Blog

Finally, a Major Step Forward in Protecting Health Workers and Facilities

This post was originally published on the IntraHealth International blog.

Despite firLeonard Rubensteinm standards rooted in the Geneva Conventions to protect health facilities, health workers, and the patients served during armed conflict, and to enable health professionals to act consistently with their ethical obligations, assaults on and interference with health functions are all too common in war. Aside from the human toll they take, these attacks often compromise the ability to deliver care to populations in great need, impede efforts to reconstruct health systems after war, and lead to the flight of health workers whose presence in a time of great social stress is essential.

The international community has taken few steps to provide guidance to promote compliance with the law, or to assess and report on violations in a uniform and comprehensive manner. Sound methodologies for data collection about these assaults have not been developed. The lack of systematic reporting and documentation of these violations contributes to continued disregard for an established and internationally recognized legal framework of protection. Mechanisms to encourage compliance with these international norms are needed as a first step in preserving critical health services in conflict settings. Read more »

Bounties: A New Approach for iHRIS Development, Implementation, and Sustainability

Carol BalesThe CapacityPlus iHRIS software developers based in Chapel Hill, NC, have initiated an exciting new approach to expanding the global iHRIS community. They are utilizing “code bounties” as a way to get more developers, implementers, and other open source enthusiasts involved in supporting and improving the iHRIS, which will help foster its sustainability beyond the life of the CapacityPlus project.

iHRIS is a suite of open source tools for managing and supporting health workers. Even though I’ve worked with the iHRIS team for years, I didn’t quite understand what code bounties were, so I asked one of the lead developers, Carl Leitner, a few questions. Read more »

Exploring the Frontier: A Firsthand Perspective on Health Workforce Challenges in South America

Remote regions of the world often face the most challenges accessing health services and health workers. In the frontier areas on the border of Bolivia and Peru, these difficulties are anticipated to intensify with the completion of the transoceanic highway. Intended to link South American ports on the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans, the highway will open this rural frontier to increased commerce, traffic and migration, as well as an increased demand for health services. Consequently, with the opening of the highway, incidence of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other communicable diseases will likely increase. 

CapacityPlus recently conducted a study to learn more about the health workforce providing HIV/AIDS services in this region. Anne Wilson led the team that collected data in Madre de Dios, the Peruvian zone on the borders of Brazil and Bolivia, and, along with the other three team members, facilitated a dissemination workshop that presented findings and recommendations. Anne’s resume is full of high-level HRH experience, including serving as director of the Capacity Project. Read more »