Real Estate Management and Value Adding in Corporate Institutions in Ghana

Real estate is a delicate item for most corporations as it account for about 35% of the total asset on their balance sheet. This notwithstanding, very little attention is paid to it by most corporations. Top management view real estate and facilities services as a cost centre, despite the immense ways it adds value to corporations. Corporate real estate management contributions are often submerged in that of the entire corporations’ and it is often very difficult to quantify its total added value.  This paper adopts the value adding model by Lindholm et al. (2006) to ascertain its value adding strategies in the Ghanaian context. The paper also identifies new value adding strategies of corporate real estate in view of the dynamic business world.  Using convenience sampling, two corporations were selected for the study. The value adding model fits the study corporations, but for a few peculiarities. From the study cost reduction and increasing value of asset were the key strategies. Site selection, workplace design and the provision of the needed facilities are the major factors that influence marketing and sales, employee satisfaction and productivity. Increasing innovations was the least value adding strategy. Space rationalization and the use of a sound data base as value adding   strategies were peculiar findings not indicated by the model. The neglect of the real estate department in strategic corporate planning is a drawback to its value adding strategies. The study suggests that real estate must not be treated as a residual function. Real estate value adding strategies must also be linked to corporate strategy. Keywords - Corporate Real Estate Management, Value Adding, Strategy, Ghana

"When someone becomes old then every part of the body too becomes old": Experiences of living with dementia in Kintampo, rural Ghana.

Studies have suggested that in African countries, symptoms of cognitive decline are commonly seen as part of "normal ageing" or attributed to supernatural causes. The impact of folk beliefs about causality upon help-seeking is unclear. Likewise, there is a lack of evidence relating to how families cope with living with an older resident with dementia. Our study's aim was to explore the sociocultural beliefs, understandings, perceptions and behaviours relating to living with dementia in Kintampo, Ghana. We conducted in-depth interviews with a total of 28 people, using a series of case studies among 10 older people living with dementia and their families. Results revealed that symptoms of cognitive impairment were generally linked to inexorable bodily decline understood to be characteristic of "normal" ageing. Stigma was therefore perceived to be non-existent. Whilst managing the costs of care was often a challenge, care-giving was largely accepted as a filial duty, commonly shared among female residents of large compound households. Families experimented with biomedical and traditional medicine for chronic conditions they perceived to be treatable. Our findings suggest that whilst families offer a holistic approach to the needs of older people living with chronic conditions including dementia, health and social policies offer inadequate scaffolding to support this work. In the future, it will be important to develop policy frameworks that acknowledge the continued social and economic potential of older people and strengthen the existing approach of families, optimising the management of non-communicable diseases within primary care

Small and sick newborn care during the COVID-19 pandemic: global survey and thematic analysis of healthcare providers’ voices and experiences

The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting health systems globally. Maternity care disruptions have been surveyed, but not those related to vulnerable small newborns. We aimed to survey reported disruptions to small and sick newborn care worldwide and undertake thematic analysis of healthcare providers' experiences and proposed mitigation strategies. Using a widely disseminated online survey in three languages, we reached out to neonatal healthcare providers. We collected data on COVID-19 preparedness, effects on health personnel and on newborn care services, including kangaroo mother care (KMC), as well as disruptors and solutions. We analysed 1120 responses from 62 countries, mainly low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Preparedness for COVID-19 was suboptimal in terms of guidelines and availability of personal protective equipment. One-third reported routine testing of all pregnant women, but 13% had no testing capacity at all. More than 85% of health personnel feared for their own health and 89% had increased stress. Newborn care practices were disrupted both due to reduced care-seeking and a compromised workforce. More than half reported that evidence-based interventions such as KMC were discontinued or discouraged. Separation of the mother-baby dyad was reported for both COVID-positive mothers (50%) and those with unknown status (16%). Follow-up care was disrupted primarily due to families' fear of visiting hospitals (~73%). Newborn care providers are stressed and there is lack clarity and guidelines regarding care of small newborns during the pandemic. There is an urgent need to protect life-saving interventions, such as KMC, threatened by the pandemic, and to be ready to recover and build back better