BackgroundCOHESION-I, a unique collaborative research initiative, is being implemented across Peru, Mozambique, Nepal, and India. Its primary focus is on understanding and enhancing the responsiveness of health systems. In India, the project takes a distinct approach, targeting the rural communities in the states of Telangana and Chhattisgarh. It will engage local communities in co-designing and implementing strategies to improve access to and utilisation of primary health care services provided by the public health system.The COHESION-I project aims to comprehensively understand primary healthcare responses for tracer conditions such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and lymphatic filariasis for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This research is crucial as it addresses pressing health challenges in low-resource settings, emphasising community engagement and participatory approaches. By focusing on national priorities such as improving primary health care and address

BackgroundFood and water insecurity are critical factors contributing to poor nutrition and impacting planetary health. When communities lack access to an adequate and diverse food supply or clean water, they often resort to consuming nutritionally deficient options, leading to malnutrition and its associated health issues.By tackling these interconnected challenges, we can improve nutrition outcomes and safeguard the health of both people and the planet.AimThe overall goal of this five-year program is to mobilise communities and support them to transform local food systems.With a focus on remote communities in Australia, the Pacific Islands and India, this program will support communities to measure the impact of community-led initiatives to strengthen food and water security.Research Methodology:The program will the Household Food Insecurity Access Index Scale (HFIAS) and the Household Water Security Index Scale (HWISE) which are internationally recognised tools, to measure food and water security in commun

Background Digoxin is widely used in the medical management of patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD), atrial fibrillation (AF), and for the treatment of heart failure (HF). Observational data from older patients with non-valvular AF suggest a higher mortality risk among those who received digoxin. However, patients with RHD are younger, without associated comorbidity, and it is unclear if digoxin will have similar adverse effects in these patients. Extrapolating the results of studies in patients without valve disease, to patients with RHD may result in the underuse of an inexpensive treatment which has proven benefit in reducing hospitalisation for worsening HF. Therefore, there is a clear need for an adequately powered randomized controlled trial to answer: How does digoxin use affect mortality in patients with RHD? Does digoxin use reduce the incidence of worsening heart failure in patients with RHD? Aim To determine whether the use of digoxin in symptomatic patients with RHD af

Background Gaining informed consent is a critical step before any medical procedures, or before taking part in medical research that requires effective communication. Cultural differences in concepts of health and healing, miscommunication, language barriers, and racism, hinder an appropriate informed consent process for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Inappropriate informed consent processes worsen historical distrust and poor communication with health professionals widening health disparities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Aims To explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s experience of informed consent process in relation to cardiac surgery and participation in medical research To explore clinician’s and researchers’ experience obtaining informed consent from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Results will inform the development of strategies to ensure informed consent processes are culturally safe and assist Aborigina