EQUI-RESP-AFRICA: NIHR Global Health Research Group on Improving Equity in Respiratory Disease Outcomes in Africa using Data-Driven Tools

EQUI-RESP-AFRICA aims to reduce the number of deaths, disabilities and wider health and societal impacts from respiratory diseases in some of the world’s most disadvantaged populations. Combined, respiratory conditions including pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), influenza, asthma, tuberculosis, lung cancer and COVID-19 are the leading causes of death and disability both in Africa and globally. Despite this, knowledge and awareness of respiratory diseases is low, and they do not get the priority attention they need from health systems, policymakers and funding agencies.

EQUI-RESP-AFRICA will build strong, equitable partnerships and develop capacity for research groups in Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. The four main lines of work are based on local research priorities:

1. synthesising existing knowledge;
2. assessing how prepared health systems in Africa are for dangerous emerging respiratory infections;
3. studying the feasibility of introducing a program of pulmonary rehabilitation and its effectiveness;
4. linking quality evidence with health policies using specific, evidence-based tools: Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI), Equitable Impact Sensitive Tool (EQUIST) and Pathways to Survival tool (PATHS). 

These activities will generate new knowledge, which will be used to improve healthcare for the most underprivileged groups in Africa, while supporting the development of appropriate health policies. Through the development of strong Community Engagement and Involvement strategies, EQUI-RESP-AFRICA will bringing together wide networks of policy makers, healthcare providers and non-governmental organisations to improve the relevance and impact of its research, while reducing health inequities. It focuses on identifying and mitigating problems that the poorest and most underprivileged groups in Africa face, and draws on opportunities to improve gender equity within the networks of partner countries.

• Community Systems Foundation, New York, USA
• Harvard University, USA
• International Society of Global Health
• Pan-African Thoracic Society
• Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
• The World Bank, Washington, DC, USA
• UNICEF, New York, USA
• World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
• Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

September 2024 - August 2028