Centre for International Child Health
BC Children’s Hospital and
Child & Family Health Research Institute
STRATEGIC PLAN 2008 to 2012
1. Background
In 2003 the BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) in partnership with the Child and Family Research Institute approved the creation of the Centre for International Child Health to be located at the BCCH. The creation of the CICH was made possible by the strong support of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation Board of Directors who understood the important role that BC Children’s Hospital, in partnership with the University of British Columbia, has in advancing the health of children globally. The Foundation committed to the establishment of a core endowment for CICH and have supported fund raising for programmatic initiatives. The CICH was established to 1) focus and support the international activities of child health professionals from the BCCH and UBC, 2) help build expertise and capacity within our partner organizations in mid-level and third world countries, and 3) support the engagement of trainees in global child health The initial strategy was to develop international partnerships within which capacity building and research could be conducted, with an initial focus on China and Uganda because of important historical relationships with these two countries.
The initial operation of CICH occurred through a Steering Committee with an Interim Director and core operational support. The plan for a full-time Director of the Centre was realized with the appointment of Dr. Charles Larson in January, 2008.
2. Conceptual Framework
The terms “international” or “global” health are subject to a wide range of interpretations and, therefore, expectations. While not wanting to oversimplify this, the CICH was created to strategically position the BC Children’s Hospital and UBC as an international player in child health. Our partnerships directly aim to improve the health and well being of children and mothers, in particular those most vulnerable and those living in less developed settings/countries. In light of current international agreements, the focus is on projects that will assist our partners in achieving their health development goals through the strengthening of health services, training and research.
Nearly 10 million children under the age of five die from preventable illnesses each year. Of all these deaths, 98% occur within least developed and emerging economy countries, in particular among the poor. While under-five mortality rates are improving in many regions of the world, progress lags far behind what is required to meet the Millennium Development Goals set for the year 2015. In several sub-Saharan countries the situation is actually worsening.
Least developed countries can generically be described as severely limited in material and human resources and in their capacity to deal with an overwhelming array of urgent problems. Within their under-funded health systems, health workers are inadequately supported and underpaid. Strengthening capacity through training and opportunities for self learning, improved pro-poor health policies and decision making, and the provision of essential equipment and supplies will be critical challenges for any developing country and those who partner with them in the effort to reduce unnecessary deaths and improve the health of children and the families in which they are raised.
Countries with rapidly emerging economies, such as China and India, have a considerably strengthened resource base upon which to reform their health systems and the delivery of services. Nonetheless, they face enormous challenges in terms of the health needs of their rural and urban poor populations, persistent poverty, inefficient health systems and insufficient local clinical and public health capacities.
The CICH is well positioned to strengthen local capacities through the transfer and exchange of knowledge and appropriate technologies that will impact on the above raised issues. These skills can and should address clinical, public health and rehabilitation sciences without creating artificial boundaries between them.. To do this will require the involvement of BCCH staff (in partnership with other UBC faculty, local institutions such as the BC-CDC, and other Canadian Universities) with competencies in all aspects of global health, including an understanding of health systems and how capacity building can most effectively reach those in greatest need. Thus, an important goal of the CICH will be to develop project proposals that go beyond institutional partnerships and are better positioned to have a lasting impact on child health through more effective integration into host country health systems and service delivery. This will necessitate greater attention being paid to a wider range of health determinants (e.g. social and environmental) and to identifying local public, private or NGO sector leadership able to influence policy and the delivery of health services to those in greatest need.
3. Vision
Through international partnerships, the CICH can strengthen local capacities to generate knowledge and deliver health services that enhance the likelihood children will reach their full health potential, in particular among those at greatest risk due to poverty and underdevelopment.
4. Mission
In partnership with host country institutions, to exchange knowledge, skills and best practices that will strengthen our combined ability to reduce preventable deaths and improve the health and well being of children and their families.
5. Guiding Values
6. CICH Project Priorities
The Centre must build upon the expertise that exists within the BCCH and at UBC and SFU. This implies the development of projects that emphasize capacity building and critical appraisal of the activities undertaken.
Cross-cutting themes: Projects undertaken by the CICH will include consideration of the following:
7. Training in global health
There is unparalleled interest in international health among young Canadian health professionals in training. Training opportunities with clearly stipulated learning objectives are required. The CICH will work with the pediatrics residency training program to develop core and streamed curricula in global health. A fellowship program in global pediatrics is also planned. CICH will also partner with the newly created UBC School of Population and Public Health in support of its global health and vulnerable populations academic stream (refer to figure 1).
8. Research: Child & Family Research Institute (CFRI)
8.a. Global health research rounds
The aim is to create a forum where CICH members can come together to present new concepts, review protocols under development, and learn about recent and relevant methodologic or substantive developments in global health.
8.b. Targeted research
CICH will provide memer support to develop, fund and conduct targeted research protocols in support of identified priority themes.
9. Centre Management and Governance
Refer to figure 2. The CICH management team includes the director, who is supported by an administrative manager and program manager . These managers, in turn, work with country-specific coordinators. At present, the Centre director reports to a Steering Committee Chaired by the BCCH Chief of Pediatrics. The Committee includes the President of BCCH, President of the BCCH Foundation, the Executive Director of the Child and Family Research Institute, Chair of Department of Pediatrics, and Chair of the Department of Surgery.