The Coastal Manuka Region and Grapples with Infectious Diseases - Essay Example

Health Policy and Planning (The Manuka Health Region) Executive Summary The Coastal Manuka region still grapples with infectious diseases posing a challenge to the domestic Australian health policy in controlling the situation. This paper will address in detail the geographical set up of the region of Manuka, the internal and external challenges the community faces in health care and possible solutions to the health care and possible solutions to the health challenges to keep in line with the requirements of global health. The policy makers will be given recommendations including a well thought out conclusion that gives ways of attaining progress in healthcare in a highly populated area that has minimal basic facilities. The research and resource allocations are not enough to meet the emergency response and provision of health care needs. The previous government administration should be discontinued from serving the people by the current administration as it cannot solve the health needs of the community. As a vital starting point for the implementation of social integration and human rights that a shift in mind set in health policy consideration takes place. Only then will this approach offer sound response to the needs of the society in health related issues. Introduction High populations almost always increase health requirements globally. In developed nations for instance, in Australia, as well as in developing countries, a critical factor that cannot be ignored is the fast speed of diseases. The development both socially and economically is constrained in the process thus causing social and political uncertainties. Health provision should be considered a basic social human right by the civil society. As a result of the inadequacies by the government institution to deal efficiently with health related issues and the growing importance of health policy the civil servant and private sector have lobbied for refers in the health related issues and the growing importance of health policy the civil society and private sector have lobbied for referees in the health sector all over the world. Due to the increase in health care problems, stakeholders have multiplied in number in the bid to handle health international and transnational policies, Kemm and Close (1995). Governance of health care is taken seriously due to conflicts on drugs and other services even as International Health Regulations and World Health Organisation strengthen functionalities. It was imperative to point to the Minister of State for Health on the weaknesses and available opportunities due to the challenges brought about by inadequate health sector services poor sanitation and coordination in hospitals. Geographical Set-up of Manuka Region The health region of Manuka is a coastal sub-tropical area, 500km from the capital city, Brisuges. It covers 1,200 sq. km from worksville, which is found North of a smaller town called Woodside. Manuka region is divided into two administrative districts. The 1st district is in the North part of Manuka region majoring in trade and tourism. Worksville, the administrative and commercial town has two health facilities these being Seabrige Cottage Hospital and worsville General hospital. Worksville has a community health center at the worksville General hospital and a facility for the aged at Sunkist. Woodsville is the 2nd district and is located on the south part of Manuka region. Its main economic activities are agriculture, forestry and fishing. It has a health care facility called Woodside General Hospital. Pleasentive is located 12kms from Woodsville and is a district with a small community health facility. Although some of the population in the region is in the mining industry and earn a slightly higher income than the average person, the average income form the region is on the lower side. This is so particularly in rural areas of Pleasantville and Woodside although they earn higher than average mining incomes. The unemployment rate is generally high and is at 7.4% for females and 11.3% for males. According to Miranda Muddle’s recent data collection, the unemployment rate is on the upward trend in the last five years. These are disturbing trends as the there is an increase in the unemployed in the ages 15-25, quite an active population. This age group has also seen the increase in alcohol and drug abuse rates in certain parts of the region over the last five years. The demand for health services provision has increased steadily over the recent years. In the last national elections, the community openly made demands for access to essential health care services. President Dillard’s election pledge was to commission a construction of the highway connecting Woodsville and seabridge. Other election pledges included rural internet connectivity through funding of fibre optic network as well as financing health facilities works to meet local growth demand (Shiffman and Smith, 2007). Manuka Health Care Challenges There has been a growing need to elevate and scale up the health services in Manuka region and since the start of 1990, this idea has gained a lot of growing support. The need to promote health care in Manuka region in worked in tandem with the pressure from high population rate growth and rise in unemployment opportunities in the region. Quality health is currently emphasised as a means to achieving millennium Development goals hence the importance in addressing health issues in this area. On numerous occasions World Health Organisation mentions the importance of health as an economic growth determinant. Infectious disease is a key cause of sickness in Manuka region and in other Australian regions thus the vice must be controlled and combated strategically. The health data gathered suggests that the population above the age of 50 years suffer from a variety of health care complications. The income gap between the rich and the poor is widening thus calling for a resource re-distribution to correct the control of infectious diseases and also to improve the health of the poor community. Initiatives worth noting, Monsts, analyse the challenges of Manuka Health financing considering its weak structures of health care management. Gupta et al, (2003) states that pressure has been exerted for the government to provide planned health programs to successfully come out solid and on an informed way. Makrenko J, 2002 notes that there is also need for meaningful organisation structures that create partnership with the federal government and which supports, community health sector, Service provision and the Manuka community who are the key stakeholders of the health services. These organizations structures should be formed from statistics from data analysis, research in health and Manuka region evaluations by the universities and Industry stakeholders, participating firms and councils and federal revenues by government. It is vital for the President Dillard to forge key healthcare partnerships between stakeholders, researchers, the government and the Manuka community in order to deal with any dents in healthcare provision. He must have a clear-cut idea on the progress of health care and come-up with solutions to address up-coming issues. Vujicic et al, 2004 notes that knowledge base increase will be vital for improved health policy and regional action plan for the region. The best way to address health problems in Manuka region is through sound strategic approach. The skeptics in the community though are of a different opinion. The reckon they have heard previous promises uttered by the Gillard administration on improvement of schools and infrastructure in transport and these are yet to be implemented. Even so, a small team from the Department of Capital Works has been constituted to start on the planning of the Health services for Manuka region. These include a prominent surgeon, Sidney Sharp, the Director of Nursing, Betty Blue and Miranda Muddle who is involved in social work. The all come from Worksville Regional Hospital and will ensure that the ideas and contributions from the local community are considered in the planning process. While Sidney Sharp has been vocal in the Board meetings on medical requirements he has managed to get the medical union on his side thus have them lobby for him. Miranda on the other side has a particular interest on the welfare of the elderly in the community. She has a lobbying and advocacy reputation and ensures the aged are well taken care of maintain high standards. Betty is quite new in the region and had a key role in advising on the service profile in the region. The Manuka Regional Health Board are happy to have her on board and are keen to make use of her past experience in creative and innovative approaches for the benefit of the Manuka community. Roadblocks in Manuka Region In developed nations such as Denmark and other European countries, a couple of strategies are seen to be working well except that lack of health services is a big roadblock to getting the right medical interventions, help and information. Weak Health care systems and poor management systems Weak health care systems and poor management are reasons why members of the community to not get essential services. The policies in use enable a fraction of wealthy individual’s access expensive health treatment leaving the poor in the hands of well-wishers. Thus both rural and urban low income earners in areas lack quality health care services. According to National Coalition on Health Care, 2004, the government low per capita spending on health affects greatly the referral and outreach systems. Although Non-governmental Organizations and Faith Based organisations fill the gap in health service delivery, their complementary services are not enough. There is need to step up the efficiency systems in Mankua region through Management workforce, resources and the organisation in general. Thus the challenge is to improve, operationalize and sustain these factors, Zurn et al (2004) states that Human resource manifests when capacity needs are critically aimed at achieving health service delivery. Over the years, it is noted that Manuka region has experienced loss of experienced health staff that prefer to seek ‘greener pastures’ in developed countries like Syndey. A new set of qualified health providers is required and focus on training and re-tainment of such staff emphasised. They should be well compensated in their incomes and incentives put in place. Provision of quality health care services and increase in quality health care providers should be ensured. Chronic infectious diseases transition Two thirds of hospitalization in Manuka region is due to infectious diseases. The chronic diseases are increasing fast. Thus the region faces a number of threats considering the HIV/AIDS pandemic (Nathasan, 2007). Both chronic and infectious diseases cause high mortality and morbidity levels. System Innovation and support Health care systems are dynamic and subjected to population growth, dynamic demo graphs, urbanisation and increased demand. This means that the system need sustain support and innovations. In order to mitigate these challenges management of the health care systems has to be improved new partnerships formed and professionalism employed in the care provision. Honesty, accountability and care are significant in enhancing efficiency in service delivery. This calls for adequacy in delivery services of resources and just policies. Manuka region being a prospective regional hub ought to be in the forefront of change. The realities of change are not imagined yet they are vital to the needed change, Scridhar and Batniji, 2008). Physical and Social Health Diseases prevention mechanics and physical and social aspects of health needs should be emphasized. Economic development of a region depends on the mental health of its people. Social wellbeing in the family relations, friends and the community at large is a key ingredient to good health. It is noted that the region lacks regiments in physical fitness for the elderly as well as open forms of communication and health issues discussions. Facilitating health planning policy while considering all age groups is a challenge. The funding by the government of facilitators and coordinators for community health programs is a vital component of community Development approach, Jones, 1996) Infrastructure and Location of Manuka region The infrastructure and location of Manuka region determines the health care impact in the regions. Twenty per cent of the total hospitalization cost is transport cost. Poor infrastructure greatly affects travel costs which sometimes cause delays and high mortality rate. Timely treatment in hospital is supported by distance in Manuka region and Australia as a whole, Crofton, 2000. With increase in distance between the health care and patient the use of the healthcare facility reduces hence the reason why some urban dwellers in the region prefer disposable cash use health care services than their rural counterparts. Lack of transport for emergency reason is a high cause of maternal haemorrhage killer. Thus the preference to home delivery among the women as opposed to going to a hospital facility. In the case of Manuka region, women live further away do not prefer hospital delivery du to lace of access to the facilities, Raleigh, 1999. There exists a parallel in developed nations in regard to effect of distance on provision of care especially for patients suffering from myocardial infarction, Dissault and Francechini, 2003. Patients who reside twenty kilometres have high incidences of using ambulatory services for follow up programs. Such patients, it has been noted, have a higher rate of death within the first year. It is vital to insist on consistent follow up health care programs in order to minimize on the deaths. Murray, Frank and Evans , 2007 states that the some countries like Japan it was found that follow up treatment led to efficient access to transportation. The time it takes to get treatment as well as the availability of the patient to present themselves despite his or her location is limited. Research and Evaluation There is very little research done on the health requirements of the elderly population thus identification of health requirements and gaps in service delivery and information on extent and nature of their consumer habits as well as their social interactions should be on record. Gaps exist in the Makuna community on health providers, their health information delivery mode and the physical set up of the medical care. There is need to acquire knowledge and research on challenges of service provision, satisfaction of Makuna community to the health services, accessibility and its appropriateness. Recommendation and Conclusion President Dilliard promised the Makuna communities to take up a new range of health care services initiatives. This calls for a good amount of financial obligations being set aside for this course by the government in order to ensure that community members get affordable health treatment and to ensure these facilities are accessible to all members. To be in tandem with healthcare vision 2021, health care for all, the government should involve all private partners and other stakeholders in the expansion and strengthening of the health care public institutions. This will ensure that there is equal and fair treatment to all and the cost of production of generic drugs will be scaled upwards making it affordable and cost effective. These initiatives will bring about a promising future for the Makuna communities and a commencement of a great new era for the Makuna region. The government’s effort to provide efficient and quality healthcare to the rest of the Australians should be given the seriousness it deserves and should be given priority and sincere support. Efforts should be made to address specific regional problems as is the case with the Manuka region. Bond and Bond (1994) suggests that the expansion and sensitization of citizens on health issues should be the top agenda on the elected President’s list. This will have a long term effect in the control of infectious diseases especially so if the resources will be mobilized immediately to impact the Manuka community. The need for the development of effective management and coordination of health care facilities cannot be over emphasised. This will enable the Manuka region confidently develop efficient and workable health policies. References Anson, B.R (2003). Taking charge in a volatile health care marketplace. Human Resource Planning 2003, 23(4):21-34. Barney, J (1997). Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage. Reading, MASS: Addison- Wesley Publishing Co. Bond J. & Bond S. (1994). Sociology and Health Care. Churchill Livingstone. Crofton, J. (2000). Reforms to the health sector must retain vertical programmes like those for tuberculosis. BMJ; 320:1726. Dosanjh U (2004). Canada Health Act Report 2003–2004. Ottawa: Government of Canada. Dussault G, Franceschini M (2003). Not enough here, too many there: understanding geographical imbalances in the distribution of the health workforce. Washington, DC: The World Bank Institute. Gupta N, Zurn P, Diallo K & Dal Poz M.R (2003). Uses of population census data for monitoring geographical imbalance in the health workforce: snapshots from three developing countries. International Journal for Equity in Health, 2:11. Jones, D.A (1996). Repositioning human resources: a case study. Human Resources Planning, 19(1):51-54. Kemm, J & Close A. (1995). Health Promotion Theory and Practice. London: Macmillan Press Ltd. Kunitz, S.J (1987). Explanations and ideologies of mortality patterns. Popul Dev Rev; 13:379- 408. Lopez, A.D, Mathers, C.D, Ezzati M, Jamison, D.T, Murray, C.J.L (2006). Global and regional burden of disease and risk factors, 2001: systematic analysis of population health data. Lancet 367:1747-57. Makarenko J (2002). The Mazankowski Report: A Diagnosis of Health Care in Canada. Edmonton, AB: Government of the Province of Alberta. Malat, J (2001). Social distance and patient's ratings of health care providers. Journal of Health and Social Behavior 2001, 42:360-72. Manojlovich M, Ketefian S (2002). The effects of organizational culture on nursing professionalism: Implications for health resource planning. The Canadian Journal of Nursing Research 2002, 33:15-34. Ministry of Health and Long term Care (2005). Report on the Integration of Primary and Health Care Nurse Practitioners into the Province of Ontario. Toronto, ON. Murray, C.J.L, Frenk J, & Evans, T (2007). The global campaign for the health MDGs: challenges, opportunities, and the imperative of shared learning. Lancet; 370:1018-20. Nathanson C, A.(2007). Disease prevention as social change: the state, society, and public health in the United States, France, Great Britain and Canada. New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation. National Coalition on Health Care (2004). Building a Better Health Care System: Specifications for Reform. Report from the National Coalition on Health Care. Washington, DC. 2004, 5-12. Raleigh, V.S. (1999). World Population and Health in Transition. British Medical Journal; 319:981-984:06. Reich, M.R, Takemi K, Roberts, M.J, & Hsiao, W.C. (2008). Global action on health systems: a proposal for the Toyako G8 summit. Lancet; 371:865-9. Shiffman, J, & Smith S (2007). Generation of political priority for global health initiatives: a framework and case study of maternal mortality. Lancet. Sridhar, D, & Batniji, R.(2008). Misfinancing global health: a case for transparency in disbursements and decision making. Lancet; 372:1185-91. Stone, D.A (1989). Causal stories and the formation of policy agendas. Polit Sci Q; 104:281-300. Vujicic, M, Zurn P, Diallo K, Orvill A, & Dal Poz, M.R (2004). The role of wages in the migration of health care professionals from developing countries. Human Resources for Health 2:3. Zurn P, Dal Poz MR, Stilwell B & Adams O (2004). Imbalance in the health workforce. Human Resources for Health 2004, 2:13. Read More