Public health developments in colonial Malaya: colonialism and the politics of prevention

An Overview of Healthcare Systems in Comoros: The Effects of Two Decades of Political Instability

Background:

There is ongoing scientific evidence pointing out the adverse effects of conflict on population health and development. Union of Comoros has experienced nearly two decades of political instability and military rule. This comprehensive review was carried out to ask whether the health crisis in Comoros is attributable to the consequences of the chronic political instability.

Methods:

This study involved a series of semi-structured interviews with key informants complemented by a comprehensive literature search of electronic databases and grey literature. A literature search was performed using all identified keywords associated with health indicators in Comoros to identify potential eligible publications in both English and French from 1975 to July 2020.

Results:

The analysis demonstrated that political instability and lack of proper leadership from the Government undermine the establishment of health policies which contributed dramatically to the decline in health performance. Additionally, the resurgence and emergence of old and new diseases such as cholera, chikungunya, malaria, HIV/AIDS as indicators of inadequate health services were most likely during political turmoil. Data also showed an out-migration of the health workforce and an increased overseas medical treatment demand, which indicate less attractive working conditions and weak health systems in the country. Meanwhile, an increasing performance of health status indicators was observed after the comprehensive peace process of the 2000-Fomboni Declaration.

Conclusions:

The chronic political instability in Comoros has contributed to the health crisis facing the Union of Comoros. It has hampered the implementation of proper institutions, which might guarantee the socio-economic development and prosperity of the population. Further studies were needed to evaluate the health burden associated with the two decades of political instability and military rule.

The Changing Political Undercurrents in Health Services Delivery in Sub-Saharan Africa

This article reviews the changing political undercurrent in health service delivery in Sub-Saharan Africa, chronicling the ideological shift in orientation toward neoliberalism in the health sector, an ideology crafted and introduced into Sub-Saharan Africa by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The article examines the implication of this neoliberal reform on the efficiency in health care provision and on the quality and accessibility of health services by the poor and vulnerable. Drawing inference from countries like Nigeria, the authors argue that the ascendency of neoliberalism in the health systems of Sub-Saharan Africa has engendered unethical practices and introduced elements of moral hazard in the health sector, reducing the incentive for governments to develop effective service delivery over the long term. The authors therefore advocate for a rejection of neoliberal ideology in favor of a universal coverage principle if an inclusive health system is to be developed.

The emergence of global health partnerships as facilitators of access to medication in Africa: a narrative policy analysis

Over the last decade global health partnerships (GHPs) have been formed to provide a better policy response to Africa's health problems. This paper uses narrative policy analysis to explain the historical processes and challenges facing national and global health policy in facilitating access to medication in African countries. An overview of the historical context of events leading to the creation of GHPs is followed by a content and context analysis of two GHPs - Roll Back Malaria partnership and the Accelerating Access Initiative. The historical narratives implicitly reflect the context in which policy decisions are produced and implemented. The deployment of GHPs in Africa reflects a convergence of the competing and conflicting narratives, in relating to strategies previously promoted by various multilateral and bilateral development agencies, international civil society organizations, and the private commercial industry to facilitate access to medication.

Cardiovascular disease and global health equity: lessons from tuberculosis control then and now

Early 20th-century cardiovascular voluntary organizations in the United States drew strength from the well-established antituberculosis movement. By mid-century, heart disease among the young and tuberculosis had declined in this country. The international fight against tuberculosis has gathered force since the 1990s. Meanwhile, support for international cardiovascular interventions has lagged behind. We trace the divergent path of the international cardiovascular movement and suggest ways in which it could once again learn from the trials and achievements of tuberculosis control.

The children of Yemen: bodies, medicalization, and nation-building

Yemenite Jews were among the many immigrants from Arab countries who were flown to Israel after its establishment in 1948. Following many complaints regarding the disappearance of Yemenite children from hospitals and schools in the transit camps where the new immigrants were kept in the 1950s, a governmental investigation committee was established in 1995. This article provides a preliminary description, from an anthropological perspective, of what is called in Israel the "Yemenite children affair." My analysis focuses on interviews with Yemenite Jews, describing how the bodies of new immigrants were medicalized and commodified and how immigrants and their families have come to resist these processes. I then focus on the role of the Israeli medical profession in promoting national goals and maintaining collective identity.