African countries must heed to experts’ recent call for stronger collaboration between scientists, policymakers and communities to bridge the gap between research and implementation.
Lamentably, there is limited impact of African research on public health and community wellbeing. That is why the call made by researchers, policymakers and journalists at the recently held, first national science research translation congress, must be taken seriously.
According to African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), about 80 to 83 percent of research resources are wasted because they are not being translated into action.
Even as universities and institutions generate ground breaking research, a significant portion remains underutilised. They do not inform policy, not guiding programmes and do not improve lives as it should.
Research and innovation are indispensable for achieving universal health coverage and national development priorities.
That is why more should be done to produce, translate and apply research. Even more important is the need to measure research impact on people’s health and wellbeing.
From disease surveillance to vaccine introduction, to digital health and health financing models, research provides the evidence required to make informed decisions.
Technology should be used to bring interventions closer to the people. Scientists should use digital tools and artificial intelligence to speed up research translation and regulatory approvals.
As some experts have noted, sheer volume of scientific data regulators must review is major cause for delays in approving life-saving drugs such as heat stable carbetocin-medication used to prevent postpartum haemorrhage-which took years to be approved and registered.
Artificial intelligence can help scan through thousands of pages in minutes. It is important to leverage AI to strengthen healthcare systems. AI tools can improve supply chains, clinical decision-making, disease surveillance, and health information systems.
At the same time, more should be done to build capacity of policymakers on health research utilization. One of the key challenges to research utilisation in health policy is limited capacity of policy makers to demand and to uptake research.
Also, media must be a key ally in transforming research into public good. Scientists are not always the best communicators, but through the media, they can influence healthier behaviors. Collaboration with journalists is vital to ensure scientific information reaches communities in clear and relatable language.
Researchers, policymakers and journalists must work together to make science palatable to the ordinary person.
Equally important, Scientists should leverage digital media platforms such as Instagram, facebook, linkedin, X, YouTube and TikTok to make research more visible and understandable.
Digital branding and strategic communication should not be viewed as publicity but as an essential part of science communication that shapes how policymakers and the public use research evidence.
Scientists should stop speaking among themselves, and engage more with the people who need the solutions.
Partnerships that aim at solving real problems are essential. Scientists, government officials and media professionals must work hand in hand to ensure ground breaking discoveries made in laboratories translate into real-world benefits for communities.
It is not enough for research to exist in silos. It must be accessible, understood and implemented in ways that directly impact public health and wellbeing.