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UCA Launches Think Tank to Promote Health-Related SDGs
The inaugural session of the University of Central Asia’s (UCA) think tank was convened in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic bringing together experts from development partners, NGOs, and academia. Beginning with an introduction to the think tank’s mission, the session then reviewed key findings of the UCA national analysis on the progress of health and health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country.
The think tank will be coordinated by UCA’s Graduate School of Development’s (GSD) Institute of Public Policy and Administration, along with support from The Centre for Global Child Health at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. This is a multisectoral, academic-led think tank, that will oversee the implementation of the CHOICE project (Building a Consortium to Address Complex Challenges Influencing Human Health to Improve Progress Towards Health and Health-Related SDGs).
Dr. Damira Abakirova of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) expressed her eagerness to work on the project, and highlighted the potential for groundbreaking advocacy and data collection, particularly in the area of women’s reproductive health.
According to Professor Christopher Gerry, Acting Rector of UCA and Dean of GSD, CHOICE represents a step forward in the collective fight for a healthier future. By empowering local communities, generating actionable research, and fostering collaboration, this project promises to uncover new possibilities for achieving many of the health-related sustainable goals identified by the think tank.
The CHOICE project is being implemented in five countries - Pakistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania – and, alongside original research and evidence gathering, aims to establish country‐specific think tanks to promote the development of local solutions in order to facilitate the implementation of health and health‐related SDGs.
