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These Gold and Bronze sponsors of the Alliance are acknowledged for their support and global health leadership.
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What's in the October edition?
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Our member organisations have been so busy this month, that for the first time ever we need to split our monthly e-zine into two parts!
Part 2 of our October e-zine will land in your inbox next week.
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 Last week, the Australian Government announced that it had joined the COVAX Facility, providing access to the world's largest portfolio of COVID-19 vaccine candidates and manufacturers. Professor Brendan Crabb AC, Chair of Pacific Friends of Global Health said, “The COVAX Facility is our best shot at getting out the other side of this pandemic as quickly and as safely as we can. The Facility provides Australia – and all participating countries – with an insurance policy against failed vaccine candidates. Instead of needing to hedge our bets on just two vaccine candidates as we are at the moment, we now have access to the world’s largest and most diverse portfolio of candidates." The commitment is in addition to Australia's $80m pledge to the COVAX Advanced Market Commitment, which ensures equitable access to vaccines for 92 low- and middle- income countries who otherwise would not have been able to afford it.
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 The year 2020 marks 20 years of World Sight Day, which was established in 2000 as the main advocacy event for raising awareness about blindness and vision impairment for VISION 2020: The Right to Sight, a global initiative created by WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).
This year World Sight Day is on Thursday 8 October, and Vision 2020 Australia will be using social media and the #WorldSightDayAU hashtag to share information about eye health and vision care, and to highlight the important work of the sector and our members.
How to get involved
- Post on social media on Thursday 8 October in support of World Sight Day, using the hashtag #WorldSightDayAU
- Add the World Sight Day frame to your Facebook profile picture by clicking here.
- Share a World Sight Day image on social media
Social media images and key messages are available to download on the Vision 2020 Australia website.
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A set of agreements to make affordable, high-quality COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) available for low- and middle-income countries was announced this week by the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. Organisations involved in the milestone agreement include The Global Fund, Unitaid, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
To scale up antigen-detecting RDTs, the Global Fund announced that it has made available an initial US$50 million from its COVID-19 Response Mechanism to enable countries to purchase at least 10 million of the new rapid tests for LMICs at a guaranteed price, with the first orders expected to be placed immediately through the Global Fund’s pooled procurement mechanism. Unitaid and Africa CDC will combine resources to initiate the roll out of these tests in up to 20 countries in Africa starting in October 2020. Read more about this game-changing announcement here.
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Dr Katherine Livingstone from Deakin’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Associate Professor Gary Sacks from Deakin’s Global Obesity Centre and Dr Anna Ugalde from the School of Nursing and Midwifery have been named in this year’s Victorian Young Tall Poppy Awards. The Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS) awards recognise up-and-coming scientists who combine world-class research with a passionate commitment to communicating science. The state awards celebrate researchers across science, engineering and mathematics. The 2020 Awards Ceremony will be held virtually in early October.
Good luck!
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 On September 17, Policy Cures Research (PCR) launched its 2020 G-FINDER report, Landscape of Emerging Infectious Disease R&D: Preventing the next pandemic, via a webinar briefing for more than 50 partners and journalists. Be sure to take a look!
PCR also maintains an up-to-date COVID-19 R&D tracker to help partners, policy makers and journalists understand the evolving landscape of COVID-19 R&D. The tracker currently shows nearly US$9.2 billion in R&D funding commitments and at least 979 product candidates in the pipeline. PCR also produces related analyses, including a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Results Table reviewing the 8 most advanced vaccine candidates.
In August, PCR launched its G-FINDER report on sexual and reproductive health and also debuted its first G-FINDER Snapshot looking at R&D funding trends and new tools to fight malaria on World Mosquito Day (20 August).
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The Last Mile First: Safeguarding Communities During HIV and COVID-19: AFAO
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 Concerns are mounting about the effects of COVID-19, and of responses to the pandemic, on the provision of HIV prevention, testing, treatment, care and support for key populations, including: gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs, sex workers, transgender people and prisoners, including those living with HIV. This new paper from AFAO identifies issues for key populations and people living with HIV in Asia and the Pacific and makes recommendations to address these risks and ensure key populations are not left behind. Read the report here.
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Novel concept for needle procedures becomes international award finalist: NeedleCalm
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A Melbourne-based medtech start-up working to change the way needle-related procedures are delivered has beat tough international competition to become a finalist in the YBF Ventures Online Startup & Innovation Awards.
NeedleCalm Pty Ltd, is developing a device to reduce the pain and discomfort associated with needle-related procedures with clinical nurse specialist and company founder, Lauren Barber, conceiving the idea after witnessing patients avoid vaccines, medical treatments and procedures due to their fear and anxiety of needles.
The company was nominated in the Best Launch/IPO/Capital Raise During A Crisis category, for their crowdfunding campaign with Australian equity-based crowdfunding platform Birchal earlier in the year.
For more information on NeedleCalm and the awards, please go to needlecalm.com.au
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Introducing the WHO Collaborating Centre for eHealth
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Professor Teng Liaw is Head, WHO Collaborating Centre on eHealth at the School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney. The WHO Collaborating Centre for eHealth provides:
- Technical expertise and knowledge products (e.g. systematic reviews) to inform decision-making on the implementation and evaluation of digital health interventions in health systems, organisations and communities, including providers and consumers of health care; and
- Builds capacity for and strengthens digital health practice, management and policy in learning health organisations to achieve universal health coverage.
The terms of reference (TORs) covers evidence-based implementation and evaluation of WHO activities in digital health and capacity building for implementation & evaluation of digital health.
Activities include:
- Systematic review of methodologies for capacity building, implementation and evaluation of personal, professional and organisational policies & strategies in digital health. See example here.
- Development of tools and guides for assessment of capability maturity and readiness models for implementation of national digital health strategies.
- Building capacity in implementation, research & evaluation of digital health through training and support activities. See example here and here, and the WHOCC-AeHIN webinar series.
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RESULTS' campaign keeps TB front of mind
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RESULTS has just wrapped up their latest TB campaign. At a time when COVID19 threatens to derail decades of progress in the global fight against TB, it's so important that TB remains a global health priority. The campaign received great support from a wide range of stakeholders, and RESULTS' grassroots advocates met with 24 MPs and Senators across the country to galvanise support for more TB R&D funding. As a result of the campaign, letters were sent from 20 CSOs/research institutions and from the co-Chairs of the Australian TB Caucus to the Prime Minister, as well as seven individual letters from MPs and Senators to the PM.
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NRL, along with Integrated  Quality Laboratory Services, are part of a Consortium led by the Mérieux Foundation authorised to reinforce national health systems in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The South East Asia Laboratory Strengthening (SEALAB) project leverages upon the One Health approach to support and strengthen human and animal health laboratory capacity to detect and respond to emerging infectious disease outbreaks which are potentially pandemic and/or zoonotic threats. Read more about the SEALAB project here.
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 A workplace COVID-19 saliva testing pilot led by Dr Mike Catton, Deputy Director of the Doherty Institute, is underway in Victoria to help better understand the logistics of continuous testing in higher-risk workplaces. Read all about it here, or watch the video.
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Early data from Nossal Institute’s worldwide study of the economic, health and well-being consequences of COVID-19 is suggesting you’re stressed. The study is investigating how our circumstances are changing over time. Would you like to let us know how you are you feeling right now? Complete the survey
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8 October: World Sight Day 2020
21 October: World Polio Day Event Global Citizen, RESULTS Australia, UNICEF Australia, Rotary and Polio Australia
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19 - 30 October: The Australian Public Health Conference 2020 has gone virtual!
11 November: WHO Collaborating Centre Network virtual event, with guest speaker Dr Stephanie Williams
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Upcoming (online) events & courses
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ACIPC
The ACIPC Conference Community has been established to deliver quality educational and social networking opportunities to members and stakeholders in the absence of the traditional annual conference. Registration is free and if you are not already a member you can join the Community here.
A vital component of the ACIPC Conference is the contributions made by our peers, as such we are excited to be offering a new look call for presentations for this year's Conference Community.
We invite submissions for the following:
- Short Oral Presentations
- Standard Oral Presentations
- Industry Supplier Presentations
- Panels and Webinars
- Experiences and stories from the field
- Poster Presentations
To ease pressure on authors and help ensure everyone who wishes to contribute to the conference community will have an opportunity, we are pleased to be offering two call for abstracts.
For those interested in presenting before the end of 2020,
please submit an abstract before 23 October
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The Albion Centre
COVID-19 has caused major disruption to the way health services provide care and health education services provide healthcare worker training. However, high quality professional education on HIV, STIs and BBVs is still available online from Albion Education & Development, and self-isolation or working from home can be a great opportunity to catch up on professional development. Places in the following courses are available free of charge:
HIV & Ageing
19th October - 22nd November
Acquire Sensible Knowledge - Introduction to HIV for Healthcare Workers
19th October - 22nd November
Don’t forget to check out this calendar for information on other Albion Education & Development courses!
To apply or seek more information, please contact: education@thealbioncentre.org.au
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ASHM
Candid Conversations from the Frontline – Supporting the HIV & Sexual Health Workforce Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic
A series of candid conversations from across the region on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the frontline workforce in our sector, as part of the virtual Asia Pacific AIDS & Co-infections Conference. Join us as we discuss what went well in the rapid adaptation of services, what mistakes we can learn from, the innovations healthcare workers hope to continue into the new normal and the importance of protecting the mental health of healthcare workers through uncertainty.
Available on-demand from the 15 th to the 17 th of October 2020
A Global Response to COVID-19 and HIV: Lessons for Australasia
- Lessons in COVID-19 treatment and vaccination, with Professor Sharon Lewin;
- Lessons in responding to public health emergencies from a human rights perspective, with Professor Chris Beyrer; and
Lessons in the adaptation of services for people living with HIV in Singapore and the and UK, and from diverse experiences in pandemic control from New Zealand and South Africa
Recording available free online until November 6 th
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The Doherty Institute
Introductory course in applied microbial genomics for public health
This course, designed for public health microbiologists and epidemiologists, will introduce concepts and provide practical experience in the analysis and interpretation of microbial genome data for public health action, with a focus on antimicrobial resistance and the application of genomics to the COVID-19 response.
For more information, head here.
Sino-Australia COVID-19 Seminar Series part one - Hong Kong and Australia respond to COVID-19: Epidemiology, policy and practice
All countries have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic but none exactly alike. As we enhance preparedness to future disease events, we can begin to reflect and identify learnings from different locations and policy settings.
Comparing the experiences of Hong Kong and Australia offers potential insight into relative effectiveness of these responses. While the outbreaks, clinical outcomes and policy responses have varied significantly, the role of epidemiological evidence and modelling has remained critical for both. This seminar showcases the expertise of two key researchers from the Doherty Institute and the University of Hong Kong, Professor Jodie McVernon and Professor Benjamin Cowling, to discuss the types of evidence used to inform government decision-making and strategy.
For more information, head here.
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The George Institute
Food, COVID-19 and Sensible Policy: Time to #FixFood
The George Institute for Global Health invites you to a virtual #GeorgeTalks on ‘Food, COVID-19 and Sensible Policy: Time to #FixFood’ on Friday 16 October 2020 to mark World Food Day.
We will be joined by renowned American cardiologist, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, Dean and Jean Mayer Professor at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and Professor of Medicine at Tufts Medical School.
Dr. Mozaffarian will outline how our dietary habits are the number one cause of poor health, and the steps we can take to fix food and implement sensible policy, even in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Register Here
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Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Mitigating indirect impact of COVID-19 on child health in diverse settings – what is the role of research?
Tuesday 20 October
5:00 - 6:00pm AEDT
In May 2020 international modellers predicted that indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could cause in excess of 2 millions deaths of children under 5 years of age globally over 12 months. Months on from these grim modelling projections, what is known now about measured impact of the pandemic on child mortality in low- and middle-income countries where the majority of the world’s children reside? And what data are there about other adverse effects such as those on mental health, child development, trauma, abuse and neglect? Crucially, what can be done to prevent mortality and morbidity among the world’s most vulnerable children? This webinar will explore these questions with a focus on emerging data from Bangladesh and Nepal and particularly explore the role of child health research in informing policy and programs during the pandemic.
Speakers:
- Dr Kate Milner Paediatrician in the Department of Neurodevelopment & Disability, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne and a post-doctoral researcher in global child development and disability based at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
- Dr Jena Hamadani - Paediatrician and international emeritus scientist at the Maternal and Child Health Division of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b)
- Dr Ashish KC - Researcher at Uppsala University, Sweden and a perinatal epidemiologist with doctoral degree in neonatology
Link to more details and RSVP/booking: Here
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World Polio Day Event
Wednesday 21 October
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM AEST
Global Citizen, RESULTS Australia, UNICEF Australia, Rotary and Polio Australia are delighted to invite you to a special virtual event to honour World Polio Day 2020! We welcome all who share our passion to ensure polio becomes the second-ever disease eradicated from the world.
It's free so please register soon to reserve your spot!
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Development Policy Centre's 2020 Aid Budget Breakfast
Join us online from 9am (AEDT) on Wednesday 7 October, the morning after the delayed federal budget is delivered, for Devpol's annual aid budget breakfast – but BYO breakfast! Tune in as we examine what the 2020 aid budget means for Australia's aid engagement. Registration and details here.
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📺 Nombasa’s Fight Against HIV, TB and COVID-19: The Global Fund
Nombasa Krune-Dumile is a front-line health worker living with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa. After beating TB and COVID-19, she is back in the trenches, helping others overcome all three diseases and has an urgent appeal to governments and global health partners...
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🎧 Doherty Institute's COVID-19 Playlist
What songs do you put in a pandemic-themed playlist? The staff at the Doherty Institute knew, and have pulled together THE playlist to get us through this time. Hot tracks include 'The Scientist' by Coldplay and 'I Will Survive' by Gloria Gaynor.
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Have something to share? We want to share your news, events, jobs, courses and accomplishments in our monthly ezine. Send all content through to deputydirector@glham.org.
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