Provincial Department Research Articles

Enhancing the Sustainable Performance of Public–Private Partnership Projects: The Buffering Effect of Environmental Uncertainty

The purpose of this study was to investigate the buffering (moderating) effect of environmental uncertainty (EU) on the relationship between the critical success factors (CSFs) of public–private partnership projects (PPPPs) and sustainable performance. A survey approach was adopted to collect primary data from construction industries that have signed an agreement with the public sector. The public sector includes federal and provincial government departments such as the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) for the construction of roads, and the private sector includes engineering companies registered with the Pakistan engineering council. The non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to select the sample, and the Krejcie and Morgan table was used to calculate the sample size. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed but 394 completed questionnaires were used in the analysis of the data, yielding a response rate of 78.8%. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to check the reliability and validity of the scales; the findings revealed that the scales met the threshold, and all the factor loadings, average variance extracted, composite reliability, Cronbach alpha, and discriminant validities met the cut-off level. Hence, the questionnaires were found to be reliable and valid. The results revealed that environmental uncertainty significantly moderates the CSFs (technical, procurement, and economic factors) of PPPs and the sustainable performance of PPPPs. Furthermore, the interaction terms of all moderating effects revealed negative beta values; this implies that a low level of uncertainty results in better economic performance, better technical and procurement factors, and highly sustainable performance. It is concluded from the findings that if EU is high, then the sustainability of PPPPs is low; moreover, fewer economic resources and no technical support and procurement also have a weak impact on enhancing sustainable performance. On the contrary, if EU is low, there is a high level of sustainability in PPPPs.

Dynamic evaluation and sensitivity analysis of China’s industrial solid waste management efficiency based on ecological environment cycle perspective

IntroductionThe recycling and repurposing of industrial solid waste is a crucial element of sustainable development in growing industrialized nations.MethodsAn advanced two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model was employed to assess the effectiveness of solid waste management across all 31 provinces in China throughout the period spanning from 2016 to 2022.ResultsThe research findings suggest the following: (1) The circular economy has shown varying degrees of improvement in efficiency across most regions. (2) The average efficiency of the resource reuse stage is not higher than 0.4, indicating significant room for development that requires serious attention. (3) The western region has a higher average solid waste treatment efficiency of 0.65 compared to 0.53 in the eastern region, while the central region falls at a moderate level. Furthermore, this work employed sensitivity analysis to examine the resilience of regional efficiency research and discovered that the overall findings remain statistically significant. Hence, it is imperative to simultaneously enhance the internal administration of businesses and enhance governmental environmental legislation and regulations, with the aim of attaining the utmost optimization of resource recycling.DiscussionThis paper presents policy suggestions for enhancing the solid waste recycling system within provincial government departments, while also establishing the foundation for the expansion of the solid waste treatment industry, which is necessary to accomplish the goal of “double carbon”.

Qualitative study on sustainability of intervention measures in the Shandong Provincial Department's Joint Salt Reduction Project

Objective: To employ qualitative research methods to evaluate the sustainability of the Shandong-Ministry of Health Action on Salt and Hypertension (SMASH) interventions and their influencing factors. Method: In September 2023, interviewees meeting the inclusion criteria were recruited through purposive sampling in Jinan, Shandong Province. A semi-structured interview guide was designed based on the CFIR and RE-AIM frameworks. Personal in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to gather insights on the feasibility, effectiveness, and sustainability of the project interventions from various stakeholders, including representatives from the government, food manufacturers, restaurants, academia, and residents. Results: A total of 15 individuals participated in in-depth interviews, involving six representatives from food manufacturers, four from restaurants, three from the government, and two from academia. There were four focus group discussions with 30 residents. The study found that at the individual resident level, health awareness and the availability of sodium reduction tools in the market could affect their salt reduction practices. For food manufacturers and restaurants, consumers' preferences, technical challenges in reformulation, and government support were key factors determining the smooth progress of their salt reduction efforts. At the governmental level, multi-sectional coordination, chronic disease management demonstration areas, and the impact of the pandemic were the main factors influencing the implementation of sodium reduction interventions. Conclusion: Future endeavours should strengthen long-term management and optimise the complex influencing factors associated with intervention measures. This will be essential in sustaining and expanding the positive health outcomes achieved through the Shandong population sodium reduction strategy.

Development of fully automated models for staging liver fibrosis using non-contrast MRI and artificial intelligence: a retrospective multicenter study

Accurate staging of liver fibrosis (LF) is essential for clinical management in chronic liver disease. While non-contrast MRI (NC-MRI) yields valuable information for liver assessment, its effectiveness in predicting LF remains underexplored. This study aimed to develop and validate artificial intelligence (AI)-powered models utilizing NC-MRI for staging LF. A total of 1726 patients from Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, registered between October 2003 and October 2022, were retrospectively collected, and divided into development (n=1208) and internal test (n=518) cohorts. An external test cohort consisting of 337 individuals from six centers, registered between June 2015 and November 2022, were also included. All participants underwent NC-MRI (T1-weighted imaging, T1WI; and T2-fat-suppressed imaging, T2FS) and liver biopsies. Two classification models (CMs), named T1 and T2FS, were trained on respective image types using 3D contextual transformer networks and evaluated on both test cohorts. Additionally, three CMs-Clinic, Image, and Fusion-were developed using clinical features, T1 and T2FS scores, and their integration via logistic regression. Classification effectiveness of CMs was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). A comparison was conducted between the optimal models (OMs) with highest AUC and other methods (transient elastography, five serum biomarkers, and six radiologists). Fusion models (i.e., OM) yielded the highest AUC among the CMs, achieving AUCs of 0.810 for significant fibrosis, 0.881 for advanced fibrosis, and 0.918 for cirrhosis in the internal test cohort, and 0.808, 0.868, and 0.925, respectively, in the external test cohort. The OMs demonstrated superior performance in AUC, significantly surpassing transient elastography (only for staging≥F2 and ≥ F3 grades), serum biomarkers, and three junior radiologists for staging LF. Radiologists, with the aid of the OMs, can achieve a higher AUC in LF assessment. AI-powered models utilizing NC-MRI, including T1WI and T2FS, accurately stage LF. National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82071885); General Program of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Education (LJKMZ20221160); Liaoning Province Science and Technology Joint Plan (2023JH2/101700127); the Leading Young Talent Program of Xingliao Yingcai in Liaoning Province (XLYC2203037).

QUALITY OF ACACIA CARPA HONEY AS A POTENTIAL INGREDIENT FOR CHILDREN’S MOUTHWASH

Dental caries is a dental disease that is most often experienced by people. One way to prevent caries is to gargle with mouthwash. Honey has become one of the natural ingredients that can be used as a mouthwash drug content. Jambi Province is one of the provinces that makes honey a non-timber forest product (NTFP). It is necessary to carry out physical and chemical tests on honey to determine the quality of honey as a basic ingredient for mouthwash. The honey samples examined were honey harvested from honey farms in Danau Lamo, Maro Sebo District, Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi Province. This type of honey is Acacia Carpa (Acacia crassicarpa) honey from Apis mellifera honey bee farming. The honey tested consisted of honey that had undergone processing and raw honey. The honey testing carried out consists of organoleptic tests, physical tests and chemical tests. Testing was carried out at the Jambi Province Department of Industry and Trade. The inspection results show test results that comply with SNI 8664-2018 such as water content, water-insoluble solids, ash content, HMF, and diastase enzyme levels. The pH of honey is 3.7 and is in accordance with the honey pH standard. Substances that do not comply with SNI 8664-2018 are reducing sugar levels and sucrose levels. Honey with high sucrose content can still be used as a basic ingredient for mouthwash, but it must be based on the results of clinical trials to ensure its effectiveness and safety

Strategi Kreatif Humas Dinas Energi Dan Sumber Daya Mineral (Esdm) Provinsi Bengkulu Dalam Pengelolaan Media Sosial

This research aims to describe the creative public relations strategy of the Bengkulu Province Department of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) in managing social media. Data collection techniques were carried out using interviews with research informants. The informants in this study were 2 people. The data analysis technique uses qualitative descriptive analysis which consists of data reduction, presentation and conclusions. The research results show that the creative strategy that can be carried out by the public relations of the Bengkulu Province ESDM Service in managing social media instagram@esdmprovbengkulu is based on the theory presented by Oktafiandi (2018:6) which consists of creative brief, massage objective. targeting and branching. For creative briefs, this can be done by paying attention to several steps before creating content, such as the fact-finding, planning, communication and evaluation stages. The message objective aspect is to pay attention to what message you want to convey so that the content created attracts the audience's attention. This can be done by editing photos and video content as attractive as possible. For the targeting aspect, the target in creating Instagram content is the community, while branting can be seen from increasing followers which can be done by carrying out activities that are beneficial to the community so that it can increase followers.

Advancing gender equality through context-sensitive work-family support for breastfeeding: lessons from a participatory intervention in South Africa

ABSTRACT The return to work is a key reason for breastfeeding cessation worldwide. Where workplace breastfeeding support is available, it is shaped by universal policies that overlook local realities and needs. Our collaborative research, involving an academic team and government partners, sought context-specific solutions for supporting breastfeeding in a provincial government in South Africa. Using a participatory approach, we conducted qualitative interviews with 12 government-employed mothers and senior managers. We identified three key challenges to workplace breastfeeding support: (1) Lack of awareness and communicating of reliable information on maternity and breastfeeding rights, (2) Workplace cultures pressurising mothers into silence, secrecy, and supra-performance that perpetuate breastfeeding as ‘taboo’ at work, and (3) Inadequate context-sensitive and practicable interventions for supporting maternity and breastfeeding at work. Based on these findings, we co-created tailored, practical interventions with the interviewees and refined them iteratively to enhance support for workplace breastfeeding. This research informed updates to a provincial government department policy document on workplace breastfeeding support, moving beyond national legislation to create a breastfeeding-friendly workplace. Our study highlights the value of participatory approaches for the development of context-sensitive solutions for workplace breastfeeding support with implications for organizations, social policy, and future research.

현장 사례를 통한 위기협상 발전 방향에 관한 연구 - 협상가 인터뷰를 중심으로

Since the 2010s, negotiation practices within the Korean Police Force have seen substantial advancements. Negotiation teams managed by each provincial police department and those at the national investigation headquarters handle initial responses at scenes. The increased visibility and recognized importance of police negotiation teams have led to more frequent dispatches of negotiation officers and significant successes, such as in the hostage situations in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang Province, and a bakery in Gangnam District, Seoul. However, a persistent preference for tactical responses over trust in crisis negotiation often dominates on the ground, indicating the need for further improvements. The National Police Agency conducts in-depth training sessions biannually to enhance the capabilities of professional negotiators, while provincial police departments focus on basic negotiation training through local educational institutions. Nonetheless, there is a significant shortfall in the training provided to commanders overseeing these operations, resulting in inadequate communication. The reduction of training programs at police educational institutions since 2024 has raised concerns. This study aims to analyze opinions from scholars and practitioners who were directly involved in or active in crisis negotiations, such as the 2017 Hapcheon hostage incident, to identify the challenges encountered in the field and suggest potential improvements.

Examining sustained sub-national health system development: experience from the Western Cape Province, South Africa, 1994-2016.

Governance and leadership are recognized as central to health system development in low- and middle-income countries, yet few existing studies consider the influence of multilevel governance systems. South Africa is one of the many (quasi-)federal states. Provincial governments have responsibility for managing health care delivery within national policy frameworks and norms. The early post-apartheid period saw country-wide efforts to address the apartheid legacy of health system inequity and inefficiency, but health system transformation subsequently stalled in many provinces. In contrast, the Western Cape provincial health department sustained service delivery reform and strengthened management processes over the period 1994-2016. This department can be considered a 'pocket of relative bureaucratic effectiveness': an organizational entity that, compared to others, is relatively effective in carrying out its functions in pursuit of the public good. This paper considers what factors enabled the development of the Western Cape health system in the period 1994-2016. Two phases of data collection entailed document review, participatory workshops, 43 in-depth interviews with purposively selected key informants from inside and outside the Western Cape and a structured survey testing initial insights (response rate 42%). Analysis included triangulation across data sets, comparison between the Western Cape and other provincial experience and deeper reflection on these experiences drawing on POE theory and public administration literature. The analysis highlights the Western Cape experience of stable and astute sub-national governance and leadership and the deepening of administrative and technical capacity over time-within a specific provincial historical and political economy context that sustained the separation of political and administrative powers. Multilevel governance systems can create the space for sub-national POEs to emerge in their mediation of wider political economy forces, generating spaces for skilled reform leaders to act in the public interest, support the emergence of distributed leadership and develop robust management processes.

Efficacy of continuous employee learning and development in the South African public service between 2014 to 2023 era

Modern technologies have intensified innovations and necessitated changes in public service processes and operations. Continuous employee learning development (CELD) is one means of the molecule-atom that keep employees motivated and sustain competitiveness. The study explored the efficacy of CELD in relation to modern technology in the South African (SA) public service departments between 2014 to 2023 era. Departments are faced with challenge of equipping their employees with adequate professional and technical skills for both the present and the future in order to deliver specific government priorities. Data for the study were gathered utilizing a qualitative semi-structured e-questionnaire. The study sample consisted of 677 human capital development practitioners from national and provincial government departments in SA. The inefficacy CELD and the inadequacy of technological infrastructure and service delivery can be attributed to the failure by executive management and senior managers to invest in CELD to prepare employees for digital world. It is recommended that departments should use Ruggles’s knowledge management, Kirkpatrick’s training, and Becker and Schultz’s human capital models as sound measurement tools in order to gain a true return on investment. The study adds pragmatic insight into the value of CELD in the new technological environment in public service departments.

Digital age: The path choice of government-citizen value co-creation

This study explores the relationship between government and citizen in the digital age and proposes a specific path to realize the value co-creation of government and citizen in the digital age. Quantitative analysis of 40 policy texts on “digital government construction” of 30 provincial and municipal governments in China before November 2022 was conducted using NVivo12. The case of Minsheng Cloud revealed that provincial and municipal government departments have not paid sufficient attention to citizen participation. Furthermore, citizens' participation ability and enthusiasm are not high. The study found that in the process of strengthening the construction of digital government, “government optimisation”, “citizen participation”, “governance guarantee”, “data governance” and “government digitization” are the key elements. We discuss the feasibility, necessity and coupling of the value co-creation theory to establish the benign interaction between government and citizens and realize co-creation. We find that the “DART” model can be co-created based on value, and that the continuous Improving the four aspects of “dialogue”, “access”, “transparency” and “risk assessment” will undoubtedly help realize the value co-creation of government and citizens in the digital era, and form a governance pattern of co-construction and sharing. It is therefore of great significance to promote the government's digital construction and digital governance capability to accelerate the construction of digital China and promote the modernisation of the national governance system and governance capability.

The current state of emergency medical services in South Africa: A review

Emergency medical services (EMS) are a vital component of the health system and provide pre-hospital emergency care and specialised transport for patients requiring access to health facilities, thereby contributing to universal health coverage and improving health outcomes. Evidence regarding the current state of EMS within South Africa to fulfil this role is lacking and was the motivation for this review. Our objective was to describe the current state of EMS in South Africa. A literature search was conducted using keywords, BOOLEAN operating terms, and eligibility criteria on Sabinet, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, ProQuest, Medline, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases to find articles related to the components of the EMS system in South Africa. The articles were critically assessed, and six themes emerged: leadership and governance; resources; preparedness (knowledge, attitude, and practices) of the emergency care provider; health and safety; training; and communications. Challenges were found in all themes at a provincial EMS level despite improvements in legislation, leadership, and governance from the National Department of Health. These themes demonstrate that all components in the EMS system are not functioning optimally and may be affecting its contribution to improving universal health coverage and health outcomes. The current state of EMS appears to be constrained and requires greater leadership and governance from the Provincial Departments of Health to improve poorly functioning components of the EMS system.

The organization of provincial control bodies in 1920-1922: based on the materials of the Kursk region

Relevance. In modern conditions, the main directions of reforming control (supervisory) activities are to increase its efficiency and effectiveness, reduce the administrative burden on enterprises and entrepreneurs. The improvement of control (supervisory) activities remains relevant in the context of increased external sanctions pressure. At the same time, the history of the control system, which extended to all types and forms of public administration and economic activity, remains poorly understood in terms of existing regional experience. The study of the formation of control bodies in the Soviet state is of particular practical interest, since it allows accumulating achievements and mistakes of the past, thereby setting benchmarks in the present.Purpose. The study of the experience of organizing socialist control bodies in 1920-1922 on the example of the Kursk provincial branch of the Workers' and Peasants' Inspection.The objectives of the article follow from the set goal and consist in investigating the conditions and methods of work of the Kursk provincial department of the Workers' and Peasants' Inspection during the designated period.Methodology. During the research of the designated topic, the author used both general scientific methods of cognition, such as analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, and special historical methods: problem-chronological, comparative historical.Results. The study of the working conditions of the Kursk provincial department of the Workers' and Peasants' Inspection in the designated period allowed, in historical retrospect, to determine the specifics of the methods used by it, as well as to establish the reasons for the subsequent reforms.Conclusion. The basis for the unification of party and Soviet state control was the analysis of the provincial experience of the RKI in 1920-1922. A significant obstacle to the broader development of both organizational and auditing activities of the Kursk Provincial Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the period under study was the insufficient number and low level of their training.

ICT Adoption and Improving Service Delivery within the Municipalities of the North-West Province, South Africa

The advent of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) has brought rapid communication transformation from analogue to digital. The digital divide poses a greater threat towards community service and rural development, with the government failing to provide effective and efficient communication strategies for service delivery to rural communities. The study found that the North-West province needs to communicate more adequately with its communities, failing to achieve its objective towards its rural communities. Thus individuals within the development communication process are agents of change, not just recipients of a development initiative but active participants and contributors of knowledge and information. Theoretically, the study pegged on, Information Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) which refers to “theories of Change”, not only implying the designation of technologies and diffusion but a multifaceted, dynamic, and contentious socio-economic and technological process. This study employed qualitative techniques and purposive sampling to gather data, through interviews and questionnaires, for both communication directors and community members. Thematic analysis was employed to reach the conclusion of the study. The study recommends that the use of smartphones and M-technology in all provincial departments would enhance their service deliveries and that the introduction of digital platforms such as the North-West Service Delivery App and the introduction of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are essential for effective and efficient socio-economic and technological development of the rural communities within the province. The study will provide insight and add to the current discourse on the importance of ICT adoption for rural development. Keywords: M-Technology, E-Governance, Economic Openness, Municipalities, Rural Development, Artificial Intelligence

Strengthening accountability for tuberculosis policy implementation in South Africa: perspectives from policymakers, civil society, and communities

BackgroundTranslating health policy into effective implementation is a core priority for responding effectively to the tuberculosis (TB) crisis. The national TB Recovery Plan was developed in response to the negative impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on TB care in South Africa. We aimed to explore the implementation of the TB Recovery Plan and develop recommendations for strengthening accountability for policy implementation for this and future TB policies.MethodsWe interviewed 24 participants working on or impacted by TB policy implementation in South Africa. This included perspectives from national, provincial, and local health department representatives, civil society, and community representatives. In-depth interviews were conducted in English and isiXhosa and we drew on reflexive thematic methods for analysis.ResultsParticipants felt that there was potential for COVID-19 innovations and urgency to influence TB policy development and implementation, including the use of data dashboards. Implementation of the TB Recovery Plan predominantly used a top-down approach to implementation (cascading from national policy to local implementers) but experienced bottlenecks at provincial level. Recommendations for closing the TB policy-implementation gap included using phased implementation and enhancing provincial-level accountability. Civil society organisations were concerned about the lack of provincial implementation data which impeded advocacy for improved accountability and inadequate resourcing for implementation. Community health workers were viewed as key to implementation but were not engaged in the policy development process and were often not aware of new TB policies. At local level, there were also opportunities to strengthen community engagement in policy implementation including through community-led monitoring. Participants recommended broader multi-stakeholder engagement that includes community and community health worker representatives in the development and implementation phases of new TB policies.ConclusionsCommunities affected by TB, with the support of civil society organisations, could play a bigger role in monitoring policy implementation at local level and need to be capacitated to do this. This bottom-up approach could complement existing top-down strategies and contribute to greater accountability for TB policy implementation.

Near-infrared II fluorescence-guided glioblastoma surgery targeting monocarboxylate transporter 4 combined with photothermal therapy

Surgery is crucial for glioma treatment, but achieving complete tumour removal remains challenging. We evaluated the effectiveness of a probe targeting monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) in recognising gliomas, and of near-infrared window II (NIR-II) fluorescent molecular imaging and photothermal therapy as treatment strategies. We combined an MCT4-specific monoclonal antibody with indocyanine green to create the probe. An orthotopic mouse model and a transwell model were used to evaluate its ability to guide tumour resection using NIR-II fluorescence and to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), respectively. A subcutaneous tumour model was established to confirm photothermal therapy efficacy. Probe specificity was assessed in brain tissue from mice and humans. Finally, probe effectiveness in photothermal therapy was investigated. MCT4 was differentially expressed in tumour and normal brain tissue. The designed probe exhibited precise tumour targeting. Tumour imaging was precise, with a signal-to-background (SBR) ratio of 2.8. Residual tumour cells were absent from brain tissue postoperatively (SBR: 6.3). The probe exhibited robust penetration of the BBB. Moreover, the probe increased the tumour temperature to 50°C within 5min of laser excitation. Photothermal therapy significantly reduced tumour volume and extended survival time in mice without damage to vital organs. These findings highlight the potential efficacy of our probe for fluorescence-guided surgery and therapeutic interventions. Jilin Province Department of Science and Technology (20200403079SF), Department of Finance (2021SCZ06) and Development and Reform Commission (20200601002JC); National Natural Science Foundation of China (92059207, 92359301, 62027901, 81930053, 81227901, U21A20386); and CAS Youth Interdisciplinary Team (JCTD-2021-08).

Global, regional, and national burden of female cancers in women of child-bearing age, 1990–2021: analysis of data from the global burden of disease study 2021

The global status of women's health is underestimated, particularly the burden on women of child-bearing age (WCBA). We aim to investigate the pattern and trend of female cancers among WCBA from 1990 to2021. We retrieved data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021 on the incidence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of four major female cancers (breast, cervical, uterine, and ovarian cancer) among WCBA (15-49 years) in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) in the age-standardised incidence and DALY rates of female cancers, by age and socio-demographic index (SDI), were calculated to quantify the temporal trends. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the correlation between age-standardised rates and SDI. In 2021, an estimated 1,013,475 new cases of overall female cancers were reported globally, with a significant increase in age-standardised incidence rate (EAPC 0.16%), and a decrease in age-standardised DALY rate (-0.73%) from 1990 to 2021. Annual increase trends of age-standardised incidence rate were observed in all cancers, except for that in cervical cancer. Contrary, the age-standardised DALY rate decreased in all cancers. Breast and cervical cancers were prevalent among WCBA worldwide, followed by ovarian and uterine cancers, with regional disparities in the burden of four female cancers. In addition, the age-standardised incidence rates of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers basically showed a consistent upward trend with increasing SDI, while both the age-standardised incidence and DALY rates in cervical cancer exhibited downward trends with SDI. Age-specific rates of female cancers increased with age in 2021, with the most significant changes observed in younger age groups, except for uterine cancer. The rising global incidence of female cancers, coupled with regional variations in DALYs, underscores the urgent need for innovative prevention and healthcare strategies to mitigate the burden among WCBA worldwide. This study was supported by the Science Foundation for Young Scholars of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital (NO. 2022QN44 and NO. 2022QN18); the Key R&D Projects of Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology (NO. 2023YFS0196); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82303701).

Factors Contributing to the Successful Promotion of Persons with Disabilities at Provincial Departments in South Africa

Persons with disability constitute about 15% of the world population, yet the official unemployment rate is at least twice that of persons without disabilities. The ILO reported that persons with disabilities are mostly underemployed in low-wage jobs with a lack of promotions and poor working conditions than their counterparts without disabilities in the workplace. Many studies conducted focus on the factors affecting the employment of persons with disabilities in general and very few on their successful promotion to higher positions. This paper aims to identify the factors contributing to the successful promotion of persons with disabilities at the selected Limpopo Provincial Department in South Africa. The study is exploratory and adopts a qualitative approach. It focuses on the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) where eighteen respondents were purposively sampled, nine persons with different disabilities and nine human resource officials. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using an interview guide to allow respondents to disclose their thoughts and feelings about promotional experiences. Some interviews were conducted face-to-face and virtually due to time and financial constraints. Data was collected using secondary information such as government policies, reports, prescripts, and publications. Thematic analysis was used, and themes were induced from the interview data. Data was presented in the form of tables and percentages. The study recommends that provincial departments promote a culture of inclusion where persons with disabilities feel valued, respected, and supported in various ways.

The Implication of Financial Literacy Education Integration for Pupils at Primary School in Cambodia

Key Messages The project Cha-Ching “Basic Financial Literacy” has been successful in equipping pupils at primary schools with the necessary knowledge and skills for managing money from an early age. Integration of financial literacy into educational curricula at primary schools, ensuring students are equipped with practical financial skills emphasizing the concepts of Earn, Save, Spend, and Donate to prepare for 21st Century Skills before entering adulthood and support to local life skills needed. Training and support for teachers and pre-service teacher to enhance their understanding of financial concepts and effective teaching methodologies, enabling them to deliver high-quality financial education for pupils at primary school in Cambodia. The Provincial Department of Education, Youth and Sport and the District office of Education, Youth and Sport should consider promoting financial literacy to other schools (public and private schools) and continue to work with the target schools throughout the capacity building and follow-up to ensure newly enrolled pupils received the financial education. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS): 1.) should consider promoting financial literacy by developing a legal framework and guidelines adopting financial literacy into the life-skill curriculum for primary schools. 2.) Consider allocating an annual budget for capacity building and printing of teaching and learning books, and allocating the yearly budget for printing and distributing Cha-Ching’s books for pupils nationwide. The Prudence Foundation or other donors should consider promoting financial literacy and supporting to implementation of the Cha-Ching Money Smart Kids “basic financial literacy” widely at primary schools in Cambodia.

Impact of targeted drug administration and intermittent preventive treatment for forest goers using artesunate–pyronaridine to control malaria outbreaks in Cambodia

IntroductionThe national malaria programme of Cambodia targets the rapid elimination of all human malaria by 2025. As clinical cases decline to near-elimination levels, a key strategy is the rapid identification of malaria outbreaks triggering effective action to interrupt local transmission. We report a comprehensive, multipronged management approach in response to a 2022 Plasmodium falciparum outbreak in Kravanh district, western Cambodia.MethodsThe provincial health department of Pursat in conjunction with the Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control (CNM) identified villages where transmission was occurring using clinical records, and initiated various interventions, including the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets, running awareness campaigns, and implementing fever screening with targeted drug administration. Health stations were set up at forest entry points, and later, targeted drug administrations with artesunate–pyronaridine (Pyramax) and intermittent preventive treatment for forest goers (IPTf) were implemented in specific village foci. Data related to adherence and adverse events from IPTf and TDA were collected. The coverage rates of interventions were calculated, and local malaria infections were monitored.ResultsA total of 942 individuals were screened through active fever surveillance in villages where IPTf and TDA were conducted. The study demonstrated high coverage and adherence rates in the targeted villages, with 92% (553/600) coverage in round one and 65% (387/600) in round two. Adherence rate was 99% (551/553) in round one and 98% (377/387) in round two. The study found that forest goers preferred taking Pyramax over repeated testing consistent with the coverage rates: 92% in round one compared to 65% in round two. All individuals reachable through health stations or mobile teams reported complete IPTf uptake. No severe adverse events were reported. Only six individuals reported mild adverse events, such as loss of energy, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and muscle aches. Two individuals attributed their symptoms to heavy alcohol intake following prophylaxis.ConclusionsThe targeted malaria outbreak response demonstrated high acceptability, safety, and feasibility of the selected interventions. Malaria transmission was rapidly controlled using the available community resources. This experience suggests the effectiveness of the programmatic response for future outbreaks.