Emergency Fund Research Articles

Beyond SARS-CoV-2: Lessons That African Governments Can Apply in Preparation for Possible Future Epidemics

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has placed unprecedented pressure on healthcare systems, even in advanced economies. While the number of cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Africa compared to other continents has so far been low, there are concerns about under-reporting, inadequate diagnostic tools, and insufficient treatment facilities. Moreover, proactiveness on the part of African governments has been under scrutiny. For instance, issues have emerged regarding the responsiveness of African countries in closing international borders to limit trans-continental transmission of the virus. Overdependence on imported products and outsourced services could have contributed to African governments’ hesitation to shut down international air and seaports. In this era of emerging and re-emerging pathogens, we recommend that African nations should consider self-sufficiency in the health sector as an urgent priority, as this will not be the last outbreak to occur. In addition to the Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement fund (US$600 million) provided by the World Bank for strengthening health systems and disease surveillance, each country should further establish an epidemic emergency fund for epidemic preparedness and response. We also recommend that epidemic surveillance units should create a secure database of previous and ongoing pandemics in terms of aetiology, spread, and treatment, as well as financial management records. Strategic collection and analysis of data should also be a central focus of these units to facilitate studies of disease trends and to estimate the scale of requirements in preparation and response to any future pandemic or epidemic.

Improving Breastfeeding in Rural Tanzania Using Eight-Step Policy Analysis Methodology.

Appropriate breastfeeding has the potential to have the broadest impact on childhood survival in children under 5 years compared with all other preventive interventions. The World Health Organization and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund recommend that all facilities providing maternal services and newborn care have a written policy addressing breastfeeding that is routinely disseminated to staff. A Mara region hospital in rural Tanzania does not have a breastfeeding policy. Collins adapted Bardach's eightfold path for policy analysis specifically for health policies. This eight-step process was used to evaluate three promising policies to improve breastfeeding in populations in and around this hospital. These policies include exclusive breastfeeding education, complementary food education, and community health worker home visits. Analysis identified exclusive breastfeeding with adjunct complementary food education as the most feasible policies to increase breastfeeding in and around the target hospital. With improved feeding practices, chronic malnutrition rates are expected to decline in the villages that the hospital serves. This methodology can be used by nurses to develop health polices addressing a wide range of health issues in a wide variety of settings.

Coproduction during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: Will It Last?

AbstractCoproduction is flourishing under COVID‐19, but can we expect it to last? Most likely, in post‐COVID‐19 times, people and institutions will easily slip back into business as usual. This essay addresses the relevance of coproduction under COVID‐19 and argues for the need for coproduction initiatives to persist well beyond the pandemic. The conditions that made coproduction emerge are likely to change as emergency regulations and funds are abandoned and the sense of urgency disappears. Areas of public life where there could be a more lasting effect are those where the basic conditions for successful coproduction are already in place and only a push was necessary for coproduction to take off. These conditions include basic commitment, complementarity, and supportive regulative frameworks, all of which can be sustained beyond the crisis with targeted choices and sufficient support.

Analysing regional unemployment rates, GDP per capita and financial support for regional suicide prevention programme on suicide mortality in Japan using governmental statistical data

ObjectivesTo explore the mechanisms of reduced suicide mortality in Japan, which decreased from 25.7 to 16.5 per 100 000 people following the comprehensive suicide prevention programme from 2009 to 2018,...

Child functioning and disability in children living with human immunodeficiency virus in a semi-rural healthcare setting in South Africa

BackgroundChildren living with HIV (CLHIV) often experience HIV-related impairment and disability.AimThe study sought to understand the level of child functioning and access to rehabilitative care in the context of South African healthcare in order to inform an integrated rehabilitative framework.SettingDistrict level semi-rural healthcare facility in KwaZulu-Natal.MethodsThe Washington Group/United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund Module on Child Functioning, was administered to carers of CLHIV aged between 5 and 10 years, and accessing care at the study setting.ResultsForty-four caregivers of children receiving treatment from June 2018 to March 2019, at the facility, participated. Four (9.1%) children had difficulty with seeing, 13 (29.5%) children had difficulty with hearing and 10 (22.7%) children had difficulty with walking. In the cognitive and behavioural domains, 17 (38.6%) children reported difficulties in communication and concentration, with 16 (36.4%) children experiencing difficulties in learning and remembering. Difficulties reported in accepting change and controlling behaviour were both experienced by 23 (52.3%) children. Although many children experiencing impairments were referred for rehabilitation, many caregivers did not follow-up after the initial assessment, because of financial constraints, lack of time and transport restrictions.ConclusionFunctional difficulties were frequently experienced by children living with HIV. Disability screening would be beneficial at various points of care to promote early identification and timely referral to healthcare professionals. Decentralising rehabilitative care to homes and communities could offer a solution to some of the reported barriers to accessing care.

Child functioning and disability in children living with human immunodeficiency virus in a semi-rural healthcare setting in South Africa.

Children living with HIV (CLHIV) often experience HIV-related impairment and disability. The study sought to understand the level of child functioning and access to rehabilitative care in the context of South African healthcare in order to inform an integrated rehabilitative framework. District level semi-rural healthcare facility in KwaZulu-Natal. The Washington Group/United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund Module on Child Functioning, was administered to carers of CLHIV aged between 5 and 10 years, and accessing care at the study setting. Forty-four caregivers of children receiving treatment from June 2018 to March 2019, at the facility, participated. Four (9.1%) children had difficulty with seeing, 13 (29.5%) children had difficulty with hearing and 10 (22.7%) children had difficulty with walking. In the cognitive and behavioural domains, 17 (38.6%) children reported difficulties in communication and concentration, with 16 (36.4%) children experiencing difficulties in learning and remembering. Difficulties reported in accepting change and controlling behaviour were both experienced by 23 (52.3%) children. Although many children experiencing impairments were referred for rehabilitation, many caregivers did not follow-up after the initial assessment, because of financial constraints, lack of time and transport restrictions. Functional difficulties were frequently experienced by children living with HIV. Disability screening would be beneficial at various points of care to promote early identification and timely referral to healthcare professionals. Decentralising rehabilitative care to homes and communities could offer a solution to some of the reported barriers to accessing care.

Assess the Attitude on Breastfeeding among Fathers of Infants at Selected Hospital, Salem

United Nations Childrens’ Emergency Fund (UNICEF) states that “every year, over one million infantsdie and millions of others are impaired, because they are not adequately/exclusively breastfed. A women’sdecision to initiate and continue breastfeeding is influenced by her attitude towards breastfeeding as well asthe breastfeeding attitudes of significant referent people. The aim of this study was to assess the attitude offathers on breast feeding which plays a significant role in its practice by the mothers. Quantitative approachwith a descriptive research design was used. Sixty fathers of infants who were accompanying their wives/children in the pediatric OPD of a tertiary hospital in Salem were selected through purposive samplingtechnique. Structured Interview schedule was used to collect the demographic variables & Five point likertscale was used to collect attitude of fathers. Data was calculated using descriptive & inferential statistics.Findings revealed that majority of fathers had positive attitude (98.4%) and only 1.6% had neutral attitudetowards breast feeding.

Environmental, Biological, Social Security: An Organizational and Legal Aspect

The paper is devoted to the analysis of current trends and prospects of development of legislation of the Russian Federation in the area of environmental, biological and social safety. Based on the results of the study of mechanisms of operation of modern legal systems in the context of increasing exponential threats and risks, the authors carry out the general evaluation of the ability of emergency situations legislation to respond to contemporary challenges. The paper also identifies factors that could have a decisive impact on the formation of new environmental and biological security.The author substantiates that, since any extreme environmental and biological situation is sudden, rapid, and it rapidly transforms from local to global, the emergency legislation should be as specific, clear, logical as possible, consistent with the goals and objectives of prevention of harm to life and health. In this regard, it should be revised primarily from the perspective of notions, variability of consequences, establishment of causality, description of basic solutions and responsibility. It is fundamentally necessary to change the paradigm from the elimination of accidents, disasters, fires and other man-made accidents to the presentation of emergencies as a systemic crisis of management and law. Special acts should clarify the criteria for “danger” and “safety”, taking into account socio-economic and environmental consequences, the competence of the authorities, security provision economy, permissible risks and losses, mechanisms and protocols for the operation of the entire state and public machinery in emergencies.In addition, the law-maker should adopt the legislation regulating the health system, which must have sufficient reserves of capacity and resources for emergencies, the legislation regulating financial reserves for the establishment of special accounts and emergency financing mechanisms, as well as information legislation regulating emergency situations.

Temporary Modification to the Fund's Annual Access Limits

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a uniquely severe synchronized shock across the global economy, in turn leading numerous member countries to request substantial financial assistance from the Fund. The Executive Board responded to members’ needs by increasing the access limits under the Fund’s emergency financing instruments by 50 percent of quota for a period of 6 months (until October 5, 2020), subject to a possible extension by the Executive Board.

ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF FINTECH AND FINANCIAL LITERATION ON BUSINESS PLAYERS IN CILEDUG TANGERANG REGION

This study aims to analyze the role of fintech and financial literacy in business operators in the Ciledug area of Tangerang. In this study, researchers took a random sample of business people who are in the Ciledug Village, Tangerang. Analysis of the data used in this study is to use data reduction in the presentation of thendata and the last is a conclusion. The results of this study are, in general, informants do not understand what is fintech, they only know online payments such as ovo, funds, paypal, etc. They do not know that online payment is included in fintech. Business owners also dislike borrowing money for venture capital from fintech because of its large interest. The owner generally prefers to make a personal loan or through banking. For financial literacy, they have more or less understood that financial management is important. And some owners have prepared their future well. Preparing an education fund for children, having an emergency fund, having self and family health insurance are their capital for the future. KEYWORDS: Fintech, Financial Literacy, Business Players

Methods to Prioritise Pop-up Active Transport Infrastructure

In the context of reduced public transport capacity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments are scrambling to enable walking and cycling while adhering to physical distancing guidelines. Many pop-up options exist. Of these, road space reallocation represents a ‘quick win’ for cities with ‘spare space’ along continuous road sections that have high latent cycling potential. We developed methods to condense the complexity of city networks down to the most promising roads for road space reallocation schemes. The resulting Rapid Cycleway Prioritisation Tool has been deployed for all cities in England to help prioritise emergency funds for new cycleways nationwide. The methods and concepts could be used to support investment in pop-up infrastructure in cities worldwide.

Unlocking community capabilities for addressing social norms/practices: behavioural change intervention study to improve birth preparedness and complication readiness among pregnant women in rural Nigeria

BackgroundMaternal mortality is attributed to combination of contextual factors that cause delay in seeking care, leading to poor utilization of skilled health services. Community participation is one of the acknowledged strategies to improve health services utilization amongst the poor and rural communities. The study aimed at assessing the potentials of improving birth preparedness and complication readiness (BP/CR) using community-driven behavioural change intervention among pregnant women in rural Nigeria.MethodsA pre-post intervention study was conducted from June 2018 to October 2019 on 158 pregnant women selected through multi-stage sampling technique from 10 villages. Data on knowledge and practices of birth preparedness and utilization of facility health services were collected through interviewer-administered pre-tested structured questionnaire. Behavioural change intervention comprising of stakeholders’ engagement, health education, facilitation of emergency transport and fund saving system, and distribution of educational leaflets/posters were delivered by twenty trained volunteer community health workers. The intervention activities focused on sensitization on danger signs of pregnancy, birth preparedness and complication readiness practices and emergency response. Means, standard deviations, and percentages were calculated for descriptive statistics; and T-test and Chi square statistical tests were carried out to determine associations between variables. Statistical significance was set at p-value < 0.05.ResultsThe result showed that after the intervention, mean knowledge score of danger signs of pregnancy increased by 0.37 from baseline value of 3.94 (p < 0.001), and BP/CR elements increased by 0.27 from baseline value of 4.00 (p < 0.001). Mean score for BP/CR practices increased significantly by 0.22 for saving money. The proportion that had antenatal care (76.6%) and had facility delivery (60.0%) increased significantly by 8.2 and 8.3% respectively. Participation in Community-related BP/CR activities increased by 11.6% (p = 0.012).ConclusionWith the improvements recorded in the community-participatory intervention, birth preparedness and complication readiness should be promoted through community, household and male-partner inclusive strategies. Further evaluation will be required to ascertain the sustainability and impact of the programme.

Rwanda

As explained in IMF Country Report No. 20/115, COVID-19 has had a severe economic impact on Rwanda through the implementation of strict domestic measures to contain the spread of the virus and related global spillovers. The authorities have responded by deploying health and economic measures totaling USD 311 million (3.3 percent of GDP). They have also set up an economic recovery fund to support firms affected by the pandemic. To help address the urgent balance of payments (BOP) need arising from the pandemic, currently estimated at about USD 433 million, the authorities request an additional disbursement under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) of 50 percent of quota (SDR 80.1 million) under the “exogenous shock” window of the RCF. This follows the Executive Board’s approval on April 2, 2020 of the authorities’ earlier request for the same amount, before the doubling of the annual access limit of emergency financing under the “exogenous shock” window of the RCF to 100 percent of quota on April 9, 2020. This additional request will bring the total disbursement under the RCF to 100 percent of quota.

Social Stratification and Choice-Based Policy Programs: The Case of Early Withdrawal of Retirement Savings during the Great Recession

AbstractAccess to emergency funds during times of need is increasingly dependent on a “choice-based” retirement system in the United States. This study examines the operation of this choice-based retirement system across a socioeconomically stratified population impacted by the Great Recession. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics collected between 2005 and 2011, we first assess how socioeconomic status shapes access to different types of retirement plans. We then examine the varied pathways that lead to the early withdrawal of retirement savings. The results depict a multistage selection process through which socioeconomic resources structure the process of withdrawal. This occurs first through the availability of retirement funds and the makeup of the retirement portfolio and then through the likelihood of hardship. The results also reveal the importance of education in getting access to retirement savings during a hardship. The general implications for choice-based programs are discussed.

A biblical approach to the reduction of child poverty in Anambra state, Nigeria

Child poverty reduction is one of the most important and urgent tasks that requires attention in most regions of the world, nations and Anambra state specifically. The population of impoverished children is progressively increasing in Nigeria because of economic recession and poor security situations that lead to displacement and death of their parents. Although children constitute half of the entire population, commensurate attention is not given to them to match the dimensions of poverty they face. This study argued that child poverty is multidimensional, evidenced in lack of safe drinking water, adequate nutrition, shelter, decent sanitation, medical advice or health services (immunisations) and education, to mention a few. The article highlighted the laudable efforts of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Anambra government and maintained that multiple strategies can help in solving this problem. To complement these efforts, the enforcement of biblical policies or principles about children’s rights would in no small measure reduce child poverty. It was concluded that a proper repositioning of children would be matched with implementation of biblical strategies. Biblical intervention could help children socially, mentally and psychologically and in their general well-being. Biblical principles would erase wrong socio-cultural notions about children.

Limitations of COVID-19 Fever Clinic as the First Point of Contact: Are We Relying Too Much? An Experience from a Tertiary Center

In Nepal, after the first case was diagnosed with Corona Virus Disease -19 (COVID -19) in a 32-year-old returnee from Wuhan, China on 13 January 2020, it took more than four months to reach a figure of 500 infected cases. Seventy of them have already recovered and returned home. However, the curve has been taking a steeper slope after the first 50 cases were documented. With the first mortality from COVID-19 confirmed on 16thMay, 2020, the fact that this pandemic is tightening its grip in the country is more evident now. And witheach passing day, more cases are being diagnosed. In such a situation, strategies of screening the infected/suspects are of paramount importance and those already in place should be strengthened. On March 19, the Nepal Medical Council asked all hospitals, both private and public, with over 100 beds to operate a separate fever clinics and postpone elective surgeries to conserve resources for an outbreak. Such fever clinicsaim at separating and filtering out the suspected/ diagnosed COVID-19 patients. Arguably started firstin Kathmandu Medical College, fever clinics now have been established and run in almost every largehealth care centers. United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has been pivotal in supporting some of these centers. Rising up to the task, Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital started its fever clinic from 22 March 2020 in a separate makeshift place which later moved to a more organized structure. The fever clinic is set up in a separate area in order to keep off suspected patients from the main hospital.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Financial Well-Being: Insights from Nigerian Households

This study assesses the level of awareness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the extent of the government’s preparedness in Nigeria. It examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the income level of households in Nigeria, the prices of goods and services as well as financial resilience of households. This is done with a view to providing appropriate interventions for vulnerable households. The study employs survey methodology conducted in April 2020. The random survey sample was obtained through the use of questionnaires administered online. The population of this study is made up of all the households who are resident in Nigeria and must have stayed within the country at least since the past six months; this is to ensure that the members of the population stayed in Nigeria at least three months before the outbreak of the pandemic and periods during the pandemic. The survey results showed that income declined significantly for almost half of household participants. Although 41.7% of household participants have income for precautionary motive which is set aside in the advent of emergency, a significant majority indicated that such emergency funds decreased significantly during the lockdown. Majority of the respondents affirm that the crisis will likely have an adverse effect of the coronavirus pandemic on their financial and economic well-being.

Status and Challenges of Public Health Emergency Management in China Related to COVID-19.

Objective: This study aimed at exploring the current development status and problems of health emergency management in China and provides a reference for improving, constructing, and implementing a public health emergency management system.Methods: Cases of major and severe public health emergencies in China were analyzed along with the relevant health emergency management literature from the last decade.Results: China's health emergency system gradually improved during the study period. Monitoring and early warning systems were significantly strengthened. Material reserves and transfer management systems were constantly improved. However, the operational efficiency of command and decision systems was low, versatile talent accounted for a relatively small proportion, and emergency fund investment was insufficient.Conclusion: Constructing a sound and scientific emergency management mechanism is a lengthy and challenging process. To establish an emergency management mode for public health emergencies that is appropriate for China, it is necessary to solve existing problems and learn from the models and experiences of developed foreign countries.

Field addresses pros, cons of HEROES Act, calls for more funding for BH

A proposal passed by the U.S. House of Representatives May 15 would provide $3 billion in emergency funds allocated to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for states and local communities to address mental health and addiction services during the COVID‐19 crisis. The $3 trillion proposal for H.R. 6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act), is considered “Phase Four” in the series of stimulus and relief packages following the COVID‐19 crisis.

Why Do Households Lack Emergency Savings? The Role of Financial Capability.

Many U.S. households have insufficient savings to cope with income losses, expenditure shocks, and other financial emergencies, yet little research evidence explains why. Guided by Sherraden (2013) model of financial capability, we expand on prior research that examines the role of financial knowledge by incorporating additional factors and testing income interactions to explain a greater proportion of variance concerning whether or not households have money set aside for emergencies. We analyzed data from the 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018 National Financial Capability Surveys and found that subjective financial knowledge, financial confidence, and savings account ownership, but not objective financial knowledge, were significant and consistent predictors of having an emergency fund. Savings account ownership was the strongest predictor, accounting for an increase in the probability of having an emergency fund of 25% to 29% across study years. Adding homeownership and ability to cover expenses to the models increased the proportion of variance explained by an average of 29%. Strategies to promote emergency savings should be multifaceted and include help from financial educators and counselors to create greater financial slack as well as programs and policies to increase access to short-term savings opportunities and incentives.