Academics and policy makers will strengthen their knowledge to address and prevent violence and injury on the U.S.- Mexico border

 

El Paso, TX., March 8, 2012 (PAHO / WHO) - The Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) U.S.-Mexico border office  in collaboration with the Agency for International Development the United States (USAID) and the National Council for the Prevention of Accidents (CONAPRA) of the Ministry of Health of Mexico (SSA) have committed to establish a Technical Advisory Group on Research and Prevention in Addressing Violence and Injury (TAG VIP) to acquire, evaluate and adapt evidence in order to facilitate the development of policy briefs on the concept of public health policies that include changes in settings where people live, work, study and play. In addition, to promote the use of information produced by the Observatory for Security and Citizen Conviventiality of Ciudad Juarez on decision making. The workshop will take place from:

TAG VIP members have the responsibility to acquire, assess and adapt high-quality evidence in order to facilitate the development of public policy summaries under the concept of health in all policies that include changes in the environments where people live, work, learn and play. Workshop participants will be policy makers and academic researchers with knowledge and scientific technical writing skills on research design, literature searches / evaluation / synthesis of scientific evidence, including assessment of systematic reviews and primary studies. Researchers who are chosen as cluster leaders should set the timetable for the next eight months and other specifications for the development of informed public policy brief.

The workshop's objective is to offer the opportunity to establish a deliberative policy dialogue between technical experts in the field and those responsible for decision making in addressing and preventing violence and injuries. In addition to discussing and agreeing the terms of reference of the TAG VIP and still provide technical cooperation to facilitate the development of the best scientific and technical options that are based on the best evidence available and suitable for the northern border of Mexico.

It also plans to provide the TAG VIP a framework for identifying the best evidence and the best policies to address and prevent: violence, injuries and improve mental health using the EVIPNet methodology and the incorporation of TAG cross-border networks, regional and global EVIPNet. Finally is to build the capacity of building a culture of evidence-informed in making decisions using proven methodologies.

ABOUT EVIPNet

EVIPNet is an innovative network designed to promote the systematic use of research in decision making on health policies. The main functions of EVIPNet are: to create opportunities for decision makers to define the priority areas, skills and resources to address them through solutions that consider the local context. It also helps the relationship between producers and users of training and strengthening the evidence to policy makers and other decision makers on how to access and apply scientific evidence. Finally, EVIPNet aims to reduce inequities and improve the health of people taking advantage of current scientific knowledge, by creating mechanisms to disseminate, share and apply knowledge in decision-making.

The workshop will be facilitated by methodological  facilitators: Dr. Evelina Chapman, Coordinator of EVIPNet Americas PAHO / WHO, Dr. Juan Manuel Lozano, Professor, Division of Research and Information, University of Florida, Dr. Marcelo Garcia Dieguez, Professor UNS Department of Health Sciences at the Hospital of the Medical Association of Bahia Blanca and MC Lorely Ambriz, EVIPNet liason on the US-Mexico border,  PAHO / WHO.

Furthermore,  thematic facilitators: Dr. Arturo Cervantes, Director of CONAPRA, Dr. Mario Arroyo, Security Specialist and Criminological Institute Policy Studies Citizen Insecurity, BC (ICESI), Dr. Felipe Espinosa, CONAPRA Liaison, Dr. Marcelo Korc, Advisor on Sustainable Development and Environmental Health, PAHO / WHO and Dr. Gustavo Iturralde, Consultant in Family Health, Health Promotion and Violence Gender of PAHO / WHO.