LEARN Lao PDR - Conducting KT Focal Point Members workshop to support Knowledge Translation Unit of Lao TPHI

In 2017 Lao Tropical Public Health Institute (Lao TPHI) established a Knowledge Translation (KT) unit, to use KT as a process to influence public health policy development by guiding relevant stakeholders within the health sector with the use and communication of research data. To widen the outreach of this KT Unit, earlier this year Lao TPHI received an official approval from the Ministry of Health to appoint KT Focal Point members within all the departments of MoH to assist the KT unit to inform health policy development.

Therefore, in May 2019, Lao TPHI conducted a workshop on knowledge translation for the new focal points members, of whom several participated in the development of Lao TPHI’s KT strategy. This KT strategy and its activities was finalized at the end of 2017 and based on questionnaire results (related to the status, barriers, past efforts and possible solutions), and an overall workshop for input from stakeholders.

The workshop’s overall goal for the focal point members was to get a better understanding on how to bridge the gap between researchers and policy makers, presenting evidenced based research to influence policy development. Parts of the sessions were discussing the different tools that exist to facilitate KT. One of the tools being the KT strategy, describing components of the strategy, such as overarching and guiding principles, the conceptual framework, objectives and activities. The workshop was conducted in collaboration with LEARN/MCNV Laos and funded by the EU.

With the support and facilitation of Lao TPHI’s KT unit, the focal point members learned about ways to communicate with policy makers and stakeholders. They were very much engaged in small groups, practicing through using case studies, identifying key messages, who is their target group; how to present the data and by whom; and what are the best methodologies to do so.

After the workshop Lao TPHI did create the WhatsApp group for regular coordination and progress updates on Knowledge Translation activities.  In the coming months there will be follow up meetings with all the focal point members and on the job training with the core KT unit ensuring the sustainability of Knowledge Translation work in the health sector, continuing once the LEARN program ends mid-2020.