What now? Reflections and future plans
- lisamatay
- Aug 6, 2024
- 2 min read
The project is still ongoing and will be extended into my Fall semester as I work on writing a paper and presenting results to policy makers at the Ministry of health with colleagues at Harvard and Ethiopia that have been instrumental to this project.
The goal of this summer research project is to use data to influence policies to improve maternal and child health outcomes in Ethiopia. Both in line with the mission of the EPHI as well as my core motivators and technical skills (image on the left). I believe that in the 8 weeks, I have created a solid foundation to continue that work as I go back to Harvard keeping the country context in mind as well as through the professional and personal connections I have been able to build over the summer. Ethiopia is an incredibly diverse country and being able to experience different sides of it has left me with an appreciation of the difficult challenges policy makers face in prioritization but also tremendous hope in the ability to overcome those difficulties through the talented and diverse people passionate about impacting change.
As I reflect on the 8 weeks, I have been inspired, challenged and invigorated in numerous ways. Professionally through enthusiastic discussions with motivated policy makers, internal team calls to strategize on various analyses and working with new types of data and data management systems. Culturally through exposure to the profound history of Ethiopia as the symbol of African independence (and women at the fore-front of the resistance movement), coffee breaks with my colleagues discussing the necessity and future of quality health care data in Africa and cannot forget the classic Injera traditional meal. I am grateful for my supervisors, the team at EPHI for welcoming me, as well as the WPPP fellowship for affording me this opportunity. I am very excited about the results to come and the impact of the research on policy.
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