Training and Research Support Centre

Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC) provides training, research and support services to state and civil society organisations. TARSC is a learning and knowledge organization, with a particular focus on skills building and methods to support community based work, and with a commitment to long term capacity building in the public sector and in civil society.

RECENT ACTIVITIES:Winter School 2010. Participatory research on AIDS, and Equity analysis in Africa

WINTER SCHOOL 2010
Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC), and University of Zimbabwe, Department of Community Medicine (UZ-DCM) held its annual Winter School Public Health short course-training programme from the 5-10 July 2010. The programme is aimed at building capacities for people working particularly at district level in health-related work, but who may not have had the benefit of formal training in health. The course included people from local government, from health related services and sectors working in areas related to health at district level, from civil society and from community leaders with roles in health. The course report is on the website.

Participatory Research on community systems for AIDS
The Community based systems in HIV treatment (CoBaSys) programme is empowering communities to support antiretroviral delivery programmes for patients with HIV infection in east and southern Africa (ESA). This is done through a regional network for policy advocacy targeting vulnerable groups in ESA and Europe with support from the European commission through the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of States. The project primarily focuses on building solid ‘community based systems that support the HIV treatment to benefit most vulnerable social groups at primary care level. TARSC is co-ordinating the component of the programme using participatory methods to explore community perceptions of barriers to care. A report of the evidence from particiatory research in Kariba Urban District-Zimbabwe is now available on the website. The work is also being done in Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and Botswana.

Latest Activities Equity analysis in east and southern Africa Training and Research Support Centre is working with colleagues from Kenya to implement a UNICEF commissioned analysis of equity in the health Millennium Develiopment Goals in nineteen countries in east and southern Africa. The research is using the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys and Multi-Indicator Cluster Surveys to explore different indicators of the MDGs on child mortality, maternal health and AIDS, malaria and other diseases to analyse inequalities across wealth, education, regions, gender and residence. The work is linked to the 'Equity Watch' cluster of work in EQUINET which is co-ordinated by TARSC		Latest TARSC Publications Participatory research in Kariba on Strengthening Community Health Systems for HIV Treatment and Care (August 2010) Types of work: Participatory Action Research, Community Based Research Areas of work: HIV and AIDS, Community and Public health Country: Zimbabwe URL: COBASYS Kariba Aug2010.pdf Read more...
		Latest EQUINET Publications Report of the 1st Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Expert Core Group Meeting Report 12-16 July 2010, Harare, Zimbabwe ECSA-HC with MoHCW Zimbabwe, Tides Foundation, USAID, EQUINET (2010) Themes: Monitoring equity and research to policy Country: East and southern Africa region URL: ECSA M&E ExpGp Report.pdf Read more... EQUINET Discussion paper 83: The drugs industry and access to essential medicines in Tanzania Mhamba, RM; Mbirigenda, S; (2010) Themes: Public-private mix Country: Tanzania URL: DIS83TZN medicines mhamba.pdf Read more... EQUINET Discussion paper 84: Private sector involvement in funding and providing health services in South Africa: Implications for equity and access to health care McIntyre D (2010) Themes: Public-private mix Country: South Africa URL: DIS84privfin mcintyre.pdf Read more... EQUINET Policy Brief 23: Strategies to improve equitable domestic financing to reach universal coverage in East and Southern Africa HealthNet Consult with Health Ecnomics Unit, UCT and TARSC, EQUINET (2010) Themes: Resource allocation and health financing Country: East and southern Africa region URL: POL Brief 23 domfin.pdf Read more... EQUINET Discussion Paper 82: Capital flows through Medical Aid Societies in Zimbabwe’s health sector Shamu S; Loewenson R; Machemedze R; Mabika A (2010) Themes: Public-private mix, Resource allocation and health financing Country: Zimbabwe URL: DIS82zimcapflow.pdf Read more... Serie de Politicas 18: Comércio e Saúde na África Oriental e Austral Loewenson, R; Tayob, R; Wadee, H; Makombe, P; Mabika A (2010) Themes: Health equity in economic and trade policies Country: East and southern Africa region URL: POLBRIEF18 TRADE PORT.pdf Read more... RESOLUÇÕES PARA ACÇÃO: Recuperar os Recursos para Saúde: EQUINET (2009) Themes: Equity in health Country: East and southern Africa region URL: Sep 09 Conf Resol Portuguese.pdf Read more... EQUINET: Rede Regional para a Equidade em Saúde na África Oriental e Austral EQUINET (2010) Themes: Equity in health Country: East and southern Africa region URL: EQUINET brief 2010 Portuguese.pdf Read more... EQUINET: Réseau Régionale pour l’Équité en Santé en Afrique Orientale et Australe EQUINET (2010) Themes: Equity in health Country: East and southern Africa region URL: EQUINET brief 2010 French.pdf Read more... Les Resolutions pour l'action, Troisième Conférence Régionale de EQUINET sur l’Équité en Matière de Santé en Afrique Orientale et Australe EQUINET (2009) Themes: Equity in health Country: East and southern Africa region URL: EQ Conf resol FRENCH Sep09.pdf Read more... Next 10 publications