Page Tools:

Global Health Disparities: Closing the Gap Through Good Governance

Author(s): Enku Kebede-Francis, PhD, MS, MEd, Assistant Professor, Tufts University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
Details:
  • ISBN-13: 9780763778934
  • Paperback    488 pages      © 2011
Price: International Sales $99.95 US List
Add to Cart Request a Review Copy

Overview

Instructor Resources: Image Bank, Instructor's Manual, PowerPoints, TestBank

One hundred countries—more than half of the world’s population—have made significant strides in the last 30 years, improving life expectancy and the health of their populations. Despite socioeconomic limitations including  extended wars and economic embargos as well as  geographic limitations, these countries managed to provide basic health care, primary education, and clean water for their populations.
 
In this unique book, with a foreword by the former Deputy Director-General of WHO, the author puts these, and many other countries, under the microscope through a detailed examination of best practices and best outcomes. How did they reach their present high level of life expectancy? How might future development programs be enhanced and what can other, still-developing countries learn from these examples? Should development assistance programs in the 21st century be based on teaching rather than giving unconditionally? Anchored on landmark UN declarations, and based on numerous indices including the World Development Index, all these questions are addressed. 

From the Foreword:

"This book provides new insights into how the global community is divided economically, socially, politically and culturally and how this reflects on the gross disparities that exist in health, life expectancy and health care service. ...The author points out the value of good governance, which governments should embrace and sustain for the longer term.  In this regard, the role of governments is critical and this book unreservedly advocates competent and committed governments to close the gap in global health disparities. "

—Kazem Behbehani, Director-General, the Dasman Institute, Kuwait, and Former Assistant Director-General WHO and WHO Health Envoy

ShowTable of Contents

Acronyms  
Foreword  Global Health Disparities: closing the gap through good governance by Kazem Behbehani, Director-General, the Dasman Institute, Kuwait Former Assistant Director-General WHO and WHO Health Envoy
Preface  
Overview  The Geography of Good Governance in Health
Chapter  1  Most Developed Countries
Chapter  2  Developed Countries
Chapter  3  Developing Countries
Chapter  4  Least Developing Countries
Chapter  5  Universal Access to Primary Healthcare: the Impact of the Alma Ata Declaration
Chapter  6  Universal Access to Primary Education
Chapter  7  Universal Access to Clean Water and Sanitation
Chapter  8  Emerging Global Trends
Chapter  9  Conclusion - Good Governance in Health
Back to top

ShowAbout the Author(s)

Enku Kebede-Francis, PhD, MS, MEd-Assistant Professor, Tufts University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

Dr. Enku Kebede-Francis has lived and worked in 10 countries.  She worked for the United Nations, was a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University Medical School, and a health policy adviser for President Obama’s campaign. The book is a reflection of her observations and experiences and her strong belief in human rights and universal access to primary healthcare, primary education, clean water, and sanitation.  She is unapologetic when promoting good governance because she believes that all governments must consider individual human rights and provide basic services for all in their respective countries because these services are rights not privileges. Currently she is Assistant Professor at Tufts University Medical School/Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, where she teaches a comparative global health seminar.

Back to top

ShowReviews

  • "...thank you for sending me a copy of Enku Kebede-Francis' new book.  I plan on using it in my Health & Society class, when I teach it again next fall. I am particularly impressed with and appreciate the author's "rights-based" perspective and her comprehensive discussion of where the world's nations stand in terms of health status.  Her discussion of the Alma Ata declarations is illuminating and provides critical insight into the impact of social factors, particularly the maldistribution of resources, on public health and the role advocates can play in addressing the needs of the world's most vulnerable people. Her discussion of the United States' poor ranking on health indicators is also illuminating and discouraging.  I could go on but I think you get my point.  I congratulate you on publishing this valuable work and look forward to using it in my class."

    --Stephen Gorin, PhD, MSW, Professor, Social Work Department, Plymouth State University

  • " It is well written and applicable to my course."
    ~ Dr. Bridget Calhoun, Duquesne University, School of Leadership & Professional Advancement

Back to top

ShowAppropriate Courses

Graduate level courses in Global Health or  International Health; International Policy

Back to top

ShowSamples & Additional Resources

Back to top

ShowResources

Back to top