Africa Programs Initiated While at U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health 1997-2019
African Journal Partnership Program (AJPP)
Peer-reviewed journals are a vital source of information exchange. However, journals in developing regions often lack the necessary resources to publish in a timely manner.
To address these needs, the African Journal Partnership Project (AJPP) was created in 2003 as a collaborative effort among NLM, the Fogarty International Center, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and 9 journals from the US, UK, and Africa.
IT Development and Medical Research
Multilateral Initiative on Malaria IT (MIMCom)
The Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Communications Network (MIMCom) was one of four main components of the MIM, an international alliance of organizations (governmental, non-governmental, and academic) and individual scientists concerned with malaria research. The other components were a secretariat, a granting agency, and a reagent center. MIM’s aims were to maximize the impact of scientific research on malaria in Africa by promoting capacity building and facilitating global collaboration and coordination. These objectives distinguished MIM from other eradication movements past and present. With marching orders from African scientists, NLM set out to play a role in supporting research objectives and capacity building.
Empowering African Medical Librarians
Empowering African Medical Librarians: U.S. National Library of Medicine International Associate Fellows and the Network of African Medical Librarians 2001-2011. The Network’s vision is to strengthen health sciences education, research and outreach for better health outcomes in Africa. Their mission is to expand the frontiers of knowledge through outreach to and training of African medical librarians, the academic research community, health care professionals, and health policy makers in the finding, organizing and using of health information.
Makerere University Medical Students
Makerere University Students, William Lubega, Nelson Igaba, Nixon Niyonzima with Julia in Mifumi Uganda. A large part of NLM's focus in Africa is on working with students (they are the future!), so training, mentoring, and encouraging their work and ideas is very important. Initially we brought together the students and their faculty advisors with Ugandan artists, actors, and translators to create tutorials on malaria and diarrhea and this effort began led to an “information intervention" in Mifumi village in Eastern Uganda.
Julia interviews clinicians and scientists at the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) conference of principal investigators in Addis Ababa in 2012. MEPI funded foreign institutions in sub-Saharan African countries which received PEPFAR support to develop and enhance models of medical education and build clinical and research capability.
Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI)
Credit to Ann Nelson, MD for surveys and data collection and Jack Kyrieleison for map creation