Suchergebnisse

Not Available ; This paper assessed the system of contract farming in potato cultivation in the state of West Bengal, India, by comparing the production of potatoes under noncontract and contractual systems. The data were collected from 139 noncontract and 144 contract farmers spread over 13 blocks of four districts of the state during the year 2008. The results indicated that no government functionary was involved in the contract farming arrangement and that the agreements were largely verbal. Vendors were appointed by the company; they managed the total affairs for a group of villages. Although the price was fixed well before planting, it was not fixed uniformly across the state. Contract farmers planted more seed per hectare than noncontract farmers and used relatively more seed from their own seed stock. The number of agricultural assets per household was higher in contract farmers. Further, it was found that the cost of cultivation was higher for cv. Atlantic as compared to cv. K. Jyoti. The major costs were those for planting, fertilizers and micronutrients, irrigation and land preparation for both cultivars. Farmers without contracts incurred losses but contract farmers growing cv. Atlantic received net returns of about INR15,000 (EUR 238) per hectare. Lack of remunerative price, bad seed quality, occurrence of late blight, expensive seed and labour shortage were the major constraints faced by the noncontract farmers. The contract farmers also experienced many problems like high cost of cultivation, late blight infestation, low yield, lack of clear contract agreement and difficulties in disposing off the leftover potatoes. The findings suggest an involvement of the local government, a uniform fixation of the price throughout the state, written and clear agreements and development of good dual purpose (processing as well as table) potato cultivars for the farmers for boosting the enterprise. For noncontract potato farming, a 'price stabilization fund' could be created to minimize the price fluctuation. Low-cost farm implements, low-cost and effective late blight controlling fungicides, supplying good quality seed at reasonable rates by the Agriculture Department were some of the other suggestions emerging from this study. ; Not Available

"Copper hoards" found in the Gaṅgā Valley over the past century and a half remain enigmatic. Some attribute them to the invading Aryans, others to the Harappan refugees, and still others to the indigenous people. Be that as it may, circumstantial evidence suggests the association of the hoards with the so‐called "Ocher Color Ware," datable to a period prior to c. 1200 b.c. However, at almost all the sites the potsherds occur sporadically, in a deposit of neat earth bereft of any signs of habitation like ash, flooring material, or the like, and with the deposit itself imperceptibly merging into the natural soil. How did the sherds find their way to the places where they are found? Could the deposits have been waterlogged? If so, it would mean that an area of over 60,000 square kilometers had gone under water at some time. Was this waterlogging due to incessant rain over a long period, or to the diversion of the waters of the Ghaggar, a tributary of the Indus, to the Gaṅgāa system, or to the bunding‐up of the latter at some stage? The matter is far from clear and requires detailed investigation.

Rawal, LB orcid:0000-0003-1106-0108 ; Objective This study was conducted to explore how and whether, the strategic grants made by the Rockefeller Foundation (RF) in different sectors of health systems in the inception phase were able to 'connect the dots' for 'generating a momentum for Universal Health Coverage (UHC)' in the country. Design Cross-sectional descriptive study, using document review and qualitative methods. Setting Bangladesh, 17 UHC-related projects funded by the RF Transforming Health Systems (THS) initiative during 2010–2013. Data Available reports of the completed and on-going UHC projects, policy documents of the government relevant to UHC, key-informant interviews and feedback from grant recipients and relevant stakeholders in the policy and practice. Outcome measures Key policy initiatives undertaken for implementing UHC activities by the government post grants disbursement. Results The RF THS grants simultaneously targeted and connected the academia, the public and non-profit development sectors and news media for awareness-building and advocacy on UHC, develop relevant policies and capacity for implementation including evidence generation. This strategy helped relevant stakeholders to come together to discuss and debate the core concepts, scopes and modalities of UHC in an attempt to reach a consensus. Additionally, experiences gained from implementation of the pilot projects helped in identifying possible entry points for initiating UHC activities in a low resource setting like Bangladesh. Conclusions During early years of UHC-related activities in Bangladesh, strategic investments of the RF THS initiative played a catalytic role in sensitising and mobilising different constituencies for concerted activities and undertaking necessary first steps. Learnings from this strategy may be of help to countries under similar conditions of 'low resource, apparent commitment, but poor governance,' on their journey towards UHC

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to explore how and whether, the strategic grants made by the Rockefeller Foundation (RF) in different sectors of health systems in the inception phase were able to 'connect the dots' for 'generating a momentum for Universal Health Coverage (UHC)' in the country. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study, using document review and qualitative methods. SETTING: Bangladesh, 17 UHC-related projects funded by the RF Transforming Health Systems (THS) initiative during 2010–2013. DATA: Available reports of the completed and on-going UHC projects, policy documents of the government relevant to UHC, key-informant interviews and feedback from grant recipients and relevant stakeholders in the policy and practice. OUTCOME MEASURES: Key policy initiatives undertaken for implementing UHC activities by the government post grants disbursement. RESULTS: The RF THS grants simultaneously targeted and connected the academia, the public and non-profit development sectors and news media for awareness-building and advocacy on UHC, develop relevant policies and capacity for implementation including evidence generation. This strategy helped relevant stakeholders to come together to discuss and debate the core concepts, scopes and modalities of UHC in an attempt to reach a consensus. Additionally, experiences gained from implementation of the pilot projects helped in identifying possible entry points for initiating UHC activities in a low resource setting like Bangladesh. CONCLUSIONS: During early years of UHC-related activities in Bangladesh, strategic investments of the RF THS initiative played a catalytic role in sensitising and mobilising different constituencies for concerted activities and undertaking necessary first steps. Learnings from this strategy may be of help to countries under similar conditions of 'low resource, apparent commitment, but poor governance,' on their journey towards UHC.

Objective This study was conducted to explore how and whether, the strategic grants made by the Rockefeller Foundation (RF) in different sectors of health systems in the inception phase were able to 'connect the dots' for 'generating a momentum for Universal Health Coverage (UHC)' in the country. Design Cross-sectional descriptive study, using document review and qualitative methods. Setting Bangladesh, 17 UHC-related projects funded by the RF Transforming Health Systems (THS) initiative during 2010-2013. Data Available reports of the completed and on-going UHC projects, policy documents of the government relevant to UHC, key-informant interviews and feedback from grant recipients and relevant stakeholders in the policy and practice. Outcome measures Key policy initiatives undertaken for implementing UHC activities by the government post grants disbursement. Results The RF THS grants simultaneously targeted and connected the academia, the public and non-profit development sectors and news media for awareness-building and advocacy on UHC, develop relevant policies and capacity for implementation including evidence generation. This strategy helped relevant stakeholders to come together to discuss and debate the core concepts, scopes and modalities of UHC in an attempt to reach a consensus. Additionally, experiences gained from implementation of the pilot projects helped in identifying possible entry points for initiating UHC activities in a low resource setting like Bangladesh. Conclusions During early years of UHC-related activities in Bangladesh, strategic investments of the RF THS initiative played a catalytic role in sensitising and mobilising different constituencies for concerted activities and undertaking necessary first steps. Learnings from this strategy may be of help to countries under similar conditions of 'low resource, apparent commitment, but poor governance,' on their journey towards UHC.

Rawal, LB orcid:0000-0003-1106-0108 ; This report on the Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) is the sixth report presented by the Bangladesh Health Watch (BHW) on the state of health in Bangladesh. BHW, a civil society advocacy initiative since 2006 has been producing analytical reports on different issues that deserve priority attention of the government as well as non-government stakeholders who are committed to improve the health condition and health system of Bangladesh. So far five reports have been published. The first report focused on health equity (BHW, 2006); the second report on health workforce (BHW, 2007); the third report on governance of the health sector (BHW, 2009); the fourth report on universal health coverage (BHW, 2011); and the fifth report on urban health (BHW, 2014). All the BHW reports have attempted to present up-to-date data on the topic under discussion, analyze their policy and program implications and recommend long and short term actions. The reports were presented in public dialogues attended by policy makers program implementers, civil society advocacy groups, and development partners as well as media representatives. All BHW reports drew widespread media coverage, and generated discussion and debate about various policy and program options that need to be considered by all stakeholders.

Abstract Introduction Retention of human resources for health (HRH), particularly physicians and nurses in rural and remote areas, is a major problem in Bangladesh. We reviewed relevant policies and provisions in relation to HRH aiming to develop appropriate rural retention strategies in Bangladesh. Methods We conducted a document review, thorough search and review of relevant literature published from 1971 through May 2013, key informant interviews with policy elites (health policy makers, managers, researchers, etc.), and a roundtable discussion with key stakeholders and policy makers. We used the World Health Organization's (WHO's) guidelines as an analytical matrix to examine the rural retention policies under 4 domains, i) educational, ii) regulatory, iii) financial, and iv) professional and personal development, and 16 sub-domains. Results Over the past four decades, Bangladesh has developed and implemented a number of health-related policies and provisions concerning retention of HRH. The district quota system in admissions is in practice to improve geographical representation of the students. Students of special background including children of freedom fighters and tribal population have allocated quotas. In private medical and nursing schools, at least 5% of seats are allocated for scholarships. Medical education has a provision for clinical rotation in rural health facilities. Further, in the public sector, every newly recruited medical doctor must serve at least 2 years at the upazila level. To encourage serving in hard-to-reach areas, particularly in three Hill Tract districts of Chittagong division, the government provides an additional 33% of the basic salary, but not exceeding US$ 38 per month. This amount is not attractive enough, and such provision is absent for those working in other rural areas. Although the government has career development and promotion plans for doctors and nurses, these plans are often not clearly specified and not implemented effectively. Conclusion The government is committed to address the rural retention problem as shown through the formulation and implementation of related policies and strategies. However, Bangladesh needs more effective policies and provisions designed specifically for attraction, deployment, and retention of HRH in rural areas, and the execution of these policies and provisions must be monitored and evaluated effectively.

Rawal, LB orcid:0000-0003-1106-0108 ; Life expectancy is one of the major key indicators of population health condition and economic development of a country. The main objective of this study was to find determine the impact of the life expectancy on changes of economic growth and health care expenditure, and also to find examine the sex difference trend of life expectancy according to the sex difference. Using We used multiple regression models are fitted to estimate the impact of the life expectancy on economic growth and health care expenditure and also to estimate elasticity of life expectancy on health care expenditure and economic growth. Results shows female life expectancy was more than male over the past 15 years. The higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was seen in a longer life expectancy. i.e., one dollar increasing in GDP per capita will change in an average the life expectancy by 33 days, and also one unit increase in per person Health Expenditure Per Capita (HEPC) will increase the life expectancy in an average of 8 days in a year. one dollar increasing in GDP per capita by 33 days will also increase life expectancy, for Health Expenditure Per Capita (HEPC), by 8 days by one year on average. The higher proportion of total expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP and direct personal expenditure on health by household as a share of private expenditure on health results in also longer life span. The study has some policy implications for Bangladesh, we conclude that the increased life expectancy has direct impact on increase in per capita real income and higher expenditure on health., population planning and equity for health important for life expectancy. This study has policy implications for Bangladesh, in particular the needs for increased per capita real income and planning for future health and population policies/programs. Therefore, political stability, adequate and suitable social sector policies and government interventions are required to increase life expectancy and economic growth. There is also a need for involvement of health human force in macro and micro policy-makings and critically examine other determinant of health care expenditure.