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Starting up a new Research Ethics Committee in a small island nation is a milestone in itself. I would say our little Ministry of Health is taking a small step forward with research but in the grander scheme of the Pacific it is a giant leap. As the newly recruited Health Research Officer the first key priority for me is setting up an Ethics Committee - at least one that is up to International Standards. I give credit where credit is due to the pioneering doctors and officers who started up an Ethics Committee before I started working. It is however unfortunate the Committee has collapsed within the past years and with it - all the files and documents. So, with a little CSI investigation I did manage to excavate something from the ruins and I am using it to create something new - hopefully better. With the WHO operational guidelines for establishing an EC as my starter kit (my bible for now) - I do believe I am getting somewhere. I thought I had nothing but HEY there really was something afterall :) So here's to starting something with all the tools and invaluable connections I have and can gather. Any help in whatever form - is most welcome :)
J
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Numa Vera
3 Feb 2014
Hi Sioape
Heard about you from from Jyoti. I teach in School of Medicine and work very closely with Jyoti, both in the school and Fiji Ministry of health research committee. I think you are doing a great job and am happy to help in anyway, if I can, do let me know
cheers
Numa -
Jyotishna Mudaliar
31 Jan 2014
Hi Sioape,
I work for the School of Medicine in Fiji and have been assisting the Research Officer at Ministry of Health for the last 4 years in various ways including accreditation with the Office of Human Research Protection (OHRP). Please feel free to email me, email address is with Dr Susan and Monique. Happy to assist you in whatever ways possible and looking forward to collaborating with future research project in the area of Research Bioethics. Cheers
Jyoti -
Susan
31 Jan 2014
Welcome Sioape!
It sounds like you have a very interesting time ahead of you. Please let us know what you find, how things are progressing and what kind of help would be most useful.
In the mean time, there are a number of training resources in research ethics on the website which may be of value in capacity building - see http://globalhealthreviewers.tghn.org/elearning/ for details. We're also very pleased to be launching a new comprehensive online course in research ethics adapted from a WHO course in February - so please watch out for that!
Compilations of national and international guidance and regulation available at http://globalhealthreviewers.tghn.org/resources/guidance-and-regulation/ and may be useful if you're developing new policies.