The Background to the Algiers Declaration and the Framework For

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THE BACKGROUND The Algiers Declaration on Narrowing the Knowledge Gap to Improve Africa’s TO THE ALGIERS Health was adopted during a Conference held in Algiers, Algeria, in June 2008. The Conference, which brought Ministers from the African Region together with DECLARATION AND researchers, nongovernmental organizations, donors, and the private sector, renewed commitments to narrow the knowledge gap in order to improve health development and health equity in the Region. This paper describes the background to the Algiers THE FRAMEWORK Declaration and the Framework for its implementation and their signiﬁ cance in FOR ITS assisting countries’ eﬀ orts to strengthen health systems in the Region.

IMPLEMENTATION La Déclaration d’Alger sur la réduction du défi cit des connaissances en vue d’améliorer la É santé en Afrique a été adoptée durant une conférence qui s’est tenue à Alger, en Algérie,

M durant le mois de juin 2008. La conférence, qui a réuni les ministres de la Région africaine TO IMPROVE ainsi que les chercheurs, les organisations non-gouvernementales, les donateurs et le secteur privé, a renouvelé l’engagement à réduire le défi cit des connaissances afi n d’améliorer le développement sanitaire et l’équité en santé dans la Région. Ce document HEALTH SYSTEMS décrit le contexte de la Déclaration d’Alger et le cadre de sa mise en œuvre ainsi que leur É ÉSU importance pour aider les pays dans leurs eff orts voués à renforcer les systèmes de santé

R dans la région.

A Declaração de Argel sobre a Redução do Défi ce de Conhecimentos para Melhorar a Paul-Samson Lusamba-Dikassa O Saúde em África foi adoptada no decurso de uma Conferência realizada em Argel, na Derege Kebede Argélia, em Junho de 2008. A Conferência, que reuniu Ministros africanos conjuntamente

RI com investigadores, organizações não governamentais, doadores e o sector privado, Issa Sanou renovou compromissos para diminuir o défi ce de conhecimentos com vista a melhorar o Emil Asamoah-Odei Á desenvolvimento da saúde e a igualdade de acesso aos cuidados de saúde na região. Este

Edoh William Soumbey-Alley M documento descreve o contexto da Declaração de Argel e o quadro orientador para a sua implementação bem como o seu signifi cado no que diz respeito ao auxílio aos esforços Peter Ebongue Mbondji dos países para fortalecer os sistemas de saúde na região.

Chris Zielinski SU Luis Gomes Sambo

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6 APRIL–JUNE 2010 • ISSUE 12

120 2#%'!"'0#!2'-,1$-01! *',% -, 10'+ 07 # *2& ! 0# ," THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE BACKGROUND 3.#11#,2' *&# *2&',2#04#,2'-,1 # *2& 712#+1 ', $0'! THE ALGIERS DECLARATION AND THE 2- !&'#4# &# *2&V0#* 2#" ," 30 +#5-0) $-0 2&# FRAMEWORK FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND '**#,,'3+ #4#*-.+#,2- *1 +.*#+#,2 2'-,-$2&#*%'#01 THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN ASSISTING COUNTRIES’ 131',%2! ..0- !& #!* 0 2'-,',2&#$0'! ,#%'-, EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THE REGION. $-0120#,%2&#,',%&# *2&1712#+1T 2- 20#,%2&#, #1# 0!& $-0 # *2&T$2#0 0- "!-,13*2 2'-, *&# 25- !-,$#0#,!#1 ',4-*4',% 0#%'-, * ," %*- * !-++'22##$-0$0'! 0',%',% 0#!-++#,"#" 2& 2 ;0 12 )#&-*"#01Q2#$0 +#5-0)1 2-%#2�+','12#01-$&# *2&$0-+ "#4#*-. 30 +#5-0) $-0 5#0# "0 $2#" 7 ;0V30T **VX!-3,20'#1-$2&##%'-,Q 2&# +.*#+#,2 2'-, -$ 2&# 3 1#/3#,2*7Q *&# 3'$27V &#*"','% *'Q5 ," Q ..0-4#" 03 % "-3%-3 #!* 0 2'-, ,',2& 1#11'-, -$ 2&# #%'-, * -2&30 +#5-0)1T

BACKGROUND TO ALGIERS Much of the current focus on promoting health research to solve the health problems of developing countries has its roots in a landmark report to the Nobel Conference in Sweden in 1990. The Commission on Health Research for Development explained that only 5% of global health research investment was being directed to conditions accounting for 95% of global disease.

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7 THE AFRICAN HEALTH MONITOR

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8 APRIL–JUNE 2010 • ISSUE 12

THE ALGIERS DECLARATION AND THE FRAMEWORK FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION

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If countries implement the series of steps in the Algiers Framework ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS they would pave the way for strengthening their health systems. This can be achieved by developing the content, process and use of We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of all those who have actively participated in, and assisted, technology aimed at improving: the preparations and conduct of the Algiers Ministerial Conference and the follow up regional consultation û the availability of relevant and timely health information; in Brazzaville that discussed the Framework for its implementation. û management of health information through better analysis and interpretation of data; REFERENCES û the availability of relevant, ethical and timely research evidence; 1 World Health Organization, Regional Offi ce for Africa. Priority û the use of evidence by policy-makers and decision-makers; interventions for strengthening national health information systems; WHO Regional Committee for Africa, Fifty-fourth session, June 2004. û improving dissemination and sharing of information, evidence and 2 World Health Organization, Regional Offi ce for Africa. Health knowledge; Research: Agenda for the WHO African Region. Regional Committee for Africa, Fifty-sixth session, AFR/RC56/14, June 2006. û access to global health information; and 3 World Health Organization, Regional Offi ce for Africa. Knowledge Management in the WHO African Region: Strategic Directions WHO Regional Committee for Africa, û the use of information and communication technologies. Fifty-sixth session, AFR/RC56/16, June 2006.