Note: The HIFA2015 website is currently being redeveloped and the new version will be launched shortly
CAMPAIGN: Healthcare Information for
All by 2015
We
call on international, national and local organisations to work
together towards a future where every person worldwide has access to an
informed healthcare provider |
 |
"I
support the HIFA2015 Campaign and urge others to do the same."
Dr Tikki Pang, Director of Research Policy and Cooperation,
World Health Organization - see Letter
of Support |
Information poverty in the ‘information age’
We live in the information age, but the reality is that tens of
thousands of people die every day, often for the simple reason that
the parent, carer or health worker lack the information and knowledge
they need to save them. And for each person who dies, many others suffer serious harm due to ineffective or unsafe care.
Why a campaign?
There is growing consensus about the urgent
need to improve the availability and use of healthcare information in developing countries. This vision was articulated in a
paper by Fiona Godlee et al, 'Can we achieve health information
for all by 2015?', published in the medical journal The
Lancet in
2004. But activities in this area remain uncoordinated, with continued
lack of understanding and underinvestment - and continued loss
of life.
The HIFA2015 goal
By 2015, every person worldwide will have access to
an informed healthcare provider
HIFA2015
Supporting Organisations - Application
form
The following organisations and journals have provided financial and/or in-kind
support: BMA, BMJ Publishing Group, International Child Health Group,
Journal of Tropical Paediatrics, The Lancet, Royal College of Nursing, and Wellcome Trust.
How does the campaign work?
Extensive discussions with stakeholders, including the HIFA2015 and CHILD2015 email
communities, indicate the Campaign should be facilitatory, participative,
and inclusive, supporting all those involved in the creation,
exchange and use of healthcare information (HIFA2015 Steering Group meetings). The Campaign framework is based on Communication, Understanding and Advocacy:
- Communication: Promoting international, regional
and national cooperation
HIFA2015 brings all stakeholders together around a common purpose:
healthcare providers, producers of health reference and learning materials,
librarians and information professionals, health researchers, policymakers,
development workers and the general public.
-
Understanding: Building a picture of information needs and
how to meet them
HIFA2015 harnesses experience and expertise to create a web-based
resource specifically about information needs and different methods
to meet those needs.
-
Advocacy: Seeking and advocating cost-effective solutions
HIFA2015 promotes the development of evidence-based solutions to
address the information and learning needs of healthcare providers,
and advocates for the political and financial commitment needed to
support information and learning initiatives worldwide.
The HIFA2015 Campaign was launched at the 10th biennial congress
of the Association for Health Information
and Libraries in Africa, Mombasa, Kenya, 26 October 2006. Meetings
are also being planned in Asia, Eastern Mediterranean and South
America.
The Global Healthcare Information Network is responsible for coordination and administration.
The HIFA2015
Steering Group is responsible for strategic direction
and implementation, with input from members of the HIFA2015 and CHILD2015 email
communities, and with expert assistance from the HIFA2015
Advisory Panel.
Join the HIFA2015 email forum - send your name, organisation and
brief description of professional interests to: hifa2015-admin@dgroups.org
For further information see HIFA2015
Background Paper or contact Dr Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Coordinator,
HIFA2015 Campaign: neil.pakenham-walsh@ghi-net.org
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