Blog
Aug 31 2009
Part 2: What health system strengthening issues matter to you?
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Dr. Milena Gajic-Stevanovic of Serbia responds to Health Systems 20/20's call, highlighting the importance of policy tools such as National Health Accounts in managing health care resources.
Jul 8 2009
What health system strengthening issues matter to you?
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Last week, Health Systems 20/20 put out a call to the health systems strengthening community to "tell the world about health system strengthening issues that matter to you" by contributing to our blog. We received a number of responses (thank you, HSS community!) and look forward to receiving more in the coming weeks.
Jun 15 2009
Global TB Control 2009 - A Health Systems Update
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The WHO has recently published the Global TB Control Report 2009 ("2009 Report"). There is progress in meeting the TB-related MDG targets, but it is not sufficient nor universal across the world. Viewing the blockages to achievement of TB targets through a health systems lens has acknowledged relevance in Africa and Asia. This blog entry reviews the priorities in this regard.
May 13 2009
Maternal Waiting Homes in Nicaragua
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I’m getting my first taste of the trials and tribulations that accompany a qualitative interview project in a developing country. I’m working as a volunteer for the Population Council and through a series of interviews with health officials, am hoping to deliver some background information on the extent and quality of the Maternal Waiting Homes (Casas Maternas) program in Nicaragua. Casas Maternas provide shelter and medical care to pregnant women who are either geographically or economically unable to access health services, and need a safe place to deliver their baby.
Apr 23 2009
Health Systems: Lessons from Abroad
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International Health has gained significant momentum in the past few years, making it one of the trendiest avenues of medical practice. As the machine of global medicine quickly accelerates toward improving health conditions abroad, domestic healthcare issues must not be allowed to fade from view.
Apr 12 2009
Rural Vs. Urban Access to Health Services
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One of the first things I noticed when we got to Nicaragua was that everyone seemed very young. Seven out of ten of the people you pass on the street are under thirty, and most of them look like they are under 20. I’ve started researching this a bit more as background knowledge for a series of interviews I’m going to be conducting on the topic of Maternal Waiting homes in Nicaragua, and have discovered that my initial observation is correct. Adolescents (age 15-19) represent 26% of the population, and the percentage of women within that age bracket getting pregnant is the second highest in Central America. Not surprisingly, more than half of those pregnancies are unplanned.
Mar 12 2009
"Solidarity" Health System
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The Nicaraguan health system is in a state of transition, and as a volunteer with the Centro de Salud in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua I have a front row seat. The recently elected government is introducing a new health system called "solidarity" in an effort to both improve services, and increase access to win back the confidence of the Nicaraguan people. Changes include free medication and medical visits, and an overall shift in philosophy to preventative medicine through health education, and training programs for local health promoters or "brigadistas".
Mar 11 2009
Where are we on ART Scale-up: Updates from a PEPFAR Conference
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Reducing HIV/AIDS related morbidity and mortality is a major health system issue in high prevalence countries. In this context, where are PEPFAR countries today on achieving their coverage targets for ART? Given the current economic crisis in developing country finances and the uncertainty in foreign donor commitments, what is the likelihood of further scale-up? An update from recent data presented at a PEPFAR ART Costing Conference in February 2009
