As an expert in public health with a focus on cultural epidemiology, Mirgissa Kaba brings a wealth of knowledge in interdisciplinary research and education within the OH framework.
Q: What inspired your interest in the OH framework, and what’s your main focus? A: I started in sociology before transitioning to public health with a focus on cultural epidemiology. This interdisciplinary foundation allows me to approach global health challenges, such as emerging infections, through diverse lenses, inspiring my work as a researcher and policy advisor.
Q: How can interdisciplinary collaboration be improved to tackle health challenges in your region? A: The Horn of Africa faces intertwined challenges, exacerbated by climate change impacts such as floods, heatwaves, droughts and earthquakes, which heighten the risk of emerging infections. Addressing these issues demands coordinated efforts across policy, research and academia, involving stakeholders at all levels.
Q: Can you share successful OH training initiatives led by your institution? A: As a COHESA project partner, Addis Ababa University has integrated OH principles into education and research. A key initiative was a Netmapping exercise that united stakeholders and identified entry points for advancing OH. These efforts embedded OH into 86 courses across public health, environmental science, and veterinary medicine. The university plans to train high school teachers to integrate OH and collaborate with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), further extending OH principles to eight other universities.
Q: How does community-based participatory research play into your approach to these challenges? A: Research that adopts OH approaches and principles is expected to amplify and prioritise the community’s role throughout the research process, involving communities in defining research questions, generating evidence, analysing and interpreting findings, and ultimately fostering community ownership of the research outcomes. Strengthening this engagement is critical to ensuring that research addresses community needs effectively while also supporting long-term solutions.
Q: What mechanisms effectively foster inter-sectoral collaboration among stakeholders? A: Netmapping has been instrumental in fostering collaboration and breaking silos. COHESA’s facilitation created shared platforms, complemented by a Delphi process to prioritise OH issues. Four proposals were selected to consolidate AMR data, with results accessible online by mid-2025 for policy development.
Q: How can research institutions and governments collaborate better to institutionalise and operationalise OH? A: One of the most important elements in this is establishing a strong governance structure to guide OH collaboration among stakeholders. While the foundations have been laid in academic and research institutions to integrate OH into education and research, stronger governance at the national level will ensure more robust mechanisms to track and hold these institutions accountable. Strengthening national OH governance is, therefore, vital to achieving successful and sustainable OH programmes.
Q: What advice do you have for young researchers aiming to impact the OH domain? A: My advice to young researchers is to embrace interdisciplinary approaches, recognising that no problem can be solved in isolation. Value contributions from other disciplines and non-ac ademic actors, and step beyond your comfort zone to achieve more effective, comprehensive solutions.
Q: What is your call to action for global policymakers regarding OH in ACP regions? A: This requires revising existing curricula and research methodologies. Research and academic institutions must take proactive steps to update their curricula and modify their research. Donors play a critical role in providing the financial support needed.