Referencing scholarly debates on humanitarianism and specifically HIV interventions, this article analyses the commodification of health in Botswana’s political arena throughout the HIV pandemic and beyond, contributing to a re-evaluation of the distribution of public wealth and international support in welfare states in Africa. The starting point of the analysis is a project to build a private...

The mission of public health--improving the health of populations--is difficult to advance in public discourse because a language to express the values animating that mission has not been adequately developed. Following on the work of Robert Bellah, Dan Beauchamp, and others, we argue that the first "language" of American culture is individualism. A second American language of community--rooted...

Disaster relief presents many unique logistics challenges, with problems including damaged transportation infrastructure, limited communication, and coordination of multiple agents. Central to disaster relief logistics is the distribution of life-saving commodities to beneficiaries. Operations research models have potential to help relief agencies save lives and money, maintain standards of hum...

A t first glance, the notion that human rights violations, violence, and suffering would lead to a humanitarian response and to promotion of human rights and dignity would seem obvious. Yet history shows that the ultimate benefit of humanitarian action seldom accrues to the "victims." As a result of this conundrum, the humanitarian movement, exemplified by the French Doctors, has entered an unp...

Humanitarian emergencies are increasing globally and the world is facing worst human displacement crisis since end of World War II. The number forcibly displaced people due to conflict, violence, severe weather events complex has reached a record high approximately 70 million. United Nations estimates that 235 million will urgently require humanitarian assistance in 2021 at cost US$35 billion. ...