The City Of The Nairobi Airport - 1201 Words

The Dreamliner descended through the inky black night into Nairobi. The darkness was broken by the lights of the city and airfield. Touching down around 9:30 local time, I climbed wearily down the stairs and saw my first sight of Africa, the Nairobi airport. It didn’t look especially impressive and I only wanted to sleep because my body ached in a way that only eight hours in an airplane can do. My family was taken to customs; two hours later, we emerged, glad that we had hurdled our first obstacle. After, finding our driver, we had a 45 minute tour on the way to our tent camp. Seeing Africa at around midnight seemed to reinforce some stereotypes and dispel others. Nairobi looked fairly modernized, I saw billboards for cell phones above†¦show more content†¦In addition, the malls, large houses and other businesses all had security guards. They could be picked out at a distance from their navy blue blazers that they wore. In the proportion to the police, there seemed to be far greater numbers of security guards. Two days later, we drove for six hours into Tanzania. The scenery we passes could have come from any Western. The hills were covered in scrub bush and trees were rare. African cattle herds grazed in the hills. The distance was broken by towns that were few and far between. Along the road lay the businesses. Many of the shops had advertisements on them; here, Coke was easily beating Pepsi. Along with numerous Coke advertisements were ones for local cell phone carriers. Martian red was the predominant colour of the brick businesses and between the shops and road lay a three foot deep, uncovered, slabbed storm ditch that looked like it could eat our safari truck. At the border station, we showed our passports in the hot and dusty room and then resumed our trip. Our guide pointed out Mount Kilimanjaro, partially hidden by low wispy clouds that shrouded the its snow topped peak. The road wound between high hills as we traversed part of the R ift Valley. Upon entering Arusha, we saw a bustling city with apartments, green parks and other appointments of a large city. Once past the city center, we turned down a potholed road to our lodge for the night. I was kept up by the sound of monkeys on the roof andShow MoreRelatedKenya Cultural Paper : Kenya1279 Words   |  6 PagesKenya is considered the largest of East Africa and is in period of growth currently. The culture in Kenya is one that has infused the traditional ways of life and that of the modern world. Connected with key infrastructure that includes roads, airports, train lines, ports, energy production, and water sources. At this time Kenya is at a tipping point on the scale, due to insurgent pressures locally and the global impacts of its resurgent economy modernity is within reach. Kenya’s changing governmentsRead MoreSquatter Settlement in Kenya1420 Words   |  6 PagesUNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT Housing Policy Assignment NAME: KIMOSOP KEMBOI ANTHONY EXPLANATION OF THE TERMS A. Squatter Settlement and Homelessness The term squatter is defined is obtained from squat which means to live, build on, utilize, a property of a person without his concern and his approval or without any document of ownership like allotment letter, lease letter or the Title Deed. Dictionary.com defines a squatter as a personRead MoreThe Republic Of Keny A Strategic Advantage2167 Words   |  9 Pageswhich have provided valuable practical experience. The Kenyan Army, headquartered in Nairobi, has additional bases in Eldoret, Gilgil, Nakuru, and Nanyuki. The Kenyan Air Force is approximately 3,000 strong and considered one of the largest in the region. However, their equipment is outdated and in dire need of replacement. Most aircrafts are more than 25 years old. Most Air Force‘s assets are stationed in Nairobi. The other major facility is in the North Country in Laikipia. The Kenyan Navy isRead MoreA Day Trip At The Airport846 Words   |  4 Pagespanicked â€Å"but could this vocation really be that badà ¢â‚¬ , I asked myself. We arrived at the airport in no time. Inside the airplane it was warm and comfortable, the scenery calmed me down a bit and I got comfortable. Time was going as slow as a turtle. Nap was so good but the pilot interrupted with an announcement â€Å"we have arrived at our destination† Kariba Nairobi, Kenya and there was a big sign that said â€Å"Welcome to Nairobi, Kenya†. It was very beautiful, my eyes was watery due to steering at the sign. Read MoreIndustrial Attachment3584 Words   |  15 PagesAND ACCOMODATION ISAGO —IATA SAFETY AUDIT FOR GROUND OPERATIONS IGHC—IATA GROUND HANDLING COUNCIL KAA—KENYA AIRPORTS AUTHORITY KCAA—KENYA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY KRA – KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY KQ—KENYA AIRWAYS TAS —TRADEWINDS AVIATION SERVICES ULD-- UNIT LOAD DEVICE 4.1 INTRODUCTION 4.11 TRADEWINDS AVIATION SERVICES Head Office Tradewinds Aviation Services Limited. P.O.Box42474-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: +254 20 822481 / 804 Fax: +254 20 822066 Cell: +254 722 853784 / +254 735 329151 Email: info@tradewindskenyaRead MoreKeny The Heartland Of Eastern Africa1549 Words   |  7 Pagesremarkable tribal bodies, world organizations with accomplished leaders and much more that grasp travelers’ attention. If adventuresome travelers venture to Kenya, Africa they will most likely arrive in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi; the capital and largest city in Kenya. Kenya offers a memorable view of diverse Geographic’s. Kenya is located transversely over the equator in east-central Africa, along the coast of the Indian Ocean. With borders of Somalia to the east, Ethiopia to theRead MoreThe Bombing Of The United States1058 Words   |  5 PagesCenter in New York City. The planes where hijacked by 19 Al Qaeda terrorists that brought along their weapons , to many Americans the mention of 9/11 can be horrifying with the memories that they might have experienced that day with the site of the twin towers being brought down. Because of the hijacked planes, it destroyed many lives as well as the families that lost someone in that tragedy. The United States has changed since September 11th, 2001 because after new changes in airport security was madeRead MoreThe Conflict Of Ter rorism During The 9 / 11889 Words   |  4 Pagesfor the death of all Americans anywhere on earth as a duty of all Muslims†. This was a direct sign that he planned to attack our country. In 1993 terrorist bombed a garage in New York City (Jacobson: 39). This was just the beginning of terrorist attacks against the United States. In 1998 the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi was bombed killing many innocent people (Jacobson: 46). That same year attempts to control Usama Bin Laden failed. He said he would attack America with commercial airplanes, which is exactlyRead MoreEssay on Terrorism in Kenya3144 Words   |  13 PagesPresident and dictator Idi Amin arrived at the airport to give a speech in support of the PFLP and supplied the hijackers with extra troops and weapons. Idi Amin was humiliated by the surprise raid. He believed Kenya had colluded with Israel in planning the raid and hundreds of Kenyans living in Uganda were massacred soon afterwards. [1] In 1980 terrorists linked to the Palestinian Liberation Organization attacked the Jewish-owned Norfolk hotel in Nairobi killing 15 people, most of them Kenyans. Read MoreOffice Of The National Security Agency989 Words   |  4 PagesIntelligence Agency Analysist) The program quickly moves into the events leading up to September 11, 2001 and the World Trade Center attacks. In November 1996, Al Qaeda contacts are holding a conversation on a satellite phone from a store in New York City; this phone will soon be in the hands of Osama bin Laden. NSA is listening as bin Laden makes a phone call from Afghanistan. Al Qaeda is hard to track, but homing in on this phone now establishes the area where bin Laden is located. NSA collects a

Comparison of Healthcare Policies between France and the US Free Essays

string(144) " in the US or are earning more than the Medicaid limit are allowed federal subsidy when purchasing state-based health insurances \(CDC, 2011\)\." Introduction This essay aims to critically discuss social policies on healthcare between France and the US. Similarities and differences on the social policies of these two countries will be discussed. The first part of this essay aims to explore how public funding for healthcare services in both countries address health inequalities. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison of Healthcare Policies between France and the US or any similar topic only for you Order Now A critical discussion on healthcare services available in both countries and the extent to which universal access to healthcare services is practiced shall also be made. The second part presents the challenges that both countries face in addressing healthcare issues. Healthcare policies that address these issues will also be critically appraised. The third part provides an analysis on whether France and USA are ‘converging’ or following ‘path dependence’ on their healthcare policies. A brief conclusion summarising key points raised in this essay will be presented in the end. Healthcare Services and Public Spending for Healthcare The healthcare system in France is described as a mix of private and public insurers and providers (Cases, 2006). This means that almost the whole population is covered by public insurance, which in turn are funded by employers and employees. In addition to public health insurance, a minority also purchases private insurance to complement existing public health insurances. Private providers support outpatient care while public providers provide inpatient care in hospital settings (Cases, 2006). France enjoys relatively good health compared to the US. The Organisation for Co-operation and Development (OECD, 2013) Health Statistics in 2013 reveals that life expectancy in France is high at 82.2 and is currently ranked third amongst OECD countries. In contrast, life expectancy in the US is amongst the lowest at 78.7 (OECD, 2013). The difference in life expectancy in both countries is a cause of concern since the US has one of the most expensive healthcare systems in the OECD and yet fares worse in health outcomes, including life expectancy(Baldock, 2011). The OECD (2013) notes that compared to France and other large OECD countries, the US spends twice as much per individual on healthcare. Interestingly, public health expenditure for health is highest in the US compared to all OECD countries. However, it does not practice universal healthcare coverage with the public supporting only 32% of the total healthcare cost (OECD, 2011). Individuals eligible for Medicaid include the elderly, families with small children and those with disabilities (Rosenbaum, 2011). Approximately 53% of the US population is covered through the Patient Protection and Affordable Act or Obamacare (Rosenbaum, 2011). Under this Act, employers are required to purchase health insurances for their employees. Only a small portion of businesses pays for full coverage with majority requiring their employees to share in the cost of their health insurances (Rosenbaum, 2011). The OECD (2009a) states that 46 million people in the US are left without public or private health insurance. This could place a significant burden to the US healthcare system that is struggling in providing equitable access to healthcare services in the country. The World Health Organization (2014) explains that equitable access is achieved when individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status, enjoy the same type and quality of healthcare. This is not achieved in the US where statistics (OECD, 2009a) continues to show that high-income groups enjoy better health and appropriately covered by healthcare insurances while those in the lower socioeconomic status continue to have poorer health status. This disparity in health status and healthcare insurance coverage continues to be a challenge in the US. Public spending per capita in the US continues to be the highest in the OECD countries even with the increased participation of the private sector in financing healthcare in the country (OECD, 2013). In recent years, the OECD (2013) observes that public spending across OECD countries continue to decline. On average, healthcare spending of these countries only grew by 0.2% in the last 4 years. While there is a variation on the decrease of public spending, the major reason for the slowdown is due to drastic cuts in health expenditures. In France, the Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) currently covers almost all residents. Until 2000, SHI covered 100% of all residents (Franc and Polton, 2006). Today, almost all of the residents are still covered under SHI. However, a few have purchased private health insurances to complement SHI. Public spending for healthcare is 77.9% while France spends 11.9% of its GDP in healthcare (OECD, 2011). This is in contrast with the US where public spending for healthcare accounts to only 47.7% but spends 17.9% of its GDP on healthcare (OECD, 2011). Interestingly, SHI covers both legal and illegal residents in France. This is opposite in the US where illegal residents are not covered by publicly funded healthcare insurance. There are approximately 21 million immigrants in the US with most having an illegal resident status (Moody, 2011). Health coverage remains to be a concern for this group since they work on jobs that pay very low wages and with no healthcare coverage. Hence, this group is three times more likely to have no healthcare coverage (Stanton, 2006). Currently, this group comprises 20% of the total uninsured population in the US (Moo dy, 2011). The lack of universal coverage in the US suggests that healthcare policies in the US may not be inclusive as opposed to France where almost all residents have private or public health insurance coverage. Rosenbaum (2011) explains that the Patient Protection and Affordable Act or Obamacare is expected to boost healthcare coverage for legal immigrants who are in low paying jobs. However, only legal immigrants who have been in the US for at least five years could qualify for Medicaid or purchase state-based health insurances. Currently, all states in the US have expanded Medicaid coverage to low-income groups. Specifically, a family of four with a combined annual income of $33,000.00 and an individual with $15,800.00 yearly income are now eligible for Medicaid. This legislation provides health coverage to approximately 57% of the uninsured population in the US (CDC, 2011). For legal immigrants who have not reached five years of stay in the US or are earning more than the Medicaid limit are allowed federal subsidy when purchasing state-based health insurances (CDC, 2011). You read "Comparison of Healthcare Policies between France and the US" in category "Essay examples" As opposed to France where illegal immigrants enjoy the same healthcare coverage as legal immigrants and citizens, those in the US on illegal status remain uninsured and could not purchase state-based health insurances (CDC, 2011). Healthcare access for this group is limited to community health centres across the country. It is noteworthy that only 8,500 community health centres are in existence today and yet they cater to at least 22 million people each year (CDC, 2011). Almost half of those who access primary health centres are the uninsured. While hospitals are required by law to provide emergency care for all individuals regardless of their resident status, those who are uninsured do not have health coverage to sustain their long-term healthcare needs (Rosenbaum, 2011). Current healthcare policies in the US might actually promote health inequality since it only provides primary basic healthcare services (CDC, 2011) to the marginalised group, which may include low-income and ethni c groups. In France, The Bismarckian approach to healthcare has been used for several decades but in recent years, there is now an adoption of the Beveridge approach (Chevreul et al., 2010). In the former, health coverage tends to be uniform and concentrated while in the latter, the single public payer model is promoted. In the Bismarckian approach, everyone should be given the same access to healthcare services while the Beveridge model allows for stronger state intervention (Chevreul et al., 2010). This also suggests that tax-based revenues are used to finance healthcare. The mix of both models is necessary to respond to the increasing demands for healthcare in the country and to regulate the increasing cost of healthcare. Chevreul et al. (2010) emphasise that the SHI is now experiencing deficit due to increasing rise of healthcare expenditure in the country. The French parliament, through the Ministry of Health regulates expenditure by enacting laws and regulations. Importantly, France regulates prices of specific medical procedures and drugs (Chevreul and Durand-Zaleski, 2009). This development is crucial since failure to regulate prices could further drive up healthcare costs. However, regulation of prices of medical devices remains to be poor. In a survey (OECD, 2009b), expenditures for medical devices is high and amounts to ˆ19 billion annually. Although it comprises 55% of the pharmaceutical market, increased demand for medical devices have also increased SHI expenditures on these devices (Cases and Le Fur, 2008). It should be noted that only 60% of the medical devices are covered by SHI (Cases and Le Fur, 2008). Regulation of the prices of these medical devices is not as strong as the market for drugs and other major medical equipment. This implies that increasing healthcare costs of medical devices could have an impact on publ ic health spending policies in France. Healthcare Issues and Challenges One of the major issues in both countries is the rising healthcare expenditure. As noted by the OECD (2013), there is a disparity between healthcare expenditure and rising healthcare costs in OECD countries. The average increase in healthcare expenditure only amounts to 0.2% and yet healthcare cost continues to rise. In France, this disparity has promoted the Ministry of Health to increase private insurance of its members to help cover healthcare services not normally covered by the SHI. In the US, the debate on Obamacare and the reluctance of the government to cover illegal residents continue to be a challenge in providing equitable healthcare Meanwhile, high costs of medicines could have an impact on healthcare, especially amongst those who are covered by Medicaid and those who could barely afford state-subsidised healthcare insurances (Moody, 2011). This is in contrast to France where cost containment is in place for medicines. To illustrate the lack of healthcare costs regulations, the US spends more on developing medical technologies, which only benefits a few of the patients. The country is also burdened with high administration and pharmaceutical costs. Doctors in the country are also amongst the highest paid in the OECD countries (Greve, 2013). Moody (2011) argues that cost containment remains to be a problem since lowering down prices of medicines or healthcare costs for beneficiaries of Medicaid would lead to doctors’ reluctance to treat Medicaid patients. The lack of priorities in healthcare spending in the US has resulted in higher spending on certain areas and low spending on others. However, this does not translate to better health outcomes for the whole population. Elderly care is one area where there is high spending but the amount of spending does not necessarily translate to better health outcomes. As noted by Haplin et al. (2010), the elderly are more vulnerable to chronic healthcare conditions, such as dementia, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes. Hence, healthcare costs for this group are relatively higher compared to other members in a community. In a report published by Stanton (2006), approximately 40% of US healthcare expenditure is devoted to elderly care, but this group only comprises 13% of country’s population. It is projected that in the succeeding years, healthcare cost for this group will continue to rise with the ageing of the US population (Stanton, 2006). The same issue is also seen in France, where increasing healthcare cost for the elderly is also expected in the succeeding years (Franc and Polton, 2006). Both countries also lack coordination of care and gatekeeping for the elderly. Although there is an emphasis on elderly care in both countries, lack of continuity of care often leads to poor quality care, duplication of healthcare, waste and over-prescription (Franc and Polton, 2006; Evans and Docteur and Oxley, 2003; Stoddard, 2003). In France, this issue was first addressed through the creation of provider networks and increasing the gate-keeping roles of the general practitioners (GPs). However, the latter was largely unsuccessfully and finally abolished with the introduction of the 2004 Health Insurance Act (Franc and Polton, 2006). In this new legislation, patients have the freedom to choose their own healthcare providers or primary point of contact. Most of the primary points of contact are GPs. This scheme is successful in F rance due to incentives offered to the patients and GPs. This scheme has been suggested to improve the quality of care received by the patients since there is more coordination of care between GPs and specialists (Naiditch and Dourgnon, 2009). This scheme also drives up the cost of visits to specialists and could have influence healthcare financing policies (De Looper and La Fortune, 2009; Naiditch and Dourgnon, 2009). Another issue common to both countries is the competition between hospitals for patients who can afford private healthcare. Consumer demands for healthcare in the US have increased. Hospitals respond by increasing their services to separate them from their competitors (Moody, 2011). For instance, by-products of this competition results to increasing the size of the patient rooms and providing in-house services such as full kitchens, family lounges and business service. All these have not been related to improved health outcomes of the patients. In France, the differences in healthcare costs between publicly funded hospitals and private for-profit hospitals spark a debate on whether common tariffs are the solution to cost containment (Chevreul et al., 2010). Despite the implementation of common tariffs, there is still a growing difference on the healthcare costs between the private and public sectors. Currently, the reform plan Hospital 2007 (Chevreul et al., 2010) states that the obj ective of introducing a common tariff for public and private hospitals has been withheld until 2018. This shows that healthcare policies respond to current trends in health provision in France. ‘Convergence’ and ‘Path Dependence’ Starke et al. (2008) explain that history and institutional context all play a role in influencing healthcare policies in a welfare state. Healthcare policies that tend to be resistant to change illustrate institutionalist or ‘path dependence.’In the event where changes are needed, those that follow ‘path dependence’ change their policies but do so within the boundaries set in the original healthcare policies. On the other hand, healthcare policies that follow the ‘convergence’ pathway or functionalist perspective tend to integrate best practices and are more responsive to social, political and economic changes. Healthcare policies in France and the US tend to follow the ‘convergence’ pathway. The historical context of France reveals that a unitary presidential democracy was established in 1958 (Cases, 2006). In this system, the central government retains sovereignty and policies implemented in local or regional levels are approved by the central government. Despite the practice of central dirigisme, many regions in France have practiced coordination and decenstralisation. Political parties elected to the French government all have a common goal in financing the healthcare system in France. It practices cost-containment by regulating healthcare costs, reducing healthcare demands and restricting healthcare coverage (Chevreul and Durand-Zaleski, 2009). All these cost-containment policies have generally been met with public discontent. In recent years, the introduction of Supplementary Health Insurance enabled the French government to still deliver quality care at reasonable cost. Further, the introduction of direct payment, although reimbursable, also discourages wasteful consumption of healthcare (Chevreul and Durand-Zaleski, 2009). Although changes in healthcare policies tend to be restrictive more than three decades ago, France is now taking the ‘convergence’ pathway in its healthcare system. This suggests that healthcare policies are more responsive to social and economic changes. France also regards its people as equal but retain their freedom to choose a healthcare provider and hospital. The manner of healthcare financing in France allows service users to choose from competing healthcare professionals. Service users could also access specialists due to little gatekeeping in the country (Naiditch and Dourgnon, 2009). All these changes in the France’s healthcare system reflect ‘convergence’ rather than ‘path dependence’. Convergence in healthcare is also shown in both countries through its policies on increasing personal contributions of service users for healthcare (Mossialos and Thomson, 2004). There is also an increasing reliance on private health insurers to bridge the gap in public healthcare delivery. The increasing public-private mix exemplifies convergence. There is also a trend towards community healthcare and decentralisation of healthcare (Baldock, 2011; Chevreul et al., 2010; Blank and Burau, 2007). This trend relies on community healthcare practitioners to provide care in home or community settings. This has been practiced in other developed countries where patients with chronic conditions receive care in their own homes (Chevreau et al., 2010). This approach is also applied when caring for the elderly. Similar to other Welfare states, the US and France are experiencing population ageing. The proportion of the elderly in both countries is expected to rise in the succeeding years (Chevrea u et al., 2010). As mentioned earlier, this translates to increases in health expenditures and cost for this group. Marked increases in health expenditures for this group would mean further reduction on public spending or cost containment. All these could have an impact on public spending in the future and might increase insurance premiums of individuals. There is also the possibility of raising SHI contributions in France or reducing healthcare coverage of Medicaid in the US. Both strategies could fuel public discontent, increase the gap between the rich and the poor and promote health inequalities (OECD, 2008; Starke et al., 2008; Stanton, 2006). Since the main aim of the policies in both countries is to achieve optimal health for all, the realisation of this aim might be compromised with an ageing society. It is also noteworthy that since public funds are bankrolled by taxes, increasing number of elderly could mean reduction in number of employees who are economically productive. This could also lead to lower tax collections and decreased public funding for healthcare. As shown in both countries, healthcare policies are becoming more responsive to the social and economic changes. This does not only suggest a direction towards ‘convergence’ but suggests that this pathway could be the norm for many OECD countries. Conclusion Healthcare policies in the US and France have been influenced by social and economic changes in recent years. Although both aim to achieve universal coverage, it is only France that has achieved this with almost 100% of its citizens covered with healthcare insurance. The US is struggling to meet the healthcare needs of its citizens with almost 46 million still uninsured. Its Obamacare is still met with criticism for its failure to provide public healthcare coverage for most of its citizens. Only the poor and those unable to afford basic healthcare services are covered under Medicaid. In Obamacare, those with marginal incomes could purchase federal-subsidised healthcare insurances. Both countries are also faced with the challenge of an ageing society. The inequitable allocation of healthcare services to this group also promotes social discontent. Almost half of public expenditure is channeled to the elderly, which only comprises 13% of the whole population. The heightened demand for e lderly care, lowered public expenditure on healthcare and increasing healthcare costs have all influenced healthcare policies in the US and France. Finally, the recent changes in the healthcare policies of this country suggest convergence rather than path dependence suggesting that healthcare policies continue to be influenced by social and economic changes in both countries. It is recommended that future research should be done on how ‘convergence’ helps both countries respond to increasing complexities of healthcare in both countries. References: Baldock, J. (2011). Social policy, social welfare and the welfare state. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Blank, R. Burau, V. (2007). Comparative health policy. London: Palgrave. Cases, C. (2006). ‘French health system reform: recent implementation and future challenge’. Eurohealth, 12, pp. 10-11. Cases, C. Le Fur, P. (2008). ‘The pharmaceutical file’, Health Policy Monitort, May [Online]. Available from: http://www.hpm.org/survey/fr/all/2 (Accessed: 27th April, 2014). Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2011). NCHS Data Brief: Community Health Centers: Providers, Patients and Content of Care [Online]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db65.htm (Accessed: 27th April, 2014). Chevreul, K., Durand-Zaleski, I., Bahrami, S., Hernandez-Quevedo Mladovsky, P. (2010). France: Health System Review 2010. France: The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, WHO Regional Office for Europe, World Bank, European Commission, UNCAM, London School of Economics and Politic Science, and the London School of Hygiene Tropical Medicine. Chevreul, K. Durand-Zaleski, I. (2009). ‘The role of HTA in coverage and pricing in France: toward a new paradigm?’. Euro Observer, 11, pp. 5-6. De Looper, M. La Fortune, G. (2009). Measuring disparities in health status and in access and use of healthcare in OECD countries. Paris: OECD (Health working paper 43) [Online]. Available from: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issuesmigration-health/measuring-disparities-in-health-status-and-in-access-and-use-of-healthcare-in-oecd-countries_225748084267 (Accessed: 27th April, 2014). Docteur, E. Oxley, H. (2003). Health-care systems: lessons from the reform experience. Paris: OECD (Health working paper 9) [Online]. Available from: http://www.irdes.fr/Publications/Qes/Qez133.pdf (Accessed: 27th April, 2014). Evans, R. Stoddard, G. (2003). ‘Consuming research, producing policy?’, American Journal of Public Health, 93, pp. 371-379. Franc, C. Polton, D. (2006). ‘New governance arrangements for French health insurance’. Eurohealth, 12, pp. 27-29. Glyn, A. (2006). Capitalism unleashed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Greve, B. (2013). Routledge Handbook of the Welfare State. London: Routledge. Halpin, H., Morales-Suarez-Varela, M. Martin-Moreno, J. (2010). ‘Chronic disease prevention and the new public health’. Public Health Review, 32, pp. 120-154. Moody, K. (2011). Capitalist care: Will the coalition government’s ‘reforms’ move the NHS further toward a US-style healthcare market?’. Capital and Class, 35(3), pp. 415-434. Mossialos, E. Thomson, S. (2004). Voluntary health insurance in the European Union. Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe on behalf of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies [Online]. Available from: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/98448/E84885.pdf (Accessed: 27th April, 2014). Naiditch, M. Dourgnon, P. (2009). The preferred doctor scheme: a political reading of a French experiment of gate-keeping. Paris: IRDES. OECD (2013). Health at a glance 2013: OECD Indicators, Europe: OECD Publishing [Online]. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/health_glance-2013-3n (Accessed: 27th April, 2014). OECD (2011). Human Development Index and its components. Europe: OECD. OECD (2009a). Society at a Glance 2009: OECD Social Indicators. Europe: OECD. OECD (2009b). Health data 2009. Paris: OECD. OECD (2008). Are we growing unequal[Online]. Available at: www.oecd.org (Accessed: 17th April, 2014). Rosenbaum, S. (2011). ‘The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Implications for Public Health Policy and Practice’. Public Health Reports, 128(1), pp. 130-135. Stanton, M. (2006). The high concentration of U.S. healthcare expenditures: research in action, issues 19. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Starke, P., Obginer, H. Castles, F. (2008). ‘Convergence towards where: in what ways, if any, are welfare states becoming more similar?’. Journal of European Public Policy, 15(7), pp. 975-1000. World Health Organization (WHO) (2014). Health Systems: Equity [Online]. Available at: http://www.who.int/healthsystems/topics/equity/en/ (Accessed: 27th April, 2014). How to cite Comparison of Healthcare Policies between France and the US, Essay examples

The Role Of Professional Development For Educators Essay Example For Students

The Role Of Professional Development For Educators Essay Professional development for educators is an important step in learning new ways to educate, implement new practices and administering the best possible outcomes for children s wellbeing. Depending on the child’s circumstances it is also important to search for other means of opinion. In this case accommodating the child’s family and the community in which he or she lives in and advancing towards promoting worthwhile relationships. Relationship building encourages parents in working collaboratively with professionals to create environments of support and enthusiasm around the best interests of the child. As stated in the National Quality Standards (2013), â€Å"the expertise of families is recognised and they share in decision making about their child’s learning and wellbeing† (p. 152). Questions that might help with finding appropriate support for children s learning are for example, what are the best interests of the child when at home? What are the things he/she is good at? When you are out, what do they enjoy the most? Asking questions like this provides insight into the Microsystem and Mesosystem the most influential parts of a child s life. Getting to know the child s likes and dislikes are important in finding ways to implement supportive surroundings. Finding the dominant components of a child s life provides foundation for using the Strengths-based Approach and finding principles of the child’s strengths and abilities, seeing a holistic view of the child, building on the child s abilities in reach of their zone of proximal development. When educators interact with children they become aware of their skills, which establishes â€Å"sustained shared thinking† (DEECD, 2012, p. 10), being able to work together and prompt the . . thinking and strategising to implement transformative ways of coping with challenges. It is technique based upon vision, pedagogy and philosophy. Whereas Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model contains the roles, patterns, rules and beliefs that affect the development of an individual. It’s sole purpose of identifying who we are as a person, the actions we take and our influences that has an impact on an individual’s future. There are some deficits in using the approach model as it can only apply for working towards already learnt abilities and a way to avoid the truth. By all means it is a great approach but there needs to be a commitment from a community of learners who work together to â€Å"become more resourceful in dealing with crises, weathering persistent stresses, and meeting future challenges as opposed to developing dependence on the system† (Hammond, 2010p. 4).

To Comprehend The Unfaltering Love Of Victor Frankl, We Must Essays

To comprehend the unfaltering love of Victor Frankl, we must understand his circumstances. There is no way we can step into his shoes to experience his tragedies, but his vivid descriptions help us vicariously relive his tribulation. He opens a window into his world, and we can actually see the scenes he paints for us. ?The accompanying guards kept shouting at us and driving us with the butts of their rifles,? he says (348). It is difficult to put ourselves in his position of despair. Being forced to do things, in abominable conditions, against our will when our lives depend on it is not something we, as modern Americans, know much about. It may be more difficult to understand how he keeps his hope alive. Frankl clings to the one thing even the Nazis could not take away from him. The love for his wife was a bond even death could not erase. ?There was no need for me to know; nothing could touch the strength of my love, my thoughts, and the image of my beloved,? Frankl writes (349). I think it is wonderful how he can recall his wife's face amidst the chaos around him. He exhibits great discipline in a place of desolation. He has an optimistic approach to the hardships of the day. When the others are moping about, he still thinks about her. In addition, his thoughts take him away from any physical pain he may be experiencing. Even though he is lovelorn, he has the ability to drift to another world though his love (349). What words can describe a love like Frankl's? John Alan Lee writes a typology on different kinds of love. Looking at a few types, we can see qualities that characterize Frankl's love. A touch of eros is apparent, because Frankl can remember what his wife looks like. He describes her smile and look. ?Her look was then more luminous than the sun which was beginning to rise? (Frankl 348). Maybe when they first saw each other, there was a physical attraction. It was probably not an infatuation with looks, because he imagines a conversation with her. They had a very strong relationship, so it is dissimilar to eros in that respect. Furthermore, it would definitely not have ludic qualities that are more fleeting (Lee 302-303). Storge love would most likely be the closet type to their love. Lee describes falling into storgic love, ?with the passage of time and the enjoyment of shared activities? (305). He also mentions how some people based their love on friendship and companionship. I believe this is the love Frankl and his wife felt when they were together. ?A man who has nothing left in this world still may know bliss, be it only for a brief moment, in the contemplation of his beloved? (Frankl 348-349). Even when they were separated from each other, it was a sweet love that Frankl had to get him through that incorrigible time. Also characterized by storgic love, is the incredible strength of the bond. Even when the lovers are apart from each other, it does not stress the relationship as much as other types. Lee gives us the example of Ulysses and Penelope (305). Even though Ulysses had not seen his wife in ten years and had been told she was dead, he still used all his strength to get back home. I am of the opinion that Frankl's love for his wife was this strong. It did not matter whether his wife was dead or not. ?Had I known then that my wife was dead, I think that I would still have given myself, undisturbed by that knowledge, to the contemplation of her image...? (Frankl 349). The love was truly admirable that they had for each other. At the same time, I do not think their love was a mania. He did not experience despair from her absence; instead, it gave him hope. However, if we throw in a bit of agape love, I think this well describes different aspects of Frankl's great love for his wife. Lee defines agape as, ?a generous, unselfish, giving of oneself? (309). The affection Frankl and his wife had for each other was probably like this. I can imagine him doing little things around the house for her that showed how much he cared. It was certainly a love they shared equally. Finally, it would seem to me Frankl's noble love was scarce. Working in the cold ditches everyday must have psychologically then physically killed many men. Those who

Biography of Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria

Biography of Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria Franz Ferdinand (December 18, 1863–June 28, 1914) was a member of the royal Habsburg dynasty, which ruled the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After his father died in 1896, Ferdinand became next in line for the throne. His assassination in 1914 at the hands of a Bosnian revolutionary led to the outbreak of World War I. Fast Facts: Franz Ferdinand Known For: Ferdinand was the heir apparent to the Austro-Hungarian throne; his assassination led to the outbreak of World War I.Also Known As: Franz Ferdinand Carl Ludwig Joseph MariaBorn: December 18, 1863 in Graz, Austrian EmpireParents: Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria and  Princess Maria Annunciata of Bourbon-Two SiciliesDied: June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo, Austria-HungarySpouse: Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg (m. 1900–1914)Children: Princess Sophie of Hohenberg; Maximilian, Duke of Hohenberg; Prince Ernst of Hohenberg Early Life Franz Ferdinand was born Franz Ferdinand Karl Ludwig Joseph on December 18, 1863, in Graz, Austria. He was the eldest son of Archduke Carl Ludwig and the nephew of Emperor Franz Josef. He was educated by private tutors throughout his youth. Military Career Ferdinand was destined to join the Austro-Hungarian army and quickly rose through the ranks. He was promoted five times until he was made a major general in 1896. He had served in both Prague and Hungary. It was no surprise when later, as heir to the throne, he was appointed to be the inspector general of the Austro-Hungarian army. It was while serving in this capacity that he would eventually be assassinated. As a leader of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ferdinand worked to preserve the power of the Habsburg dynasty. The empire was made up of multiple ethnic groups, and for some of them, Ferdinand supported greater freedom for self-determination. He argued for better treatment of Serbia in particular, fearing that suffering among the Slavs might lead to conflict in the region. At the same time, Ferdinand opposed outright nationalist movements that might threaten to undermine the empire. On political matters, it was reported that Ferdinand frequently disagreed with Emperor Franz Joseph; the two had bitter arguments when they discussed the future of the empire. Heir to the Throne In 1889, the son of Emperor Franz Josef, Crown Prince Rudolf, committed suicide. Franz Ferdinands father Karl Ludwig became next in line to the throne. Upon Karl Ludwigs death in 1896, Franz Ferdinand became the heir apparent to the throne. As a result, he took on new responsibilities and was trained to eventually become the emperor. Marriage and Family Ferdinand first met Countess Sophie Maria Josephine Albina Chotek von Chotkova und Wognin in 1894 and soon fell in love with her. However, she was not considered a suitable spouse since she was not a member of the House of Habsburg. It took a few years and the intervention of other heads of state before Emperor Franz Josef would agree to the marriage in 1899. Their marriage was only allowed on the condition that Sophie would agree to not allow any of her husbands titles, privileges, or inherited property to pass to either her or her children. This is known as a morganatic marriage. Together, the couple had three children: Princess Sophie of Hohenberg; Maximilian, Duke of Hohenberg; and Prince Ernst of Hohenberg. In 1909, Sophie was given the title Duchess of Hohenberg, though her royal privileges were still limited. Trip to Sarajevo In 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was invited to Sarajevo to inspect the troops by General Oskar Potiorek, the governor of Bosnia-Herzegovina, one of the Austrian provinces. Part of the appeal of the trip was that his wife, Sophie, would be not only welcomed but also allowed to ride in the same car with him. This was otherwise not allowed due to the rules of their marriage. The couple arrived in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914.​ Unbeknownst to Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, a Serbian revolutionary group called the Black Hand had planned to assassinate the archduke on his trip to Sarajevo. At 10:10 a.m. on June 28, 1914, on the way from the train station to City Hall, a grenade was launched at them by a member of the Black Hand. However, the driver saw something racing through the air and sped up, causing the grenade to hit the car behind them, seriously wounding two occupants. Assassination After meeting with Potiorek at City Hall, Franz Ferdinand and Sophie decided to visit those wounded from the grenade in the hospital. However, their driver made a wrong turn and drove right past a Black Hand conspirator named Gavrilo Princip. When the driver slowly backed up out of the street, Princip pulled a gun and fired several shots into the car, hitting Sophie in the stomach and Franz Ferdinand in the neck. They both died before they could be taken to the hospital. Ferdinand was buried alongside his wife in Artstetten Castle, a royal property in Austria. The car in which they were killed is on display at the Museum of Military History in Vienna, Austria, along with Ferdinands bloodied uniform. Legacy The Black Hand attacked Franz Ferdinand as a call for independence for Serbians who lived in Bosnia, part of former Yugoslavia. When Austro-Hungary retaliated against Serbia, Russia- which was then allied with Serbia- joined the war against Austria-Hungary. This started a series of conflicts that eventually led to World War I. Germany declared war on Russia, and France was then drawn in against Germany and Austro-Hungary. When Germany attacked France through Belgium, Britain was brought into the war as well. Japan entered the war on Germanys side. Later, Italy and the United States would enter on the side of the allies. Sources Brook-Shepherd, Gordon.  Archduke of Sarajevo: the Romance and Tragedy of Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Little, Brown, 1984.Clark, Christopher M.  The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914. Harper Perennial, 2014.King, Greg, and Sue Woolmans.  The Assassination of the Archduke: Sarajevo 1914 and the Romance That Changed the World. St. Martins Griffin, 2014.

Private School Application Essay Tips

Private School Application Essay Tips Applying to private school means completing an application, a process with many components. There are short answer questions, forms to fill out, teacher recommendations to collect, standardized tests to take, interviews that need to be scheduled, and an application essay that needs to be written. The essay, for some applicants, can be one of the most stressful parts of the application process. These eight private school application essay tips just might help you produce the best essay youve ever written, which could increase your chances of getting accepted at your dream school.   1. Read the directions. This seems obvious, but hear me out. Reading the directions carefully can help ensure that you accomplish the task at hand. While most directions will be straightforward, you never know if the school is going to ask you to address specific questions on the given topic. Some schools also require that you write more than one essay, and if you just assume you get to pick from the three options when you were actually supposed to write three short essays, well  that is certainly a problem. Pay attention to word counts that might be given, too. 2. Be thoughtful in your writing sample. Leading off from that last sentence of bullet one, pay attention to the requested word count, you need to be thoughtful in how you approach the assignment. Word counts are there for a reason. One, to make sure that you give enough detail to actually say something meaningful. Dont cram in a bunch of unnecessary words just to make it longer.   Consider this essay prompt: Who is someone you admire and why?  If you simply say, I admire my mom because she is great, what does that tell your reader? Nothing useful! Sure, you answered the question, but what thought went into the response? A minimum word count is going to make you actually put some more effort into the details. Make sure that as you write to reach the word count that you arent just putting random words down that dont add to your essay. You need to actually put some effort into writing a good story - yes, youre telling a story in your essay. It should be interesting to read.   Also, remember that writing to a specific word count doesnt mean that you should just stop when you hit the required 250 words either. Few schools will penalize you for going over or under a word count slightly  but dont obliterate the word count. Schools provide these as guidelines to get you to put in some effort to your work, but also prevent you from going overboard. No admission officer wants to read your 30-page memoir as part of your application, no matter how interesting it may be; honestly, they dont have the time. But, they do want a brief story that helps them get to know you as an applicant.   3.   Write about something that matters to you. Most private schools give you an option of essay writing prompts. Dont choose the one that you think you should choose; instead, opt for the writing prompt that most interests you. If youre invested in the topic, passionate about it even, then that will show through in your writing sample. This is your chance to show who you are as a person, share a meaningful experience, memory, dream or hobby, which can set you apart from the other applicants, and thats important.   Admission committee members are going to read hundreds, if not thousands, of essays from prospective students. Put yourself in their shoes. Would you want to read the same type of essay over and over? Or would you hope to find an essay from a student thats a little different and tells a great story? The more interested you are in the topic, the more interesting your final product will be for the admission committee to read.    4. Write Well. This should be obvious, but it must be stated that this essay should be written well, using proper grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. Know the difference between your and youre; its and its; and there, their, and theyre. Dont use slang, acronyms, or text-speak.   5. Write. Edit/Revise. Read it Out Loud. Repeat.   Dont settle on  the first words you put down on paper (or type on your screen). Read your admission essay carefully, review it, think about it.  Is it interesting? Does it flow well? Does it address the writing prompt and answer any questions that were asked? If you need to, make a checklist of things you need to accomplish with your essay and make sure when you review it that youre actually meeting each requirement. To ensure that your essay flows well, a great trick is to read it out loud, even to yourself. If you stumble while reading it out loud or struggle with what youre trying to get across, thats a sign that you need to revise. When you recite the essay, you should easily move from word to word, sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph.   6. Get a Second Opinion. Ask a friend, parent or teacher to read your essay and give an opinion. Ask them if it reflects you as a person accurately and if you truly completed the requirements on your checklist. Did you address the writing prompt and answer any questions that were asked?   Also get a second opinion on the writing style and tone. Does it sound like you? The essay is your chance to showcase your own unique writing style, tone of voice, personality, and interests. If you write a stock essay that feels cookie cutter and overly formal in nature, the admission committee isnt going to get a clear idea of who you are as an applicant. Make sure the essay you write is genuine.   7. Make sure the work is truly yours.   Taking the lead from the last bullet, make sure your  essay is genuine. This is extremely important. Teachers, parents, admission consultants, secondary school counselors, and friends can all weigh in on it, but the writing needs to be 100% yours. Advice, editing, and proofreading are all fine, but if someone else is crafting your sentences and thoughts for you, youre misleading the admission committee. Believe it or not, if your application doesnt accurately reflect you as an individual, you can jeopardize your future at the school. If you apply using an essay you didnt write (and makes your writing skills look better than they actually are), the school will eventually find out. How? Because its school, and youre eventually going to have to write an essay for your classes. Your teachers will quickly assess your writing abilities and if they dont line up with what you presented in your application, there will be an issue. The private school youve been accepted to may even dismiss you as a student if youre deemed to be dishonest and not capable of managing the academic expectations.   Basically, applying under false pretenses and passing off someone elses work as yours is a major problem. Using someone elses writing  is not only  misleading but can also be considered plagiarism. Dont google sample admission essays  and copy what someone else has done. Schools take plagiarism seriously, and starting off your application like this  isnt going to help.   8. Proofread. Last but not least, proofread, proofread, proofread. Then have someone else proofread. The last thing you want to do is spend all this time and effort to create an awesome private school application essay and then discover that you misspelled a bunch of words or left out a word somewhere and ruin what could have been an awesome essay with some accidental mistakes. Dont just rely on spellcheck either. The computer recognizes both that and than as properly spelled words, but they certainly arent interchangeable.   Good luck!

International payments and settlements currency transactions Essay

International payments and settlements currency transactions - Essay Example Prestigious companies of the stature of Halliburton, Lucent Technologies and Monsanto face allegations of bribery to gain unnatural advantage in business and billions of dollars involved. A discussion on this issue including an assessment of the impact of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development Convention forms 'Section-2' of this paper. The objective of this section is to understand the law and to suggest a way forward for businesses and governments to control this menace. Utilitarian analysis of bribery serves no purpose at all since there is no ground for choosing an option that allows for bribery. International trade involves the exchange of goods and services ('goods') and international payments. There are several ways to make payment for goods received, each involving certain methods and procedures and the inherent advantages and disadvantages. The choice of mode of payment depends upon the contract negotiated between the exporter and the importer. Within this parameter, each partner to the agreement will tend to look for the most cost-effective and secure way of making the transaction. Open account trading is the simplest where the supplier makes an invoice and the buyer pays. Rarely followed in trade, only between the US, UK, and some European countries, and there is no further reference to this mode in this paper. Documentary Collection Exporters, to obtain payment from customers in another country, use the collection services provided by banks. The International Chamber of Commerce has established a set of, standard and internationally accepted, rules known as the 'Uniform Rules for Collection', (1995 Revision, ICC publication No. 522). The bank may be required to handle financial documents such as the bill of exchange or promissory note and other secondary documents like the Bill of Lading, Invoice, Certificates of Inspection and so on. When both types of documents are to be collected, it is called documentary collection. Clean collection is of only financial documents. The crucial financial document is the 'Bill of Exchange'. It is an agreement to pay a fixed sum by the buyer to the seller on a fixed date. It is an instrument made out in writing and signed by the maker (drawer, the importer) directing another person (drawee, usually a bank) to make payment to a third party (payee, the exporter). Called 'Bill of Exchange' in International law, it is called a 'Draft' in the Uniform Commercial Code. A bill of exchange differs from a promissory note, in that, it is a firm commitment to pay rather than a promise to pay and a third party - the drawee is involved. A bill of exchange may also be subject to meeting certain conditions by the payee. A draft has no value unless the Importer accepts it. However, the payment made immediately (Sight Draft, or Documents against Payment D/P) or at a mutually agreed future date, endorsed on the draft (Time Draft, or Documents against Acceptance D/A, or Usance). The advantages of this mode of payment are: It is relatively safe for exporter offering a measure of protection. The