Testimonials

Testimonial From Datesort descending
“We make videos for frontline health workers in the developing world. We are grateful for the collaboration of partners throughout the world who help make our work possible, many who we’ve connected with through the HIFA/CHIFA networks: content experts, clinical site hosts, field-testers, and translators and narrators.”
By Deborah van Dyke
United States Friday, February 13, 2015
“Since I first started to follow HIFA several years ago, I have noticed some excellent broadening of the types of professionals who are participating as well as the subjects covered. It is especially rewarding to get the commentary from participants on the ground throughout the world. I am also very impressed with the immediacy and frankness of opinions expressed. Keep up the good work.”
By Don Sutherland
Canada Tuesday, April 21, 2015
“I find the emails shared by the HIFA colleagues and the HIFA moderators are really very educative and important to learn modern advancement in health sector.”
By Tirtha Rana, Nepal Public Health Foundation
Nepal Sunday, May 24, 2015
“I wanted to say thank you for such amazing updates from the world of public health. I always look forward to your e-mail. Great work!”
By Nishant Chavan
India Thursday, June 4, 2015
“CHIFA’s purpose is universal and constitutes a free and worldwide permanent investment.”
By Andre Shongo
United States Saturday, September 5, 2015
“Interacting with HIFA has influenced my professional life over the years greatly!”
By Olayinka O. Ayankogbe
Nigeria Monday, September 7, 2015
“I have been learning a lot from the HIFA updates, and I would like to use this chance to thank you and HIFA for providing very informative updates through the network. I hope I can be continuously plugged in the network for more sharing in the future as well.”
By Chonghee Anise Choi, Director
Republic of Korea Monday, September 21, 2015
“I am very grateful for receiving the CHIFA forum messages. The recent discussion on industry being involved in healthcare was especially interesting and I learned a lot. I was really impressed by the quality and frankness of the dialogue. And on other topics as well.”
By Nigel Rollins, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health
Switzerland Wednesday, October 7, 2015
“CHIFA is such a terrific forum! I really enjoy and appreciate it.”
By Donna M Saton, General Pediatrician
United States Tuesday, November 24, 2015
“I am indeed proud to be part of this Great network. Well Done to all for your tireless work.”
By Louise Bugeja, Charge Midwife
Malta Sunday, December 13, 2015
“I love the HIFA. I love the work I am doing and I will keep working harder to make the HIFA in Cameroon a unique tool for the development of its health system.”
By Didier Demassosso, HIFA Country Representative For Cameroon
Cameroon Friday, February 19, 2016
“I absolutely love getting the important updates you share and the resources.”
By Ados May
United States Tuesday, May 31, 2016
“The network has really proven to be useful – I have gotten a lot of interesting feedback on my question.”
By Sanne Marie Thysen
Denmark Thursday, June 2, 2016
"I relish in receiving and reading the information exchange with the often back and forth dialog through the HIFA platform you have created. The ranks continue to swell as more and more health workers and receivers learn about it - congratulations."
By Burris (Duke) Duncan
United States Saturday, August 20, 2016
"Thank you for bringing in so much information we could actually use in our day-to-day work as researchers, implementers and health promoters in developing countries. HIFA is providing so many of us an opportunity to share and learn from experiences, views and voices in a way that no journals or seminars can manage to extend."
By Sunanda Kolli Reddy
India Tuesday, August 23, 2016
"A lot of members have even found powerful connections leading to employment, projects, mentorship, and research of very high value globally."
By Kenneth L Chanda
Zambia Wednesday, August 24, 2016
"Top 5 benefits for my team and I in just the last 6 months: - been introduced to published literature and reports of interest - learned different perspectives and terminology used, regarding research methods and health/health care/public health issues - became aware of conferences and dissemination mechanisms - met potential collaborators via HIFA members and contacts for our students to reach out to - most importantly I'm learning more each month and becoming an advocate for open access and open science."
By Janet Bettger, Professor
United States Wednesday, August 31, 2016
"It's been great working with everybody and I believe together, we can ensure that quality health information indeed reaches everyone in the globe."
By Balogun Stephen Taiye, Olanrewaju Hospital (HIFA Country Representative of the Year 2016)
Nigeria Saturday, February 11, 2017
"I really love the HIFA forum (fantastic resource!)"
By Greg Martin, Global Health Professional, Ireland
Ireland Thursday, April 27, 2017
"My love for global health and public health started with me joining the HIFA. The more I promote the HIFA vision the more I feel to be an advocate for Health. HIFA will expose you to a lot of information which will deepen your understanding of how Health works and what can be done to improve it. Healthcare information saves lives - I cant refrain myself from telling you that you'd love to be part of this family :)."
By Didier Demassosso, Ministry of Secondary Education
Cameroon Friday, May 26, 2017
"I was present at the launch of HIFA in Mombasa in 2006 and I am inspired by HIFA's vision, sacrifice, clarity of goals, focus, and humility. Thank God it all paid off. HIFA now has the greatest collection of world health experts. The practical impact of the group is superb. HIFA remains a stream where health information freely flows. I thank God for touching millions of lives through this singular dream. I can't stop talking of HIFA anywhere, anytime. Kudos!"
By (Princess) Uju E. Nwafor-Orizu, Health Sciences Librarian, Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Nigeria Saturday, June 3, 2017
"It is really extraordinary to see how HIFA has grown and how wide its reach has become. I think it is the most important discussion forum in the area of health information and health more generally in LMICs, and makes a critical contribution to linking health workers, health researchers and health managers across the world. Few forums are able to do this so successfully. Congratulations on this achievement."
By Simon Lewin, Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services and Medical Research Council of South Africa
Norway Monday, June 12, 2017
"I strongly recommend you join HIFA. It is a wonderful platform to share and receive information on health issues globally."
By David Musoke, Makerere University School of Public Health
Uganda Thursday, August 3, 2017
"I am so happy to join HIFA as a Country Representative. It's a big responsibility and a thrilling opportunity to make an impact and to spread HIFA vision wider."
By Vivek Podder, Tairunnessa Memorial Medical College
Bangladesh Monday, September 18, 2017
"HIFA is an extremely important platform for WHO/IBP [Implementing Best Practices Initiative] because it offers an opportunity to exchange ideas and information which can then inform our work on how best to implement and scale up family planning interventions. We are interested in understanding not only What works, but also How interventions work, Who they work for, and Why interventions don't work."
By Nandita Thatte, World Health Organization, Geneva
Switzerland Thursday, September 21, 2017
"Thank you for doing a tremendous job moderating the thematic discussion on Family Planning. You were so in tune to the email exchanges and kept the conversation moving and transitioned us weekly to a new question."
By Karah Pedersen, IntraHealth International, USA
United States Friday, October 27, 2017
"I continue to be a huge user of HIFA and a big fan too. I can't always contribute as much as I would like but I do read and pass to appropriate people. Thanks for your continued dedication to the cause of info sharing - I cannot imagine a world without HIFA!"
By Barbara Stilwell, IntraHealth International
United States Tuesday, November 7, 2017
"I found the CHIFA Desk Officer role very interesting and rewarding. I got to work on a range of projects within a very supportive team, while having the opportunity to take initiative on new projects and approaches. I gained valuable experience and skills in coordination, management, leadership, and communication, which have helped to further my public health career, and I had the chance to make some great contacts. I enjoyed working with people from such a wide range of countries and backgrounds, and getting more involved in an organisation that does such important work on engaging global discussions to advocate for and work towards increased access to child healthcare information and child rights. I would definitely recommend applying for this position!"
By Abigail Enoch
United Kingdom Wednesday, November 29, 2017
"Some weeks back I requested the HIFA community for an app that would be free, upload material in Indian languages and be accessible on Android mobile phones. I am overwhelmed by the responses and the personal interest shown by many HIFA experts."
By Kavita Bhatia, India
India Thursday, January 25, 2018
"I think HIFA is wonderful. Although I don’t contribute much I read every day and pass along to colleagues when the topic is pertinent to their work/research. Congratulations!"
By Jody Lori, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Clinical Training in Health Promotion Nursing, USA
United States Sunday, January 28, 2018
Thank you for your brilliant work in connecting people and providing valuable information.
By Michelle Janse van Rensburg, University of Pretoria, South Africa
South Africa Tuesday, February 6, 2018
The HIFA system is truly amazing.
By David Southall, Maternal & Child Health International
United Kingdom Friday, February 16, 2018
"There is no doubt that HIFA has made a big difference and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future."
By Enku Kebede-Francis, Adviser in Global Health Governance, USA
United States Thursday, April 12, 2018
"HIFA is doing incredible work, and I am thankful to now being aware of this amazing network."
By Ina Smith, African Open Science Platform, South Africa
South Africa Monday, June 4, 2018
"HIFA is of great help for Syrian medical students and it is an honor to join your organization and contribute to its work. Me and my colleagues really admire what HIFA is doing. And we are happily ready to contribute."
By Fatima Abbas, medical graduate, Damascus University, Syria
Syrian Arab Republic Saturday, September 1, 2018
"It has really been wonderful over the last seven years being part of the HIFA family and working towards a vision of a world where no one dies because of lack of health information"
By Soumyadeep Bhaumik, India
India Sunday, September 30, 2018
"I always read with great interest ongoing discussions and most associated articles. It is really great to listen to the voice of like-minded people all over the world."
By Paola De Castro, Italy
Italy Monday, November 5, 2018
"HIFA emails include some really interesting information and these spark new ideas. This week in particular I wanted to let you know that I have been inspired by the article on Pragati games and family planning in Nepal"
By Susan Mallett, UK
United Kingdom Saturday, February 9, 2019
"Through HIFA you can learn from others and share knowledge that you have that might be of interest to others. You can also meet and network with others with like interests. When you have a special request related to the work you are doing, ask the listserv. It is a huge repository of knowledge."
By Mickey Rostoker, Canada
Canada Tuesday, February 26, 2019
"I never fail to be amazed at how quickly the time goes and how much ground we cover at each HIFA Annual Strategy Day. In fact, I can't think of any other meeting I've attended (and there have been quite a few, down the years!) which is comparable in that respect."
By Martin Carroll, HIFA Steering Group, UK
United Kingdom Thursday, February 28, 2019
"I would like to thank HIFA and HIFA-Portuguese for your support on sharing materials for Intimate Partner Violence. Your contribution has helped me to work on my PhD. When I am done with my studies I will share the published papers with you all."
By Beatriz Manuel, Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique
Mozambique Monday, March 25, 2019
"HIFA's untiring and immense efforts have made such a great difference to promote evidence-informed policy and practice. In my opinion HIFA is the most practical and effective discussion forum for all health professionals whether they are health providers or policy makers."
By Manzoor Butt, Family Physician, Researcher & Trainer, Pakistan
Pakistan Thursday, April 11, 2019
"HIFA provides a platform for sharing good work and learning from others in ways that publications or websites cannot."
By Sunanda Reddy, Paediatrician, India
India Wednesday, June 19, 2019
"HIFA is increasingly highly regarded and profoundly important. In many respects HIFA has become the Reuters or AP of the Global Health Development community. It is very unlikely that we would be as aware and informed as we are about the different developments and upcoming challenges without the vital network that HIFA has become."
By Mark Lodge, Director, International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research, Oxford, UK
United Kingdom Wednesday, July 31, 2019
CHIFA is a way to broaden our horizons and understand different viewpoints and different medical practices, which in turn may help us to question and improve our own paediatric practice at home.
By Harriet Aughey, Paediatric Registrar, National Health Service, UK
United Kingdom Tuesday, August 13, 2019
"It is amazing to watch the continuous expansion of the various networks since the HIFA-English launch in Mombasa in 2006, which I was lucky to witness, until today. HIFA must be among the busiest professional networks in the world. A wonderful achievement!"
By Maryvonne Grisetti, Volunteer, MSF Switzerland
Switzerland Tuesday, August 27, 2019
“In our world, where new challenges and opportunities in healthcare develop rapidly, HIFA does a vital job in disseminating concise information about these to very many - ranging from policymakers to practitioners. I continue to be inspired by the work of HIFA and find it extremely useful for my own work in Global Health. Congratulations and thanks”
By Andrew Tomkins, Emeritus Professor of International Child Health, University College, London
United Kingdom Saturday, November 16, 2019
"I am grateful that this forum is a tremendous source of world class information on public health. I am using such information in my class room teaching. I always encourage students and colleagues to join."
By Sudarshan Paudel, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal
Nepal Tuesday, November 26, 2019
"The work of HIFA is critical on our journey towards Health for All. HIFA is a really important platform through which we can share information and tools, connect with each other, support each other, and move far more rapidly to strengthen health services globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. I support HIFA and encourage others to do the same."
By Tracy Eastman, Director of PACK (Practical Approach to Care Kit), University of Cape Town & British Medical Journal
United Kingdom Thursday, December 5, 2019
"I feel the work that HIFA does is very important. You have certainly broadened my awareness of the importance of increasing knowledge. In fact, I am not sure we would have started one of our initiatives, translating patient material into the local language, without your input."
By Michele Meltzer, MD, MBE, President of Rheumatology for All
United Kingdom Wednesday, December 11, 2019
"It was so rewarding to have the opportunity to volunteer for HIFA. I have been so inspired by the hard work and selfless nature of the HIFA team and HIFA members worldwide. HIFA is truly doing wonderful things and I shall continue to spread the word!"
By Catriona Grant, Medical student, University of Dundee
United Kingdom Friday, December 13, 2019
"I am absolutely amazed by what HIFA has achieved and the huge volume of messages and information which you process and provide to the world."
By Len Cornish, Institution of Engineering and Technology, UK
United Kingdom Friday, January 3, 2020
"Networking with HIFA is so valuable to me; it gives me the motivation and the meaning and support of teamwork in the quest for the common good."
By Jackeline Alger, Honduras
Honduras Wednesday, February 26, 2020
"HIFA is doing the most wonderful work. I often introduce HIFA to my colleagues. In these difficult times the marvellous HIFA circle is a great support for us all."
By Anne Chamberlain, professor of rehabilitation medicine, Leeds University
United Kingdom Sunday, March 22, 2020
"The HIFA forum is proving especially helpful at this challenging time (COVID-19 pandemic)"
By Mike Clarke, Evidence Aid
United Kingdom Wednesday, April 1, 2020
"It's incredible what you do and how you bring people and organisations together!"
By Knut Schroeder, Expert Self Care Ltd, UK
United Kingdom Sunday, April 19, 2020
“HIFA is an incredible source of information and connection point for the global health community – as a community of practice, HIFA is a beacon for us all to learn from.”
By Amanda BenDor,Technical Program Manager, PATH
United States Saturday, June 27, 2020
"Congratulations on HIFA’s longevity and influence. It demonstrates enormous engagement and plays an outsized role in dialogue on health. Great stuff."
By Beth Robinson, Palladium, USA
United States Wednesday, July 15, 2020
"HIFA has created such a partnership of intimacy, credibility and reliability with its contributors and readers."
By Richard Fitton, GP, UK
United Kingdom Thursday, August 13, 2020
"Thank you for all the great work you and your team are doing. What HIFA does is massively important."
By Knut Schroeder, Expert Self Care Ltd
United Kingdom Wednesday, November 4, 2020
"I just felt compelled to reach out and say thank you for what you do. It’s important to my work and I’m a big HIFA fan. With every email, I nearly always find something highly relevant to my work – or to my unpaid passions."
By Kirsten Krueger, Technical Advisor, FHI360, USA
United States Monday, January 4, 2021
"Many congratulations to you and the HIFA team for excellent work, the achievements of 2020 demonstrate the power of the network."
By Elizabeth Mason, former Director MNCAH, World Health Organization
Switzerland Tuesday, January 12, 2021
"Being a Country Representative at HIFA has been a wonderful learning experience for me. I am confident that the knowledge and skills that I have garnered over here would help propel my career."
By Gladson Vaghela, Medical Student, India
India Tuesday, March 9, 2021
"We really appreciate what you are doing at HIFA to fight the infodemic."
By James K Tumwine, Professor, Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University, Uganda
Uganda Wednesday, May 5, 2021
"HIFA pushes the exploration of global health issues out to the front lines, where it really matters. It continues to give voice to our colleagues worldwide and especially those in low- and middle-income countries"
By Don Sutherland, Global Public Health consultant, Canadian Society for International Health
Canada Friday, August 20, 2021
"It's been wonderful to see how HIFA's work has grown and is making an impact over the last few years and I wish you and HIFA all the best in the future."
By Joanna Groves, International League of Dermatological Societies, UK.
United Kingdom Friday, November 12, 2021
"I really appreciate the fabulous work of HIFA."
By Arukah Network
United Kingdom Saturday, December 4, 2021
"I learn a lot from HIFA which is like a big family to me"
By Toumzghi Sengal, physician assistant, Eritrea
Eritrea Tuesday, December 21, 2021
"The great challenge for the Global Oncology community is to become a community; a community that helps mobilise high quality evidence, information and experience and that is inclusive, diverse, visionary and non-hierarchical. In this it can learn much from the success and vitality of proven initiatives such as Healthcare Information for all (HIFA)."
By Mark Lodge, International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research
United Kingdom Thursday, February 3, 2022
"HIFA may be small in size but its influence is huge"
By Ted Lankester, Arukah Network, UK
United Kingdom Sunday, November 19, 2023
"HIFA is an exemplar of a social movement bringing together tens of thousands of members from around the world who embrace its virtuous mission. I am proud to be counted amongst them."
By Vikram Patel, Paul Farmer Professor and Chair, Harvard Medical School, December 2023
United States Monday, December 25, 2023
(Reliable) Health information for all is such an important objective - and ever more so with the spread of DISinformation - everyone should support HIFA. Go on, set up a standing order however big or small! With huge admiration...
By Raanan Gillon, Emeritus Professor of Medical Ethics, Imperial College London & former President, British Medical Association
United Kingdom Monday, January 8, 2024
"HIFA has created such a partnership of intimacy, credibility and reliability with its contributors and readers."
By Richard Fitton, GP, United Kingdom
United Kingdom Tuesday, January 30, 2024
“HIFA has been doing very important work for a very long time – thank you for building and sustaining all of HIFA's good work.”
By Tracy Eastman, Department of Health, South Africa
South Africa Monday, March 11, 2024
"There is something special about the way HIFA connects so many people: a health worker in rural Turkana, a nurse in Edinburgh, a librarian in Mumbai, a head of medical training in Colombia... all connected and interacting on themes that matter"
By Professor Liz Grant, Director, Global Health Academy, University of Edinburgh
United Kingdom Monday, April 1, 2024
“HIFA has really helped us get the word out about our projects and be able to engage with what others are doing. We are grateful for their commitment to make accurate healthcare information available to all people!”
By Marti Perhach, CEO/Cofounder, Group B Strep International, United States
United States Friday, May 3, 2024
"I have been a silent admirer observing how HIFA grew from its small beginnings of a few individuals to become a massive global movement." Prof. Saroj Jayasinghe, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Founder Head, Department of Medical Humanities, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 2024
By Saroj Jayasinghe, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Thursday, June 6, 2024
​“NextGenU.org is honored to collaborate with HIFA to advance global health. Our Addiction Training for Health Professionals Program provides health professionals with free, high-quality education on addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery worldwide. Working with the HIFA team has significantly enhanced our ability to achieve these goals. Through HIFA's unique approach, we can better address misconceptions, reduce stigma, and improve access to reliable healthcare information for substance use disorders. HIFA's ability to convene diverse stakeholders fosters invaluable discussions and innovations, ultimately enhancing the well-being of individuals worldwide. We proudly support HIFA’s efforts and look forward to continued collaboration.”
By Miriam Chickering, CEO, NextGenU.org
United States Friday, July 5, 2024
“HIFA has been a vital part of the mHealth-Innovate research project as it has given us a unique opportunity to discuss topics with healthcare workers, managers and policy makers from across the world. This has been a great supplement to our more formal research processes as these are often slow, shaped by the researcher and limited to specific settings. The HIFA network, on the other hand, is an open space where people from all levels of the system can discuss topics on their own terms. HIFA has helped us put our questions on the agenda and the HIFA discussions have been a key part of making sure that our research is relevant for people on the ground. This is not the first time we have collaborated with HIFA and hopefully not the last!”
By Professor Claire Glenton, Principal Investigator, mHEALTH-INNOVATE Research Consortium
Norway Friday, July 5, 2024
“Involving key users of knowledge in research projects is crucial for ensuring the research is responsive to their needs and has a meaningful impact. However, accessing different groups of users is often challenging. HIFA has been a dynamic platform for building relationships with individuals from diverse professional backgrounds and roles within health systems worldwide, enabling the collection of insights that would have otherwise been difficult to obtain. The HIFA discussion forum has been especially valuable, enabling the research project to explore concepts and assumptions, and to understand how the research questions resonate with on-the-ground realities through the insights of individuals with relevant experiences. I highly recommend partnering with HIFA for research collaborations and will definitely do so again for future research proposals.”
By Unni Gopinathan, Principal Investigator, SUPPORT-SYSTEMS Research Consortium
Norway Friday, July 5, 2024