Times have changed since the days when donors solely decided which projects to fund behind closed doors. In a global health version of American Idol, now you and I can virtually sway the judges’ opinions.
In May, the Grand Challenges Canada, Stars in Global Health, Round 4 phase I initiative solicited proposals from Canada and low- and middle- resourced countries to address some of the most pressing global health problems through a two-minute video.
Over 400 videos from 42 countries were submitted, resulting in fierce competition among candidates. However, to boil a complex, widespread health care problem and solution down into two minutes is not easy. I have tried it several times in elevator speeches, and perhaps you have too.
The bottom line is this: giving the public an opportunity to weigh in on funding decisions levels the playing field for organisations who each hold a piece of the puzzle to address the issues in their communities.
Suddenly, members of the general public in the Global South who live, work, and are intimately aware of the health care challenges in question are having their voices mainstreamed into the global health dialogue. Moreover, their experiences and perspectives matter to the extent that each “like” and “comment” brings their initiative one step closer toward the opportunity to pilot their proposed solutions.
Drawing upon the strengths of palliative care
The Stars in Global Health programme, funded by the Government of Canada, was developed to tap into new ideas that focus on integrated innovation, which is where palliative care initiatives can shine.
Palliative care does integration well. It fosters integration by its very definition addressing physical, social, psychological and spiritual aspects of care. Individuals working in palliative care are assumingly convinced that its integration into health systems is a viable solution to address the major global health challenges in the developing world, and in Africa.
What this donor initiative highlights is the importance of communicating palliative care in creative ways that would capture the attention of the global community.
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