A Restrictive Humanitarian Policy and the Wellbeing of the Disabled in Disasters in Kisumu County

2022 ◽  
pp. 649-658
Author(s):  
Phitalis Were Masakhwe ◽  
Kennedy Onkware ◽  
Susan Kilonzo

This paper explores how PWD's well-being is realized in disaster situations in Kisumu County of Kenya. There is a significant population of 15,760 persons with disability across Kisumu County. Their well-being is protected by the international humanitarian policy. At the national level, the well-being of persons with disability is taken care of in the Disability Act 2003 and the National Disability Policy. Despite existence of a humanitarian policy framework, the well-being of the disabled is compromised in disaster situations within Kisumu County. The humanitarian policy framework limits humanitarian action to response, which compromises the well-being of PWD. The study employed semi-structured questionnaire instruments to gather information on humanitarian policies applicable to PWD in disaster context. From the key findings, the study concludes that the international humanitarian policies as well as national humanitarian policies are restrictive in nature. The policy lacks enforcement and implementation mechanisms to support the wellbeing of persons with disability in disasters.

Author(s):  
Phitalis Were Masakhwe ◽  
Kennedy Onkware ◽  
Susan Kilonzo

This paper explores how PWD's well-being is realized in disaster situations in Kisumu County of Kenya. There is a significant population of 15,760 persons with disability across Kisumu County. Their well-being is protected by the international humanitarian policy. At the national level, the well-being of persons with disability is taken care of in the Disability Act 2003 and the National Disability Policy. Despite existence of a humanitarian policy framework, the well-being of the disabled is compromised in disaster situations within Kisumu County. The humanitarian policy framework limits humanitarian action to response, which compromises the well-being of PWD. The study employed semi-structured questionnaire instruments to gather information on humanitarian policies applicable to PWD in disaster context. From the key findings, the study concludes that the international humanitarian policies as well as national humanitarian policies are restrictive in nature. The policy lacks enforcement and implementation mechanisms to support the wellbeing of persons with disability in disasters.


Author(s):  
Anne Galaurchi ◽  
Samuel T. Chatio ◽  
Paula Beeri ◽  
Abraham R. Oduro ◽  
Winfred Ofosu ◽  
...  

Optimizing nutrition in the preconception and 1000 days periods have long-term benefits such as higher economic productivity, reduced risk of related non-communicable diseases and increased health and well-being. Despite Ghana’s recent progress in reducing malnutrition, the situation is far from optimal. This qualitative study analyzed the maternal and child health nutrition policy framework in Ghana to identify the current barriers and facilitators to the implementation of nutrition policies and programs relating to the first 1000 days plus. Data analyzed included in-depth interviews and focus group discussions conducted in Ghana between March and April 2019. Participants were composed of experts from government agencies, civil society organizations, community-based organizations and international partners at national and subnational levels. Seven critical areas were identified: planning policy implementation, resources, leadership and stakeholders’ engagement, implementation guidance and ongoing communication, organizational culture, accountability and governance and coverage. The study showed that, to eradicate malnutrition in Ghana, priorities of individual stakeholders have to be merged and aligned into a single 1000 days plus nutrition policy framework. Furthermore, this study may support stakeholders in implementing successfully the 1000 days plus nutrition policy activities in Ghana.


Obesity Facts ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Michele O. Carruba ◽  
Luca Busetto ◽  
Sheree Bryant ◽  
Antonio Caretto ◽  
Nathalie J. Farpour-Lambert ◽  
...  

The Milan Charter on Urban Obesity highlights the challenges of urban environments as a battleground for human health, as cities are often organized to subvert public health goals, and promote rather than prevent the development of obesity and consequent non-communicable diseases. The Charter articulates ten principles which detail actions and strategies through which general practitioners, diverse medical specialists, related healthcare professionals, administrators and healthcare practice managers, policy actors – within health systems and at a national level – along with experts across disciplines, and citizens, can work in cooperation to meet this challenge and improve public health. The Charter urges the adoption of decisions that deliver the following: (i) policies which enable our cities to become healthier and less obesogenic, more supportive of well-being and less health-disruptive in general, and (ii) policies that fully support primary prevention strategies, that address social stigma, and that ensure fair access to treatment for people living with obesity. The Milan Charter on Urban Obesity aims to raise awareness of our shared responsibility for the health of all citizens, and focuses on addressing the health of people living with obesity – not only as a challenge in its own right, but a gateway to other major non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.


2004 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
ASTIER M. ALMEDOM

The effects of war-induced anxiety and mental distress on individuals and groups can either be mitigated or exacerbated by ‘humanitarian action’. This paper focuses on two key factors that protect the mental well-being of war-affected populations: organized displacement or assisted relocation; and coordinated humanitarian aid operations that are responsive to local needs. Qualitative data from two internally displaced person (IDP) camps in Eritrea are presented. Analysis of these data serves to substantiate and refine a working hypothesis: that social support of the right type, provided at the right time and level, can mitigate the worst effects of war and displacement on victims/survivors. An integrated model of psychosocial transition is suggested. The implications of this approach for humanitarian policy and practice are discussed in the wider context of current debates and lamentations of the ‘humanitarian idea’.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Butler

PurposeThe study aims to explore the possibility of redefining success in tourism and measuring such a phenomenon by considering alternatives to economic factors, and to identify the ways such measurement could be implemented.Design/methodology/approachThe study reviews and explains current approaches to defining and measuring success in tourism in the literature, followed by identification of alternative factors which could be measured and the implications of such a change in approach.FindingsThere has been a long-standing emphasis and priority placed on measuring tourism at the national level with a focus on economic criteria, and this has been followed at regional and local levels. The result has been that success has become equated with volume, supporting the aim of continued growth in tourism. Such an approach and attitude mitigate against achieving or moving towards sustainability, and other measures are needed to avoid problems such as overtourism.Originality/valueThere has been little discussion of moving to a wider range of indicators of success in tourism, and the previous focus has been on economic criteria and competitiveness as shown by tourist numbers. This paper presents a discussion of an alternative approach, showing that tourism stakeholders from national to local levels need to redefine success as including factors such as community and environmental well-being and focus on a wider concept of success. Using existing data and organisations would enable measuring such concepts to be done without major change or greatly increased costs to agencies.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2110428
Author(s):  
Raquel A. Correia ◽  
Maria João Seabra-Santos

The relationships between siblings are the most long-lasting in families. When one of the siblings is a person with intellectual disabilities (ID), this relationship assumes an even more important role since this brother/sister will most likely become the disabled individual’s main caregiver. This pilot study had two aims: to explore the experience as an adolescent or adult sibling of a person with ID and to understand the perceptions of these siblings about quality of life as a sibling and about family quality of life. In-depth interviews were conducted with six siblings. The results showed that the experience of a sibling is positive and the acceptance process is of extreme importance. The domains which, from the sibling perspective, contribute to family quality of life are as follows: Family relationships, Acceptance, Health, Influence of values, Financial well-being, Support from others, and Leisure activities. The implications of these findings for intervention are pointed out.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Vaughan ◽  
A Költő ◽  
D Ravikumar ◽  
C Kelly ◽  
S Nic Gabhainn

Abstract Background Discourse on the lives, health, and well-being of transgender and other gender minority (TGM) youth frequently revolves around narratives of risk and victimisation. While TGM youth undeniably face many challenges, such singular discourses belie a more complex picture of TGM youth lives and problematically position them as passive victims rather than as social subjects with agency. Methods The “LGBTI+ Landscape and Knowledge Gap Analysis” aimed to systematically map research evidence on sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth in Ireland and other European countries. A scoping review methodology was employed in which the systematic concept searches were linked to the five outcomes of Ireland's Better Outcomes, Better Futures national youth policy framework, which in turn are aligned with the fifteen objectives of the Irish LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy. Results One hundred and twenty-six pieces of evidence were included in the final sample for analysis, which were mapped to the fifteen objectives of the National Youth Strategy. Particular attention was given to the positive aspects and protective factors identified throughout the literature. The evidence showed that while TGM youth disproportionately experience stigma, discrimination and unequal health outcomes, there were sources of resilience at the micro-, meso-, and macro- levels that serve as protective factors against health inequalities. Conclusions Discourse that focuses exclusively on the ‘at-riskness' of trans and gender minority young people presents a one-dimensional perspective that fails to capture the reality and richness of their lives. Over-emphasising individual risk factors may obscure the structural and social factors that underpin the health inequalities experienced by TGM youth.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gibrán Cruz-Martínez

ABSTRACTThe main purpose of this article is twofold: (1) an examination of welfare regimes using a bottom-up approach, which enables a comprehensive analysis of welfare production based on recipients perceptions; and (2) an examination of more than one type of welfare-mix coexisting inside the national level across policy sectors. A classification of welfare regimes is carried out following a bottom-up approach and relying on the basis of the importance of welfare providers to satisfy social risks and promote well-being. Three traditional (e.g. state, market, family) and one alternative welfare providers (e.g. community) are considered. Data is collected through twenty semi-structured interviews in seven marginalised communities of Puerto Rico. The results show five configurations of intra-national welfare-mixes across the following welfare areas: housing, nourishment, health, education, maternity/paternity, disability, work-unemployment and older-age. This paper contributes to the theoretical proposals of intra-national welfare regimes, and alternatives providers in the welfare-mix.


Author(s):  
Asha Neravi ◽  
Voorkara Udayashree ◽  
Ashwitha Gundmi

Background: The nationwide Family Planning Programme was started in India in 1952, making it the first country in the world to do so. In spite of this about 56% eligible couples in India are still unprotected against conception. Even after 63 years of national level family planning programme there exists a KAP- GAP i.e. a gap between the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding contraception. Hence this study to reassess where we stand and also use it as an opportunity to increase the awareness, sensitize and motivate the eligible couples for contraceptive use and decrease the KAP-GAP.Methods: A structured questionnaire was given to postnatal breastfeeding mothers attending Outpatient department Obstetrics and gynecology and Pediatrics and postnatal wards of Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad from 1 November 2014 to 1 October 2015, and results tabulated.Results: In this study 48.4% of the mothers knew that exclusive breast feeding could be used as a method of contraception. About 54.6% mothers used one or the other type of contraception during breastfeeding. Most practiced contraception being condom followed by Cu-T. A very small number of mothers considered oral contraceptive pills and injectable contraception in the form of Depot-Provera.Conclusions: In most of the women attitude towards use of family planning method was satisfactory but there exists disparity between the knowledge and practice of contraception.


Author(s):  
Jean W. Bauer ◽  
Marlene S. Stum ◽  
Paula J. Delaney

The 1982 Long-Term Care Survey (N = 5,670) was used to gain an understanding of predisposing, need, and enabling variables that influence the economic well-being of disabled elderly. Stepwise regression results suggest that a combination of enabling and predisposing factors best explained differences in economic well-being. Implications of the findings for practitioners are discussed within the context of practice and policy for the disabled elderly.


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