Management of medical records for healthcare service delivery at the Victoria Public Hospital in the Eastern Cape Province :South Africa

The study sought to investigate the management of medical records for healthcare service at the Victoria Public Hospital in the Eastern Cape Province. The objectives of the study were to describe the present records management practices in Victoria Hospital; find out the existing infrastructure for the management of patient medical records at the Victoria Hospital; determine the compliance of patient medical records management in Victoria Hospital with relevant national legislative and regulatory framework; find out the security of patient medical records at the Victoria Hospital. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed. The sample was drawn from the service providers and from the healthcare service users. Questionnaires, interviews and observation were used to collect data. The findings showed that Victoria Hospital uses manual records management system in the creation, maintenance and usage of records. In the findings, there were challenges related to misfiling and missing patient folders which sometimes lead to the creation of new patient folders. Also, the study discovered that the time spent in the retrieval of patient folders could negatively affect the timely delivery of healthcare services. The study recommended the adoption of electronic records management system as most public healthcare institutions in the country are rapidly shifting to electronic records management system. The use of electronic records management system is believed to be efficiently and effectively promoting easy accessibility, retrieval of patient medical records and allows easy communication amongst the healthcare service institutions and healthcare practitioners

The role of traditional leaders in enhancing service delivery in Mbhashe Local Municipality

This study investigates the role of traditional leaders in enhancing service delivery in Mbhashe Local Municipality. The aim is to examine the involvement of traditional leaders in the provision of services to traditional communities. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to review literature on traditional leadership to advance an argument that by utilising the existing channels of communication such as traditional councils, government programmes could be more efficiently advertised. A secondary objective was to examine the relationship between traditional leaders and democratically elected councillors in the delivery of services. The problem in Mbhashe Local Municipality is that traditional leaders and the democratically elected leaders do not work together for service delivery. In order to address this problem, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the identified sample and conclusions drawn from their responses. The research revealed that if properly utilised and capacitated traditional leaders can indeed play a pivotal role in the enhancement of service delivery in Mbhashe Local Municipal area and in South Africa as whole

Sarcasm, conflict and style in Mtywaku's plays

The following main aspects of Mtywaku's plays have been dealt with in the dissertation: (i) Sarcasm (ii) Conflict (iii) Style

Assessing the local government turnaround strategy: the case of Ngqushwa Local Municipality

The thrust of the study is to investigate the Local Government Turnaround Strategy as introduced by Cabinet in the year 2009. In this treatise a critical evaluation of the Local Government Turnaround Strategy that was passed by cabinet as a panacea that seeks to address the challenges that are being faced by municipalities today will be embarked upon. A case study of the Ngqushwa Local Municipality in the Amathole District Municipal area will be undertaken with the view to understand whether the Local Government Turnaround Strategy will indeed assist ailing local municipalities like Ngqushwa. As can be seen in our country, apartheid has left many problems both in the social, economic and political realms of our society. When local government was first established it was for the perpetuation of separate development as enshrined in the policy of apartheid. Apartheid was not the beginning of geographic, institutional and social separation at the local level. Segregation was already a policy by the time apartheid was introduced in 1948. However, the Group Areas Act, the key piece of legislation, instituted strict residential segregation and compulsory removal of black people to own group areas. Through spatial separation, influx control, and a policy of own management for own areas, apartheid aimed to limit the extent to which affluent white municipalities would bear the financial burden of servicing disadvantaged black areas. These separate developments led to the collapse of the former Black Local Authorities. When the democratic government took over the same challenges reared their heads again. Many intervention programmes were introduced to assist ailing municipalities to be viable. The study thus has tried to indicate how the Turnaround has assisted municipalities like the Ngqushwa Local Municipality

The central beliefs of the Xhosa cattle-killing

The Xhosa cattle-killing movement of 1856–7 cannot be explained as a superstitious ‘pagan reaction’ to the intrusion of colonial rule and Christian civilization. It owes its peculiar form to the lungsickness epidemic of 1854, which carried off over 100,000 Xhosa cattle. The Xhosa theory of disease indicated that the sick cattle had been contaminated by the witchcraft practices of the people, and that these tainted cattle would have to be slaughtered lest they infect the pure new cattle which were about to rise. The idea of the resurrection of the dead was partly due to the Xhosa belief that the dead do not really die or depart from the world of the living, and partly to the Xhosa myth of creation, which held that all life originated in a certain cavern in the ground which might yet again pour forth its blessings on the earth. Christian doctrines, transmitted through the prophets Nxele and Mhlakaza, supplemented and elaborated these indigenous Xhosa beliefs. The Xhosa and the Christian elements united together in the person of the expected redeemer Sifuba-sibanzi (the broad-chested one). The central beliefs of the Xhosa cattle-killing were neither irrational nor atavistic. Ironically, it was probably because they were so rational and so appropriate that they ultimately proved to be so deadly

The impact of globalisation on the tea industry, with special reference to South Africa.

Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.There are many challenges facing business, industry and its operations, the associated service provision and the supply chain management in the global market today. Simon and Sohal (1995, p.14) acknowledge the dramatic and irreversible changes that the South African business environment has undergone over the past five years, from 1990 to 1995. Such changes are mainly shift of focus from inward-looking import substitution with substantial protection to a globally-oriented open economy. Businesses are faced with a challenge to optimise their operations to compete in the new economy. Many organisations have not survived the competition, as they lacked the necessary competitive edge. Challenges faced by these organisations varied from unavailability of suitably qualified management through to challenges with local legislation and the impacts of low-cost production imports, which led to closure of some businesses. From a community standpoint, closure of businesses poses a challenge to the socioeconomy of the inhabitants of the country. This research seeks to establish if the closure of businesses and subsequent impacts on the socio-economic status of communities was as a result of the changes during the globalisation era. Research methodology To address the objectives of the study, a population of tea "experts" was inferred from data received from DTI (2004). This inference was done through use of a ratio of 1 :60 (Manager: Labourers) due to the fact that the industry is labour-intensive. A total of 48 "experts" were identified as an adequate, representative sample for the analysis. These "experts" were from both the private tea industry and the govenunent regulatory departments involved with agricultural activities. A total of 96 questionnaires were sent to the "experts", with a return rate of 50% of these, which equated to the required sample size (of 48 completed questionnaires). Data analysis was carried out through using an Excel spreadsheet and converting frequency of responses to percentages. Objectives The objectives of the study included: • To identify issues and strategic challenges facing the global tea industry in the literature and applying them to the South African tea industry; • Analyse the tea estates in South Africa with specific reference to Magwa Tea Estate in the Eastern Cape, the old Transkei; • Identify appropriate strategies that may enhance the performance of the South African tea industry; • Assess the incentives provided by global governments to tea estates and compare them to the South African conditions; and • Examine the potential of applying some of the global success strategies into the South African tea estate industry. Conclusions While one cannot discount the phenomenon of globalisation, it has been shown that some areas in which business was devoid included capable management teams, flexibility on strategies, strengthening of the Rand and Land Claims against land occupied by the tea estates. The result was a collapse in the tea industry. The recommendations below suggest means by which the tea industry may be revived to carry its original mandate of providing jobs to the rural communities. However, the industry requires the development of sustainable competitive strategies. Recommendations • The organisation should continue to adopt a philosophy m which entrepreneurship is promoted and encouraged; • Ensure employment of a well-trained management team to develop and lead the strategy; • Encourage efficiency of operations; • Encourage government subsidies (especially in the form of regulations on imports to prevent dumping); • Employ appropriate competitive advantage strategies; • Root out corruption and mismanagement of the institution; Development of an interrelationship between the growers and retailers such that the growing of tea is sustainable; • They need to have strong communication skills which must encompass strong negotiation skills

Impacts of climate change on the environment in coastal areas in Cameroon. A vulnerability assessment of climate change impacts

Climate change is a global warming phenomenon that has a significant impact on the environment. This study aims to evaluate the impact of climate change on the coastal areas of Limbe-Down Beach, Cameroon. The study area selected as a case was the vicinity of Limbe Down Beach and its surrounding areas. The aim was to investigate how climate change has impacted the population in this area. For the purpose of this study, the participants that were selected for the study were 80 respondents, including families, households, individuals, and officials. The majority of respondents (72.5%) agree that addressing climate change requires collaborative action and the adoption of more sustainable methods. There are risk factors associated with climate change in the environment such as high temperatures, frequent rainfalls, and heavy storms. More so, the study describes some human activities that are responsible for climate change, such as deforestation, and the burning of fossil fuels in industrial plants which leads to pollution and CO2 emissions. This study also shows that there has been frequent climate change impact in Limbe Down Beach which has made the population very vulnerable. It is important to implement strategies that can curb the impacts of climate change on this population but most importantly, sustainable development efforts should be made towards environmental protection

Ibali lika Ntsikana

The original document was digitized with financial support from Media24.Condition of Ama-kosa when Christianity came -- Ntsikana's parentage, birth, marriage -- Early Christian awakening -- Ntsikana makes a stand against 'Nxele' -- Fruitless attempt to prevent war -- Gospel preacher and singer to his countrymen -- The evening of Ntsikana's life.http://explore.up.ac.za/record=b172335

The role of traditional leaders in enhancing service delivery in Mbhashe Local Municipality

This study investigates the role of traditional leaders in enhancing service delivery in Mbhashe Local Municipality. The aim is to examine the involvement of traditional leaders in the provision of services to traditional communities. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to review literature on traditional leadership to advance an argument that by utilising the existing channels of communication such as traditional councils, government programmes could be more efficiently advertised. A secondary objective was to examine the relationship between traditional leaders and democratically elected councillors in the delivery of services. The problem in Mbhashe Local Municipality is that traditional leaders and the democratically elected leaders do not work together for service delivery. In order to address this problem, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the identified sample and conclusions drawn from their responses. The research revealed that if properly utilised and capacitated traditional leaders can indeed play a pivotal role in the enhancement of service delivery in Mbhashe Local Municipal area and in South Africa as whole