Getting fit for the future: The centrality of gender, equity and politics to international health research.
Whether it is reaching the Sustainable Development Goals, or achieving Universal Health Coverage, the success or failure of international health rests on how we approach gender, equity and politics. In this plenary lecture, Prof Sally Theobald will draw on her current research to explore some of the areas where these issues come to the fore. The presentation will include an exploration of: (1) health systems research in fragile and conflict affected contexts, which are often neglected and marginalised in mainstream research portfolios; (2) the importance of action and investment in close-to-community providers, such as Community Health Workers, who provide a vital interface between communities and health systems and can support work on the social determinants of health; and (3) the ways that inequity based on issues like gender, class, geographical location, (dis)ability, and occupation impact on the effectiveness of Neglected Tropical Disease programmes. Based on her time at LSTM Prof Theobald will also reflect on how gender, equity and politics shapes the international health research endeavour; including juggling home and work responsibilities, institutional structures, partnerships, and the co-production of knowledge. Addressing these issues is key to our readiness to address future health challenges in the school and with our partners.
Professor Sally Theobald has a disciplinary background of geography and development studies and a PhD in Gender, Health and Development.
Sally has wide ranging experience of designing and implementing research projects in health, equity, gender and governance and has worked collaboratively on research for health systems strengthening in HIV, TB, SRH, maternal health and health systems in Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cambodia, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Malawi , Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and Uganda.Sally has undertaken a number of consultancies in gender, equity and health systems strengthening and has experience with a range of relevant donors, organisations and networks.
Sally also chairs LSTM’s research committee.