2025-07-16-世界卫生组织-HRP_Alliance_in_action_Adapting_to_the_unknown_through_partnerships_in_the_Eastern_Mediterranean页_4页_748kb

HRP Alliance in Action: Adapting to Unknowns Through Partnerships in the Eastern Mediterranean

Overview

The Human Reproduction Programme (HRP) Alliance, specifically its Eastern Mediterranean hub based at Aga Khan University (AKU) in Karachi, Pakistan, strengthens research capacity in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) through partnerships with institutions and hospitals. The hub serves as a regional center, offering scholarships, training, fellowships, and mentorship to foster SRHR research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it demonstrated adaptability and collaborative innovation.

Challenges Addressed During COVID-19

• Maternal health challenges emerged due to lockdowns and healthcare realignment, leading to declines in facility-based births and delayed care-seeking in Pakistan.
• Research faced obstacles such as restricted mobility, facility closures, and barriers to fieldwork.
• These conditions prompted a shift to online training platforms and facilitated collaborations to address the impacts of COVID-19 on pregnant women and healthcare systems.

Innovations and Collaborations

• Hospital Partnerships: The hub collaborated directly with public hospitals, helping establish standardized protocols for COVID-19 testing and supporting capacity building in ethical data collection and research methodology.
• Digital Training: Implemented online courses on manuscript writing, research proposals, and SRHR topics, ensuring inclusivity for researchers in remote areas. This included digital mentorship, enabling connections with experienced researchers.
• Sensitive Topics: Engaged stakeholders to discuss evidence-based SRHR issues like abortion and contraception, shifting focus to health outcomes and community understanding.

Key Learnings and Outcomes

• Leverage digital platforms and mentorship to overcome geographical barriers and foster a research community.
• Cultural sensitivity and stakeholder engagement are crucial for addressing sensitive SRHR topics.
• Collaborations with hospitals translate research into actionable insights and policy changes, such as integrating FAST-M tools for maternal sepsis management.
• The hub trained over 100 researchers, leading to groundbreaking publications and policy improvements, demonstrating a scalable model for SRHR research capacity strengthening.

Broader Impact

This initiative showcases a replicable approach to research capacity building through hospital-academic partnerships, digital tools, and mentorship. It underscores the importance of innovative collaboration for adapting to global health emergencies and advancing SRHR globally.