CHIPSR

Background

The Center for Health Information Policy & Systems Research (CHIPSR) was established in 2010, following the increase realization that Health Systems in the Pacific needed evidence based research to ensure the development of regional and national policies that addressed the long term sustainability of health systems, and the provision of equitable health services for the Pacific. The vision of CHIPSR was to be the most admired center of excellence in Health Systems and Health Policy in the Oceania region.

CHIPSR mandate is to perform research in human health and well-being for economically sustainable community and society and its focus is on health financing, health information, and health systems and health policy.

Purpose of CHIPSR Reference Group

CHIPSR Reference Group are intended to provide strategic direction and advice and nurture the development of CHIPSR. Reference Group is intended to be advisory and not managerial and is not expected to consider day to day management and procedural issues. It has no decision-making authority, but can make recommendations for the staff and management of the center to consider.

The purpose or role of the CHIPSR reference group are to:

• Provide strategic advice and direction to the CHIPSR
• Participate in strategic planning meetings for CHIPSR
• Identify and notify CHIPSR abut collaborations and research opportunities and projects within the CHIPSR mandate.
• Provide technical expertise when possible to CHIPSR in the form of advice, mentoring, reviewing of documents, technical working groups, etc.

Terms of membership of the CHIPSR Reference Group

Membership of the CHIPSR Reference Group carries no financial benefits, and membership is based on professional attributes of individuals, rather than their organizational affiliation or country of residence.

Reference group members are expected to be working within the Pacific Islands on health financing, health information, and health systems and health policy.

• Be active in CHIPSR research
• Have a track record of published academic research and research funding
• Be willing to provide their expertise and advice on CHIPSR activities, without any expectation of remuneration or other benefit (such as inclusion in publications or research proposals)
• Participate in at least one teleconference or face to face meeting of the Reference Group per year

The membership of the reference group is not automatically renewed. It will be reviewed annually at the first meeting of each year (to be held in the first quarter).

The Head of CHIPSR will review membership of the reference group prior to this meeting, to check members’ compliance with the requirements. The membership of any person who no longer meets the above requirements will not be renewed. A person whose membership is withdrawn will be informed in writing by the current Reference Group chairperson and Head of CHIPSR. The letter will outline the grounds on which decision to withdraw membership were made.

Members may also withdraw at any time by indicating this in writing to the Reference Group chairperson and the Head of CHIPSR. There is no maximum timeframe for an individual’s membership of the Reference Group providing they continue to meet the above expectations of members.

Meetings

A minimum of at least two Reference Group meetings will be held per year. Where feasible, one meeting should be held face-to-face, in collaboration with a regional event likely to be attended by many of the members.

The Reference Group Chairperson will be responsible for organization of the meeting in collaboration with the Head of CHIPSR, and for informing all members of the date and arrangements for the meeting. The Head of CHIPSR will disseminate an agenda and any related documents to all members prior to the meeting. The Reference Group Chairperson will set the agenda for a meeting in discussion with the Head of CHIPSR.

The secretary and Head of CHIPSR will produce minutes for review by the Chairperson. The Chairperson will then share them with the Reference Group members for any corrections before they are finalized. At the subsequent meeting, the minutes will be endorsed/ accepted.

As the group is not a decision making body, there is no requirement for a minimum quorum for any meeting to take place. However election of the Chair of the Reference Group will require at least 75% of the members to participate. Similarly decisions on new members and renewals of Reference Group members will require at least 50% of reference group members to participate.

Members of the Reference Group may make contributions and comment via face to face meetings, teleconference or via email. Comments and input may be sought at any time from the group, by the CHIPSR team.

Chairperson of the Reference Group

The Chairperson of the Reference Group will be elected each year, at the first meeting of the year, following the review of the members of the Reference Group. All members of the Reference Group (excluding CHIPSR staff) are eligible to make nominations for the chair and to vote for the Chairperson.

The incumbent Chairperson will first call for nominations for chairperson. If there is more than one nomination, then members will be asked to vote (one vote per member). They will email their vote to the CHIPSR secretary who will total and provide response to the reference group (anonymized). The nominee with the most votes will be chairperson for the year. In the case of a face to face meeting, paper-based voting will be used.

PacS-RHRC

The Pacific Sexual & Reproductive Health Research Centre (PacS-RHRC) represents a new and dynamic approach to the Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH) research issues and challenges of the Pacific Island Countries. In keeping with the Pacific move towards integration of HIV & STI into the larger SRH agenda, PacS-RHRC, in the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences (CMNHS), Fiji National University, is dedicated to:

• Conducting, facilitating, mentoring and teaching SRH research which will provide evidence-based information and knowledge to influence and support national and regional policies, programs and projects to promote healthier lives for Pacific Islands Countries & Territories (PICTs);
• Developing and increasing research capacity of Pacific Islanders towards sound research that will inform the Pacific response to SRH;
• Identifying through research, evolving best SRH practices for the PICTs which are country-specific, culture and gender-sensitive and sustainable for the Pacific’s future generations.

PacS-RHRC will fulfill its roles to the best of its ability to CMNHS, FNU and the wider Pacific Islands in several ways:

• Conduct, facilitate, provide technical support and teach SRH academic, behavioral surveillance, clinical, and operational research;
• Develop and support SRH research capacity of Pacific Islanders;
• Publish research information as articles in peer-reviewed journals;
• Attract research funding and grants for SRH research independently or with collaborating partners;
• Disseminate research findings widely through national, regional and international workshops, seminars, conferences and publications;
• Develop and maintain partnership with disadvantaged and marginalized communities to provide evidence-based information and knowledge towards appropriate SRH policies and strategies for improved healthy reproductive lives;
• Assist in the translation of research findings into relevant, sustainable outcomes for studied communities;
• Be a repository of SRH research in the region by gathering, storing and disseminating SRH reports to interested individuals, partners and key stakeholders; and,
• Develop and expand SRH Networks within and outside the Pacific region.

PacS-RHRC collaborating Partners

PacS-RHRC will conduct research and disseminate findings independently or work in partnership with collaborating such as academic, technical, donor, NGOs institutions, and other key stakeholders such as governments and special communities in the Pacific Islands Countries & Territories. PacS-RHRC currently enjoys the support and collaboration of a group of regional and international community, technical and academic institutions  such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) through its Western Pacific Office, Suva; International Planned Parenthood (IPPF) through its Pacific Office in Suva, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) through its Public Health Program, based in Suva, Pacific AIDS Foundation (PIAF), the Oceania Society for Sexual Health & HIV Medicine (OSSHHM), and the Women’s & Children’s Health Knowledge Hub (Crossmap) a partnership between Burnet Institute’s Centre for International Health, the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin, and the Centre for International Child Health at the University of Melbourne. PacS-RHRC is keen to develop collaborating networks for the development and advancement of SRH research and capacity at CMNHS, FNU and the Pacific region.

PacS-RHRC Research Areas & Interests

PacS-RHRC is a Pacific regional organisation and will conduct research in the Pacific region on the following issues:

1. Knowing your STI and HIV epidemic
2. Family Planning
3. Safe motherhood (antenatal, perinatal & postnatal) issues & practices
4. Sexual practices of man, women and youths in the Pacific
5. Access & barriers to condoms and other contraceptives uptake
6. Sexual & reproductive health, rights, practices and the law
7. Health care workers as SRH service providers;
8. Sexual Violence and Violence Against Women and Children

CONTACT US:

Ms Avelina Rokoduru

Centre Coordinator

Email: avelina.rokoduru@fnu.ac.fj

Tel: (679) 3233 257 – Direct

For more information on what we do, access CMNHS Research online at www.fnu.ac.fj

CDRC

Background

In the midst of a global pandemic, the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS) has established a centre that targets communicable diseases.  The Communicable Disease Research Centre (CDRC) has been formed through collaboration between CMNHS and the Otago University, Global Health Institute (OGHI) with support from Mercy Hospital in Dunedin, New Zealand. The Centre will produce Pacific led world class research in communicable diseases for the Pacific region. It also aims to enhance the capacity for research training and support for student research specifically in Communicable Diseases. This includes advancing knowledge in the pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of communicable diseases in Pacific island countries. The CDRC presents an important ambition of the CMNHS to not only educate Pacific health workers, but to generate the information that guides health practices in the region.

The CDRC launched virtually on December 3, 2021, with the inauguration of its Reference Group members. The Centre presents an opportunity for the College to position itself as a regional Institution that identifies and addresses priority infectious diseases in the region, whilst also building research training, capacity and quality in coming years through collaborations with Ministries of Health, and organizations and institutes involved in infectious disease research.

Vision:
Pacific led world class infectious diseases research

Mission:
The Communicable Disease Research Centre (CDRC) will work in collaboration with partners to conduct research that addresses the most pressing infectious diseases problems of the Pacific region

Values:
Bula vinaka (wellbeing); Loma vata (harmony); Cakacaka vata (working together); Sautu (good fortune); Cakacaka vaka dodonu (ethical practice); Doudou (boldness);  Uasivi (excellence)

Strategic Goals 2021-2022:

• Establish Foundations at Fiji National University (FNU)
• Establish research and stakeholder collaborations
• Build research capacity with collaborators
• Propose, conduct and publish research projects in communicable disease

Current Project

Click here to view PASS Fiji Study page.