Building the Capacity of Health Professionals in Monitoring and Evaluation in a Public Health Institution: Experience of the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) of Côte d’Ivoire

Background: In the context of the fight against HIV, a lack of skills in monitoring and evaluating the personnel in charge of activities has been identified at the national level. It was the subject of a priority axis of the national plan for monitoring and evaluating the fight against HIV (2006-2010) that was aimed at strengthening the capacities of actors in this area. To increase the critical mass of competent human resources in the short term, the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) of Côte d’Ivoire organized monitoring and evaluation training sessions for healthcare professionals from 2011 to 2016. Methods: A single case study with multiple levels of analysis was carried out, combining a qualitative survey and a literature review. An evaluation was carried out six months after each training session. In addition, the results of the pre- and post-tests and of the daily and final evaluations that accompanied the various training sessions were used to provide further information. The qualitative data collected were analyzed using INVIVO 15 software. Results: Some 89 health professionals (69% men and 31% women) working at the national level (51% at the central level, including 58% in health programs) and in development partner agencies (37%) participated in this capacity building program. Most participants were senior health managers (56%), data managers (23%), and statisticians and computer scientists (10%). Almost all the trainings were financed by 16 technical and financial partners (85%), mainly the MEASURE Evaluation project (27%). Conclusion: M&E training, despite all its imperfections, has made it possible to identify M&E training needs at the national level and to increase the critical mass of national skills and to have some culture in M&E.

Discussion on Statistical Monitoring and Evaluation of High-Quality Development of County Economy

The county economy serves as the fundamental unit in China’s economic development and construction.There exists a significant correlation between the quality and level of county economic development and the overall economic construction level of the country.In recent years,China’s economy has experienced rapid growth,contributing to an improved living environment and substantial economic income for its citizens.However,this progress has also brought to light certain issues,such as an unbalanced industrial structure and inefficient resource utilization,leading to problems such as low efficiency and severe environmental pollution.Therefore,it becomes imperative to enhance the statistical monitoring and evaluation of high-quality county economic development.This approach aims to gather insights into the development status of the county economy and provide essential data support for decision-making in county economic development.Consequently,this paper proposes development suggestions for the statistical monitoring and evaluation of high-quality county economic development,serving as a crucial starting point for future initiatives.

Monitoring and Evaluation on Indoor Radon Concentration in a District of Xi'an

[Objective] The research aimed to monitor and evaluate indoor radon concentration in one district of Xi＇an City. r Method] In order to master the effective dose per year caused by natural radiation to local residents, the investigation about the level of indoor radon in one district of Xi＇an was developed. Based on the proper monitoring scheme, some typical living rooms were sampled. Through the measurement result, the effects of different factors on radon concentration were obtained. Finally, the radon concentration was transferred into the effective dose per year of local residents. [ Result] Indoor radon concentration in the district was during 49.680 -128.856 Bq/m3, and average concentration in each building was within 100 Bq/m3, which belonged to normal range. When sunny day became rainy day, radon concentration firstly had a rise trend. If continuous rainy weather appeared, indoor radon concentration gradually declined. When other conditions were same, indoor radon concentration under window closing was significantly higher than that under window opening. Indoor radon concentration had a decline trend from 13：00 to 20：00 and a rise trend from 01：00 to 06：00. Condusion The district belonged to radon safety house. To protect residents＇ health to the maximum extent, according to transfer change rule of the radon, window should be opened to ventilate in the morning when radon concentration was higher.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Benefits of Project of Returning Farmland to Forests in Henan Province

The project of returning farmland to forest has been implemented and consolidated in Henan Province for 20 years.At present,it is in a critical transition period when the previous round of project of returning farmland to forests has completed and a new round of project of returning farmland to forests has started.Henan Province took counties(cities)with different representations as sample counties for monitoring the benefits of project of returning farmland to forests(key monitoring areas in Henan Province),and monitored social and ecological benefits every year,and has obtained real and scientific monitoring data.

Monitoring and evaluation of disaster risk caused by linkage failure and instability of residual coal pillar and rock strata in multi-coal seam mining

Comprehensive research methods such as literature research,theoretical analysis,numerical simulations and field monitoring have been used to analyze the disasters and characteristics caused by the linkage failure and instability of the residual coal pillars-rock strata in multi-seam mining.The effective monitoring area and monitoring design method of linkage instability of residual coal pillar-rock strata in multi-seam mining have been identified.The evaluation index and the risk assessment method of disaster risk have been established and the project cases have been applied and validated.The results show that:①The coal pillar will not only cause disaster in singleseam mining,but also more easily cause disaster in multi-seam mining.The instability of coal pillars can cause not only dynamical disasters such as rock falls and mine earthquakes,but also cause surface subsidence and other disasters.②When monitoring the linkage instability of residual coal pillar-rock strata,it is not only necessary to consider the monitoring of the apply load body(key block),the transition body(residual coal pillar)and the carrier body(interlayer rock and working face),but also to strengthen the monitoring of the fracture development height(linkage body).③According to the principles of objectivity,easy access and quantification,combined with investigation,analysis,and production and geological characteristics of this mining area,the main evaluation indexes of the degree of disaster caused by linkage instability of residual coal pillar-rock strata are determined as:microseismic energy,residual coal pillar damage degree,fracture development height.And the evaluation index classification table was also given.④According to the measured value of the evaluation index,the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was used to calculate the disaster risk degree in the studied mine belongs to class III,that is,medium risk level.The corresponding pressure relief technology was adopted on site,which achieved a good control effect,and also verified the accuracy and effectiveness of the risk evaluation results.

Online and Offline Android Based Mobile Application for Mapping Health Facilities Using Google Map API. Case Study: Tanzania and Kenya Borders

The evolution of technology in 1990s resulted in the enormous growth of smartphones and the propagation of mobile applications (App) that marked new opportunities for healthcare centers and medical education. Apps have altered health services from patient’s health monitoring to specialist’s appointments and consultations from specialized health facilities. It can be argued that a healthy society can bring forth sustainable economic development to its full potential while an unhealthy society cannot. However, a free movement of people, labour and right to residence which was built across East Africa (EA) borders enabled Tanzania and Kenya borders to have enormous interactions. Subsequently, increase the risk of highly communicable diseases such as Tuberculosis and Sexually transmitted infections in such a way that medical attention is unavoidable along the borders. Statistically, Android Operating System (OS) owns 83% of Africa’s mobile OS market. In addition, 25,794,560 internet users reported by Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) together with the 22.86 million internet users provided by Kenya Digital which is equivalent to 46% and 43% of internet penetration in year 2020, disclose the need for Android mobile application for mapping health facilities both online and offline using Google map API, which will solve residents’ need to healthcare services on the presence or shortage of internet connections;using either Swahili or English language via Smartphone devices. The App incorporates Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) tool for tracking application usage which will ease Admin’s task to generate daily and monthly reports in Excel and Comma-Separated Values (CSV) formats. The developed system received positive feedback from EA citizens and residents in the Arusha region and Namanga border crossing where 90.2% of the system evaluation conducted between Dec 2020 and Apr 2021 agreed upon App usage.

Pursuit of Excellence:The Past Development and New Progress of the Human Rights Action Plans of China

Since the Vienna Declaration and programme of Action in 1993 recommended that countries formulate national human rights action plans,many countries have carried out relevant explorations.Since 2009,China has formulated four series of Human Rights Action plan of China,which is significant for promoting the development of human rights,enhancing the say in international human rights,reducing social risks and protecting individual rights.The formulation of the plan adheres to the principles of being laws and policies-based and human rights-oriented,and taking into account both the country and society.The first three series of the Action plans have undergone such evolution as upgrade of guiding principles and goals,refinement of rights content and measures,diversification of responsible subjects,increasingly reasonable framework structure,and more human rights consideration in discourse expression.The fourth series of the Action plan pays more attention to expanding public participation and the content,improving the supervision mechanism,and further promoting the formulation and implementation of the Action plan.

A Protocol for Developing a Clinical Practice Guideline for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Vancomycin

This study aimed to develop a guideline for therapeutic drug monitoring（TDM） of vancomycin. We adopted the new guideline definition from the Institute of Medicine（IOM）, adhered closely to the six domains of the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research ＆ Evaluation Ⅱ（AGREE Ⅱ）, and made recommendations based on systematic reviews. We established a Guideline Steering Group and a Guideline Development Group, formulated 12 questions in the form of Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome（PICO） and completed a literature search. As far as we know, we will develop the first evidenced-based guideline for vancomycin TDM under the framework of the Grade of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation（GRADE）.

Developing a GIS Audit Framework in the Context of Information Technology though a Reductive Model Approach

A GIS audit framework is necessary considering the diverse nature of GIS with regard to components, applications and industry. In practice, checklists are generated during the audit process based on specific objectives. There is no standardized list of items that can be used as a reference. The purpose of this study was to develop a GIS audit framework as a foundation for GIS audits. The framework provides that comprehensive approach to various GIS aspects during the audit process. The design builds on a developed conceptual framework where most significant categories of GIS audit parameters namely data quality, software utilization, GIS competency and procedures (work flows) were identified. The study adopted a reductive model approach to simplify the complexity associated with each category of GIS audit parameter. The resultant audit elements for each category are organized in a matrix that forms an integral part of the framework. The columns comprise audit goal, audit questions and audit subjects as indicators which are qualitatively measured. The rows comprise the parameters (data quality, software utilization, personnel competency and procedure (workflows)). To use the framework, an auditor only needs to create an audit checklist that consists of particular parameters and indicators from the framework depending on audit objective. As part of an on-going research, the next step will involve validating the framework through a mock testing process.

Monitoring andevaluatingthepayment-for-performancepremiseofREDD+:the caseofIndia’s ecologicalfiscaltransfers

Introduction:The central premise underlying international payments for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation(REDD+)is that offering governments ex post payments for verified success in reducing emissions will motivate them to protect and restore forests.However,the extent to which performance-based payments motivate governments to protect and restore forests has yet to be evaluated quantitatively.Researchers have only quantitatively evaluated performance-based payments to non-governments for forest outcomes(e.g.payments for ecosystem services)and to governments for non-forest outcomes(e.g.results-based aid).Methods:We describe how researchers now have an opportunity to more easily evaluate performance-based payments to governments for forest outcomes thanks to India’s new ecological fiscal transfers(EFTs),which provide$6-12 billion per year to Indian states in proportion to their forest cover.Discussion:India’s EFTs differ from REDD+programs in that they pay for states’stock of forest area in the recent past rather than reductions in the rate of forest carbon loss in the near-future.Nevertheless,India’s EFTs focus on a single outcome and have many recipient governments,significant financial scale,lack of contemporaneous confounding policy changes,universal participation,and long-term data collection.Conclusion:These features make India’s EFTs especially useful for testing the payment-forperformance premise of REDD+.

Life-Cycle Impact Assessment of Air Emissions from a Cement Production Plant in Cambodia

Cement industrial emissions account for 32% of air pollution in Cambodia. With that in mind, we examined the environmental impact of Cambodia’s cement industry and identified ways that it could reduce air pollution. The study focused on raw material extraction and preparation, calcination, and cement preparation. Data for the life-cycle inventory were provided by the Kampot Cement Plant. Air emissions were assessed using EMEP/EEA and IPCC criteria, and the impact assessment used ReCiPe (2016). The baseline analysis revealed that calcination contributed the most air pollutants, so mitigation scenarios focused on alternative fuels only during the calcination stage of cement production: 1) 100% coal (S1);2) 93% coal and 7% biomass (S2);3) 85% coal and 15% biomass (S3);4) 70% coal and 30% biomass (S4);and 5) 50% coal and 50% biomass (S5). The results demonstrated that certain mitigation measures reduced major emissions and environmental damage. S5 had the best results, reducing CO2 by 49.97, NOx by 2.233, and SO2 by 49.333%;however, it increased PM2.5 by 19.60% and total heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Se, Zn) output by 28.113%. The results of the study showed reductions in serious health and environmental effects associated with climate change of 48.83%, ozone generation of 9.62%, and particulate matter formation of 28.80%. However, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human toxicity increased by 35.66%. Therefore, such mitigation effect would be benefit to carbon reduction target in Cambodia.

Transfer of Scientific Expertise into Successful Forest Policy: Assessment for Monitoring and Evaluating Sustainable Forest Management in China

China runs several biggest forestry programs in the world. Improved use of these forests and the newly planted forests should provide multiple benefits for Chinese people. The success of ambitious forestry policy depends not only on the huge resources invested in it and on a strong political will but also on the expertise required in order to fulfil the task in the correct manner. Transfer scientific expertise into forest policy making is becoming one of the success factors of China’s forestry development. Examples from other parts of the world show that the relation between forest science and forestry policy is very sensitive. In this paper, forest science and forestry policy monitoring and evaluation systems in China are described; problems and challenges of these systems are identified; the model of transfer scientific expertise into real policy is analyzed; three main factors which positively influence the practitioner’s acceptance and utilization of expertise are discussed; some conclusions and suggestions are conducted finally.

Malaria: Global progress 2000-2015 and future challenges

Background:2015 was the target year for malaria goals set by the World Health Assembly and other international institutions to reduce malaria incidence and mortality.A review of progress indicates that malaria programme financing and coverage have been transformed since the beginning of the millennium,and have contributed to substantial reductions in the burden of disease.Findings:Investments in malaria programmes increased by more than 2.5 times between 2005 and 2014 from US$960 million to US$2.5 billion,allowing an expansion in malaria prevention,diagnostic testing and treatment programmes.In 2015 more than half of the population of sub-Saharan Africa slept under insecticide-treated mosquito nets,compared to just 2%in 2000.Increased availability of rapid diagnostic tests and antimalarial medicines has allowed many more people to access timely and appropriate treatment.Malaria incidence rates have decreased by 37%globally and mortality rates by 60%since 2000.It is estimated that 70%of the reductions in numbers of cases in sub-Saharan Africa can be attributed to malaria interventions.Conclusions:Reductions in malaria incidence and mortality rates have been made in every WHO region and almost every country.However,decreases in malaria case incidence and mortality rates were slowest in countries that had the largest numbers of malaria cases and deaths in 2000;reductions in incidence need to be greatly accelerated in these countries to achieve future malaria targets.Progress is made challenging because malaria is concentrated in countries and areas with the least resourced health systems and the least ability to pay for system improvements.Malaria interventions are nevertheless highly cost-effective and have not only led to significant reductions in the incidence of the disease but are estimated to have saved about US$900 million in malaria case management costs to public providers in sub-Saharan Africa between 2000 and 2014.Investments in malaria programmes can not only reduce malaria morbidity and mortality,thereby contributing to the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals,but they can also transform the well-being and livelihood of some of the poorest communities across the globe.