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. 2024 Dec 9;90(1):78.
doi: 10.5334/aogh.4528. eCollection 2024.

Transforming the Health Research Workforce in Mozambique: Achievements of the Mozambique Institute for Health Education and Research (MIHER) over a 13‑Year Journey

Emília Virgínia Noormahomed  1   2   3 , Sérgio Noormahomed  3 , Matchecane Cossa  3   4   5 , Nicole Joyce  2 , Regina Daniel Miambo  1   3 , Irina Mendes Sousa  1   3 , Noémia Nhacupe  1   3 , Tufária Mussá  1 , Jahit Sacarlal  1 , Lídia Gouveia  3   4 , Luís Jorge Ferrão  3   6 , Carla Carrilho  1   3 , Mamudo Ismail  1   3 , Davey Smith  2 , Natasha K Martin  2 , Ravi Goyal  2 , Kim E Barrett  7 , Sónia Santana Afonso  1   3 , Amélia Mandane  3   8 , Alarquia Saíde  3   8 , Pompílio Vintuar  3   9 , Brígida Singo  10 , Boaventura Aleixo  10 , Luck Injage  10 , Elizabeth A Winzeler  2 , Paulo Correia-de-Sá  11 , Maria do Rosário Oliveira Martins  12 , Paulo Ferrinho  12 , Sam Patel  1   2   3   5 , Ana Olga Mocumbi  1   3   13 , Stephen W Bickler  2 , Constance A Benson  2 , Roberto Badaró  14 , Robert T Schooley  2
Affiliations

Transforming the Health Research Workforce in Mozambique: Achievements of the Mozambique Institute for Health Education and Research (MIHER) over a 13‑Year Journey

Emília Virgínia Noormahomed et al. Ann Glob Health. .

Abstract

Background: African research capacity is challenged by insufficient infrastructure to solicit and manage grants from local and international funding agencies. Objective: The manuscript provides an overview and discusses lessons learned about the pioneering role of the Mozambique Institute for Health Education and Research (MIHER) as the first research support center (RSC) in supporting the management of research grants in Mozambique, emphasizing its impact on research capacity development. Methods: Using mixed methods, data were comprehensively collected to identify MIHER's primary achievements from 2010 to 2023. The activities took place in four public universities, five training institutions for healthcare workers, and 40 public healthcare units in Mozambique. Findings: MIHER had partnership contracts with over 35 external institutions, and supported the design and implementation of one doctoral program and five masters' degree programs at three public universities. Over 70% of the 128 MSc and three Ph.D. degree recipients have gone on to become lecturers at Mozambique's public universities or are working in Mozambique's public health system. Over 9,000 lecturers and healthcare workers participated in MIHER's 261 research capacity development workshops. MIHER assisted in writing and implementing 98 research grants, amassing $29,923,197 in extramural support. Of 170 publications generated, 89% were indexed in PubMed. African researchers served as first or last author in 55% and 34% of these publications, respectively; Mozambicans were first and last authors in 44% and 23% of the articles, respectively. Two research laboratories were rehabilitated. Investments in information and communication technology also fostered training and mentorship. Conclusions: MIHER has emerged as a leading RSC of Excellence, fostering synergies and promoting a quality research culture in Mozambique, fueled in part, by its ability to identify and incorporate key collaborations. MIHER is a successful example of an RSC that can make the difference in resource‑limited settings to enable research resource mobilization, evidence-based health care delivery and policy design.

Keywords: Health Professional Education Partnership Initiative (HEPI); Health Professionals Education; MIHER; Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI); Mozambique; Mozambique Institute for Health Education and Research (MIHER); Research Administration; Research Support Center (RSC); Research capacity development.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Figures

Mozambique Institute For Health Education and Research (MIHER) organizational chart
Figure 1
MIHER’s organizational chart.
Mozambique Map highlighting locations of MIHER’s on site activities
Figure 2
Map highlighting locations of MIHER’s on‑site activities.
Annual budget of funds administered by the Mozambique Institute For Health Education and Research (2010 -2023)
Figure 3
Annual budget of funds administered by MIHER (in USD).
Proportion of grants awarded to Mozambique Institute For Health Education and Research (MIHER) by funding organization
Figure 4
Proportion of grants awarded to MIHER by funding organization.
Publication and citation trends of the Mozambique Institute For Health Education and Research (MIHER) (2011-2023)
Figure 5
Publication and citation trends of MIHER during the reporting period. Over the years, there has been a steady increase in publication output.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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