Healthy Communities Research Articles

Screening practices for obstructive sleep apnea in healthy community people: a Chinese community-based study.

Owing to the lack of clear guidelines, the significance of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) screening in healthy community people is unclear. This study aimed to screen for OSA in a healthy community population and provide a basis for its screening. Permanent residents from five communities in the coastal and mountainous areas of south China were selected. The screening process included demographic and sleep questionnaire surveys, and an OSA screening. To compare the prevalence and risk factors of OSA in different areas, a type IV wearable intelligent sleep monitor (WISM) was used for screening. A total of 3,650 participants completed all studies, with a mean age of 53.81±12.71 years. In addition, 4,318 participants completed the OSA screening within 30 days, and the objective screening speed was 200 people per day. The recovery rate of the screening equipment was 99.37% (4,291/4,318), the screening success rate was 89.63% (3,846/4,291), and the rejection rate was 2.7% (120/4,438). The prevalence of high-risk OSA screened using the Stop-Bang questionnaire was 42.8% (1,563/3,650) and that screened using the device was 30.7% (1,119/3,650). The prevalence of OSA screened using the Stop-Bang questionnaire was higher than that screened using the device (P<0.01). Further analysis of sleep quality and daytime sleepiness showed that 47.6% (1,736/3,650) of the community population had good sleep quality and 6.6% (240/3,650) had daytime sleepiness. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, and hypertension were risk factors for OSA in the community population. The use of objective type IV sleep detection equipment to screen a large sample population in the community in a short time is feasible. The prevalence of high-risk OSA screened using the Stop-Bang questionnaire was higher than that screened using the objective screening device.

Effects of a Postbiotic Saccharomyces and Lactobacillus Ferment Complex on the Scalp Microbiome of Chinese Women with Sensitive Scalp Syndrome.

Sensitive scalp is one of the most frequent complaints related to sensitive skin syndrome, characterized by unpleasant sensory reactions in the absence of visible signs of inflammation. In this study, the effects of topical application of postbiotic Himalaya-derived Saccharomyces and Lactobacillus ferment complex (SLFC) on the bacterial and fungal scalp microbiome at the taxonomic level and alleviation of sensitive skin syndrome were investigated. Firstly, healthy female participants (aged 30-45) were classified into a healthy scalp group and a sensitive scalp group based on the questionnaire. Thereafter, topical application of SLFC on sensitive scalp as well as scalp microbiome was evaluated, with the difference in the distribution of microbial taxa between healthy and sensitive scalp communities was assessed using 16S rRNA and ITS1 sequencing analysis. In addition, the effect of SLFC on scalp microbiome at the species level for Cutibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Malassezia restricta was evaluated by the qPCR assessment. After treatment with SLFC for 28 days, the abundance of Staphylococcus, Lawsonella, and Fusarium in the sensitive scalp group was highly significantly increased (p < 0.001), while the abundance of Cutibacterium and Malassezia was highly significantly decreased (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the self-assessment questionnaire indicated a syndrome alleviation effect of 100% after 28 days with a twice-daily application of the SLFC. The obtained results would help to better understand the microbial community of the sensitive scalp and provide useful information on utilization of SLFC for maintaining a healthy scalp and modulating the scalp microbiome.

Healthy and low-carbon communities: Design, optimization, and new technologies

Healthy and low-carbon communities: Design, optimization, and new technologies

Sensor-based detection of individual walkability perception to promote healthy communities

People living in walkable areas are more likely to maintain a physically active lifestyle. Adverse elements of the built environment (e.g., demolished houses, damaged sidewalks) can cause physical or emotional distress, and negatively affect walkability patterns. Individuals are likely to perceive walkability of a place in distinct ways and can be differentially impacted by the built environment. This paper quantifies walkability perception of the built environment using data from “in-the-moment” interactions between pedestrians and the built environment, captured by wearable physiological and accelerometry sensors. Prominent temporal change patterns in physiological reactivity (i.e., electrodermal activity, heart rate) and gait are captured through a physiological saliency cue (PSC), which comprises the input of a machine learning model automatically estimating pedestrians’ perceived walkability. Contextual information from user’s location is further used to augment the features. Results obtained on 25 participants in a field experiment indicate that the PSC measures can reliably detect individual perception of walkability, often more accurately compared to the aggregate measures from the corresponding raw signals. Inclusion of contextual information further improves the performance. Findings from this study can enhance our understanding on the association between walkability and the built environment, and lead to more effective planning and public health strategies that contribute to community health.

Communities and the Dead in Africa and Ancient Ethiopia (50–800 CE)

AbstractIn the Global North, death is often treated as the departure of a person. However, across Africa, families and communities often include living and dead members, usually called “ancestors.” In this article, we use archaeology to support educators in communicating key aspects of deathways and the study of ancestors in Africa. We do this through an example drawn from the ancient kingdom of Aksum in Ethiopia (50–800 CE). Archaeologist Dilpreet Singh Basanti previously analyzed human remains from Aksum and reconstructed an ancient community’s burial and ongoing engagement with a young woman. Artist Naomi Mekonen has created a surrealist lens to present this woman’s story of death in this article’s figures. Surrealism is a rising perspective in modern art from the Tigray region and is used here to shift the tone from death as a grim tale of loss to death as a love story. We show how ongoing actions around the young woman’s tomb relate to her continued role in her family and community. Our example illustrates that ancestors are elements of healthy community life. Ancestors provide a guiding voice that helps to define people’s values and experiences of the world. In this way, ancestors are inseparable from “culture,” and exploring these themes helps us to appreciate the role of culture as a guiding way that connects generations of loved ones, living and dead.

Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Strengthening Pakistan's Healthcare System

Pakistan's healthcare system stands at a critical juncture, facing challenges that demand innovative solutions. Among these, the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) emerges as a promising avenue to bridge gaps, enhance service delivery, and transform the healthcare landscape. The collaboration between public and private sectors has the potential to bring together diverse expertise, resources, and perspectives, ultimately leading to a more resilient and effective healthcare system.&#x0D; In a country where public healthcare resources often struggle to meet the demands of a growing population, PPPs offer a strategic approach. Private sector entities, with their operational efficiency and investment capabilities, can inject vitality into the system. The provision of healthcare services, infrastructure development, and technology implementation are areas where PPPs can make a substantial impact. This synergy allows the public sector to leverage the strengths of the private sector while ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services for all citizens.&#x0D; However, successful PPPs in healthcare necessitate careful planning, transparent frameworks, and clear delineation of roles and responsibilities. Balancing financial viability with social responsibility remains a challenge. It is essential to strike a harmonious equilibrium where the interests of both sectors converge for the greater good. Moreover, effective governance and regulatory oversight are crucial to prevent any compromise on healthcare quality or ethics.&#x0D; As Pakistan strives to achieve its healthcare development goals, lessons from successful PPP models globally can offer valuable insights. These models emphasize collaboration built on trust, open communication, and a shared vision. By fostering an environment that encourages innovation and collaboration, Pakistan can harness the full potential of PPPs to create a healthcare system that is robust, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of its citizens.&#x0D; In conclusion, the role of public-private partnerships in strengthening Pakistan's healthcare system is undeniable. By pooling resources, knowledge, and expertise, both sectors can collectively address the challenges that have long impeded the nation's healthcare progress. A well-structured and ethically sound approach to PPPs can pave the way for a future where quality healthcare services are accessible to all, setting Pakistan on a transformative path toward healthier communities and improved well-being.

Evaluasi Kepatuhan Pelaksanaan Program Vaksinasi Covid-19

The implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination program is expected to gradually reach all target targets. To strengthen the prevention program through vaccination, 5M health protocols also need to be implemented to minimize the spread of COVID-19. The success of the Covid-19 vaccination program will be measured by identifying which parties are working with the government to foster cooperation, and this will provide an overview of how the policy or program is implemented. his research is qualitative. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of the primary and booster vaccination programs is important to prevent non-compliance with vaccination patients to minimize the transmission of COVID-19. This program is carried out for a week by giving interviews to vaccination program holders at UPTD Puskesmas. Data will be analyzed univariately in the elaboration Evaluation of the implementation of the primary and booster vaccination programs in terms of patient compliance at the Mengwi I Health Center. The output of this study shows that the achievement indicator of success in winning the primary reaches 100%, but for the implementation of booster activation, the indicator of success only reaches 70%. The implementation of primary vaccination is carried out more evenly when compared to the implementation of booster vaccinations. Thus, It is hoped that the administration of vaccines can be carried out evenly so that a healthy community is created and the whole community receives vaccinations

Environmental complaint insights through text mining based on the driver, pressure, state, impact, and response (DPSIR) framework: Evidence from an Italian environmental agency

Individuals, local communities, environmental associations, private organizations, and public representatives and bodies may all be aggrieved by environmental problems concerning poor air quality, illegal waste disposal, water contamination, and general pollution. Environmental complaints represent the expressions of dissatisfaction with these issues. As the time-consuming of managing a large number of complaints, text mining may be useful for automatically extracting information on stakeholder priorities and concerns. The paper used text mining and semantic network analysis to crawl relevant keywords about environmental complaints from two online complaint submission systems: online claim submission system of Regional Agency for Prevention, Environment and Energy (Arpae) (“Contact Arpae”); and Arpae's internal platform for environmental pollution (“Environmental incident reporting portal”) in the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy. We evaluated the total of 2477 records and classified this information based on the claim topic (air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, waste, odor, soil, weather-climate, sea-coast, and electromagnetic radiation) and geographical distribution. Then, this paper used natural language processing to extract keywords from the dataset, and classified keywords ranking higher in Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) based on the driver, pressure, state, impact, and response (DPSIR) framework. This study provided a systemic approach to understanding the interaction between people and environment in different geographical contexts and builds sustainable and healthy communities. The results showed that most complaints are from the public and associated with air pollution and odor. Factories (particularly foundries and ceramic industries) and farms are identified as the drivers of environmental issues. Citizen believed that environmental issues mainly affect human well-being. Moreover, the keywords of “odor”, “report”, “request”, “presence”, “municipality”, and “hours” were the most influential and meaningful concepts, as demonstrated by their high degree and betweenness centrality values. Keywords connecting odor (classified as impacts) and air pollution (classified as state) were the most important (such as “odor-burnt plastic” and “odor-acrid”). Complainants perceived odor annoyance as a primary environmental concern, possibly related to two main drivers: “odor-factory” and “odors-farms”. The proposed approach has several theoretical and practical implications: text mining may quickly and efficiently address citizen needs, providing the basis toward automating (even partially) the complaint process; and the DPSIR framework might support the planning and organization of information and the identification of stakeholder concerns and priorities, as well as metrics and indicators for their assessment. Therefore, integration of the DPSIR framework with the text mining of environmental complaints might generate a comprehensive environmental knowledge base as a prerequisite for a wider exploitation of analysis to support decision-making processes and environmental management activities.

Implementation of the Healthy Community Movement (GERMAS) through the ownership of sanitary toilets

Improper disposal of fecal matter in inappropriate locations can lead to environmental pollution, various diseases, and even death. This community service project focused on assisting farmer groups in Air Pesi Village, Kepahiang District, Bengkulu Province, who lacked proper sanitation facilities. Initially, the goal was to build two sanitary toilets, but this was expanded to four through cost-effective communal labor. Pre-and post-test assessments showed a substantial increase in residents' knowledge of healthy behaviors and the Healthy Living Community Movement in Indonesia known as Gerakan Masyarat Hidup Sehat (GERMAS) principles, from 32% before the intervention to 89% afterward. Additionally, the project successfully exceeded its target by constructing four sanitary toilets, which were not only used for waste disposal but also as bathing and laundry facilities. Community awareness of GERMAS principles increased by 57%. This initiative can serve as a model for local residents and inform government policies on rural sanitation. This project highlights the importance of community-driven sanitation improvements in rural areas.

Bacterial multispecies interaction mechanisms dictate biogeographic arrangement between the oral commensals Corynebacterium matruchotii and Streptococcus mitis.

Polymicrobial biofilms are present in many environments particularly in the human oral cavity where they can prevent or facilitate the onset of disease. While recent advances have provided a clear picture of both the constituents and their biogeographic arrangement, it is still unclear what mechanisms of interaction occur between individual species in close proximity within these communities. In this study, we investigated two mechanisms of interaction between the highly abundant supragingival plaque (SUPP) commensal Corynebacterium matruchotii and Streptococcus mitis which are directly adjacent/attached in vivo. We discovered that C. matruchotii enhanced the fitness of streptococci dependent on its ability to detoxify streptococcal-produced hydrogen peroxide and its ability to oxidize lactate also produced by streptococci. We demonstrate that the fitness of adjacent streptococci was linked to that of C. matruchotii and that these mechanisms support the previously described "corncob" arrangement between these species but that this is favorable only in aerobic conditions. Furthermore, we utilized scanning electrochemical microscopy to quantify lactate production and consumption between individual bacterial cells for the first time, revealing that lactate oxidation provides a fitness benefit to S. mitis not due to pH mitigation. This study describes mechanistic interactions between two highly abundant human commensals that can explain their observed in vivo spatial arrangements and suggest a way by which they may help preserve a healthy oral bacterial community. IMPORTANCE As the microbiome era matures, the need for mechanistic interaction data between species is crucial to understand how stable microbiomes are preserved, especially in healthy conditions where the microbiota could help resist opportunistic or exogenous pathogens. Here we reveal multiple mechanisms of interaction between two commensals that dictate their biogeographic relationship to each other in previously described structures in human supragingival plaque. Using a novel variation for chemical detection, we observed metabolite exchange between individual bacterial cells in real time validating the ability of these organisms to carry out metabolic crossfeeding at distal and temporal scales observed in vivo. These findings reveal one way by which these interactions are both favorable to the interacting commensals and potentially the host.

Understory vegetation supports more abundant and diverse butterfly communities in oil palm plantations

IntroductionThe cultivation of oil palm, from which palm oil, the world’s most widely traded vegetable oil, is processed, has had marked effects on ecosystems and native species across the tropics. While declines in biodiversity due to conversion to oil palm have been well recorded across plant and animal taxa, less work has been done to identify approaches to plantation management which will enable producers to satisfy growing global demand while limiting environmental damage.MethodsThrough a large-scale understory management experiment, we investigated the long- and short-term effects of varying vegetation management regimes on the abundance, richness, and diversity of day-flying Lepidoptera.ResultsOver the long-term, the lowest levels of vegetation complexity resulted in significantly lower Lepidoptera abundance, species richness and evenness. Less intensive understory clearing resulted in healthier communities, with limited differences between removal by herbicide application or chemical-free removal. Over the short-term, biodiversity was not directly affected by vegetation complexity, suggesting that manual removal of vegetation may be equally damaging to butterfly or moth communities as removal by intermediate levels of herbicide spraying.DiscussionThese findings substantiate calls to limit vegetation clearing and maintain habitat heterogeneity on both a local and landscape scale, while also suggesting that a hard “no-spray” guideline may not be the only option to support butterfly friendly plantations.

Earthworm Castings in Ecosystem Health through Their Elemental Composition

Earthworm castings, colloquially termed as nature's potent organic fertilizers, have emerged as a cornerstone in the pursuit of sustainable agriculture and holistic ecosystem health. This significance is particularly pronounced in the intricate tapestry of India's agricultural landscapes, marked by its rich biodiversity and varied terrains. Drawing from an exhaustive synthesis of research literature and traditional agricultural knowledge unique to India, our review sheds light on the multifaceted attributes of these castings. At the heart of these attributes is the elemental composition of the castings. Rich in both macro (like Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) and crucial micronutrients (including Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur), these castings present a veritable solution to the challenges of soil fertility. They don't merely replenish the soil; they transform it. By making nutrients more bioavailable, they ensure plants not only grow but thrive, leading to a notable reduction in the need for synthetic fertilizers. This shift not only offers an economic respite to farmers but also mitigates the environmental challenges associated with chemical overloads in soils. Beyond the immediate agronomic advantages, the broader ecological implications of earthworm castings are equally compelling. Our review highlights the critical role these castings play in enhancing soil structure. A robust soil structure, in turn, is fundamental for healthy microbial communities, ensuring that the soil is teeming with beneficial organisms that further its fertility and resist pathogens. Moreover, the ability of earthworm-amended soils to retain more water emerges as a significant boon, especially in the face of erratic monsoons and increasing drought scenarios in parts of India. This water retention capability dovetails with the castings' ability to reduce soil erosion, a concern that has long plagued India's terrains, from its hilly regions to its coastal plains.

Social and Civic Engagement: Building Community or “Bowling Alone”?

Would Pakistan be experiencing the kind of crises—social, political, economic and one of identity — that it is currently facing, if the country had better social and civic engagement? Would our democracy be more robust with more engagement by the community? These are rather complex questions to give a definitive answer to, but we have examples where extraordinary levels of people’s engagement have helped in developing a healthy community, and by implication a more vibrant democracy. It is premised that strong interpersonal sociability and associational life can create opportunities for people, foster a sense of efficacy, and constrain capture by any interest group.&#x0D; Are people in Pakistan socially engaged or are they “bowling alone”? Bowling alone is an idea given by Putnam (2000) in his study on the changing American behaviour over the decades. Putnam believed that Americans were becoming increasingly individualistic and disconnected from social structures—that is structures like clubs, associations, organisations, or bowling leagues. To him, more and more Americans were preferring to bowl alone instead of with others or in leagues.&#x0D; Communities develop when there are opportunities for social and civic engagement to emerge. In the PIDE-BASICS Survey, we asked people if they were members of any club or organisation, and if they did any volunteer work. In case they were, we asked them about the nature of the club/organisation, and the kind of volunteerism they did. Based on this information, the current Note will see the trends for social and civic engagement for the four provinces and the three territories, and across regions, sex, age, and education and income levels.

Addressing COVID-19 inequities using bidirectional crisis and emergency risk communication and vaccine clinic interventions: a descriptive study

BackgroundIm/migrants (immigrants and migrants, including refugees, asylum seekers, and individuals without legal documentation) experience unique assets and needs in relation to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is one way to engage im/migrant communities. Rochester Healthy Community Partnership (RHCP) is a CBPR partnership in Rochester, Minnesota. RHCP partners noted that credible COVID-19 information was not available to their communities. In response, RHCP formed a COVID-19 Task Force and adapted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) framework to create an intervention that prioritized im/migrant groups experiencing health disparities. In the CERC intervention, communication leaders delivered COVID-19 health messages to their social networks and documented related concerns. RHCP relayed these concerns to regional leaders to ensure that im/migrant experiences were included in decision making. Once vaccines were available, RHCP continued to deploy the CERC intervention to promote vaccination equity. The aims of this paper are to (1) describe the implementation of a bidirectional CERC intervention for vaccination equity, and (2) describe a community-engaged and community-based vaccine clinic intervention.MethodsFirst, we surveyed participants (n = 37) to assess COVID-19 experiences, acceptability of the CERC intervention, and motivation to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Second, we collaborated with community partners to hold vaccine clinics. We report descriptive statistics from each intervention.ResultsWhen asked about the acceptability of the CERC intervention for vaccine equity, most participants either reported that they ‘really liked it’ or ‘thought it was just ok’. Most participants stated that they would recommend the program to family or friends who have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine. Almost all participants reported that they felt ‘much more’ or ‘somewhat more’ motivated to receive a COVID-19 vaccine after the intervention. We administered 1158 vaccines at the vaccination clinics.ConclusionsWe found that participants viewed the CERC intervention for vaccination equity as an acceptable way to disseminate COVID-19-related information. Nearly all participants reported that the intervention convinced them to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. In our experience, community-engaged and community-based clinics are a successful way to administer vaccines to im/migrant communities during a pandemic.

Nutritive and immunological benefits derived from the honey bee gut microbiome are threatened by anthropogenic stressors

Insect gut microbes have a disproportionate effect on their hosts, including the honey bee, Apis mellifera L. The honey bee gut, and that of other species that have been investigated, harbours a specific gut community that is conserved across populations globally. However, this gut community changes between different castes, sexes and life stages, which is largely due to diet and gut physiology. Evidence suggests that a healthy gut community is essential for honey bees to maintain functional immunity and nutrition. Without the four important gut symbionts (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Snodgrassella alvi and Gilliamella apicola), honey bees lack the ability to gain sufficient nutrients, protect themselves against pathogens and prevent intoxication. Unfortunately, honey bee gut symbionts are under threat due to in-hive pesticides, antibiotics and climate change. Therefore, we discourage the overuse of antibiotics and in-hive pesticides, as they could have unforeseen consequences for the honey bee gut microbiota. Instead, we recommend that beekeepers and scientists explore alternative options, such as bolstering honey bee resilience through probiotics.

Rate of perceived exertion and cardiovascular response of community dwelling older adults to six-minute walk test

Objectives: This study was designed to determine the rate of perceived exertion, cardiovascular responses of community dwelling older adults to six minutes' walk (6MWT) and possible gender difference.&#x0D; Methods: One hundred and three apparently healthy community dwelling older adults, aged 60 years and above participated in the study. Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and cardiovascular responses (blood pressure, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SPO2 ) and pulse rate) were measured pre and post 6MWT.&#x0D; Results: There was a significant increase (p = 0.01) in RPE among all participants after the 6MWT. There was no significant difference (p&gt;0.05) in all the cardiovascular parameters pre and post 6MWT but with a significant difference in SPO2 between male and female participants. &#x0D; Conclusion: Among older adults, rate of perceived exertion after a 6MWT was sort of hard with possible influence on the Systolic Blood Pressure following 6MWT. Female participants showed higher oxygen saturation than males.

Genomic and phenotypic characterization of Acinetobacter colistiniresistens isolated from the feces of a healthy member of the community

Acinetobacter species are widely known opportunistic pathogens causing severe community and healthcare-associated infections. One such emerging pathogen, Acinetobacter colistiniresistens, is known to exhibit intrinsic resistance to colistin. We investigated the molecular characteristics of A. colistiniresistens strain C-214, isolated from the fecal sample of a healthy community member, as part of a cohort study being conducted in Segamat, Malaysia. Comparison of the whole genome sequence of C-214 with other A. colistiniresistens sequences retrieved from the NCBI database showed 95% sequence identity or more with many of the genome sequences representing that species. Use of the Galleria mellonella killing assay showed that C-214 was pathogenic in this model infection system. The strain C-214 had a colistin and polymyxin B MIC of 32 and 16 mg/L, respectively. Besides, it was resistant to cefotaxime, amikacin, and tetracycline and showed moderate biofilm-producing ability. Different genes associated with virulence or resistance to major classes of antibiotics were detected. We observed mutations in lpxA/C/D in C-214 and other A. colistiniresistens strains as probable causes of colistin resistance, but the biological effects of these mutations require further investigation. This study provides genomic insights into A. colistiniresistens, a potentially pathogenic bacterium isolated from a community member and notes the public health threat it may pose.

The Influence of Social Support on the Mental Health of Elderly Individuals in Healthy Communities with the Framework of Mental Toughness.

This work aims to explore the impacts of social support measures such as analyzing greening urban spaces and improving greenspace quality on the mental health of the elderly based on the mental resilience framework to build a healthy community. Through literature research and a questionnaire survey, this study designs a questionnaire including basic information, a life satisfaction scale, a positive and negative emotion scale, social support rating scale, a life orientation test-revised version, and psychological resilience scale. In order to classify the scales, machine learning (ML) approaches are applied in this work. The results demonstrate great variations in the scores of the elderly with various health problems in the domain of psychological resilience (p<0.001). Social support and subjective well-being are strongly related (p<0.001). Additionally, positive correlations are observed among perceived, objective, and support use (p<0.001). Finally, it is found that psychological resilience and social support play a significant role in mediating mental health problems in elderly individuals. Therefore, social support measures such as analyzing greening urban spaces and improving greenspace quality can be adopted to improve the mental health of the elderly to build healthy communities. On this basis, this work is of certain reference value and practical significance for the construction of healthy communities and the positive influence on the mental health of elderly individuals.

Nutritional Services in Hills of Uttarakhand– An Overview

A healthy individual makes up a healthy community, a healthy state and a healthy country. As the saying goes – “Health is Wealth”. So, health is something which cannot be ignored. In order to maintain health, one needs to take into consideration the nutritional needs of the body and this is of utmost importance especially during the early phase of growth periods in children. Our country is facing problem of malnutrition in children which is of alarming concern and inspite of numerous projects planned by the government of our country still the bane of malnutrition prevails. There needs to be an additional intervention planned at grassroot level keeping in consideration every geographical terrain, cultural and ethnic practices in related to feeding and rearing. This will not only help in combatting the problem of malnutrition but will also keep the mother and family of child aware of nutrition status of their children. The need to strengthening our policies and services at grassroot level is of prime concern as a lot policies and services are only limited to the documents.

FOOD HUBS AS TOOL FOR DEVELOPING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN GASTRONOMY: THE CASE STUDY OF DUBROVNIK

As the planning profession begins to embrace food and agriculture as important opportunities for sustainable cities and towns, planners are searching for ideas that can be implemented at the local level. Food hubs are gaining popularity as a way to build strong local food systems and healthy communities. Food hubs are innovations in local food systems that serve as an alternative to the conventional food distribution system. Hubs help connect small farmers with local markets and increase food access for local residents. But it is clearly that focusing on the local cuisine as a tourist destination product is worthwhile. Food hub operators are skilled business people who have identified a challenge how to satisfy retail and institutional market demand to source from small and middle size producers and have deftly come up with regionally appropriate solutions that not only result in positive economic outcomes but also provide valuable services to producers and their wider community. Food hub operators represent a new kind of food entrepreneur, one that is increasingly demonstrating a financially sound business model that can be both market and mission driven. This paper examines the importance of the establishment of a food hub for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation in gastronomy, i.e. for the development of the gastronomic offer in Dubrovnik. The survey was conducted in June 2022 among 93 graduates of the School of Tourism and Hospitality to find out their opinion about the establishment of a food hub and whether they are inclined to become its users. Research has proven that most graduates would use food hub services and as such they are necessary for business creation and innovation in the food service industry.