During a microbicide trial feasibility study among women at high-risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in Mwanza, northern Tanzania the researchers used participatory research tools to facilitate open dialogue and partnership between researchers and study participants. Participatory techniques were instrumental in promoting meaningful dialogue between the research team, study participants and community representatives in Mwanza, allowing researchers and community representatives to gain a shared understanding of project-related priority areas for intervention.
Governance and participation in health
The benefits of participatory methodologies to develop effective community dialogue in the context of a microbicide trial feasibility study in Mwanza, Tanzania
Vallely A, Shagi C, Kasindi S, Desmond N, Lees S, Chiduo B, Hayes R, Allen C, Ross D: BMC Public Health 7:133, 2 July 2007
The C-Word: Tackling the enduring legacy of colonialism in global health
Saha S; Kavattur P; Goheer A: Health Systems Global blog, April 2019
The authors write that definitions of “global health” are generally depoliticized and invoke trans-national health issues and collaboration. Yet they argue that global health is only the newest iteration of what was formerly “international health”, “tropical medicine” and “colonial medicine”, with historical roots lie in colonial endeavours and imperial interests. They report a widespread frustration with how global health is taught in universities in ways that create and perpetuate neo-colonial relations; and a desire for alternative conceptualizations of the “global” that fundamentally tackle structures of power. The authors observe in the paper the various issues that need to be tackled if there is an intent to 'decolonise' global health, commenting that it is not a one-day event or a checkbox. It is a process that leads to futures that are unknown, but that one should dare to imagine.
The case of Kenya Partnership for Health program
International Journal for Equity in Health 2005
The Kenya Partnership for Health (KPH) program began in 1999, and is currently one of the 12 field projects participating in the WHO's 'Towards Unity for Health initiative' implemented to develop partnership synergies in support of the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach. This paper illustrates how Program-linked Information Management by Integrative-participatory Research Approach (PIMIRA) as practised under KPH has been implemented within Trans-Nzoia District, Kenya to enhance community-based health initiatives. It shows how this model is strategically being scaled-up from one community to another in the management of political, social, cultural and economic determinants (barriers and enhancers) of health.
The challenge of accountability for development agencies within their own countries and before their peers: A comparative study
Vielajus M, Hudson A, Jonsson L and Neu D: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, December 2009
This study proposes to sketch out an overview of the challenge of accountability within donor countries, and includes a few innovative initiatives set up by these countries to reinforce the demand for accountability, as well as to advance the production of ‘accountable’ information and diversify the tools for disseminating agencies’ action and for opening the debate. It aims to find the thread linking services provided by different agencies, to understand how they interface and what their limitations are. The study poses and attempts to answer the following questions: What is the ‘accountability demand’ currently levelled at development agencies? How can the tools for producing and disseminating information be ‘grown’ so as to meet the mounting accountability objective? How can the agencies’ accountability targets and tools be broadened to better answer the needs for information and dialogue of the stakeholders and the public at large?
The challenge of community participation in rural health development in Nigeria
Metiboba S: Prime Journal of Business Administration and Management, 2(5), 551-555, May 2012
Studies in rural and urban development since the 1970s have found high correlations between project performance and levels of community participation in many Third world countries. Relevant examples of such
correlation include the agricultural extension services in Kenya, the control of infectious diseases in Israel and the rural water supply and irrigation projects in Asia Region. This paper examines the major
limitations in participatory health development in Nigeria. The author finds that even though most of the assertions in literature about the health behaviour of the rural dwellers in community-based health programmes are upheld, there are exceptions. For example the
health behaviour of people in traditional societies is found to always be an economic rational one. This is in contradistinction to the view in most literature that posits that the health behaviour of the traditional people is almost always determined by socio-cultural and magico-religious considerations.
The Cholera Epidemic in Zimbabwe, 2008–2009: A Review and Critique of the Evidence
Cuneo N; Sollom R; Beyrer C: Health and Human Rights Journal, Papers in Press Blog, July 2017
The 2008–2009 Zimbabwe cholera epidemic resulted in 98,585 reported cases and caused more than 4,000 deaths. In this study, the authors used a mixed-methods approach that combined primary qualitative data from a 2008 Physicians for Human Rights-led investigation with a systematic review and content analysis of the scientific literature. Their initial investigation included semi-structured interviews of 92 key informants, which the authors supplemented with reviews of the social science and human rights literature, as well as international news reports. The authors investigation revealed that the 2008–2009 Zimbabwean cholera epidemic was exacerbated by a series of rights abuses, including the politicisation of water, health care, aid, and information. The authors argue that the failure of the scientific community to directly address the political determinants of the epidemic exposes the challenges to maintaining scientific integrity in the setting of humanitarian responses to complex health and human rights crises. While the period of the cholera epidemic is now a decade in the past, the findings remain relevant for contexts where health and rights interact and in contexts where governance concerns affect improvements in health.
The clothes have no emperor
Srinath I: CIVICUS, 17 November 2011
According to this article, the recent G20 summit in France and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Australia were both noteworthy for the continuing lack of substantive action on financial sector reform, climate negotiations, trade and the reform of international institutions. And the prognoses for the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in South Korea and the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in South Africa - scheduled for November 2011 - suggest more of the same will follow. The author argues that COP-17, originally billed as the People’s COP and the African COP, now appears unlikely to live up to either label. Nor, according to the author, does it appear likely that disagreements on the design of the new Green Climate Fund or on a second commitment phase for the Kyoto Protocol will be resolved in time for the conference. What will it take to break the deadlocks and spur leadership capable of responding to the crises, current and impending? As the 2011 movements in the Middle East and North Africa demonstrated, it is argued that civil society needs to challenge the legitimacy of the institutions charged with global governance and demand their radical overhaul or replacement.
The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians holds a Sub-regional sensitization Workshop in Kigali
: Parliament of the Republic of Rwanda: Kigali, July 2016
The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) which is an organ of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa Region) held a two day East Africa Sub-Regional sensitization workshop in July 2016. Themed “Establishing CWP Chapters to Leverage Women Representation and Advocacy,” the CWP sensitization workshop is to encourage all branches to set up CWP Chapters and functional structures and adoption of the guidelines fully and to advocate for policies legislation and programmes that eradicate social, cultural and religious practices that are harmful to the women. Rt. Hon. Mukabalisa said that Rwanda’s achievements in gender equality and women empowerment have been made possible by the strong political will and the commitment from the highest level, accompanied by innovative, home-grown and people centered development approaches. Hon. Angela Thoko Didiza Vice Chairperson of CWP Africa Region and its current Acting Chairperson stated that despite the recognition of women’s rights and need for deliberate action towards the empowerment of women; there remains a marked difference in the status and access of men and women in political, social, economic domains. She confirmed that even where has been progress, there are still challenges in ensuring the full participation of women, “ensuring gender equality and participation of women in decision-making position is imperative to human development. There is a need to change the traditional roles that limit women’s potential, as well as acknowledge women’s full contribution to social and economic development.”
The conceptualization of family care during critical illness in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
de Beer J; Brysiewicz P: Health SA Gesondheid (22), 2017, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hsag.2016.01.006
In recent years there has been a movement to promote patients as partners in their care. However, in the case of critically ill patients, who are often sedated and mechanically ventilated, family members may be more involved in the care of the patient. To date, this type of care has been represented by three dominant theoretical conceptualisations and frameworks one of which is family centred care. There is, however, a lack of consensus on the definition of family centred care. This study explored the meaning of family care within a South African context. This study adopted a qualitative approach and a grounded theory research design by Strauss and Corbin (1990). Participants from two hospitals: one private and one public were selected to participate in the study. There was a total of 31 participants (family members, intensive care nurses and doctors) who volunteered to participate in the study. Data collection included in-depth individual interviews. The findings of this study revealed that family care is conceptualised as togetherness, partnership, respect and dignity. During a critical illness, patients' families fulfil an additional essential role for patients who may be unconscious or unable to communicate or make decisions. Family members not only provide vital support to their loved one, but also become the "voice" of the patient.
The Contribution of Social Dialogue to Gender Equality
International Labour Organisation: ILO, Geneva, 2021
This thematic brief discusses actions that governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations, can take to advance gender equality through social dialogue, drawing on case studies from around the world, in different sectors, in the formal or the informal economy, and during the pandemic. It identifies the circumstances and factors that can help bring about transformative change. The brief examines the role of social dialogue in the application of relevant International Labour Standards on gender equality, including the ground-breaking Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190) and Recommendation No. 206 on the same subject matter. It concludes with some key recommendations for governments and employers’ and workers’ organisations.