach virtual race—a 6-month, 475-mile challenge that takes you across the state of North Carolina from Asheville to Wrightsville. So far, I’ve gone about 150 miles, I passed through Charlotte, and I’m on my way to Winston-Salem. I enjoy walking and running, and I’m grateful for the motivation and reminder that taking breaks and getting outside is really good for me. But I didn’t only commit to getting in 2.6 miles per day til December for my own benefit. We chose to participate in the race because all proceeds go to fighting food insecurity in North Carolina. In a time when it seems like life is dictated by all the things we cannot do, this is something that we can do. We choose to move our bodies each day because that choice gives someone else better access to food. We choose to put in the work of improving our own health, so that we will be able, prepared, and healthy enough to help others with theirs. I’ve been reminded that global health work isn’t always glamorous or extreme. Sometimes, it’s as simple as choosing to go for a walk.

Sunset is one of my favorite times to get a walk or run in because it’s not as hot and the views are great!

All those extra things, those lessons found between the expected moments and between the lines of my practicum agreement—those are the things I’ve enjoyed most about my summer. Those are the things you cannot learn in a classroom, and those are the things I will take with me into my career. The skills are important, but the life experience is even more so.

– Ellery

PS—The Blue Ridge to the Beach challenge starts a new wave each month, and the next one kicks off August 1^st. Check out their website to register and join us!