IGHN Conference 2024 – Abstract Submission

Irish Global Health Network Conference  

Fostering Humanity: Promoting Health Equity for a Better Planet 

Co-hosted with the RCSI Institute of Global Surgery  

02nd – 03rd October 2024  

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS 

Deadline: Friday 14th June 2024, 5 PM Irish time 

The Irish Global Health Network (IGHN) 2024 Conference, co-hosted with RCSI Institute of Global Surgery, will be a 2-day in-person event at RCSI, College Hall, York Street, Dublin. 

The Irish Global Health Network is inviting abstracts from individuals, partnerships, and organisations under the overarching theme of Fostering Humanity: Promoting Health Equity for a Better Planet. We particularly encourage submissions from those who have been or are doing work with a focus on the following:  

• decolonisation 
• digital health technologies  
• community-led initiatives  
• EU facing initiatives  
• involving students and young professionals  
• health and mental health projects in low-resource settings 
• psychosocial work with refugees or migrant populations  

Submissions are welcome from global and local perspectives.  

Submissions may take the form of research findings, evaluations of programmes and projects, policy lessons from the field, or other forms of systematic learning about global health (i.e., they should be more than opinion or anecdote). 

The conference, which will take place at RCSI, will include: 

• Plenary sessions with panels of invited international and national speakers
• Keynote speakers 
• Oral presentations in parallel thematic sessions – abstract driven and invited speakers 
• Poster sessions 
• Global Health Village activities (see end)  

Abstracts are now invited which will be considered for (i) oral presentations and (ii) posters, unless those submitting wish to exclude one or more of these options for their submissions. Abstracts should conform to the guidelines below. 

Further information about the conference, registration, and speakers will be posted on the conference webpage here. 

Abstract Format

Title: should be concise (maximum 100 characters), in bold capital letters. 

Theme(s): please select the Conference theme(s) and/or cross-cutting issue(s) that your abstract most closely addresses. 

Keywords: please enter no more than 5 key words that describe your work. 

Authors: a maximum of ten authors per abstract are allowed, or alternatively up to three authors and a composite grouping or network name, e.g., INDIGO, ChRAIC, ESTHER. Authors’ names as follows: surname followed by initials (e.g., Murphy, M.). The presenting author’s name should be underlined. 

Corresponding author: the person who submits the abstract is responsible for notifying all co-authors. Contact details and email address of corresponding author should be included. 

Affiliations: an affiliation (institution/organisation & country) is recommended for each author. If the author does not have a formal affiliation, please note as ‘Independent’.  

Abstract text: must not exceed 2000 characters (excluding above points). See Option 1, Option 2 and Option 3 below for abstract text content guidelines. 

For each abstract you submit, select one of the three abstract options below. If in doubt regarding the suitability of your ideas under any option, email your ideas/draft to [email protected] and a member of the conference committee will get back to you. 

OPTION 1: This is most suited for scientific/empirical research findings 

Background/Aims: Provide a brief background and specify the aim/objectives of the study  

Methods: Outline methods used, to include study design, study population, type of analysis 

Results: Summarise the key findings 

Discussion/conclusions/implications: Outline the main implication(s) of the study for policy, or practice or advocacy. It is not sufficient to state: “results will be discussed”. 

OPTION 2: This is most suited for presenting lessons from the field; project and programme evaluations; and syntheses or analyses that present new knowledge. 

Abstracts presented under the second option should normally contain concise statements along the following lines: 

Issues: a summary of the issue(s) being addressed 

Description: a description of the intervention, project, experience, service and/or advocacy. 

Lessons learned: conclusions and implications of the intervention or project. Data that support the lessons learned and provide evidence for the conclusions must be included. 

Next steps: recommendations for policy, practice and/or advocacy. 

OPTION 3: Open and unstructured. It is recommended that, if possible, submissions adhere to either Option 1 or Option 2. However, if you have an idea for a submission or event that does not align to either format (for example, a short film or you want to convene a debate), you can submit an unstructured abstract.  

Abstracts in this category should clearly outline the objective and format of the submission. They should also highlight why this format is required, and how it will contribute to the overall conference.  

Cross-cutting issues to be addressed  

The overarching theme of the conference is Fostering Humanity: Promoting Health Equity for a Better Planet. All submissions should address this theme. There are no specific themes that abstracts must include. However, submissions are encouraged to address one or more of the following cross-cutting issues (descriptions are indicative only and are not intended to capture all topics related to the issues mentioned).  

• Humanitarian Crises and Conflict: Exploring the multifaceted dynamics of humanitarian crises and conflict and their impact on global health equity. Examining the root causes of crises, including armed conflict, displacement, natural disasters, and socio-political instability, and highlighting their impact on access to food, clean water, education, health services, sanitation, and protection.  

• Resilient Health Systems: Spotlighting the characteristics, challenges, and strategies associated with building and maintaining resilient health systems and strong human resources for health. Exploring how health systems can effectively withstand and recover from shocks and stresses while continuing to deliver essential health services to all populations, including the most vulnerable.  

• Demonstrating the Impact of the Health Partnership Approach: Exploring the importance of building and strengthening international health partnerships to achieve greater impact in addressing global health disparities. Investigating successful models of collaboration, identifying key principles for effective partnership development, and examining the role of partnerships in advancing health equity and sustainable development. 

• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Showcasing important work being done to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women highlighting innovations and challenges.  Investigating strategies for advancing SRHR and LGBTQ+ rights in the face of opposition and the anti-rights movement, and fostering inclusive, rights-based approaches to healthcare and promoting the dignity and autonomy of all individuals. 

• Gender Equality in Global Health: Applying an intersectional lens to understanding and tackling gender inequalities within global health. Examining gender norms, gender-based violence and identifying the key challenges and opportunities of gender approaches to global health. 
• Intersectionality and Health Equity: Analysing how intersectionality influences health disparities. Exploring ways to address multiple layers of discrimination in healthcare settings. 

• Planetary Health and Environmental Justice: Exploring the intersection between environmental justice, climate change, and global health. Discussing strategies for mitigating the health impact of environmental factors on susceptible communities. 

• Social Determinants of Health: Exploring the interconnectedness of social determinants of health, stigma, and mental health and well-being, and their impact on individual and community health outcomes. Delving into the root causes of social inequalities and stigma, examining their effects on mental health and overall well-being, and identifying strategies for fostering resilience and promoting health equity.  

All selected abstracts will be published in an Abstract booklet, and titles and presenting authors names will appear in the final programme. 

NOTE: Abstracts selected for oral presentations and posters should fit within the 2024 Conference theme and concept.  

We are also inviting those working around Global Health to submit abstracts of work they are doing within the broader themes and priorities of Global Health (not necessarily restricted to the theme of Fostering Humanity: Promoting Heath Equity for a Better Planet). 

Ideas and innovative suggestions for Global Health Organisations and Networks to present their interests, activities and work in the Global Health Village are particularly welcome. If you are interested to learn more, explore, and discuss your ideas, contact: [email protected]  

Corresponding authors (i) may be invited to present such work in the form of posters, or (ii) a conference organiser may contact the submitter with suggestions on how their work could be displayed at the conference. 

Acceptance notification will be sent to successful applicants by 31st July 2024. If you are planning to attend from outside of Ireland, please indicate on your submission form in the space required so that we can expedite your response to ensure sufficient planning and travel time. 

Please note, successful applicants will be required to register to attend the conference, and will be responsible for covering the cost of registration and any associated travel costs etc.