Health Systems Research (HSR) 2024

Abt Global believes that strong health systems are important in achieving health for all. We are proud to join and present at the Health Systems Research (HSR) Symposium 2024 focused on the importance of just and sustainable health systems.

People-centered and resilient health systems are able to adapt in the face of conflict, climate challenges, and other crises including through preparation and early warning of potential dangers as well as timely response to changing population needs. Working across sectors and geographies, Abt leads flagship programs to strengthen health systems at national and subnational levels to promote optimal use of system resources: health workers, financing and supplies, and ensuring that systems reach people in vulnerable circumstances with quality services, including through our efforts to electrify rural health facilities and strengthen community climate adaptation and resilience planning. 

We understand the intersections between climate and health systems. The health sector is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, with extreme heat, floods, fires, and storms contributing to increased illnesses, changes in disease patterns, and health service delivery disruptions, to name a few. To address this massive challenge, we partner with clients, ministries of health, local organizations, and communities to co-develop approaches to mainstream adaptation and mitigation strategies that improve the resilience of systems, communities, and people worldwide. Our work draws equally on Abt’s data-driven technical expertise and on the insights of communities we partner with, ensuring that—together—we devise equitable, sustainable, locally tailored solutions that center people in resilient health systems.

Please join us at our presentations and stop by our booth and meet our experts! We’d love to meet you and exchange ideas. Check back for more information on our panel presentations and onsite exhibit.

Satellite Sessions

Monday, November 18 | 1:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.  
Title: Achieving change in complex health systems: How to understand the effects of integrated interventions on health systems performance  
Contributors: Midori de Habich, Former Minister of Health, Peru and Technical Director, Local Health System Sustainability Project (LHSS), Abt Global; Shipra Srihari, Senior Health Systems Strengthening Advisor, LHSS Project, Abt Global; Dr. Tia Phalla, Vice Chair of National AIDS Authority, Cambodia; Alison Gichohi, Capacity Building Officer, East Africa Community Secretariat; Maria Francisco, Project Director, LHSS Project, Abt Global

Tuesday, November 19 | 12:45pm – 2:45pm | Room 109  
Title: Public financial management as a critical foundation to addressing health system vulnerabilities 
Format: Live presentation and moderated panel discussion

Oral Presentations and Panels

Title: Learning Health Systems: Capturing the Health Sector’s Response to the 2017/18 Cape Town Drought, South Africa 
Abt Presenter: Amanda Quintana, Climate and Health Technical Lead, Abt Global

Title: A Learning and Experience-Sharing Network in Rwanda Improves Insurance Enrollment and Accreditation Scores 
Abt Presenter: Taylor Williamson, Client Account Director, Abt Global; Celestin Gasana, CARE Canada

Title: Systems Approaches to Realizing Universal Health Coverage Amidst Mixed Migration in Latin America 
Contributors: Dr. Maria Paulina Giusti (Session Chair and Lead Author), Former Deputy Minister of Health, Peru; Dr. Jose Carlos Gutierrez, Activity Manager for the LHSS LAC Bureau Activity, LHSS Project, Abt Global; Dr. Andrea Boccardi, Director, UNAIDS for the Andean Countries (Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia); Dr. Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo, Minister of Health, Colombia

Title: Navigating Complexity: Applying Complexity-Aware Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Principles within a Multi-Country Health Systems Strengthening Project 
Presenter: Dr. Ekpenyong Ekanem, Director, Performance Monitoring and Learning, LHSS Project, Abt Global

Title: How COVID-19 Pandemic Response Was Leveraged to Strengthen Health System and Local Capacity: Stories from Colombia, Ghana, Peru, South Africa and Tajikistan 
Presenter: Yordanos Molla, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Lead, LHSS Project, Abt Global

Title: Top Down or Bottom Up? Strategies for Promoting Investments in Primary Health Care from Bangladesh and Nigeria 
Presenter: Dr. Ekpenyong Ekanem, Director, Performance Monitoring and Learning, LHSS Project, Abt Global

Title: Strengthening Institutional Frameworks to Better Integrate and Support Community Health Workers: A Case Study from Tanzania 
Abt Presenter: Mignote Haile, Activity Manager, LHSS Project, Abt Global

Title: Fiscal Space Analysis is Only a Starting Point, so What Comes Next? The Nigerian Vulnerable Group Fund Plans to Grow 
Presenter: Bolanle Olusola-Faleye, Chief of Party, LHSS Nigeria, Abt Global 

Title: Assessment of Social Contracting Pilot Implementation in Vietnam for the 2022-2024 Period – Evidence for Expanding Publicly Financed HIV Services 
Abt Presenter: Diu Nguyen, Chief of Party, LHSS Vietnam, Abt Global

Abt Posters

Title: Systems Thinking and Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement:  Keys to Unlocking Namibia’s Stalled UHC Agenda 
Presenter: Munyaradzi Mareke, Senior Health Financing Advisor, LHSS Namibia, Abt Global

Title: Interoperable Health Information System Advances Health Equity for Mobile Cross-Border Populations in East Africa 
Presenter: Alison Gichohi, Capacity Building Officer, East Africa Community Secretariat

Title: Peer Learning Paves the Way for Strengthening Urban Primary Health Care among the Local government Institutions in Bangladesh 
Presenter: Elaine Baruwa

Title: Building on COVID-19 Response Strategies for a More Climate-Resilient Health System in Colombia  
Presenter: Miguel Pulido, Chief of Party, LHSS Colombia, Abt Global

Title: Behind the Scenes: Establishing an Institutional Framework to Govern Telemedicine in Ukraine 
Presenter: Ben Dunbar, Project Manager, LHSS Project, Abt Global