A team from CHAMPS Program Office in Atlanta was in Sierra Leone from 20th to 24th August 2018 to work with the CHAMPS Sierra Leone implementing partners along with the subnational and national public health agencies in the country to assess and support national capacity to analyze and utilize CHAMPS data and findings to inform decision making.
It is a priority for CHAMPS to ensure that information generated through the project has an impact at the local, national and international levels. The International Association of the National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) is exploring how it can support subnational public health authorities to make use of the data and it outcomes. Key objectives of their visit was to understand how notifications and information will flow from the CHAMPS site and also create communication plans that outline and refine strategies for engaging key audiences.
The team met with CHAMPS Leadership, officials of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Civil Registration Authority and the Office of the births and Deaths on terms of reference and CHAMPS plans for dissemination of results.
Additionally, interviews were conducted with community stakeholders and members at the CHAMPS site to gain an insight of their knowledge, participation and experiences with the CHAMPS program and to identify best ways for communities to work with CHAMPS to address and reduce under-five death and still births.
It is expected that the output of this visit will complete CHAMPS data to action assessment of subnational and national public health authority, creation of Sierra Leone site communication plans and increased alignment of key messaging.
The team comprises Sue Binder-Senior Advisor for Public Health Practices- EMORY University, Katy Seib-Director of Programs-EMORY University, Andie Tucker-Public Health Partnerships Associate and Mary Claire-CHAMPS Epidemiologist-CDC.
By: Bridget Lewis
FOCUS 1000 CHAMPS Communications Officer