Experts call for implementation research in health interventions

From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

Experts have advocated implementation research (IR) for efficient and sustainable access to health interventions.

The call was made during the Project Dissemination and South-South Collaboration Workshop of the SAVING Consortium organised by Academy for Health Development (AHEAD), Nigeria.

In a joint presentation on an “Overview of Implementation Research” by Professors Olumide Ogundahunsi and Tuoyo Okorosobo of SAVING Consortium, they described implementation research as “systematic approach to understanding and addressing barriers to effective and quality implementation of health interventions, strategies and policies”.

Emphasising the importance of implementation research, the Principal Investigator and Chairman of SAVING Consortium, Professor Margaret Gyapong, said “In practice, when effective disease control tools, strategies, or policies are expanded and implemented across entire systems, their health impact often does not meet expectations. Implementation research can identify and address the bottlenecks and barriers responsible”.

She stated further that “Implementation research improves programme effectiveness in context, optimizing resources and enhancing equity across different populations.”

Speaking on the experiences and lessons learnt by the consortium in capacity building, Professor Evelyn Korkor Ansah underscored the importance of strengthening implementation research capacity.

The workshop, attended by academics, government officials, non-profit organisations and the media, concluded that integrating IR will improve efficient and sustainable health interventions.