Disaster Accident

Urban poverty, food security and climate change

Published by: 
Institute for Environment and Development

The high and volatile food prices that triggered a renewed interest in food security since the 2008 – 0 9 crisis are expected to continue due to several factors that include the impacts of climate change. Current policy prescriptions focus on food production; however, a broader approach based on food systems is more appropriate as it encompasses all aspects of food production, storage, dist ribution and consumption, all of which will be affected by climate change and especially by the growing frequency and severity of extreme weather events. As most low - income groups in both rural and urban areas are net buyers of food, access and affordabili ty are central concerns. There is also a need for more attention to urban food security .

Urgent Delivery Maternal Death: The Avoidable Crisis

Published by: 
Medicins Sans Frontieres

Every day, approximately 1000 women die in childbirth or from a pregnancy-related complication.1 Maternal death can occur at any time in pregnancy, but delivery is by far the most dangerous time for both the mother and the baby. The vast majority of these deaths can be prevented if access to emergency obstetric care is ensured.

Experience shows us that at least 15 percent of all pregnant women worldwide encounter a life-threatening complication. In a conflict or a crisis, pregnant women are even more vulnerable because health services have collapsed, are inadequate or non-existent. But these women need access to quality emergency obstetric care whether they live in a conflict zone, in a refugee camp or under plastic sheeting after a devastating earthquake.

Refugees Perceptions of their Health Status & Quality of Health Care Services in Durban, South Africa: A Community-Based Survey

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust

Health problems experienced by the majority of displaced population, either through natural catastrophes or man-made disasters pose major challenges for public health systems worldwide.4 The diversity of problems experienced by refugees requires diverse approaches, including diseases surveillance, control and prevention.

Career Choices in Relation to Nursing: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study Investigating the Career Choices of School Leavers in Relation to Nursing, and What Influences These Choices

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust

The nurse is the single most important frontline health worker (Ntshona, 2000:2). Without nurses the clinics, community health centres and hospitals cannot function. It is therefore critical that nurse education and the supply of nurses form an integral part of transformation of health services in South Africa (Ntshona, 2000:2). According to the Department of Health (2006) there is a need to significantly increase the production of all categories of nurses in order to fulfil the requirements of South Africa.

The Guidebook for District Hospital Managers

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust

The North West Department of Health commissioned the Health Systems Trust (HST) to develop a supervisory manual or handbook for district hospitals. The overriding aim of developing a guidebook for district hospitals in the North West Province was to develop a practical resource tool for hospital managers which can be used to improve the daily management and supervision of district hospitals.

Bacterial Contamination and Nutrient Concentration of Infant Milk in South Africa:A Sub-study of the National PMTCT Cohort Study

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust
South Africa provides HIV+ mothers with free commercial infant milk for six months of the infants life in 18 pilot sites for the prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT). Many mothers in the PMTCT-programme choose to accept this formula, but few studies of actual feeding patterns have been conducted. Studies in some PMTCT pilot sites have shown that mothers have difficulties in formula feeding their children. The risks of replacement feeding are well known in general, but very few detailed studies of the issues involved have been in any African setting.

The Cholera Outbreak: A 2000-2002 case study of the source of the outbreak in the Madlebe Tribal Authority areas, uThungulu Region, KwaZulu-Natal

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust
In August 2000 South Africa was xperiencing one of the worst cholera epidemics in the countrys recent history. Initial reports of the cholera outbreak came from the largely rural and impoverished communities on the outskirts of the Ngwelezane Township, near the Empangeni town. The source of the epidemic was traced to the uMhlathuze River, also in the northern part of the KwaZulu-Natal Province. However by the end of the year 2000, the northern Kwa Zulu-Natal cholera outbreak had replicated itself in eight of South Africas nine provinces.

The provision of professional nurses for South Africa: 1997 An analysis of student nurses in the comprehensive four-year professional programme during 1997

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust
The education, training and provision of professional nurses in South Africa have evolved in an ad hoc manner predominantly due to historical and socio-political forces. The training and educational components were not linked to personnel provision plans in the health system, recommended by WHO (1996).

Setting up a district management team: lessons from Impendle/Pholela/Underberg

Volume: 
1
Series Name: 
Kwik Skwiz
Published by: 
Health Systems Trust

Lessons for district managers in strengthening district management.In some provinces, district management teams are being appointed. In others, interim district management structures are in place. Now is the time to ensure that their activities are geared towards improving service delivery, rather than their becoming snowed under by bureaucratic tasks.