Zambia: The government of Zambia wants to understand the complexities of the brain development of children and adolescents. For this, the government has launched the African Leadership for Measuring Brain Health in Children and Adolescents (ALMA) Consortium.
This is an initiative that seeks to advance scientific knowledge on the complexities of children and adolescent brain development. The focus of the consortium will be on the children of Africa.
Zambian Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima talked about the significance of the initiative. Through ALMA, they want to unpack the knowledge gaps in advancing brain health in African children.
Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Joel Kamoko read the Minister’s remarks on his behalf. The Minister said the initiative will be achieved by analysing African data available through existing studies.
Syakalima said the network is co-led by two new African run institutes in Nairobi and Cape Town. The institutes in question are: The Aga Khan University Institute for Human Development and the University of Cape Town Neuroscience Institute.
The University of Zambia, University of Malawi and Harvard among others will also support the ALMA Consortium. The Minister of Education believes that the initiative will help Africa make several medical advancements.
The most important part is that the advancements will be in accordance with the needs of the children and adolescents of the continent.
He disclosed that the network will build leadership of scientific skills of 45 African fellows with a 2-1 ratio of women to men through rigorous supervision.
Further, UNZA Acting Vice Chancellor Annie Sikwibele said the focus on measuring brain health in children and adolescents is strategic. Professor Sikwibele said evidence shows that a healthy brain is the foundation of effective leadership, innovation and sustainable development.
The Acting Vice Chancellor said UNZA will benefit through fully funded fellowships at different levels, which will include two post-doctoral, three doctoral and four masters.
She stated that this is the first time the School of Education will offer training at the post-doctoral level.