Algiers/Brazzaville, 28 May 2008 -- An African ministerial conference on health research will take place from 23 to 26 June 2008 in Algiers, as part of the preparations for the Second Global Forum on Health Research scheduled to take place in Bamako, Mali, in November 2008. The conference theme is “Narrowing the knowledge gap to improve Africa’s health” and affirms the commitment of countries to support health research in Africa.

“Research plays a crucial role in improving global health and health equity by developing and evaluating interventions. Indeed, it is fundamental for generating knowledge to improve health outcomes and contributing to improved health, including the attainment of the health-related Millennium Development Goals,” says WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis G. Sambo.

“Member States, with the support of development partners and other stakeholders, need to allocate more resources to strengthen their national health research systems; develop capacity to conduct health research; identify health research priorities; evaluate research results; and create mechanisms to translate the outcomes of research into action to improve health.”

Says the Head of Government of the Republic of Algeria, Mr Abdelaziz Belkhadem, “it is particularly important for countries to develop strategies that focus on the health problems of people of our Region”.

Mr Belkhadem adds: “in view of the speedy development of medical knowledge and the endless possibilities offered by technological advancement, it is imperative for health professionals, especially those more involved in research, to be alert to real health needs in order to innovate and find solutions to our health problems”.

The Algiers Conference aims to bring together the ministers of health in the WHO African Region, representatives of research institutes, NGOs, donor agencies and the private sector in order to renew commitments and agree on the “Algiers Declaration” which will be submitted to the Second Global Ministerial Forum on Health Research scheduled to take place from 17 to 19 November 2008 in Bamako, Mali.

The Algiers Conference will particularly focus on:

• Renewing the commitment of countries to strengthen the generation of knowledge and narrow the knowledge gap to improve Africa’s health development and equity;
• Highlighting innovative approaches and success stories in developing capacity for research, information and knowledge management in the African Region;
• Strengthening the use of evidence in policy development and decision-making.

The three-day conference, to be organized in plenary and parallel sessions, will discuss a range of topics, including governance and stewardship of national health research systems; ethical policies and practices regarding health research; financial flows and funding of national health systems; donor and institutional perspectives of financial flows; and human and physical resources.

Other topics slated for discussion are the management, dissemination and use of country health information data; training and movement of health research staff; institutional facilities and field sites; production and use of research to improve health, and research output and knowledge systems. The Algiers Declaration will be discussed and adopted on 26 June.

More than 500 delegates are expected to take part in the conference. These include African ministers of health, education, science and technology; representatives of research institutes and universities within and without Africa; NGOs and African and international foundations, multilateral and bilateral aid organizations, including partners involved in the promotion and financing of information, knowledge and research in the field of health; and other eminent personalities as well as the international media.

A steering committee of eight countries (Algeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda and Senegal) was set up to prepare the ministerial conference in Algiers. The committee held four meetings (a meeting every six months) in Algiers (Algeria), including an extraordinary meeting which took place in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo on 29 November 2007, alongside the regional consultation held to prepare for the Algiers Conference.

For further information on this conference, particularly regarding participation, please visit the conference website www.algercars2008.dz and/or contact

M. Messaoud Belkessam, Tel : + 213 279759, et + 213 21 661 557966, Fax : + 213 21 279268, E-mail : mscom [at] sante.dz

Mme Chibout Leila, Tél: + 213 21 91 26 15 ou + 213 21 91 11 41, Fax: + 213 21 91 16 86, E-mail: chibout [at] gmail.com

Dr Derege Kebede, Tel: + 47 241 39176, E-mail: kebeded [at] afro.who.int

Dr Issa Sanou, Tel : +47 241 39, E-mail : sanoui [at] afro.who.int

Mr Samuel Ajibola, Tel : +47 241 39378, E-mail : ajibolas [at] afro.who.int