ABSTRACT
Sars-CoV-2 is spread through contact between people and an understanding of where people are in contact with each other is necessary to prevent its spread. In this paper, the residential building density of Bulawayo was considered a proxy for high density of people. OpenStreetMap (OSM) building data was downloaded and converted from polygon to point data for use in the analysis. World View 2 data was used to visually map those areas where data was missing in OSM. More automated methods were attempted using eCognition however the short turnaround time of the project limited the success of this approach and work in this regard in ongoing. Land use attribute data was joined to the building shape file in order to select only those building which were designated as residential in nature. The residential building density was calculated per hectare and a hot spot analysis of the residential building density determined statistically significant clusters of high density residential buildings. The high density areas are mostly located in the west of the City, where new settlements are being created to accommodate new arrivals to the city. The East is typified by low density housing, largely a legacy of the City's colonial past. A series of maps which could be printed on A3 paper were produced for the City. The maps displayed both the results of the hot spot analysis and land use and these have been made available to City officials to help in planning their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. © COPYRIGHT SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To argue that nurse practitioners have been under-utilized generally in the current global health environment, creating barriers to achieving universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. BACKGROUND: Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses possessing expert knowledge and leadership skills that can be optimized to narrow disparities and ensure access to high-quality health care globally. Nurses worldwide have been challenged to meet global public health needs in the context of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 virus), and there are early indications that nurse practitioners are being called upon to the full extent of their capabilities in the current pandemic. SOURCES OF EVIDENCE: PubMed; Google Scholar; the International Council of Nurses; World Health Organization; United Nations; and the experiences of the authors. DISCUSSION: Several international reports, nursing and health organizations have called for continued investment in and development of nursing to improve mechanisms that promote cost-effective and universally accessible care. Expanding nurse practitioner scopes of practice across nations will leverage their clinical capacities, policy and advocacy skills, and talents to lead at all levels. CONCLUSION: Ongoing empirical data and policy change is needed to enable the full scope and strategic utilization of nurse practitioners across healthcare systems and contexts. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE, AND NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: Widespread education regarding nurse practitioner capacities for interdisciplinary partners, policymakers and the public is needed. Policies that safely expand their roles are critical. Role titles and remuneration reflective of their scope and service are required to lead, sustain and grow the workforce internationally.