Schistosomiasis (SCH) in The Philippines is caused by Schistosoma japonicum and remains endemic in 28 provinces in 12 regions. Effective SCH control requires describing areas at risk where control efforts may be focused. This study aims at demonstrating the utility of geographical information system (GIS) as a tool for SCH surveillance in the province of Davao del Norte. Qualitative and quantitative data on SCH determinants, obtained from local government offices, partner agencies and institutions, were standardised, formatted and incorporated into a GIS map. Atrisk areas are described in terms of determinants and (variables), which included geography and climate (topography, temperature and flood-prone areas), agriculture (irrigation and land use), poverty (percentage of households with income below the poverty threshold), sanitation level (percentage of households with sanitary toilets), intermediate and reservoir hosts (presence of snail colonies and reservoir hosts) as well as prevalence and treatment coverage. Endemic villages (barangays) were generally found to be located in flood-prone areas in the lowlands near major rivers. New Corella has the highest poverty index among the SCH-endemic areas studied as well as the highest number of confirmed snail colonies. Among known endemic localities in Davao del Norte, Tagum City was found to be the only city meeting the poverty index target of <16.6%. Clustering of SCH cases were reported in six barangays ranging from 0.48% (8 out of 1,655) in Braulio Dujali to 2% (25 out of 1,405) in Asuncion. This study demonstrates the utility of GIS in predicting and assessing SCH risk, which allows prioritisation and allocation of control resources and delivery of services in areas at the highest risk for SCH.

Background: The Association of Pacific Rim Universities Global Health Program facilitates exchange of information, knowledge and experiences in global health education and research among its 50 member universities. Despite the proliferation of global health educational programs worldwide, a lack of consensus exists regarding core competencies in global health training and how these are best taught. Methods: A workshop was convened with 30 faculty, university administrators, students, and NGO workers representing both the Global North and South to gain consensus on core competencies in masters’-level global health training. The co-authors then collaborated to refine the list of competencies, categorize them into domains, and develop a plan for how academic institutions can ensure that these competencies are effectively taught. Findings: Nineteen competencies across five domains were identified: knowledge of trends and determinants of global disease patterns; cultural competency; global health governance, diplomacy and leadership; project management; and ethics and human rights. The plan for how academic institutions can best train students on these competencies outlined five key opportunities: coursework; practicums; research opportunities; mentorship; and evaluation. The plan recommended additional institutional strategies such as maximizing collaborative research opportunities, international partnerships, capacity-building grants, and use of educational technology to support these goals. Conclusions and Recommendations: While further research on the implementation of competency-based training is warranted, this work offers a step forward in advancing competency-based global health masters’ education as identified by a globally diverse group of expert stakeholders and economies. Given the challenges facing the current global health landscape, comparable competency-based training across institutions is critical to ensure the training of competent global health professionals.

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