Secondary education reform in Lesotho and Zimbabwe and the needs of rural girls: Pronouncements, policy and practice

Analysis of the educational needs of rural girls in Lesotho and Zimbabwe suggests a number of shortcomings in the current form of secondary education, and ways in which it might be modified so as to serve this sizeable group of students better. Several of the shortcomings, notably in relation to curricular irrelevance and excessive focus on examinations, have long been recognised, including by politicians. Yet political pronouncements are seldom translated into policy, and even where policy is formulated, reforms are seldom implemented in schools. This paper makes use of interviews with educational decision-makers in the two southern African countries and a range of documentary sources to explore why, despite the considerable differences between the two contexts, much needed educational reforms have been implemented in neither

Perfil da assistência farmacêutica na atenção primária do Sistema Único de Saúde Pharmacist care in the Brazilian Primary Health Care System

Este artigo apresenta uma revisão e análise da assistência farmacêutica como parte integrante do sistema de atenção primária à saúde, no qual a qualidade do uso de medicamentos está diretamente relacionada à qualidade do serviço de saúde e aos elementos para a avaliação desta. As Unidades Básicas de Saúde constituem a principal porta de entrada do sistema de assistência à saúde estatal em nosso país. Entretanto, o vínculo do serviço farmacêutico está relacionado com o modelo curativo, centrado na consulta médica e pronto atendimento, com a farmácia apenas atendendo a essas demandas. A atividade de orientação aos usuários na farmácia das Unidades Básicas de Saúde torna-se praticamente impossível, pois na farmácia deságuam quase todas as mazelas do sistema de saúde, por estar no elo final do processo de atendimento. A solução do problema, no âmbito geral, não será simples, se mantida a forma como o serviço está estruturado, pois grande parte das pressões de demanda não depende do serviço de saúde em si, mas de políticas sociais inclusivas, as quais têm impacto direto nas condições de saúde da população. No âmbito específico, é fundamental que os gestores racionalizem a utilização dos medicamentos desde a prescrição até a utilização por parte do usuário.<br>This paper presents a review and analysis of Pharmacist Care as an integrated part of the Primary Health Care System, in which quality use of medicines is directly related to quality health service and to elements for its evaluation. In our country the Basic Health Units represent the main entrance to the public health care system. The pharmaceutical services however are still linked to the care model centered in medical consultation and emergency care, with the pharmacy just satisfying their needs. Provide orientation to the users of a Basic Unit pharmacy is almost impossible because nearly all sore spots of the health system end up at the pharmacy as the final step in the care process. The solution of the problem will not be easy if the present structure of the service is maintained. Great part of the pressure resulting from the demand does not depend on the health service itself but on inclusive social policies with direct impact on the health conditions of the population. Rational use of medicines from the prescriber to the user is fundamental in this specific environment