Abstract

Public health datasets can be used to develop tools to inform public health policy in order to improve the well-being of the population. These data-driven solutions can be developed using data science tools. Both the public sector and the academic researchers can collaborate to harness public health datasets to develop sustainable healthcare solutions. This session will describe a programme between the University of Cape Town and the Clinton Health Access Initiative which provides an opportunity for masters students to analyse public health data to answer a policy-relevant questions. The programme provides students with experiential learning that includes exposure to data analytic tools, engaging with external stakeholders, as well as drawing conclusions which have meaningful impact on public health policy and implementation.