Session 8: "Context Counts! Unveiling Methodological Solutions for Better Health Outcomes," chaired by Bachera Aktar, Deputy Director of the Centre of Excellence for Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights at BRAC JPGSPH, Bangladesh. #EquiCity2024

Excited to join the close-our webinar for ARISE by Slum Dwellers International Muungano wa Wanavijiji codohsapa to share learning from work on promoting equity and accountability in health in informal settlements with Federations of Slum Dwellers in Nairobi and Freetown

In Nairobi we focused on Mathare where co-researchers from Muungano wa Wanavijiji were supported to use multiple research methods to map the community and use data to prioritise and take actions

Key achievements included the development of a physical addressing system with unique household addresses in Kiamutisya and 4B settlement which is being used to link people to support including Community Health Promoters

Training of CHPs on mental health has enabled them to support community members with recent challenges including flooding and evictions; co-researchers have used ripple effect mapping to evaluate impacts and have also shared their experiences with other communities

Evaluation by co-researchers has identified increased coverage of CHP services, enhanced emergency responses, increased participation in development by communities members and improved collaboration between community members, health professionals and duty bearers

Key learnings include importance of early and sustained involvement and partnership with communities as well as local government and NGOs for appropriate, tailored approaches for informal settlements; challenges include budgetary constraints for scale up

The work has impacted 3 communities in terms of capacities and systems

Further scale of physical address system is needed, along with further development of mental health services

Future and deepened partnerships will be critical for sustainability going forward

Jacob Omondi shares - ‘The ARISE project has been of great impact for me & other arise co-researchers in the community’ - including in data analysis, writing blogs & using evidence to share community experiences, getting remuneration for community work, learning about healthcare

And closing fantastic #equicity2024 an inspiring key note from Nathalie Roebbel on investing in public health across the life course in cities in a cross sectoral and pro equity approach. World Health Organization (WHO) strategic guide on urban health coming soon - watch this space ❤️👏

Now learning from codohsapa about their community based participatory research (CBPR) together with SLURC and COMAHS Sierra Leone - starting with recruitment and training of co-researchers from three informal settlements in Freetown: Moyiba, Dwarzak and Cockle bay

Takeaway from discussion on #gender and #urban #health #equity : It is crucial to know narratives of vulnerable populations to create inclusive, equitable, and sustainable approaches towards better health outcomes. #Equicity #Conference ARISE ISUH BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health

codohsapa SLURC COMAHS Sierra Leone Co-researchers and researchers collaborated to conduct qualitative exploratory research on social inequalities, health, wellbeing, and accountability in their settlements, analysing the data and validating this with communities

It's my pleasure to chair the session "Community-Centric Design in Action: Shaping Policy and Practice" of EQUICITY 2024 Advancing Urban Health through Knowledge Exchange from the Global South, Kathmandu, Nepal.ARISE

ARISE Luke Jerram proud to partner with Luke Jerram across ARISE - the power of participatory art processes to learn further, drive impact and celebrate beauty and dignity in diverse settings

Great to see this collaboration Luke Jerram PHASE Nepal!

With funding from the tour of Luke Jerram artworks, the #JerramFoundation have been working in Dhaka, Bangladesh with ARISE Consortium and BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health to fund the restoration of the Kallyanpur Community Resource Centre. ARISE @bracjpgsph