UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
|
| UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) |
|
HDDFLASH ISSUE No. 12, January 2, 1997
Electronic newsletter and archiving service on human development issues
World Bank
Human Development Department
E-mail: hddlink@worldbank.org
http:/www.worldbank.org/html/hcovp/hdd/contents.html
_____________________________________________________________________________
In this issue....
* Jordan's Health Sector at a Crossroad?
* Monitoring the AIDS Pandemic (MAP) Network
* Vacancy Announcement: Nutritionist, AED, Washington, DC
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Jordan's Health Sector At a Crossroad?
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Jordan is a lower middle-income country with a population of 4.1 million. Its
economy has been adversely affected by recent recession and the Gulf War, with
1994 per capita income of US$1500, at two-thirds its 1987 level. Despite
fiscal constraints, the Government's strong commitments to health, education
and social programs have resulted in impressive social indicators: literacy
rate is over 80%, infant mortality of 34 per 1000 live births and child
mortality rate at 39 per 1000 live births.
Jordan is in the midst of an epidemiological transition, with noncommunicable
diseases such as ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease becoming
increasingly prevalent. This along with high population growth rates and a
young population have important implications for Jordan's future, according to
a joint World Bank/Jordanian Health Sector Study.
The study provides an in-depth evaluation of the health sector in terms of
outcomes, equity, access, efficiency and effectiveness of financing and
delivery. The study found that while the system performs relatively well in
terms of access and outcomes, it is expensive and inefficient, with geographic
maldistribution of resources. Jordan spends 7.9% of its GDP on health, well in
excess of most middle-income countries. Private sector accounts for over 30%
of service delivery capacity and over 50% of spending, with shares and costs
growing; creating a two-tier system of care. There is excess capacity, lack of
an effective referral system resulting in a hospital-based orientation for
treatment.
Based on a financial impact model, the study found that Jordan could provide
formal universal coverage to its uninsured population for 3-6% of its current
expenditures.
The study recommends a reform agenda which includes:
(i) improving management by developing and implementing management information
systems and by decentralizing the Ministry of Health and the Royal Medical
Services;
(ii) getting better value for the money by developing an investment strategy
based on needs and efficiency, implementing an effective referral system,
developing provider payment systems and reforming the pharmaceutical sector;
(iii) improving clinical practice, quality of care and consumer satisfaction;
and
(iv) improving fairness of the system and access to care.
The report warns that the likely result of doing nothing could be a U.S.
system with high costs, access gaps for vulnerable groups, excess capacity and
poor value for money. Savings from implementing reforms could provide the
necessary funds to cover its entire population and assure the long-run
financial viability of the health system.
The Jordan Health Sector Study (report no. 15418-JO) is available through the
World Bank Public Information Center Web site at
http://www.worldbank.org/html/pic/PIC.html
or by e-mail to: pic@worldbank.org
The final publication is forthcoming and will be announced in a future issue
of HDDFLASH.
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WORLDWIDE NETWORK TO MONITOR THE AIDS PANDEMIC LAUNCHED
==============================================================================
To highlight the 15th year since AIDS was identified in 1981, the AIDS
Control and Prevention (AIDSCAP) Project of Family Health International, the
Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights of the Harvard
School of Public Health and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS) launched on December 1, 1996--World AIDS Day--the Monitoring the AIDS
Pandemic (MAP) Network, a worldwide network to monitor the status
and trends of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and internationally disseminate the
findings. A collegial network that has been formed to collect and share
information internationally, MAP embodies the expanding response to the global
HIV/AIDS pandemic and the cooperation between AIDSCAP, Harvard's Bagnoud Center
and UNAIDS.
Comprised of 75 members from institutions and countries around the
world, the MAP Network will: collect and analyze information on the status and
trends of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic; identify the information needs for
improved monitoring and forecasting of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and
actively promote the filling of those needs; monitor the effects of prevention,
care and social interventions on the regional epidemics and their impact;
develop and disseminate regional and global consensus reports on the above;
and, convene workshops and/or produce occasional reports on specific issues
which explore the forefront of knowledge and improve our understanding of the
global situation.
An Interim Steering Committee, initially chaired by Dr. Daniel
Tarantola of the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights of
the Harvard School of Public Health, will direct the MAP Network. Chairs will
revolve among the three cosponsoring institutions, and the Network's Interim
Secretariat will be based at the AIDS Control and Prevention (AIDSCAP)
Project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. For further
information, contact: Mary O'Grady, AIDSCAP/Family Health International, 2101
Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201, USA; tel: (703) 516-9779, ext. 196; fax:
(703) 516-9781; e-mail: mogrady@fhi.org.
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1997 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
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Theme: The New Face of Development
January 13 to 17
J.W. Marriott Hotel
Washington, D.C.
Conference themes will include new technologies, global realities, new ways of
financing, ways of alleviating poverty, ways of financing social development
and political realities.
The conference will feature international exhibitors, panels of recognized
experts and speakers of national and international prominence, including Mr.
Wolfensohn, President, World Bank, ; Brian Atwood, Administrator, USAID; and
Carol Bellamy, Executive Director, UN Children's Fund.
For more information or to register, call 703-642-3628, or check out their
Website: www.idcnews.com.
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VACANCY: NUTRITION SPECIALIST
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The Academy for Educational Development in Washington, DC is seeking
a nutrition specialist who will be responsible for the further development
and dissemination of PROFILES, a nutrition advocacy software tool used
to demonstrate to policy makers the importance of nutrition in a
development program.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
* conduct reviews of the nutrition literature linking various aspects of
nutrition to a variety of population-based impact variables such as mortality,
productivity, etc.;
* formulate appropriate mathematical relationships among factors
based on the literature; and
* program, or work with designated programmers, to incorporate
the resulting relationships into the PROFILES software.
* guide development of community nutrition programs in developing
countries.
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
* advanced degree, preferably Ph.D. level, in nutrition or a
related public health field.
* at least five years of nutrition program experience in the
developing world.
* excellent presentation skills, combining a facility to produce
computer graphics with a facility for articulate descriptions of complex
issues.
* strong computer skills including the use of spreadsheets and
databases.
* ability to train diverse groups of professionals in the scientific
basis of the PROFILES nutrition models and in the computer and
presentation skills needed.
* ability to work in French. Spanish is a plus.
STARTING SALARY RANGE: $30,000 - $50,000 (Salary range may be expanded to
$65,000 based upon salary history/qualifications)
EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediate
CONTACT: Qualified candidates should send a resume and cover letter indicating
vacancy # 6389 to Human Resources Manager, AED, 1255 23rd Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20037. Fax: (202) 884-8701.
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NEW PUBLICATION
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FORTIFICATION OF STREET FOODS EXPLORED
A new publication by OMNI entitled "Street Foods in Developing Countries: The
Potential for Micronutrient Fortification" explores the possibility of
delivering key micronutrients to urban populations through meals, snacks, and
drinks retailed by street vendors.
In developing countries, street foods provide an affordable source of food to
many sectors of the population, including students and the urban poor.
Recognizing that micronutrient deficiencies are a major health problem in many
developing countries, the paper examines whether street foods can be fortified
with vitamin A, iron, or iodine to help alleviate micronutrient malnutrition.
The publication reviews the available research on street foods, the many
varieties of street foods, country-specific ingredients, the methods used
to process and prepare street foods, and the opportunities street foods
present for fortification. It also examines ways in which street foods
could be used to introduce new micronutrient-rich foods to consumers.
The document stresses that some form of processing is necessary for
fortification of street foods to work. Ingredients that are centrally
processed, such as flour and sugar, or processed foods retailed by
vendors, such as corn chips and bottled beverages, provide the best
opportunity for including fortified foods into the street food trade. A
system to monitor the level of fortificant should also be in place.
The paper recommends that consumer consumption patters be studied to
determine which populations eat street foods on a regular basis, what
kind of foods are most popular, how much street food people routinely
consume, and the role street foods play in the overall dietary intake of
urban populations. It also recommends exploring nutritional issues such
as food safety and nutrition education as well as the importance of
street food vending to the economy.
A copy of this publication is available upon request from
OMNI
1616 North Fort Dyer Dr, Suite 1100, Arlington, Virginia
22209 USA - Tel: 703 528-7474 - Fax: 703 528-7480
E-mail: omni_project@jsi.com
WWW: http://www.jsi.com/intl/omni/home