Despite the extensive implementation of multiple drug therapy (MDT) in most leprosy-endemic countries world-wide since 1982, bringing about a remarkable reduction in prevalence, there are still regions at the sub-national level where the implementation of MDT remains difficult. The state of Bihar (population 86.3 million) in India is a good example of such a region. Previously rated as one of t...

Predicting future species invasions presents significant challenges to researchers and government agencies. Simply considering the vast number of potential species that could invade an area can be insurmountable. One method, recently suggested, which can analyse large datasets of invasive species simultaneously is that of a self organising map (SOM), a form of artificial neural network which ca...

BACKGROUND To achieve a sustainable working life it is important to know more about what could encourage employers to increase the use of preventive and health promotive interventions. The objective of the study is to explore and describe the employer perspective regarding what incentives influence their use of preventive and health promotive workplace interventions. METHOD Semi-structured fo...

What began as a conversation in 2000 between two women religious on how to help Kenyans affected by HIV/AIDS has evolved into a far-reaching ministry supported by the Wheaton Franciscan sisters. Inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan, Sr. Florence Muia, ASN, a native of Kenya, explored with Sr. Marge Zulaski, OSF, a Wheaton Franciscan sister, how to offer assistance and support to Kenyan...

Effective action on climate change health impacts and vulnerability will require systems approaches and integrated policy and planning responses from a range of government agencies. Similar responses are needed to address other complex problems, such as the obesity epidemic. Local government, with its focus on the governance of place, will have a key role in responding to these convergent agend...

Interest in ecosystem services has grown tremendously among a wide range of sectors, including government agencies, NGO's and the business community. Ecosystem services entailing freshwater (e.g. flood control, the provision of hydropower, and water supply), as well as carbon storage and sequestration, have received the greatest attention in both scientific and on-the-ground applications. Given...

Digital government is typically defined as the production and delivery of information and services inside government and between government and the public using a range of information and communication technologies. Two types of government relationships with other entities are government-to-citizen and government-to-government relationships. Both offer opportunities and challenges. Assessment o...

Overview The integration of land administration processes and the collaboration of land agencies are considered essential for the effective delivery of developable land for housing production. However, in most countries, housing and land management policies are usually split between multiple government agencies. The background literature suggests that the activities of governments’ agencies tha...

For Dr Suwit Wibulpolprasert, chairman of the committee organizing Thailand’s first National Health Assembly (NHA), which took place from 11 to13 December 2008 in Bangkok, opening up the debate on public health is an essential part of developing effective national policy. “In the past, health policy has tended to be drawn up by politicians and officials,” Wibulpolprasert says. “But the National...

Rulemaking is one of the U.S. government's most important policymaking methods. Although broad transparency and participation rights are part of its legal structure, significant barriers prevent effective engagement by many groups of interested citizens. RegulationRoom, an experimental open-government partnership between academic researchers and government agencies, is a socio-technical partici...