Transforming Global Health Partnerships : Critical Reflections and Visions of Equity at the Research-Practice Interface

Abstract

This is a book about the human experience of conducting global health research, linked to operational responses to the control and prevention of diseases worldwide. Rather than a manual or how-to guide, we propose a roadmap and vision of equitable, sustainable, and impactful partnerships shared through a rich interweaving of voices: North and South, academics and community practitioners, senior mentors and trainees, multiple generations, and multiple disciplines. We focus on the stories that need to be told, the successes and the failures, and visions for a healthier and more compassionate future for humanity. This book was written by more than 90 authors from 26 countries, bringing diverse perspectives on global health partnerships' past, present, and future. Although many of the chapters use examples related to infectious diseases, the ideas in this book are relevant to the broader field of global health research and practice. This book is organized into three sections, broadly related to foundational concepts, present experiences (case studies), and future visions. The first section focuses on the historical colonial legacy of global health and the foundations needed for equitable partnerships, introducing key themes explored throughout the book. These include concepts related to decolonization, ethics, gender, systems approaches and transdisciplinary science, Planetary Health, One Health, team science, and communication. The book's second section draws on case studies of global health partnerships to understand where we are today in global health. Authors share their experiences responding to global health threats, including disease outbreaks, refugee health, stigma, and sexually transmitted diseases, and post-disaster community recovery. The book's third section articulates a new vision for global health partnerships to co-create a more peaceful, equitable, and loving world. This vision is urgently needed to address the challenges emerging in the context of global climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other human threats. This is an open access book.