Misery and Death in the Pearl of the Pacific: Health Care in Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1870-1925

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronn F. Pineo
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Pacific Health

scholarly journals Universal Health Coverage and The Pacific Islands: Challenges Faced and Priority Responses, 2015-2020

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam T Craig ◽  
Kristen Beek ◽  
Katherine Gilbert ◽  
Taniela Sunia Suakai ◽  
Siaw-Teng Liaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Pacific Health ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background In 1995, Pacific Health Ministers articulated their vision of a healthy Pacific as ‘a place where children are nurtured in body and mind; environments invite learning and leisure; people work and age with dignity; where ecological balance is a source of pride; and where the ocean is protected.’ Central to this vision is the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC). Method: To shed light on the current UHC-related priorities of Pacific health authorities and promote alignment of domestic and international investments in health sector development, we thematically analyzed the discussion, resolutions, and recommendations from 5-years (2015–2020) of senior-level Pacific health meetings. Results Five main themes emerged, (i) the Healthy Islands vision has (and continues to have) a unifying influence on action for UHC; (ii) adoption of appropriate service delivery models that support integrated primary health care at the community level are needed; (iii) human resources for health are critical if efforts to achieve UHC are to be successful; (iv) access to reliable health information is core to health sector improvement; and (v) while not a panacea for all challenges, digital health offers many opportunities. Small and isolated populations, chronic workforce limitations, weak governance arrangements, aging and inadequate health facilities, and supply chain and logistics difficulties (among other issues) interact to challenge primary health care delivery across the Pacific islands. Conclusion We found evidence that the Healthy Islands vision is a tool that garners support for UHC; however, to realize the vision, a realistic understanding of needed political, human resource, and economic investments is required. The significant disruptive effect of COVID-19 and the uncertainty it brings for implementation of the medium- to long-term health development agenda raises concern that progress may stagnate or retreat.

scholarly journals Gender, health and ageing in Fiji: a mixed methods analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Dodd ◽  
Janani Shanthosh ◽  
Thomas Lung ◽  
Aporosa Robaigau ◽  
Mai Ling Perman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Healthy Ageing ◽  
System Response ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Geographically Dispersed ◽  
The Pacific

Abstract Background Women are disadvantaged by ageing: older women are more likely than older men to suffer from ill-health, have less access to health care and suffer discrimination within the health care system. Globally, there is a dearth of health research on gender and ageing with substantial knowledge gaps in low and middle-income country contexts. Part of a wider investigation on health and ageing in Fiji, our objective was to identify and describe gendered differences in healthy ageing in this Pacific Island context. We believe this to be the first such study in the Pacific region. Methods Applying a health systems lens, we used a mixed-methods approach, encompassing analysis of cause of death data; focus group discussion to gather community and family attitudes to health services; and policy analysis, and then used data triangulation techniques to draw out key themes and insights. Results We found that gender affects health outcomes among older persons, attitudes towards and experience of healthy ageing, and an older person’s access to and use of health services. We also found that while Fiji’s policy response to ageing has recognised the importance of gender, to-date there has been limited action to address gender differences. Gender (as oppose to sex differences) has direct and indirect implications for the health of older Fijians, while gendered inequalities and patriarchal norms appear to affect both men and women’s experience of ageing and the health system response. Further, gender and age discrimination may be intersecting, intensifying their separate effects. Conclusion This study demonstrates the feasibility and importance of applying a gender lens to the study of healthy ageing. Our findings from Fiji may be relevant to other island nations in the south Pacific which share similar challenges of population ageing, a constrained health budget and geographically-dispersed populations. The data triangulation methodology may be considered an efficient and insightful way to examine gendered responses to healthy ageing elsewhere.

Transitioning from Print to Online-Only Resources

2018 ◽  
pp. 175-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Glusker ◽  
Elisa Hoelscher
Keyword(s):  
Physical Space ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Geographically Dispersed ◽  
Medical Library ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Short Time Span ◽  
User Expectations ◽  
Pacific Health ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Loan System

The Pacific Health Organization's Medical Library transitioned from its holdings being entirely in print to entirely online in an extremely short time span—the bulk of the process happened in less than six months. Leadership interests and support drove this transition, as did cost concerns and the interest in providing equal access to a geographically dispersed staff. Flexible staff that was able to adapt to new roles and a robust interlibrary loan system made the change possible. There were initial costs, but on the whole, there were mostly benefits to the change, financial and otherwise. Patron reception was more negative among those with less comfort in the digital environment, but most adjusted well. Ongoing challenges include marketing and maintaining patron awareness without a physical space, meeting user expectations for quick and easy access and information, and keeping up to date with emerging technologies, such as applications for mobile devices.

Transitioning from Print to Online-Only Resources

2014 ◽  
pp. 226-242
Author(s):  
Ann Glusker ◽  
Elisa Hoelscher
Keyword(s):  
Physical Space ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Geographically Dispersed ◽  
Medical Library ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Short Time Span ◽  
User Expectations ◽  
Pacific Health ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Loan System

The Pacific Health Organization’s Medical Library transitioned from its holdings being entirely in print to entirely online in an extremely short time span—the bulk of the process happened in less than six months. Leadership interests and support drove this transition, as did cost concerns and the interest in providing equal access to a geographically dispersed staff. Flexible staff that was able to adapt to new roles and a robust interlibrary loan system made the change possible. There were initial costs, but on the whole, there were mostly benefits to the change, financial and otherwise. Patron reception was more negative among those with less comfort in the digital environment, but most adjusted well. Ongoing challenges include marketing and maintaining patron awareness without a physical space, meeting user expectations for quick and easy access and information, and keeping up to date with emerging technologies, such as applications for mobile devices.

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