Promote the wellbeing and resilience of children Essay

1.1 Explain 5 factors that can influence the wellbeing of children and young people. 1.Social – The social environment will influence the child’s wellbeing – it can affect how a child is perceived by others, eg, if a child comes from a economically deprived area, people my think that they are unlikely to achieve, and refer to stereotypes rather than judge each child on their own merits 2.physical – If a child has a physical disability, they will require extra support to enable them to perform to their best potential, without it they may not develop their social skills, have fewer job opportunities and will ultimately affect their wellbeing. 3.Poor diet –a poor diet will affect a young person in many ways – a lack of a balanced diet will stop the child receiving essential vitamins and minerals required for a healthy lifestyle, it can also have a negative impact on the child’s physical development. A poor diet involving too much food will affect the child just as much. Too much food, coupled with a lack of exercise, can lead to lots of medical issues EG, obesity, the onset of childhood diabetes etc. It may also affect the child’s social skills development and community involvement. 4. Lack of rest/Sleep – a lack of sleep, either through parental influences (neglect, abuse or simple poor parenting) or through choice (staying up late to watch TV, playing on video games etc) will have a huge influence on a child’s wellbeing. 5.Lack of preventative health measures – This will affect the wellbeing of children. Not immunising against common, and potentially serious diseases and infections such as: measles, mumps, rubella or meningitis can cause very  serious side effects and in extreme circumstances even death. 1.2 Why is it important to encourage resilience in children and young people? Building resilience in children and young people is very important as it helps gives them a way of coping with negative experiences and helps them to become independent, empathetic and responsible. Resilience in a child will help them to become confident, improve problem solving and the ability to deal with both their own emotions and those of others. 1.3 Using examples from your setting analyse effective ways of promoting wellbeing and resilience. We promote wellbeing and resilience in our setting by: Keeping them safe (secure environment, appropriate staff ratios, DBS checks on all staff etc) Listening to their opinions – residents meetings, key work sessions Involving them in decisions that affect them – Independent multi-agency reviews, key working sessions etc Encourage opportunities – offer physical activities, help with opportunities for developing hobbies and interests or group activities Involve parents where appropriate in planning Promote independence 1.4 Using examples from your setting describe ways of working with carers to promote wellbeing and resilience in children and young people. I work in a residential Children’s home. As carers we promote the wellbeing of our service users by: Circulating pertinent information to colleagues to ensure a consistent approach happens Keeping them safe (secure environment, appropriate staff ratios, DBS checks on all staff etc) Listening to their opinions – residents meetings, key work sessions Involving them in decisions that affect them – Independent multi-agency reviews, key working sessions etc Encourage opportunities – offer physical activities, help with opportunities for developing hobbies and interests or group activities Involve parents where appropriate in planning Promote independence – cooking, cleaning, planning and budgeting skills 2.1 Explain why social and emotional identity are important to the wellbeing and resilience of children. Social and Emotional identity are important to a child’s wellbeing and resilience as it helps children and young people to recognise and value their place in the family, the community and wider society by developing a sense of belonging and citizenship. It helps them to form positive relationships and feel emotionally secure by having a positive self image. Young people with a positive self image will have a greater disposition to learning. 2.2 Using 5 examples from your setting explain how you can support children and young people to identify with their own self-image and identity. 1.We ensure every child is represented in displays, posters and other materials 2.The children and young people are given the opportunity to dress in a way that reflects their own self image and individualism 3.We show recognition of respect for individuality of the child and plan activities accordingly 4.We also encourage the young people’s cultural and ethnic networks, and celebrate all cultures and ethnicities within the unit. 5.We also promote life story work, work as positive role models and encourage the same from visitors and visits to relevant establishments. 2.3 How do you encourage children and young people to recognise and value their own abilities, talents and achievements? I try and spend time with the young people i am assigned to work with to talk  about their thoughts and needs. This is either through 1-2-1 discussions or through activities. I will always try and encourage the young person to be open and honest, while being open and honest in return. I try and encourage focus on the positives – their strengths and achievements rather than weakness and failure. We celebrate success and progress and show that skills developed in one area can be transferred into another. 2.4 Using examples from your own practice describe how you support children and young people to be involved in decisions. We hold monthly residents meetings where all sorts of things are discussed, including trips and activities, rules and best practise, menus etc. I always encourage the young people to participate in these meetings and make their views heard. During Key worker sessions, we get the young people to ‘buy in’ to plans by encouraging them to formulate the plans themselves, and agree a way in which these can be monitored. 2.5 Explain how goals and targets you have identified for individual children in your setting contribute towards building the self esteem of the child or young person. Completion of targets and reaching goals give children and young people a sense of achievement and success; has a positive impact on the self- Esteem and motivation of child or young person; goals should be challenging but realistic and achievable for child or young person. Setting realistic S.M.A.R.T targets at Valley View helps both with the young person’s self esteem and their behaviours, reducing the negative behaviours also has the knock on effect of helping with self esteem. 3.2 Explain how a solution focused approach will encourage children and young people to have a positive outlook on their lives. A solution focused approach gets a child or young person to look at how they would like to see their future. This focus allows a child or young person to look at what is going well for them, and identify the actions they need to take to continue on in way to achieve their preferred future. This will help the child and young people develop a sense of responsibility and will allow them to identify benefits of taking a positive approach to their life, and the choices they make, it will also allow them to identify the negative aspects  in their life and give them the opportunity to change these for the better.

An Assessment of Nhif Utilization in Kiwanja Market

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE UTILIZATION OF NHIF BY RESIDENTS OF KIWANJA MARKET, KAHAWA WEST LOCATION, KASARANI DIVISION IN NAIROBI. Presented by: Ann Mwangi Registration number: I30/2160/2006 A research proposal submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Science (nursing and public health) in the school of health sciences of Kenyatta University. February, 2010. DECLARATION STUDENT’S DECLARATION This proposal is my original work and has not been presented for any academic award in any other University or college. Signature†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Date†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Name: Ann Mwangi Registration number: I30/2160/2006 SUPERVISOR’S DECLARATION This proposal has been submitted for review with my approval as a university supervisor. Signature †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Date†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Name: Mrs. Makworo Department: Nursing sciences. ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS NHIF National Hospital Insurance Fund MOH Ministry of Health CAP Chapter HMOs Health Management Organization UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund KIPPRA Kenya institute for public policy research activities and analysis OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS Health care- Goods and services used as inputs to produce health. In some analyses one’s own time and knowledge used to maintain and promote health are considered in additional to conventional inputs. Used synonymously with Medicare in this study. Health maintenance organization (HMOs) –It is a managed care plan that integrates financing and delivery of a comprehensive set of health care services to an enrolled population. HMOs may contract with or directly employ health care providers. Social insurance – It’s a government insurance programme in which eligibility and premiums are not determined by the practices common to private insurance contracts. Premiums are often subsidized and there is typically redistribution from some segments of the population to others. Health care financing- Refers to paying or funding of health care services provided or to be provided. It is not Medicare per se that consumers want but health itself. Medicare demand is a derived demand for an input that is used to produce health. Health care consumers do not merely purchase passively from the market, but instead produce it, spending time on health improving efforts in addition to purchasing Medicare input. ABSTRACT The National Hospital insurance Fund (NHIF) is an important aspect of healthcare financing through social health insurance in Kenya. It was established by the government of Kenya (GoK) in 1966 as a social insurance fund. At its inception, the NHIF was meant to assist GoK employees to gain access to higher quality private hospitals, thereby relieving congestion in the free public hospitals. The NHIF has mainly focused on the formal sector employees in the past around four decades. This has left those employed in the informal sector. This study is attempts to analyze and understand the demand for social health insurance of the informal sector workers in Kiwanja market by assessing their perceptions and knowledge of and concerns regarding National Hospital Insurance Fund. It will serve to explore how more informal sector workers could be integrated into the NHIF scheme. The research design to be used will be a descriptive cross-sectional study. The area of study is Kiwanja market in Kahawa west location. The study population will include Kiwanja residents above 18 years of age, and employed in the informal sector. The sample size will be 76 as determined using a standard statistical formula and the respondents selected through cluster sampling. A structured questionnaire will be used to collect data. Pretesting of the data collection tool will be done in Kihunguro area in Ruiru. The data collected will be entered, coded and keyed into variables using SPSS version 12- computer software and excel computer packages. Quantitative data will be analyzed using SPSS version 10 computer software. Presentation of quantitive information will be done using statistical packages (graphs, charts, tables and pie charts). The findings, conclusions and recommendations of this study will be very important in formulating awareness campaigns and educational materials that will enable the residents of Kiwanja in the informal sector of employment to realize the significance of NHIF programmes in financing their healthcare. TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATIONii ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMSiii OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONSiv ABSTRACTv CHAPTER ONE1 1. 0 INTRODUCTION1 1. 1Background to the study1 1. 2Statement of the problem4 1. 3Justification of the study5 1. 4 Research questions5 1. 5 Objectives of the study6 1. 5. 1 Broad objective6 1. 5. 2 Specific objectives6 1. 6 Research assumptions6 1. 7Significance of the study6 CHAPTER TWO7 2. 0 LITERATURE REVIEW7 2. 1 Social health insurance7 2. 2 Healthcare financing through health insurance in Kenya9 2. 2. 1 The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). 10 2. 2. 2 Membership to NHIF10 . 2. 3 Mode of Payment11 2. 2. 4 Benefits and cover11 2. 2. 5 How to access benefits11 2. 2. 6 Accredited hospitals12 2. 2. 7 Milestones12 2. 2. 8 The future of NHIF12 2. 3 Factors influencing utilization of social health insurance services. 13 2. 3. 1 Feasibility analyses of social health insurance14 CHAPTER THREE20 3. 0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY20 3. 1 Research design20 3. 2 Study area20 3. 3 Stud y population20 3. 4 Inclusion and exclusion criteria20 3. 4. 1 Inclusion criteria20 3. 4. 5 Exclusion criteria20 3. 5 Sampling technique and sample size21 3. 5. 1 Sample size determination21 . 5. 2 Sampling technique22 3. 6 Data collection procedures22 3. 6. 1 Research instruments22 3. 6. 2 Pre testing22 3. 6. 3 Data collection process22 3. 7 Data management23 3. 8 Limitations of the study23 3. 9 Ethical considerations23 REFERENCES24 WORK PLAN FOR THE STUDY. 26 BUDGET27 APPENDICES28 INSTRUMENT FOR DATA COLLECTION (QUESTIONNAIRE)28 CONSENT FORM31 MAP OF STUDY AREA32 CHAPTER ONE 1. 0 INTRODUCTION 1. 1Background to the study The concept of National Hospital insurance Fund (NHIF) is an important aspect of healthcare financing through social health insurance in Kenya. In a developing country like Egypt, the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) is prominent among many health institutions involved in health financing and provision, and a key player in the country’s health sector reform programme. It was established in 1964 as the institution in Egypt responsible for social health insurance, providing compulsory health insurance to workers in the formal sector (Abd et al. , 1997). One of the overall goals of the Government of Kenya is to promote and improve the health status of all Kenyans by making health services more effective, accessible, and affordable. Therefore health policy in the country revolves around two critical issues, namely: how to deliver a basic package of quality health services, and how to finance and manage those services in a way that guarantees their availability, accessibility and affordability to those in most need most health care (Kimani, Muthaka, and Manda, 2004). On achieving independence in 1963, the Government of Kenya (GoK) committed itself to providing â€Å"free† health services as part of its development strategy to alleviate poverty and improve the welfare and productivity of the nation (GoK press, 1965). This pledge was honored in 1964 with the discontinuation of the pre-independence user fees, and the introduction of free outpatient services and hospitalization for all children in the public health facilities. Services in the public health facilities remained free for all except those in employment whose expenses were met by their employers (Owino, W. and Were, M. , 1998). Through financial support from the central government, strategies were developed to expand the health infrastructure and support the entire health system. The GoK established NHIF in 1966 as a social insurance fund. At its inception, the NHIF was meant to assist GoK employees to gain access to higher quality private hospitals, thereby relieving congestion in the free public hospitals. The NHIF has mainly focused on the formal sector employees in the past around four decades. This has left those employed in the informal sector. Structural reforms and poor economic growth have increasingly pushed labor into the informal and small scale agriculture sectors where livelihoods are often insecure and incomes are low and uncertain (Kimani, Muthaka, and Manda, 2004). As a way of reaching out to those in the informal sector and the poor, the government plans to transform the current NHIF to National Social Health Insurance Fund (NSHIF). The aim is to ensure equity and access to healthcare services by the poor and those in the informal sector, who have been left out for the last forty years that the NHIF has been in existence. It is also expected that the new scheme will increase healthcare services utilization, which has suffered under cost sharing, by extending benefit package to also cover outpatient care. The current cost sharing will be replaced by pre-paid contribution into the new scheme (Kimani, Muthaka, and Manda, 2004). The principal choices for financing a health care system are: general revenues, social insurance funding, and private insurance financing and out of pocket payments. General revenue financing here refers to a system of revenue collection through a broad based tax. All or portion of this tax may be dedicated to the health care system . general revenues may be raised at the federal, state, provincial, or local levels. According to the United Nations system of national account, 1993, Annex IV par. 4. 111, an insurance programme is designated as a social insurance programme if at least one of the following three conditions is met: a) Participation in the programme is compulsory either by law or by conditions of employment. b) The programme is operated on behalf of a group and is restricted to group members. c) An employer makes a contribution to the programme on behalf of the employee. National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) is therefore a social insurance financing in Kenya. NHIF’s core function is to collect contributions from all Kenyans earning an income of over Ksh 1000 ($12) and pay hospital benefits out of the contributions to members and their declared dependants (spouse and children) Whilst ensuring that Kenyans of all walks of life have access to quality and affordable healthcare, NHIF operates under the social principle that â€Å"the rich should support the poor, the healthy should support the sick and the young should support the old. 2. Statement of the problem The GoK established NHIF in 1966 as a social insurance fund. At its nception, the NHIF was meant to assist GoK employees to gain access to higher quality private hospitals, thereby relieving congestion in the free public hospitals. The NHIF has mainly focused on the formal sector employees in the past around four decades. This has left those employed in the informal sector (Republic of Kenya, 2003a). There exists an information gap on informal sector Kenyans utilization of NHI F services, in instances where studies focus on informal sector employees, NHIF is a social health insurance and an important aspect healthcare financing in Kenya that is often neglected or not fully explored. Majority of studies carried out; focus on utilization of NHIF services across general Kenyan population irrespective of the employment sector. This has led to formulation of healthcare financing programmes that do not address the specific needs of Kenyans in the informal sector. More so, tools of analysis by most relevant studies are limited to univariate and bivariate analysis falling short of examining the net effect of selected background and intermediate factors negatively impacting healthcare accessibility and utilizations by workers in the informal sector of employment. The study is designed to assess the level of knowledge and utilization of NHIF in Kiwanja market because it is an area whose majority of residents are in the informal sector of employment. 3. Justification of the study Taking into considerations the existing information gap on utilization of NHIF services by informal sector employees, it is important to undertake this study in Kiwanja market to establish the awareness level and its use. Kiwanja market is a densely populated area behind Kenyatta University. Majority of Kiwanja residents are in the informal sector. The study is designed to identify the potential hindrances of utilization of NHIF services in Kiwanja residents in the informal sector and ways of how to remove them. The study seeks to explain and provide a systematic body of knowledge that can be explored for appropriate policy formulation, to act as an eye opener and reminder to both the NHIF management team, and other stakeholders to raise the utilization of NHIF services by the informal sector in Kenya. Knowledge deficit regarding NHIF benefits and use to finance health care contributes greatly to the high mortality and morbidity rates due to poor health seeking behavior (Inke et al. 2004). Provision of information and raising awareness on NHIF benefits and use will reduce significantly the number of pregnant women delivering at home due to lack of funds to pay for hospital delivery. 1. 4 Research questions The research questions for the study will be: a) How informed are the members of Kiwanja market about NHIF benefits? b) Wha t percentage of Kiwanja market residents use NHIF services and are in the informal sector? 1. 5 Objectives of the study 1. 5. 1 Broad objective To assess the awareness on NHIF benefits and utilization of NHIF services by Kiwanja market residents. . 5. 2 Specific objectives a) To find out the knowledge level of Kiwanja residents about NHIF. b) To determine the number of Kiwanja residents who are NHIF beneficiaries. 1. 6 Research assumptions The residents of Kiwanja market are knowledgeable about health care financing, they are aware about NHIF benefits but they do not use it because they think it is only meant to benefit those people in the formal employment sector. 7. Significance of the study This study aims at finding out if Kiwanja residents utilize NHIF services. In addressing the objectives, the study will identify the level of utilization of NHIF services, factors influencing its utilization and come up with ways of addressing any shortcomings that will be identified and help in improving NHIF services utilization. The findings, conclusions and recommendations of this study will be important in formulating awareness campaigns and educational materials that will enable the residents of Kiwanja in the informal sector of employment to realize the significance of NHIF programmes in financing their healthcare. This study attempts to find out the awareness on NHIF benefits and use by residents of Kiwanja market. It will therefore benefit the residents of Kiwanja and empower them to acquire their human right of health care. CHAPTER TWO 2. 0 LITERATURE REVIEW 2. 1 Social health insurance The concept of health insurance was first proposed in 1694 by Hugh the Elder Chamberlen from the Peter Chamberlen family. In the late 19th century, â€Å"accident insurance† began to be available, which operated much like modern disability insurance. This payment model continued until the start of the 20th century in some jurisdictions (like California), where all laws regulating health insurance actually referred to disability insurance. During the 1920s, individual hospitals began offering services to individuals on a pre-paid basis, eventually leading to the development of Blue Cross organizations. The predecessors of today's Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) originated beginning in 1929, through the 1930s and on during World War II (Weber, 1994). A health insurance scheme is social when it subsidizes the poor, the elderly and the sick, and when it promotes equity and access to everyone and not for profit. The core values in social health insurance embody a concern for the plight of the poor. In social insurance financing, health services are paid for through contributions to a health fund. The most common basis for contributions is payroll, with both the employer and the employee paying a percentage of the salary. In general, membership to a social health insurance schemes is mandatory, although it can be voluntary to certain groups such as the self-employed. The health fund is usually independent of the government but works within a tight framework of regulations. Premiums are linked to the average cost of treatment for the group as a whole, not to the expected cost of care for the individual (Conn , 1998). While there is no universally accepted definition of what â€Å"social insurance† is, Kraushaar and Akumu (1993) outline some broad characteristics, which are generally agreed upon. These are: a) Coverage is generally compulsory by law ) Eligibility for benefits is derived from contributions having been made to the programme c) The benefits for one individual are not usually directly related to contributions made by that individual but often those benefits aim to redistribute income between different income groups. This redistribution is usually from the rich to the lower income groups or from those with few to those with many dependants. Equity of benefits regardless of payment is the rule. d) There is generally a plan or the financing of benefits that is designed to be adequate in the long term. ) Governments manage nearly all such social insurance organizations. f) Revenues go fully and unchallenged to health and are not controlled by the treasury in a given country. Conn and Walford (1998) explain the rationale for health insurance in a low-income country with the following three arguments: a) Attracting additional money for health. This is so because health insurance is perceived as an additional source of money for healthcare. Consumers are more enthusiastic about paying for health insurance than paying general taxation as benefits are specific and visible. ) Getting better value for money because consumers are more able and prefer to pay regular, affordable premiums rather than paying fees for treatment when they are ill. c) Improving the quality and targeting of healthcare. Historically, HMOs tended to use the term â€Å"health plan†, while commercial insurance companies used the term †Å"health insurance†. A health plan can also refer to a subscription-based medical care arrangement offered through HMOs, preferred provider organizations, or point of service plans. These plans are similar to pre-paid dental, pre-paid legal and pre-paid vision plans. Pre-paid health plans typically pay for a fixed number of services. The services offered are usually at the discretion of a utilization review nurse who is often contracted through the managed care entity providing the subscription health plan. This determination may be made either prior to or after hospital admission (Weber, 1994) 2. 2 Healthcare financing through health insurance in Kenya Health insurance in Kenya has been provided by both private and public systems. The main objectives of the he health systems have been to insure Kenyans against health risks that they may encounter in future. Health insurance is considered private when the third party (insurer) is a profit organization (Republic of Kenya, 2003a). In private insurance, people pay premiums related to expected cost of providing services to them. Therefore people who are in high health risk groups pay more, and those at low risks pay less. Cross-subsidy between people with different risks of ill health is limited. Membership is usually voluntary. Public health insurance in Kenya is provided by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (Kimani, Muthaka, and Manda, 2004). 2. 2. The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). The NHIF was established in 1966 under chapter (CAP) 255 of the Laws of Kenya to be run by an Advisory Council appointed by the Minister of Health. The NHIF was established in 1966 under CAP 255 of the Laws of Kenya to be run by an Advisory Council appointed by the Minister of Health. It catered for salaried employees earning Kshs. 1, 000 and above per month, making a monthly contribution of Kshs. 20/= . In 1972 an amendment was made to incorporate voluntary members (self-employed) at a monthly contribution of Kshs. 0/=. In 1998, Cap 255 was repealed and replaced by the NHIF Act No. 9 of 1998 which transformed the fund to a State Corporation managed by an all inclusive Board representing various stakeholders and interest groups (Republic of Kenya, 2003a). 2. 2. 2 Membership to NHIF Membership to NHIF is open to all Kenyans aged 18 years and above earning a monthly income of kshs. 1000 or an average yearly income of kshs. 12, 000. There is no upper ceiling for the age. 2. 2. 3 Mode of Payment Employers effect deductions and remit to the fund by cheque or cash, and E-banking. Members in the informal sector pay in any of the NHIF offices Kshs. 160 per month for informal sector members. Members in the informal sector pay in any of the NHIF offices. All payments should be received by the 9th of the following month. For retirees/self employed persons payment for the year may be paid upfront; quarterly, semi-annually and/or annually. 2. 2. 4 Benefits and cover a) It covers all admission cases with few exceptions such as circumcision with no medical checkup required. b) Covers member, spouse and children under the age of 18 year. ) Children over 18 yrs and in learning institutions are also covered d) It covers for 180 days of hospitalization in a year. NHIF pay a daily rebate which ranges from Ksh. 400/= to Ksh. 2, 200/= Foreign claims. The number of other spouses is not limited and depends on the ability to pay for them. 2. 2. 5 How to access benefits Through presentation of the following to hospital on admission: Current NHIF Card- both manilla and photo card , Certificate of Contributions Paid (CCP) receipt and the national Identity card. The accredited hospitals deduct the daily rebate X number of days of hospitalization from the incurred bill. While for the contracted hospitals under category A, the entire bill is made by the Fund, the Fund reimburses member for costs incurred to the extent of the daily rebate if for one reason or another he /she is unable to use the card in Hospital. All claims should be received within 90 days after hospitalization. 2. 2. 6 Accredited hospitals Four hundred and fifteen health care providers have been enlisted across the country to provide services to NHIF beneficiaries under various contracts. Accreditation by NHIF is based on certain set standards and criteria for purpose of NHIF benefits. Quality Assurance and Standards Department consistently monitors the quality of services. 2. 2. 7 Milestones Increased rebates up to a maximum of 2,200 depending on hospital accreditation. It has an extensive branch network with 27 branches, satellite and window offices. It offers decentralized services, computerized operations and services and has a quality assurance and standards department in place. 2. 2. 8 The future of NHIF NHIF in future will use magnetic stripe card in hospitals to access benefits, introduction of diversified product lines, and further expansion of branch network. The ministry of health has designed a mandatory social health insurance scheme which seeks to transform the NHIF into a National Social Health Insurance Fund (NSHIF) to provide health insurance cover to both outpatients and inpatients. The main objective of the fund is to facilitate the provision of accessible, affordable and quality healthcare services to all its members irrespective of their age, economic or social status (Republic of Kenya, 2003c). 2. 3 Factors influencing utilization of social health insurance services. In most economically advanced countries, adequate social security laws are basically taken for granted. However, it often took many decades for social security systems to benefit all or major parts of the population in those countries. In the area of social health protection, for example, it took Japan 36 years to move from the enactment of the first health insurance law to the final law establishing nation-wide social health insurance. In the United Kingdom, a similar time period was needed to achieve its universal tax-based system (Inke et. al. 2004) Social Health Insurance (SHI) is not a widely adopted health financing mechanism in Africa. While there are many countries that operate a health insurance scheme for civil servants and/or private sector employees only some of these include features of a SHI, its appeal to cover larger parts of the population has been growing. Countries including Ghana, Nigeria and Rwanda have passed SHI laws. Earlier on, Kenya investigated the feasibility of SHI and Lesotho and Swaziland are doing so now. One distinct feature is that it does not call exclusively on public finance, but instead spreads the responsibility of health care financing among households and the private sector as well. From that point of view, tax-based systems in Africa are particularly challenged: the overall tax base may need to be strengthened, tax compliance may require improvement, and then a sufficient allocation towards health would have to be called for. Still, social health insurance is not a panacea either. It requires that an important organizational apparatus be put in place and that many actors in society shoulder critical responsibilities, such as the willingness and ability to contribute to the SHI scheme and then to comply with its regulations, thereby accepting a certain degree of financial solidarity (Kimani Muthaka ,and Manda, 2004). Aiming at universal health coverage for its 9. 5 million populations, Rwanda has spearheaded the development of a number of schemes that together constitute its SHI system. The three most important ones are the Rwandaise d'assurance maladie (RAMA), the Medical Military Insurance (MMI) and the Assurances Maladies Communautaires (AMCs). The RAMA social health insurance is compulsory for government employees and voluntary for private sector employees. Its contribution rate is 15% of basic salary (shared equally etween employee and employer). MMI covers all military personnel, who pay a contribution rate of 22. 5% of basic salary (5% paid by employee and 17. 5% by government). AMCs are community-based health insurance schemes whose members are mainly rural dwellers and informal sector workers in both rural and urban areas. They make up the majority of the population; by the end of 2007 about 5. 7 million Rwandans were covered by AMCs. Members usually contribute 1000 Rwandan Francs (1. 5 US$) per person per year which is matched by the government (Stilglitz, J. E. , 2000) 2. 3. 1 Feasibility analyses of social health insurance Since 2002, the WHO has been involved in technical advisory work especially on assessing the feasibility of SHI in Kenya, Lesotho and Swaziland in collaboration with national experts from those countries. In each country we analyzed the financial, organizational and political feasibility. Below we present some of the highlights of this work that should help us in formulating general guidance (Inke et. al. 2004) In Kenya, one basic financial scenario was that of gradual implementation of universal health coverage: coverage by a possible National Social Health Insurance Fund (NSHIF) would reach 62% of the population after 10 years, with further expansion in the second decade of SHI implementation. An important feature is that such a scenario would only be conceivable with sizable government subsidies. Without such subsidies, access to health car e among low-income households would be jeopardized, as the contributions From formal sector employees and civil servants would be insufficient to cross-subsidize the needed health care of the poor. External donors' financial support, however, could alleviate this extra financial burden on government. In fact, a variant of the basic scenario assumes that external donors would finance the provision of antiretroviral therapy, which would reduce the required government subsidies by about 20%. As far as the organizational aspects are concerned, it was studied whether the existing National Hospital Insurance Fund, a mandatory hospital insurance scheme for the formal sector with a small part of voluntary insurance for informal sector workers, might be transformed into the NSHIF. The latter would then be governed by a Board of Trustees with representatives from civil society. It is also interesting to note that the proposed NSHIF would include a Department of Fraud and Investigation in order to check the fund's financial activities. Civil society groups and enterprises such as the Post Office would also be given a role, especially in the collection of contributions from households in the informal sector (Inke et. al. , 2004) Concerning its political feasibility, consultations were held with a great number of stakeholders and interest groups, and most were supportive of the proposed NSHIF. Only Kenya's private Health Maintenance Organizations were very critical and had doubts about NSHIF feasibility. Finally, in 2004, the Kenyan Parliament passed a law on the NSHIF. However, President Kibaki judged it still needed amendments and returned it to Parliament for further debate that is still ongoing. Nonetheless, with a long-term vision, the existing National Hospital Insurance Fund is undertaking a number of institutional changes to increase membership and extend benefits so as to be better prepared should SHI take off (Inke et al. 2004) Factors which influence the use of NHIF services in Kenya include: ignorance, socio-economic factors, cultural factors, and demographic factors. Services information availability and accessibility also determines the utilization of social health insurance. Owino and Were (1998), in their study of enhancing healthcare among the vulnerable groups in Kenya ,found out that higher levels of awareness on health insurance, was associated with gre ater use of social insurance and thus better healthcare among the vulnerable people. In another study , a poverty survey by the UNICEF and overseas development Agency in 1995/96,it was found that user fees in Kenya made visits to government facilities prohibitively costly as the poor were required to make payments to reach the registration table, instead of using social insurance rebates. Worse, after the payments, the patients were asked to provide paper for record purposes. These costs could have been covered less difficultly by NHIF or more so NSHIF were they well informed of the benefits and the ease of membership. The study by Mwabu and Wang’ombe (1995) showed that the introduction of outpatient fees in Kenya’s public hospitals reduced the demand by a large proportion, and concluded that introduction of fees, or any upward revisions should be preceded by investments to raise quality of services and a well worked system of health insurance. The people should then be well sensitized on the benefits of joining into health insurance schemes. Huber (1993) did a systematic assessment of outpatients requiring exemptions, based on data from surveys in three districts in Kenya. The calculation was based on information on the household’s ability to pay. The study established the criteria for determining ability to pay on the assumption that households do not need to pay more than 5% of their annual incomes on healthcare from their pocket fees. As a result, households with cumulative health expenditures greater than 5% were assumed to qualify for the exemptions. The main conclusion from the study was that, it is not possible to tell who cannot pay fees by personal characteristics and so all people of the entire population should be enlightened on social insurance schemes such as NHIF and be encouraged to be members even when they are self employed. In a study carried out in Kenya (coast province) by Inke Mathaue (2007), on assessment affecting health services demand: extending social health insurance to informal sector in Kenya. Inke found out that, in the sum mix of the demand-side determinants can be addressed with a well designed strategy, focusing on awareness raising and information, improvement of insurance design features and setting differentiated and affordable contribution rates. In another study done by Mwangi W. M. and Mwabu, G. M (2006) on health care financing in Kenya: simulation of welfare effects of user fee, they found out that the introduction of user selective contribution charges would improve social insurance programmes such as the NHIF. The National Hospital Insurance Fund is the most important health insurance program in Kenya. Membership is compulsory for all civil servants. As of 1990, contribution levels proved insufficient to meet hospital costs and the government was planning to broker private health insurance policies. The government is continually improving and upgrading existing health facilities and opening new ones. Private health institutions account for 60% of total medical equipment and supplies (import value). Kenya also has a well-developed pharmaceutical industry that can produce most medications recommended by the World Health Organization (republic of Kenya, 1999) In order to increase the utilization of NHIF services, we need to raise the awareness on NHIF benefits to the people of Kiwanja market majority of who are struggling to pay for healthcare from their pockets. This study therefore, sets out to assess the utilization of NHIF services and identify factors that hinder its use by Kiwanja residents. The Government of Kenya has addressed the issue of inequalities and poor performance in a number of policy documents. The efforts made under the First Health Sector Plan (1999-2004) did not contribute towards improving Kenya’s health status. In 2005, the Second Health Sector Strategic Plan was implemented. This will run until 2010. In order to improve the funding of the healthcare system and to give more Kenyans access to better healthcare, the Ministry of Health is planning to introduce a National Social Health Insurance Fund (NSHIF). This is a social insurance scheme to which everyone will contribute, without exception. CHAPTER THREE 3. 0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3. 1 Research design The study will be a cross-sectional descriptive study which will assess the awareness of the residents of Kiwanja market on NHIF services and benefits. 3. 2 Study area The research will be carried out in Kiwanja market which is located behind Kenyatta University, approximately 2 kilometers from the Nairobi –Thika dual carriage highway. 3. 3 Study population The study population will include Kiwanja market residents who are in the informal sector employment, who have attained the age of 18 years and earn an income of at least one thousand shillings per month. Kiwanja market has a total population of approximately 28,000 and about 5600 households as per the records in the chief’s office of Kahawa west location. 3. 4 Inclusion and exclusion criteria 3. 4. 1 Inclusion criteria The study will include Kiwanja market residents, who are self employed or employed in the informal sector. The respondents to be included must have attained the age of 18 years and consented to be used as respondents in the study. 3. 4. 5 Exclusion criteria The study will exclude students of Kenyatta University residing in Kiwanja market, residents under 18 years of age, and those who will decline to give consent. 3. 5 Sampling technique and sample size 3. 5. 1 Sample size determination The sample size will be determined by using the standard sample size calculation formula by Mugenda and Mugenda, 2003. nf = [pic](Mugenda & Mugenda, 2003) Where: nf =desired sample size (If the target population is 10,000) =the proportion of the target population estimated to be in the informal sector taken as 50% z =Standard normal deviation which is 1. 96 at 99 % level of confidence q=1 – p=1-0. 5=0. 5 d=Degree of accuracy desired is 0. 08 (Fischer et al, 1998) n=the desired sample size (when the target population is ;10,000) N=the population of Kiwanja resident households which is 5600 n =1. 962 ? 0. 5 ? 0. 5 0. 082 =76. 64 nf= 5600=75. 60 therefore sample size=76 1+ (5600/76. 64) 3. 5. 2 Sampling technique Cluster sampling technique will be used till an adequate sample size is achieved. Kiwanja market area will be divided into four clusters of approximately 1400 households each. There will be cluster A, B, C, and D. cluster A will be on the eastern part of the safaricom booster, cluster B will be on the western part of the safaricom booster while clusters C and D will be north and south of the booster respectively. Each cluster will contribute 25% of the sample size thus 19 respondents will be issued with the questionnaires. 3. 6 Data collection procedures 3. 6. 1 Research instruments A structured questionnaire will be used to collect data during the study. 3. 6. 2 Pre testing Pre testing of the study tool will be done at Kihunguro area in Ruiru town. 10% of the sample size will be used to test the data collection tool. 3. 6. 3 Data collection process A structured questionnaire will be issued to the respondents after an informed consent is given. The first respondent per cluster will be identified through simple random sampling technique and the next subjects will be selected by snowball sampling until a sample of 19 is obtained. Field editing will be done to the raw data obtained. . 3. 7 Data management Data categorization and coding will be carried out during preparation of the questionnaires. The data collected will be entered, coded and keyed into variables using SPSS version 12- computer software and excel computer packages. Quantitive data will be analyzed using SPSS version 10 computer software. Presentation of quantitive information will be done using statistical packages (graphs, charts, tables and pie charts). 3. 8 Limitations of the study Time will be limiting factor as the time frame for the study is short compared to the workload that will be involved in the study. Due to inadequate time and limited resources, it will be impossible for the study to be carried out in the entire Kahawa west location. This therefore will make generalization impossible because of using only one locality for the study. The researcher will also be disadvantaged in terms of personnel in that the researcher will be the only one carrying out the study with no assistants involved. 3. 9 Ethical considerations The researcher will ensure the following ethical considerations: i. Introductory letter from Kenyatta University, Department of Nursing Sciences. ii. Letter of authorization from chief of Kahawa west location.. iii. All respondents will give informed consent before being interviewed. iv. Confidentiality will be maintained. The researcher will provide feedback to the gatekeepers in the community (chief) and Kenyatta University, Department of Nursing Sciences REFERENCES 1. Abd El Fattah, H. I. Saleh, E. Ezzat, S. El-Sahaty, M. El Adawy, A. K. Nandakuma, C. Connor, H. Salah(1997). The health insurance organization of Egypt: An analytical review and strategy for reform. Technical report No 43. Bethesda, MD: Partnerships for health reform project, Abt Associates Inc. 2. Arrow, K. J. (1963). †Uncertainty and the welfare economics of medical care. † American Economic review. 3. Inke Mathauer, Guy, C, Doetinchem, O. , Joses, K, Laurent, M. (2004). Social health insurance: how feasible is its expansion in the African region, ISS, Rotterdam. 4. Kraushaar, D. (1994). † Health insurance: what is it, how it works. † Financing districts Health Services international workshop 5. Kraushaar. & O. Akumu (1993). â€Å"Financial sustainability of health programmes: the role of the national hospital insurance fund. † Nairobi: Government of Kenya. 6. Manda, Kimani. D. , (2004) Healthcare financing through health insurance in Kenya: the shift to a national social health insurance fund. Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research Activities and Analysis (KIPPRA), Nairobi, Kenya. . Republic of Kenya (2003a). The National Social Health Insurance Strategy. Prepared by the Task Force on the Establishment of Mandatory National Social Health Insurance. 8. Republic of Kenya (1999). Kenya Gazette supplement, Acts, 1999. The national hospital insurance fund Act, 1998. Nairobi: government printer. 9. Republic of Kenya, (1997). Econom ic survey. Nairobi: government printer. 10. Shaw, P. (1998) Financing healthcare in the sub-Saharan Africa through user fees and insurance. World bank 11. Stliglitz, J. E. (2000). Economics of the public sector (third edition). W. W. Norton 12. World Bank (1993). World development report 1993: investing in health. Oxford university press. 13. Techlink International (1999). A renewed NHIF: final report manual. WORK PLAN FOR THE STUDY. |Task | Months | | | |January |February |March |April | | | | | | | | | | | | |Preparation, and approval of proposal |Wk 1 | |Purchasing stationery |500 | |Transport |1500 | |Proposal preparation |2,000 | |Data collection |3,000 | |Data processing and analysis |2,000 | |Lunch |1500 | |miscellaneous |1500 | |Total |12,000 | APPENDICES INSTRUMENT FOR DATA COLLECTION (QUESTIONNAIRE) Instructions Please tick ( ) in the brackets representing the most appropriate response. Additional informational can also be given in the provide spaces or at the back of the questionnaire. 1 a) How old are you? (In complete years) 18-24years ( ) 25-34 years ( ) 35-44years ( ) 44years and above ( ) b) What is your gender? Male ( ) female ( ) 2. What is your highest level education? Never gone to school ( ) primary school ( ) secondary ( ) post secondary education ( ) 3. What is your religion? Christian ( ) Muslim ( ) Baha’i ( ) other (please specify)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 4. What is your marital status? Single ( ) married ( ) divorced ( ) separated ( ) single parent ( ) widowed ( ) other (please specify)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 5 a) what is your main occupation? Self employed ( ) civil servant ( ) ? 6. Have you ever heard about NHIF? YES ( ) NO ( ) b) How many dependants do you have? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 7. IF Yes in question 6 above, where did you hear about it? ) Heard from a friend b) I am a beneficiary or a member if NHIF c) My parents are members of NHIF d) At my place of work 8. Are you a National Hospital Insurance Fund member or beneficiary? Yes ( ) No ( ) 9. If yes in question 9 above how do you rate NHIF services in the scale below out of ten:0-3 poor ( ) 3-5 below average ( ) 5-7 good ( ) 7-10 very good ( ) 10. If no in number 9 above, please tick as appropriate the reason why you are not member or beneficiary of NHIF a) I have never heard about NHIF b) I do not know the benefits of NHIF c) There is no branch of NHIF in Kiwanja market d) I am not employed in the formal sector. 11. If you are a beneficiary of NHIF, would you like to be a member? Yes ( ) no ( ) 12 If no in number 11 above, please as appropriate the reason why. a) I am not employed in the formal sector. b) There is no branch of NHIF in Kiwanja market. c) I have to think about it first and consult my husband about it. d) The monthly contribution is too much for me. 13. If yes in number 11 above, how many beneficiaries will benefit from your cover? None ( ) my spouse ( ) my children ( ) my parents ( ) other†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 14. Do you think that NHIF services will ease your burden of financing healthcare for you and your family and significant others? Yes ( ) no ( ) 15. Would like to be an NHIF member? Yes ( ) no ( ) 16. If yes in the above no. 15 do you know what requirements for becoming a member are? Yes ( ) no ( ) 17. If no in number 16 above, why? a) Because I have just learnt about NHIF now. b) Because I have never had a chance of accessing information about NHIF membership before. c) Because I have always thought NHIF is for those in the formal sector. d) I would like some brochures from NHIF on benefits, cover, and how to contribute to the insurance scheme. 18. If you are a member of NHIF have you ever used their services? Yes ( ) no ( ) 19. If no in the above question 18, why? ) I have never been hospitalized. b) None of my beneficiaries have been hospitalized. c) I did not know how to place my claim of cover. d) The process of accessing benefits is too long for me. 20. If yes in the above question 18, where did you use it? a) In a government facility. b) In a mission hospital. c) In a private hospital. d) In a referral h ospital such as Kenyatta National Hospital. e) Other (please specify)†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 20 if yes in question 18 above how did you find NHIF services? a) Average b) Good c) Very good d) Excellent Thank you very much for being a respondent and for your much cooperation. CONSENT FORM Researcher’s confirmation. I am Ann Mwangi, a Kenyatta university student pursuing a Bachelor’s of science degree in Nursing and Public Health. I am carrying out a study on utilization of NHIF services in Kiwanja market, Kahawa west location in Kasarani Division. I kindly request your permission to interview you. Confidentiality will be guaranteed. Your names will not be required. Signature of researcher†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Date†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Respondent’s consent I have been fully informed about the nature of the study and I hereby give my consent to any information which is required of me. Signature of respondent†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Date†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. MAP OF STUDY AREA [pic] ———————– Kiwanja Market

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Marketing - Essay Example A brand is said to be enjoying a strong position only when it has a valued place in the mind of a customer and that place is so unique and credible that a competitor would not be able to replicate it easily. Starbucks has been able to immune itself from rival onslaughts by effectively highlighting the points-of-difference and points-of-parity with competition and projects itself as a special place that promises not only exquisite coffee but also an ambient and benevolent environment ideal for free flow of opinions and languid conversations. However, it must be mentioned that my initial attraction towards Starbucks was essentially due to the perfect coffee served almost instantaneously by a brightly smiling attendant. If the basic product Starbucks served was not up to the quality it promised, all promotional campaigns would have surely had a negative and perhaps hostile reaction from me. The associated benefits of a fabulous ambience later became more visible and I have spent hours i n a Starbucks outlet sipping coffee and browsing the internet on my laptop courtesy uninterrupted and lightning fast Wi-Fi connections that are available for free.

Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Report - Assignment Example This in turn would aid in taking decisions in an organization effectively. Discussion Combination of Both, the Text Chapter and Journal In today’s competitive business world, it is vital for every association to analyse the external along with internal settings before making any final decision. With reference to the book i.e. ‘Organisational Behaviour, An Introductory Text’ by Huczynski and Buchanan it can be viewed that the writers have underlined the significance of studying an environment in an business as it aids in making decisions that do help in mitigating a risk arising situation. This in turn facilitates to make effective strategies and policies to deal with any future risks. Moreover, the writers have also helped in understanding that conducting study to implement certain policies within a business may fail at times as it would not provide a detailed analysis of the outer world which comprises the changing trends, demands and all those factors that may a id a business to achieve its desired goals. The aspect of impression management has also been delineated as a crucial element as establishing a brand image has become vital for every organisation to maintain a substantial customer retention rate (Huczynski & Buchanan, 2001). With reference to the journal i.e. ‘The Interorganizational Virtual Organisation’ by Kasper-Fuehrer and Ashkanasy, it can be viewed that the author here explains the importance of establishing virtual organisation (VO) in today’s commercial world. Additionally, the journal mainly highlights the importance of establishing interrogational forms that focus on establishing a cooperative purview to attain individual organisational goals. However, the journal article has also stated the importance of intra-organisational form. The main reason behind selecting this journal is that it has not only facilitated in understanding the different forms of virtual organisation but has offered evidences regar ding the way in which the establishment of VO can aid an organisation in every sphere (Kasper-Fuehrer & Ashkanasy, 2003). Self-Reflection With emergence of globalisation and the rapid technological proliferation, today’s businesses are growing at a rapid speed. It has therefore become vital for every business corporation to understand the external environment as it helps in making effective decisions along with enabling to identify techniques and potential impacts of the external trends. This external force mainly includes change in demand, change in technology, increasing competitiveness of the competitors, environmental policy and laws among others that have a direct influence on the internal operational characteristics of an association (Marcin & Wojciech, 2013). In this context, I would like to state that I have been a part of an organisation that mainly emphasised following contingency theory as an integral part of the operational activities. On close analysis, I have co me know that the main reason behind following the theory within the organisation has been owing to its acceptance factor that facilitates a business to analyse the environment along with making its sure that the proposed plan meets all the current requirements of the environment.

Making Government Intervention Work for Leadership Research Paper

Making Government Intervention Work for Leadership - Research Paper Example Whereas, it not possible for the government to undertake various risks and investments alone, through leveraging excessive bureaucracy rule and other policies it helps the leaders to undertake and implement change initiatives, by taking technological advancement benefit, innovativeness and risk bearing capacity and adequate capital gaining ability., This will improvise the students and institutional outcomes, by increasing recognition so as to provide the best possible education to the learners. In the present education system, it has become a general trend for the local, state, and federal government to get involved in the higher education institutions that in turn has disrupted the process of implementing change policies. The education system is one of the crucial aspects for developing the economy of a country. The governments are responsible in order to ensure that the citizens are protected with the implementation of stringent education polices. In order to satisfy this role of the government, various responsible agencies are emphasizing the enactment of effective policies to protect the citizens. In the present scenario, the education system is funded mostly by the government and is virtually governed through governmental or by non-profit organization. Contextually, local, state and federal government have less emphasis over the operations of higher education. Nevertheless, when they interfere, a large impact is imposed in the education system for the overall effectiveness. Education is one of the most important aspects for overall development and this is the reason for which government is setting its main priority over it (American Council on Education, 2014). The paper intends to address the in volvement of local, state, and federal government in higher education institutions, which distract leaders from accomplishing their intended goals. Further the discussion will be made about how government

Anthropology is holistic in including the study of humans as both Essay

Anthropology is holistic in including the study of humans as both biological organisms and as cultural of social organisms - Essay Example Right from its definition, anthropology describes the study of all spheres of humankind. Anthropology studies the overall human society by examining the broad vista of the human life right from the origin of mankind to the modern forms of life taking into consideration various salient features such as the variations in cultural disposition in different societies around the world as well as the entire man’s social life. In addressing the complex human life, anthropology explores the corners of the entire block by dividing the human society into four main blocks which include: the human politics, the socioeconomic configuration of the human society, the religious perspectives in the diverse human life and the aspect of the general ideology in man. This gives a holistic perspective in elaborating the entire panorama in understanding man in his changing interrelationships with each other as well as with the surrounding environment. Besides, anthropology studies the contemporary so ciety by paying a keen visit to the man’s past or history and evolutionary processes further giving it a holistic approach in relating man’s past with the present in order to come up with an all round description of the human society giving it a better understanding in a chronological manner (Washburn). In dealing with the human society, anthropology views the society in two main perspectives: man’s biological environments as well as his cultural environments. The biological anthropology deals with the study of human origins from a biological point of view while the cultural anthropology studies man’s cultural backgrounds usually along a historical path. Biological anthropology as a sub branch of anthropology, deals with the study of the corporeal growth in human genus hence playing a very crucial role in the learning of human beginnings as well as in the identification and classification of human fossils to reconstruct the theory of man’s evolutio n from a scientific point of view. It borrows more from the human body capacity (anthropometrics), human genetics as well as from human osteology. Besides, anthropology helps in categorizing man and other primates based on the study of their brain evolution and development over time in order to come up with a chronological account in reconstructing the changes in human society (Marks). Moreover, biomedical anthropology as a sub branch of anthropology has also contributed immensely in the anthropological exploration of the biological world in relation to the medical field. Even though this is mainly well developed in the United States where biomedical anthropology holds a higher rank, the sub discipline adequately helps in relating medicine and anthropology by incorporating ideas and knowledge from the biological and medical anthropology sub-disciplines. Thus, it can be strongly argued that biomedical anthropology has contributed in improving medical and biomedical sciences through t he holistic integration of the cross- cultural, behavioural and epidemiological points of view on health related matters. As an academic discipline therefore, biomedical anthropology has been closely related to human biology. Biology can also be closely linked to the typological studies in anthropology. Typology in anthropology deals with the categorization of the human kind based on the physical traits possessed by each person. These include those traits that can be readily

The Value of Life Coaching in Uncertain Economic Times Article

The Value of Life Coaching in Uncertain Economic Times - Article Example In fact, everyone tries to maximize his or her benefits at the expense of others since the resources available for the affluent metropolitan lifestyle of the middleclass are scarce and costly. How could one achieve things and conquer life without compromising on lifestyle and personal affluence Once again, the world is facing a financial recess with all its severities and retrogressive effects on the lives of the hard-working people from around the world as it occurred at the time of the Great Depression. Share markets are collapsing. National economies are being bankrupted. The employed looses his/her job on one fine morning and finds nothing for subsistence and survival. How could one still think of a successful career and what could be done for guaranteeing a life with dignity The sophisticated efforts of human resource development that aims to address the complexities life in twenty first century has led to the spawning of innovations such as life coaching. Life coaching enables one to churn one's own life in difficult times with the help of a trained professional as it becomes necessary to 'born again' in order to fight back against the vicissitudes of life in the new millennium. Life coaching not only brings about changes in ones life that could provide him with a place in the class of the fittest that are capable of survival but also empower the trained to sustain such desired changes. Life coaching enhances both physical and mental capabilities and potentials in order to make one competent enough to be successful in all the spheres of life ranging from material to spiritual. Therefore, eminent theorists such as Zeus and Skiffington define life coaching as 'structured and process-driven relationship between a trained professional and an individual to achieve valuable and sustainable changes in life'. Life coaching as a tool of self-realization in this world is designed to assist persons who want to become No.1s at multiple arenas of life such as career, education, relationships, status, health and happiness. It is important to note that life coaching is sought after by professionals and white-collar employees who always seek to go beyond where they are actually placed in and acquire skills that they presently do not have. Significantly, life coaching does not see life in its parts but validates it as something qualitatively and quantitatively greater than its parts. The strength of life coaching lies in the fact that it is a holistic approach towards solving difficult problems in life. One cannot solve the problems s/he encounters at one particular field of life alone since living difficulties are interrelated and interdependent. Therefore, life coaching advocates a combination of techniques and solutions while encountering a particular hardship in life. To be precise, life coac hing is not merely solving one or another problem faced by a person but reforms and renovates a person and redefines his/her existence. One who undergoes such an experience will not be infested by the residues of the 'old' life but will be radiating with the energies of new life. One who gets life coaching could substantially alter his/her abilities, attitudes, values, emotions, and aspirations. Thus, a change from within would lead the person to emancipation and empowerment in the social setting s/he is happened

There are varying views as to the role of a Human Resource Function Essay

There are varying views as to the role of a Human Resource Function and its practitioners. Explore what these roles are and analyse how they can add value and enhance organisational effectiveness - Essay Example long with internationalisation, wider adoption, as well as execution of pioneering technological advancements and prevalence of extreme business market competition among others. It is strongly believed that the different functions of HRM predominantly plays an imperative role in supporting the organisations belonging to this modern day context in the dimensions of raising greater value to the customers and improvising their operational effectiveness (Aswathappa, 2005). In this similar context, the different functions of HR are managing the activities performed by the personnel of an organisation in an effective manner, motivating people and integrating the organisational objectives with the requirements of the personnel engaged in realizing the organisational objectives (Amos & et. al., 2009). Apart from these, the other vital functions of HRM entail utilising the available resources efficiently, making decisions as per the requirement and retaining the potential people among others (Randhawa, 2007). With this concern, the essay intends to discuss about the varied theoretical models of HRM in order to determine its functions that add value and enhance organisational effectiveness by a considerable extent. The models would be then compared with others in order to acquire a brief understanding about the above stated subject matter. Critics have certainly argued that the field of HRM lacks in establishing a logical theoretical framework, which restricts in determining the actual roles played by varied HR functions towards the attainment of long-term as well as short-term objectives of an organisation. However, it is witnessed that there exists certain HRM based theoretical models that provide a better understanding about the effectiveness of diverse HR functions, which lay a significant impact on the overall performance of an organisation in a long run (Wright & McMahan, 1993). In this similar context, the different theoretical models relating to the field of HRM

Film Critique Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Film Critique - Movie Review Example The three main women characters in the film are: Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock), Gertrude (Malin Akerman) and Grandma Annie "Gammy" (Betty White). One can easily identify that these female characters are different in their roles. For instance, Margaret Tate is dominating, Gertrude is down to earth, and Grandma Annie represents the upper crust. But Krevolin (2011), points out that â€Å"For an example of an energeiac structure that didn’t work, take the Sandra Bullock romantic comedy, The Proposal† (p. 69). This comment does not prove that the film was a flop within the film field. Margaret Tate, working as an editor in a book publishing company is the central female character in the film. One can easily identify that her life is fully immersed in the field of book publishing industry. Her role in the film is as a dominating character that is able to control all her subordinates including Andrew Paxton, her subordinate. Etaugh & Bridges makes clear that â€Å"Many women seek to achieve success and better their own lives through individual efforts† (p. 467). Her attitude towards her subordinates irritates them but she does not consider changing her attitude. In the film, her function is to be a bold lady with immense power to control her subordinates according to her will. Meanwhile, she came to know that the authorities are going to deport her to Canada. But she was not ready to give up and decided to seek the help of her subordinate, Andrew Paxton. But Etaugh & Bridges makes clear about gender equality that â€Å"As more and more women attain levels o f power currently held by men, gender equality will begin to affect other areas† (p.461). Later, she went to Sitka to prove that she is married to Andrew Paxton. This incident proves that Margaret Tate is ready to face challenges in her life. In the opening of the film, Margaret Tate is presented as an

The Global Economy Essay Example for Free

The Global Economy Essay The world economy is mostly described by globalization. Globalization is the growth and development of economies all over the world. This is integration and interactions of world’s greatest economies and the development of the emerging market economies. Globalization is not new, since it has existed for thousands of years in terms of the oldest long distance trade across Asia and Europe. Many large corporations have invested in businesses in other counties (multinational businesses) implying that the current characteristics of globalization existed even before the First World War. The recent technological developments (especially ICT-information and communication technology) and economic policies are the major stimulation factors that contributed to increased globalization (Maddison 2001). Current policies aimed at bringing about disinflation have significantly opened up countries’ economies both locally and globally. This is because after the Second World War, most nations were motivated to start developing their economies since they had lost most of the resources in the war. The most effective policy was the adoption of free market systems which significantly improved the rate and volumes of productivity in their regions of origin and opened up numerous international markets as many barriers to free trade and commerce had been reduced. Economic Growth The world economy is the concern of every nation, because every country has some dependence of others. For such a reason most countries comply with economic policies aimed at improving world economy hoping to improve their own. The world market opened up with the opening of free market in the individual states that had split from the former Soviet Union plus other nations of the Eastern Europe (Maddison 2001). The Eastern Europe was very critical player for increased globalization in the 1990s. Most of the nations in the region joined the world trade organization and played a significant role as a supply foundation in to the western countries. China’s role in the cold war was a swift one and by the time the cold war was culminating, it had established itself in Asia as the economic stronghold serving as a market and supplier to Japan and other developed nations in the region (Maddison 2001). Inflation Structural changes in the global financial market have influenced the international, market environment in terms of prices of consumer products. Development and innovative technology plus anti-inflation policies adopted by many nations also played a significant role in the disinflation development. The inflation rates in the Group of eight G-8 countries (United States, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, Britain, Russia and France) countries declined by about 3-4%, these countries are the greatest economies in the World (Maddison 2001). In 1990s the world experienced a change in disinflation rates reflected by a notable increase in the supply of products to the world market as a result of the rapid industrialization in the emerging market economies. Poverty Reduction The developing nations have improved considerably and have found a place in the world economy as critical players. These countries have actually increased the value of global economy as they are rapidly developing in terms of industrialization and are being termed as emerging market economies as well. Example of emerging economies are china an India, which have invested in Multinational firms that accommodate information technology and have a greater influence on the world economy, which is also supported by worldwide economic connection Information technology has played a role in facilitating economic growth in most of the countries but it has also come with some negative features which are a threat to economic growth (Maddison 2001). Globalization Condemnation It is argued that the international corporations like international monetary fund, World Bank and world trade organization have become undemocratic assuming power of decision making about economic policies. Environmental preservation is no longer a priority; detrimental labor practices like child labor and prisoner service have become the order of the day As much as the Globalization Phenomenon has been praised for the improved economies of the world, On the other hand, it has been criticized for economic problems and financial crises in other nations could easily be transferred to other countries as a result of these interactions. This was evident with the Asian currency crisis of 1997 that affected the major economies of the Asian region; the Russian financial crisis that saw countries of former Soviet Union suffer an economic depression and the disintegration of the long-term capital management in 1998 (Maddison 2001). Many countries have now undertaken a process of finding a solution to such occurrences in future and the most notable research is that conducted by the Japanese central bank. Globalization has been blamed for unfair trade by the emerging economies who introduce fake products to the international market especially the Chinese companies. It has also been argued that Globalization has brought about in equality in economies and environmental deprivation. Globalization includes interaction of communities, a concept that has been found to have a negative influence on the environment, culture as well as on political administration of some countries discriminately (Maddison 2001). Economic development has been found to be uneven around the world. Opponents of globalization argue that the creation of free markets only benefits the multi-national companies that are already established from the western nations at the expense of the local companies and people in the developing countries. The so called free and far trade is not fair after all; nations compete for international ventures where they offer low environmental standards as well as poor working conditions and low wages. The free and fair trade arrangements usually snatch power from local governance of host nations to the multi-national corporations. As these businesses are seen to control the economy and hence make up financial policies, economic changes and other corporate manipulations (Maddison 2001). Conclusion Globalization has greatly affected business around the globe and many businesses have benefited from it while others have suffered a down fall. Third world companies have been brought to the international market while inflation in several countries has been transferred to other as a result of free market. Major phenomena that stimulated economic development were agriculture and capitalist economy, but the recent and significant of them was the industrialization which has intensely revolutionized economy. In order to understand the effects of globalization, both those who are for plus those against have to come to a consensus of the effects that have been brought about by globalization. All these interactions proof that globalization is a complex subject for discussion. References Maddison A. (2001). The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Centre

Reengineering and Code Migration Strategies

Reengineering and Code Migration Strategies GENERAL The most important quality of software reengineering is to improve or transformation of an existing software system so that it can be understood, controlled and user-friendly. Software is used to replace high software maintenance cost of the legacy systems. So software reengineering is more beneficial for recovering and reusing existing software assets, putting high software maintenance costs under control. It also establishes a base for future software evolution. There are several software reengineering process such as reverse engineering, re-documentation, restructuring, source code translation and forward reengineering. So we used software reengineering through source code translation process. For doing software reengineering through source code conversion there are several conversion tools, these tools used to translate a code written in one language to another language. We decided to convert software developed in C++ language into java language because java more suitable for internet, more reliable, platform independent etc.There are various source code translation tools such as Tangible software solution In, Ephedra; novo soft’s C2J++, C2J and so on. We used tangible software solution Inc tool to convert a source code written in C++ language into java programming language. It has been found that java based source code is much better than C++. There are several reason for that such as less execution time as well less complexity. The essence of software reengineering is to reuse the existing code of legacy system because the original expense of developing the logic and the component of the software should not be wasted. In this Dissertation software reengineering through source code translation is used. The experimental results are better. As explanation in java language specification, java is related to C and C++ but there are some important and noticeable differences that pose some problems in a migration from C++ to Java. The biggest difference is that C++ is not a complete object oriented language as that of java. Java is the platform independent programming language means it does not need specific platform for run.So it is very hard problem to translate a C++ code into a java code because there is no any specific tool that can convert a given C++ code into java code without any manual work because both the syntax and semantics is required to convert. We also used to change the paradigm which is necessary to move from C++ to java. KEY POINTS OF REENGINEERING During our dissertation work we have concluded the following key points of software reengineering: The objective of reengineering is to improve the structure of the system to make it easier to understand and to maintain. Source code translation is the automated conversion of the program written in one language to another language. Reverse engineering is the process of extract the system design and identification from its source code. Program modularization include regeneration to group connected items. Data reengineering may be necessary because of the inconsistent data management. CODE MIGRATION STRATEGIES: C++ TO JAVA In this chapter we will discuss about various efforts which are used by us during analysis of C++ to java conversion using Tangible Software Solution Inc converter. To validate Tangible Software Solution Inc approach, we conclude several case studies by selecting typical C++ source code for migration in java language. We also analyzed that readability of java language developed manually is very easy than original C++ code but readability of java converted code by this tool is not perfect because its Line of Code (LOC) is too large in comparison to original C++ source code as well as manually java converted code. During the conversion from C++ source code into java code, we wrote a lot of C++ programs in last chapter. We wrote various types of C++ programs as a regression test suite to test aspects of transliteration. To validate the correctness of real program, we chose a stand-alone monopoly Air-ticket software package. We choose C++ to Java migration because we know that java language become an accepted standard for wide range of development needs now-a-days. Software as well as web developer found it necessary to convert the applications they have written in older programming language such as C++ to Java. There are various language conversion tools like Tangible Software Solution Inc, C2J++, Ephedra etc. Novosoft’s C2J++ converts a given C++ code to its equivalent java classes while other given tool converts any given C++ source code into java code. With the help of these tools it is possible to convert any C ++ code into java code and this conversion with the help of these tools is not very difficult. If any software developer uses these tools then he/she can save both time as well as resources. He/she can get a project done rapid and without retaining someone to rewrite an application, which is the last option, if the reengineering cost is too large. We can also choose to rewrite or to re develop if the number of the faulty components (objects) is more than 50%. A tangible software solution Inc converter translates a C++ code to a java code or java classes. The amount of time it takes to translate the given C++ source code into java code depends on numbers of factors including your hardware as well as size of the original C++ source code. Expected conversion is not directly proportional to Line of Code (LOC) used to develop C++ code but it depends on the nature of C++ program. For the large applications we expect that the conversion time of Tangible software solution Inc tool is about two minutes. Now we will discuss about the conversion of various type of C++ program into java and what type of difficulties have came during conversion with the help of Tangible software solution Inc conversion tool. We will also discuss these criteria with the help of some case studies base on C++ to java conversion as follows: PROGRAM STRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT Whenever we decided to reengineer given software instead of maintenance, we have the following improvement in the structure of this software: Maintenance moves to corrupt the structure of a program. It becomes difficult and difficult to understand. Program may be axiomatically restructured to eliminate unconditional branches. The conditions may be cleared to make them more comprehensible. The conditions may be simplified as follows: Complex condition given by following expression: If not ( A>B and (CF))) And the simplified condition may be expressed as: If ( A = D or E > F) †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ DIFFERENCE BETWEEN C++ JAVA The major difference between C++ and Java is the hardware platform for which these programming languages are compiled. C++ programs are usually compiled to the native machine language of a computer, while Java programs are compiled by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), a virtual hardware platform running on top of a concrete hardware platform. The JVM checks all type conversions and storage accesses for their safety and security and imposes conservative restrictions on these operations. All C and C++ compilers implement a stage of compilation known as the preprocessor. The preprocessor basically performs an intelligentsearch and replace on identifiers that have been declared using the #define or#typedef directives. Java does not have a preprocessor. Constant data members are used in place of the #define directive and class definitions are used in lieu of the #typedef directive, however there is no substitute for macros, which canbe useful. The Java approach to defining constants and namingtypes of data structures is probably conceptually simpler for the programmer.Java will bounds check arrays toprevent this from happening, of course with alittle extra runtime cost. QUALITY OF GENERATED CODE Whenever we convert a C++ source code to a java code with the help of Tangible software solution Inc converter or manually then we see that the quality of generated code improved definitely. We also analyzed the converted code with respect to its readability and performance of newly converted code. However Tangible software solution Inc tool is unable to convert the whole given software developed in the C++ language into java code at a time but it is suitable to convert a given C++ code to equivalent java classes and after doing some manual work on these converted java classes with the help of Tangible software solution Inc conversion tool, we can found the resultant java code. We also analyzed that this code is more maintainable in comparison to given original C++ source code. The most important feature of java language is that it is totally platform independent language while C++ language does not have this feature. If any software/program code is platform independent it means it c an run on any system having different operating system that is if any java code is developed using window operating system then it can also run on different systems having different operating systems such like Linux as well as UNIX operating system easily. There are following main factors which are improved after conversion: Readability Conformance and integration Performance Readability If we take out a subjective point of view then code generated by Ephedra conversion tool having less manual work in comparison to its competitor for large scale automated translation of source code by Tangible software solution Inc, but main problem related to Ephedra is its availability. Ephedra is not open source code so mainly is not used for academics. Before using this tool we have to need its license so we decided to do our work with Tangible software solution Inc conversion tool which is open source software. However we converted our project developed in C++ language into java language with the help of this tool but actually we have not been able to gather any final result without some manual work on this generated code. Conformance and Integration To integrate the large volume of the source code written in C++ into the java program is the primary goal of Ephedra but it is very difficult with the help of Tangible software solution Inc because Tangible software solution Inc translator storage management scheme is incompatible with that regular java programs. The main reason is that Tangible software solution Inc does not use regular java data types and classes. So the generated code does not provide the interface with manually written java source code. On the other hand Ephedra uses the regular java data types and classes. So, the generated code provides the interface with manually written java source code. We should have remembered that arrays and the pointers are the part of interfaces to the generated code. So, the software reengineers should have a basic knowledge of Ephedra but a deep knowledge is not required if he/ she dies not work with it. A software engineer can also add the required functionality after reviewing the source code to ensure that the desired effects are achieved. Performance The performance of a tool also depends on the pointer mapping scheme used as explained above. The code converted using the first mapping scheme was about 5 times slower than the original C++ code for spring algorithm and about 10 times slower for Sugiyama algorithm. With the help of our translation code we conclude that the experiments on the second mapping scheme produced code that run about 30% faster than code produced with the first mapping scheme.

Revelations and Parker?s Back Essay -- essays research papers fc

Revelations and Parker’s Back   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story â€Å"Revelations† by Flannery O’Connor portrays the character of Ms. Turpin as a very hypocritical Christian. It’s absurd how obvious she is in her view of society; it could not be less unchristian like. Her opinions towards other people and their intelligence are Ms. Turpin’s greatest flaw. â€Å"Parker’s Back† also written by Flannery O’Connor is just the opposite of Revelations, Parker spends his entire life trying to fill a void that has grown so deep inside him it becomes unbearable. His continual dislike and downgrading of Christianity plays into his problems even more. The stories have very unique approaches, both of which prove to be very intriguing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The character of Ms. Turpin shows from the very start that she is going to encounter many problems as the story progresses. Her dislike for Negroes or as she referred to them as â€Å"niggers† and her constant distinction of social class ranking showed that she was not the Christian she claimed to be. When she talks about cotton she says â€Å"you can’t get the white folks to pick it and now you can’t get the niggers-because they got to be right up there with the white folk.â€Å" When she looked at herself she saw a very good Christian. She always congratulated herself on how she always helped everyone and was always there to take care of her slaves. Nevertheless she had hidden meaning for all of these; she only helped the slaves so that she co...

Beloved - Overall Summary Essay -- Essays Papers

Beloved - Overall Summary One of the most common reader responses to Beloved is speechlessness. Readers attempt to deal with that speechlessness by trying to determine whether Sethe's attempt to kill her children was morally justified or not. These almost always seem like stilted, insufficient answers to a beautiful, poetic, and profoundly disturbing novel. It is as though the novel haunts the reader until he or she incorporates it into some structure of moral judgment. Perhaps trying to overcome the speechlessness with an awkward attempt at moral reasoning is not the most productive way to respond to Beloved. Instead, we might discover that the effect of speechlessness relates to the broader thematic content of the novel. The circumstances of Beloved's death are horrific. Life in slavery is equally horrific. For the former slaves that populate the novel, the past is unspeakable. Every day, Sethe beats back memories of her enslavement at Sweet Home. For a long while, Paul D can only verbalize his experiences through song. One of the most common forms of punishment for slaves was gagging with an iron bit. Sethe's own mother was forced to wear the bit so often that she has a permanent smile frozen on her face. Robbing the slave of the power of speech is a powerful way to make him or her feel like a beast. Paul D feels even less than the rooster that struts around him as he sits, mute and chained. Baby S...

The Ubiquitous Tomato :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Ubiquitous Tomato Each year, millions of Americans, anxious after the confinement of winter, are excited when spring begins. Home improvement stores and nurseries entice gardeners with announcements of special sales on items for the home garden. People converge on the nurseries in throngs, looking for the best plants to purchase. Much of the frenzy focuses on plants that yield edible products; one favorite American pastime is backyard gardening. Many backyard gardeners say that they don't have sufficient yard space to grow fruits and vegetables, and restrict their hobby to vegetable gardening. The backyard gardener may have more growing space than he/she thinks. If you eat ketchup with your hash brown or French fried potatoes, you know that ketchup is produced from tomatoes. You may enjoy a marinara sauce with pasta, and you know that the sauce contains tomatoes and tomato products. How about the sauce on the last pizza you ordered? The sauce is derived from tomatoes. The three items described are products of tomato plants, possibly the most common vegetable grown in home gardens. Perhaps you enjoy some of the many flavors of jams and jellies with your toast. Have you tried the tomato jam? I enjoy fruit with yogurt, but I have not been able to find yogurt with tomatoes. If I tell you that the tomato is a fruit, does it sound odd to suggest a slice of cheesecake covered with a sugary tomato glaze? You may think, "The tomato is a vegetable, not a fruit!" I reply, "Let's check the dictionary for a definition. We should be able to clear this confusion easily." The dictionary describes fruit as: "(1) a product of plant growth, (2) a succulent plant part used chiefly in a dessert or sweet course." The dictionary describes vegetable as: "... a herbaceous plant (as the cabbage, bean, or potato) grown for an edible part (e.g. stems, leaves, or roots) that is usually eaten as part of a meal." After we compare the definitions in the dictionary, our search for a solution to our dilemma has become more puzzling. A tomato is a "product of plant growth," but we don't think of the tomato as a "dessert." The definition for a vegetable appears to describe the tomato better than the definition for a fruit. Is this enough information to draw a conclusion? If tomatoes were fruit, we might find chocolate covered tomatoes in the candy store! Let's bring this issue to closure quickly and look for the definition of tomato in the dictionary. The Ubiquitous Tomato :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers The Ubiquitous Tomato Each year, millions of Americans, anxious after the confinement of winter, are excited when spring begins. Home improvement stores and nurseries entice gardeners with announcements of special sales on items for the home garden. People converge on the nurseries in throngs, looking for the best plants to purchase. Much of the frenzy focuses on plants that yield edible products; one favorite American pastime is backyard gardening. Many backyard gardeners say that they don't have sufficient yard space to grow fruits and vegetables, and restrict their hobby to vegetable gardening. The backyard gardener may have more growing space than he/she thinks. If you eat ketchup with your hash brown or French fried potatoes, you know that ketchup is produced from tomatoes. You may enjoy a marinara sauce with pasta, and you know that the sauce contains tomatoes and tomato products. How about the sauce on the last pizza you ordered? The sauce is derived from tomatoes. The three items described are products of tomato plants, possibly the most common vegetable grown in home gardens. Perhaps you enjoy some of the many flavors of jams and jellies with your toast. Have you tried the tomato jam? I enjoy fruit with yogurt, but I have not been able to find yogurt with tomatoes. If I tell you that the tomato is a fruit, does it sound odd to suggest a slice of cheesecake covered with a sugary tomato glaze? You may think, "The tomato is a vegetable, not a fruit!" I reply, "Let's check the dictionary for a definition. We should be able to clear this confusion easily." The dictionary describes fruit as: "(1) a product of plant growth, (2) a succulent plant part used chiefly in a dessert or sweet course." The dictionary describes vegetable as: "... a herbaceous plant (as the cabbage, bean, or potato) grown for an edible part (e.g. stems, leaves, or roots) that is usually eaten as part of a meal." After we compare the definitions in the dictionary, our search for a solution to our dilemma has become more puzzling. A tomato is a "product of plant growth," but we don't think of the tomato as a "dessert." The definition for a vegetable appears to describe the tomato better than the definition for a fruit. Is this enough information to draw a conclusion? If tomatoes were fruit, we might find chocolate covered tomatoes in the candy store! Let's bring this issue to closure quickly and look for the definition of tomato in the dictionary.

My first trip

Immediately they unloaded Eider's shiny black Ford Focus, and headed to their hotel suite. Once they were inside they all picked out a room, and went to get a nights rest. Allison woke up before anyone else, so she went to make coffee. As the smell of the strong, coffee filled the suite, everyone began to awake. Dillon looked like half awaken zombie as he made his way to the kitchen. Allison poured everyone a cup of coffee, and turned on the TV Just as the breath taking image of snow fell across the screen. It seemed to be the weather forecast for that very day.They all began to listen carefully as the weather man described the windy, wet, and snowy day that was ahead of them. They couldn't help but cringe. Weather conditions like that make for a harsh day on the side of the mountain. Allison seemed to be out her daze and back into her own head again, as Dillon started laughing. â€Å"What's that funny' Allison replied. â€Å"The look of anxiety on your face, Just stay calm, today will be fine! † Dillon said. He was right, maybe not the ideal weather for skiing but they would still enjoy it. Before Allison could say anything, Dillon started digging through the gear on the table.Looking at the mound of gear thrown everywhere it reminded them of a post tornado. Jackets, boots, goggles, gloves, helmets, and bibs completely dispersed. Allison knew that her bright silver boots would stand out, she backed up and evaluated the whole table. Sure enough she found them. Dillon then started complaining about his bindings on his board and criticized the salesman for his lack of knowledge about the gear he sales. As the knocking noise of the ski-lift drifted through the mountains, they all held on carefully, looking down at all the steep, scary, slopes below them.This was Ellison's first time skiing, so she was extremely excited to try it out! While the ski-lift rocked back and forth Dillon, told Allison some advice for surviving the slopes on the mountain. She coul dn't pay attention because she was so ecstatic to ski that his advice went in one ear and out the other. They came to the top of the lift and Jumped off, Allison fell onto her back as her skis slide out from under her feet, while Dillon lidded smoothly down the slick little hill proceeding the lift.Allison stood up in time to see the shiny snow start to fall down on the slopes. She snapped her feet back into the skis and looked down at the terrifyingly, steep mountains. Allison took a deep slow breath, no turning back now. Ellison's adrenaline picked up and flew through her body faster than the speed of lightening. She was amazed and terrified all together. Going down slopes made her feel like she is floating on air. With the snow leaving fresh layers of white dust laying al about, it felt like being shot straight out of a rocket.The slopes seemed endless. Her goggles kept fogging up, and the thought of falling off the side of the mountain or hitting a tree kept crossing her mind. W ith her face covered in freezing ice, she tried to clear her goggles while keeping her balance. She hadn't learned to slow down or stop on her skis yet, and instantly regretted it. While she attempted to swerve around the other hundreds of skiers, her speed had picked up so much that she became afraid of the next couple of actions that could cake place on the gigantic slope.Gaining even more speed, and losing more balance, she knew that she would have to stop herself soon before the speed took over her body and became dangerous. Taking a huge breath in, trying to stop her skis she was flung forward out of her skis, tumbling down the horrific hill. Completely disoriented from the fall, she tried to stand up but her legs were shaking like an uncontrollable seizure. She was soaking wet from the beyond freezing snow that covered her whole body. Dillon quickly approached her, carrying her skis, along with his board; His face seemed terrified. Are you okay, Ally? † Dillon asked, â⠂¬Å"I'm fine, Just a little shaken up† replied Allison. She knew she couldn't give up, finally standing back up but still feeling wobbly from the accident, she gave it another try. Knowing things could have ended much worse, she attempted it over and over again, until she got it right. Even though she had fallen down multiple times, skiing couldn't compare to any other feeling in the world, and she had a great time on her first skiing adventure!