The convict Able Magwitch Essay Example for Free

The convict Able Magwitch Essay Great Expectations is a novel written by Charles Dickens during the Victorian period, around 1860-61. Dickins today is regarded to be one of the greatest novelists of all time. Great Expectations portrays the predominate themes of a Dickins novel as its central ideas revolve around the division of rich and poor, and how their status is viewed by the society in which they live. The novel Great Expectations is based upon the life of a young orphaned boy named Pip, whom is brought up by his older sister Mrs Joe Gargery and Mr Joe Gargery his brother in law living in Kent. Pip faced with various different incidents, as well as changes that take place in his life, which then structure his future self, as he grows into a man. Such events include him meeting Magwitch, Miss Havisham, and Estella, all of which have diverse effects on him. Pip is the protagonist and narrator of the novel and is reflecting on his past, explaining his story of his younger self. Pip is passionate, romantic, and somewhat unrealistic at heart, as he tends to expect more for himself than is possible, as he has a powerful conscience, and he deeply wants to improve himself, both morally and socially. He grows up to be a rich arrogant gentleman, influenced by Miss Havisham and his love for Estella. Despite his new lifestyle, he is later reminded in the novel, of his former self. This transformation in Pip, from poor to rich clearly reflects the distinct division and contrast in class throughout the Victorian era. Miss Havisham is a wealthy, eccentric old woman who lives in a manor called Satis House near Pips village. She is manic and often seems insane, wonders around her house in a faded wedding dress, keeping a decaying feast on her table. As a young lady, Miss Havisham was jilted by her fianc minutes before her wedding, and now she has a vendetta against all men. She deliberately raises Estella to be the tool of her revenge, training her beautiful ward to break mens hearts. Miss Havishams beautiful young ward, Estella is Pips unattainable dream throughout the novel. He loves her passionately, but though she sometimes seems to consider him a friend, she is usually cold, cruel, and uninterested in him. As they grow up together she repeatedly warns him that she has no heart. Pip also later discovers that Estella is Magwitchs daughter. One of the main themes of this story is wealth. In Victorian times money meant everything and it was what gave people their status in society. Ones individual wealth was reflected by their job and sense of dress, placing them into a society in which they were approved of. Money was a measure of giving a person everything they wanted, from luxuries, to happiness or even to a persons heart. Great Expectations on the other hand proves to illustrate an exact parody of the fact stated above. This is largely due to Pip going though much misfortune, suffering and tragedy as a gentleman, yet the novel points out that no amount of wealth buys you true love or friends, just grief and agony. In chapter one, the first meeting between Magwitch and Pip is set in a bleak place over grown with nettles in a churchyard which was intersected with dykes and mounds and gates that have scattered cattle feeding on it down at the marshes in Kent. The weather, in addition to the surroundings, is as follows; wind was rushing and the distant savage lair was the sea. This makes everything sound very quiet, eerie, and isolated. Also the use of the metaphor describing the sea distant savage lair emphasises how it seems so sister and dangerous. The use if this also creates an image in the readers mind of a dark, almost ghostly sea, making the setting so far very unsettling to the reader. This suggests that the meeting between the two characters may not be a friendly sort; rather it indicates its going to be more of a grim and disturbing type sensing that theres trouble brewing. The weather helps sets the scene and brings it all together, by making the reader anxious and curious about whats going to happen next, through using language such as savage and dark flat wilderness. These words are very negative and unpleasant; hence it brings up curiosity as to why its like that. Overall the setting of the first meeting is very pessimistic and sinister. This makes the setting seem very unappealing, causing the reader build up interest as to why the setting is such and also comes to understand that somethings about to happen, therefore whatever it is, it wont be something good when taking into account and reflecting back at the overall setting, including the weather. This use of subtle contrast from Dickins is in my view very clever as it stands almost as a metaphor for the context of the novel. In the Victorian era the amount of money possessed by each individual was a measure of your popularity and status. Despite this it did not always bring you happiness and contentment. The use of dismal and moody atmospheric description clearly symbolises how not everything is what it seems, as Pip and Magwitch, are not in the end foes as it seems they are going to be in the initial stages of the novel, but instead friends, with respect and understanding for each other. Many years later, the second meeting takes place at Pips home down in Garden-court, in London. Once again, the weather coincidently repeats itself just like chapter ones setting of the first meeting, wretched weather; stormy and wet, stormy, and wet; and mud, mud, mud, deep in all the streets is described as a vast heavy veil which has been around for quite a while. We could suspect that each time Magwitch and Pip are about to meet, the weather acts as an indication of trouble brewing before the meeting has commenced. This is because the weather alters by deteriorating to damp, murky, and stormy, setting the mood or emotion of the meeting that is to take place. All in all, Charles Dickens has created the setting to be very disturbing and eerie, simply by using a savage array of negative words like wretched and savage, causing the setting to appear in a negative light. This makes the reader concerned and question what is to happen next in the meeting between Pip and Magwitch, for the second time. The very first meeting with Pip and Magwitch shows just how different and unique the two characters are when compared to one and other. The story is told by Pip as a grown man, explaining and looking back at his past using his infant tongue to tell the story. However, in the second meeting Pip is no longer a boy, but a mature man who is three-and-twenty years of age whom is narrator and protagonist of the novel, Great Expectations.

Marks and Spencer Clothing Ranges | Analysis

Marks and Spencer Clothing Ranges | Analysis This report is pertaining to Marks Spencer UK Ref : 1) Identify and explain the different customer needs. Who are the three MS clothing ranges aimed to serve? Assume that the Perfect and Classic ranges serve essentially the same customer segment. 2) Identify and explain the order winners and qualifier for these three different clothing ranges at MS. 3) Apply the polar diagram to analyse and compare the different operations performance objectives for these three different clothing ranges at MS. Introduction: MARKS SPENCER (UK) Marks Spencer (MS) is a commercial organization and is one of the UK leading retailer of clothing and home product. Other than that, MS also selling high quality of foods and at the same time also provided financial service. MS claim to have 21 million of customer that visit to their store weekly and have 600 stores in UK and the business is expanding globally. MS have 2000 supplier and 75000 employees all around the world. MS also is the No. 1 women wear and lingerie provider in UK. Meanwhile the market share of men and children wear is expanding. Lastly, due to MS Plan A, a five year eco plan, MS is now more known for their green credential to become carbon free and no landfill waste by the year 2012. 1.0 Identify and explain the different customer needs which the three MS clothing ranges aimed to serve? Assume that the Perfect and Classic ranges serve essentially the same customer segment. 1.1 Identify the Segmentation. Market segmentation can be defined as the process of dividing a market into different segmentation by take in the consideration of the customers common needs or characteristic. (Schiffman Kanuk, 1997,p.46) In reference to the case study, the product agenda in the Marks Spencer can be divided by understanding segmentation is Season, Gender, Age. Season There are 4 seasons in United Kingdom, which is spring, autumn, summer and winter. By further reference to the case study, spring and autumn is the peak sales season of the Marks and Spencer. The clothing during spring and autumn is casual wear. And during this time, is when all the high-fashion wear take place as no heavy clothing is required. The figure below show the suitable clothing to be worn during spring and autumn season. Gender Marks and Spencer is targeted more on the women rather than man. This is factual that women are usually more into shopping and purchasing clothing than men. Take for instance; I usually go shopping for clothes once a year usually a few weeks before the Chinese New Year. It is Chinese tradition to wear new cloth during the celebration. Whereas my girl friend will keep on shopping whenever she likes together shopper impulse. The case study has a focus on women buying behavior pertaining to clothes. Age Product needs and interests vary with consumer age. Marketers have found age is a very useful demographic variable for distinguishing segments. (Schiffman Kanuk, 1997,p.53) By referring to the case study, Marks Spencer core and potential customer are women aged between 35 to 55. Where the women at this age are very active and the purchasing power is high. 1.2 Customer needs Customer needs are defined, XXXXXXXX. In the case of Marks Spencer the needs of women customers can be divided into the size, quality, design, pricing and also the services that are available to them in providing, them providing their personal and environmental needs. 1.2.1 The Size of the Clothing The different sizes of the clothing are one of the most important issues towards customer needs. A cloth can be designed with a very supreme layout, the colour can be extremely beautiful, the price can very reasonable and the quality can be fantastic, however when customer wants to purchase a particular clothing but not available in size, will result in customer behavioral stress with a perceptional and altitude change towards the item. MS should strategically consider in term of the size availability of the clothing that they wish to sell as compared to the women in Malaysia, the size are normally in the range S, M, L and XL as their body are relatively smaller if compare to the women in UK. 1.2.2 The Quality of the Clothing The quality is important to the customer and required need. The customer wants his money worth when she wears the clothes. From the case study, one of the customer stated that the cloth she purchase must be value for money. The busy lifestyle of today, the customers now need to be met by MS. They will preferred that the clothing that they purchase can be wash well and not require specialist washing and the cloth have to long last , colour not to fade and wont shrink while in wash. This is same for all the customers around the world. The customer is expecting the price will mirror the quality level of the product (Erickson and Johansson,1985 cited in Brassington and Pettitt, 2007,p.223). The quality of the goods and services accepted have to be equal to the money that they invested. 1.2.3 The design of the Clothing Good design satisfies customer, communicates the purpose of the product or service to its market, and bring financial rewards to the business. The objective of good design, whether of product or service is to satisfy customers by meeting their actual or anticipated needs and expectations (Slack, et al., 2010) The customers demand a good design of clothing and shall be not recognized as MS on the first sight especially for the premium and high fashion clothing. Customer needs for something that is more presentable and different from the other brands. This is best described for the autograph range clothing. The design has to be supreme, outstanding. As what we understand that the hot sales season of MS is during Spring And Autumn, and during this two season, heavy clothing is not required and this is the time when the people wear out fashion and trendy clothing. Therefore the design needs to be the main consideration of MS while they make the purchase decision. Whereas, the customers in Malaysia especially for women, they will rather visit a boutique rather than a supermarket to buy their clothing even though the price is higher because of the design. As the cloth in the boutique are unique and rarely found in other shops and this will eliminate the chances to get embarrassed as 2 person we ar the same clothing at a function or dinner. 1.2.4 The services A good service usually helps to make sales successful. Customers who come to MS expected to receive a good service, such as after sales service, consultant service and other basic services. However, in the case study, one of the customers stated that she would not make a special trip to buy a high-fashion item and rather to have an impulse purchase. The busy lifestyle today, purchase through the internet is becoming a common thing. MS do have this service, and the customers do not have to go to the store to view and to purchase for the clothing. The electronic catalogue on the website and online purchase is available. This is one of the services that are demanded by the customer. This service is productive as customers now do not need to step out from their home to purchase. Especially in a critical weather condition, helps remove customer stress. As for the goods to be delivered, somehow, if MS will set up a special department to deal with the delivery, the lead time will be reduced and the satisfaction level of customer on the service will be enhanced. 1.2.5 The Pricing Price- the main consideration of customer on purchase. Form the case, the customer had stated that they would pay a high price but the design and quality must be there. But it is not applicable for all the customer as for the customer which comes from a middle and low income level, pricing will be an issue. As in Malaysia, if the product sell is cheap and worth, even though there is no advertisement, the store will have a lot of customers. From the consumer perception, the price of a product reflects the value that they attach to whatsoever is being exchanged. While the customer is making purchase decision, the marketer is considered be making a promise to the customer about what is the product and what is the value of it. The consumer is then going to determine the promise against the price and thus decide whether it is worth paying (Zeithaml, 1988 cited in Brassington and Pettitt, 2007,p.223). The same applies to MS, if the prices are lower compare to the competitor, and with good quality, automatically the customer will be there to purchase. Thus, pull up the profit of the MS. It will also create the loyalty of the customer towards MS. 2.0 Identify and explain the order winners and qualifier for these three different clothing ranges at MS. 2.1 Order Winner Order winner are those factor which directly and significantly contribute to winning business. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.69) In a simply words, order winner is the characteristic of a firm that cause the customer to purchase the goods and services from firm. Order winner play an important role to not only to end sales but also to secure new business. The ability of a firm in the strategic initiative as cost, price, lead time, quality, reliability, brand equity and etc can enhance a firm order winner. The order winner for classis and perfect range is for core customers with a busy life, versatility, fitness, reasonable price and quality The order winner for Autograph range is its Fashionable, unique and exclusive designs. The order winner for Per una range is Limited editions, special and more exclusive styles, competitive prices. 2.2 Order Qualifiers Qualifier are those aspect of competitiveness where the operations performance has to be above particular level just to be considered by the customer. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.69).Order qualifier is the characteristic to be equipped by a firm to make it outstanding among all the other firm and competitors. In a simple words, order qualifiers make the firm differ from its competitors. The order qualifiers for classis and perfect range are Timeless essentials reflecting ones style and finesse. The order qualifier for Autograph range is Collection with no more than 60 of each color and way and style. The order qualifier for Per Una Range is its Superb designs at very affordable prices 3.0 Apply the polar diagram to analyse and compare the different operations performance objectives for these three different clothing ranges at MS. 3.1 Polar Diagram Polar diagram is a useful way to representing the relative importance objective for a product or services. This is called the polar representation because the scales which represent the importance of each performance objective have the same origin. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.53). The polar diagram below can be used to analyse and compare he different operations performance objectives for the three different clothing range at MS. The 5 factor in the polar diagram are Cost, Quality, Design, Size availability and also the Sales volume SKU. 3.1.1 Cost Cost is the major performance objective especially for the firm which compete against each other in term of price as the lower the cost, the lower the price the firm can sell to customer. When the firm able to lower its cost but can maintains the quality, it is giving the firm the cost objective. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.40) By referring to the polar diagram, the cost for the Autograph range is the highest followed by the Per Una Range, meanwhile the cost for perfect and classic range is the lowest among the three MS Clothing range. The cost directly reflect the selling the price of three MS product range. The price of Autograph range is the most expensive among three as the product under this range use the design of top designer and high quality raw material. When the cost increases, automatically the selling price will be higher. 3.1.2 Quality Quality is a major influence on customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Quality is consistent conformance to customers expectation, which also mean doing thing right. High quality of goods and services that is offer to customer will ensure the return of the customer. This will give the firm a quality advantages. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.40) By referring to the polar diagram, the quality of the Per Una Range is the supreme follow by The Autograph Range then by the Perfect and Classic range. The material use in Per Una range product is Superb quality materials while the material use in the Autograph and Perfect Classic range is High quality and high quality fabrics material. This had show that the high quality material had been used by MS in producing their all range of clothing to ensure the quality of clothing is maintain at high level and ensure the customer satisfaction. By using the high quality material, the issue such as shrink colour fading will be eliminate. 3.1.3 Flexibility (The availability of Size) The flexibility simply means that the ability of the form to change the operation in some way. It also means that the firm will be able to react toward different and unexpected circumstances. The ability of the firm to give individual treatment to the different customer will give the firm flexibility advantage. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.46) The polar diagram show that the flexibility of the perfect and classis ranges in term of size is above the other two. This is due to the product available in this range are wide and quantity are large. Compare to the Autograph range, the product are unique and only limited number is available, those who miss the chances to purchase will be difficult to find another as it is purposely create the demand in a limited supply. Other than that the product in perfect and classic range is being sale in a wide range and in a large quantity. 3.1.4 Speed A firm might want to do thing fast, thus minimizing the time form the customer order and receiving it in full. The speed advantages means that the faster the customer can get the goods, the more they will buy and thus, the more the firm can gain from it. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.42) The product can be found almost all the outlet of the MS. Mean while, the product in the Autograph range can be found in selected store only with a lesser amount. On the other hand, the product under per una range can only be found in a limited number in the specific store only. There polar diagram are clearly show the different sales volume SKU of the three different clothing range of MS where the larger the volume of the SKU, the faster the customer can get the goods that they wish to purchase. 3.1.5 Dependability Dependability means that doing thing in time for customer to receive their goods or services exactly when they are needed, or at least when they were promise. When the firm able to perform this, it will give the dependability advantages to the firm. (Slack, et al., 2010, P.44) The polar diagram show that the dependability of the Autograph range is superior of the other two clothing range. The design of the Autograph range is to a wider audience within a unique environment, which means a special design by the famous designer. The design of Per Una Range is slightly below the Autograph range where it is affected by the latest trend but will outdate very fast. When it comes to the perfect and classic range, the design is more to casual and return to basic. Design play an important role in the expensive clothing range as they customer willing to pay just for the design, but when come to basic cloth, customer prefer value-for-money prices.

Determinants of Health Insurance Choices

Determinants of Health Insurance Choices CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Background to the Problem Health care financing in developing countries remain a policy issue with few countries able to spend the $34 per capita recommended by the World Health Organisation as minimum requirement for basic health care. Lack of financial resources to adequately meet the increasing demand for health care needs of the African population remain a persistent problem, and is becoming more critical in the context of increasing incidences of non- communicable diseases. Consequently, there have been attempts by African governments to explore different methods of health care financing. The 2005 World Health Assembly encouraged its member states to move towards achieving universal coverage. Universal coverage does not only relate to generation of health care funds but implies equity in access and guaranteed financial risk protection. As it is the desire of all countries to move towards a system of universal coverage,6 it is argued that irrespective of the source of financing for the health system selected, prepayment and pooling of resources and risks arbasic principles in financial-risk protection. Further recognition of the importance of universal coverage for countries led to the WHO proposing the 2010 World Health Report to address financing for universal health coverage (UHC). Since independence, one of the overall objectives of the government of Kenya has been to promote and improve the health status of Kenyans. This objective is motivated by the evidence that investing in health produces positive outcomes in human capital that have long term impacts in the overall socio-economic development of a country (World Bank 1993; Mwabu 1998). In a number of government policy documents and in successive National Development Plans, the government has set forth that the provision of health services should be available, accessible and affordable to those in most need of healthcare (sessional paper No. 10 of 1965; KHPFP, various Development Plans). Different health financing policy initiatives have been undertaken in Kenya, all aimed largely at addressing affordability and access to health care services. Universalist free health for all policy saw a rapid expansion of the healthcare infrastructure, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s, and advances in health and social indicators. During this period, health financing system was supported primarily via general tax revenue. With the growing population and worsening socio-economic and political factors, a severe crisis of health and social development unraveled in the 1990s (UNDP 2002). As a result of the crisis, the governments objectives and commitments to free healthcare provision for all eroded dramatically forcing it to implement a cost-sharing scheme in 1989. User fees were abolished for outpatient care in 1990, inspired by concerns about social justice, but re-introduced in 1992 because of budgetary constraints. Today, these fees have remained, with their impact on access to health care the subject of several empirical studies. The user fee system was significantly altered in June 2004, when the Ministry of Health stipulated that health care at dispensary and health centre level be free for all citizens, except for a minimal registration fee in government health facilities. Health financing in Kenya is characterized by a high out of pocket expenditure. The Annual Health Sector Statistics Report (2008), indicate that the out of pocket expenditure as a proportion of total expenditure stands at 36% while public expenditure as a proportion of total health expenditure is 29% per cent. 31 per cent of the total health expenditure comes from the development partners while the private companies contribute 3%. This kind of scenario makes access to health a big problem for the majority of the people below the poverty line that constitute about 45.9 per cent of the population. According to the 2007 Kenya Household Expenditure Survey, 37.7% of Kenyans who were ill and did not seek care were hindered by cost. Health insurance is emerging as the most preferred form of health financing mechanism in situations where private out-of-pocket expenditures on health are significantly high and cost recovery strategies affect the access to healthcare. The need for health insura nce in Kenya has been recognized by policymakers for quite some time now, as exemplified by the establishment of NHIF in 1966 through an Act of Parliament. The most significant event in the recent past has been the governments interest in social health insurance as a health financing method and its possible implementation in Kenya. The aim is to ensure equity and access to healthcare services by all Kenyans. Despite the recognition of the importance of health insurance by the government, the number of people in Kenya enrolled in health insurance schemes is low (KNBS, 2009). In view of this, there is need to carry out a study on factors determining choice of health insurance. Overview of Health Insurance in Kenya Kimani et al (2004) put forward that health insurance in Kenya has been provided by both private and public systems. The main objective of the health systems has been to insure Kenyans against health risks that they may encounter in future. The broad categories of health insurance in Kenya are as discussed below: Private Healthcare Insurance Health insurance is considered private when the third party (insurer) is a profit organisation (Republic of Kenya, 2003a). In private insurance, people pay premiums related to the expected cost of providing services to them, that is, people who are in high health risk groups pay more, and those at low risk pay less. Cross-subsidy between people with different risks of ill health is limited. Membership of a private insurance scheme is usually voluntary. Private health insurance has been offered by general insurance firms, which offer healthcare insurance as one of their portfolio of products. Therefore, their intention may be driven by the profit motive as business enterprises rather that the pursuit to promote the general health of Kenyans. Wangombe et al (1994) identify two categories of private health insurance in Kenya: direct private health insurance and, employment based insurance. Nderitu (2002) notes that direct private health insurance is very expensive and only the middle and high-income groups afford it In the employment-based plans, the employer provides care directly through employer-owned on site health facility, or through employer contracts with health facilities or healthcare organisations. These are both voluntary health schemes and are not legislated by the government. According to Techlink International Report (1999), few firms provide healthcare insurance in the strict sense of insurance in private healthcare insurance in Kenya. The general insurance firms offering healthcare insurance as one of their portfolio of products include American Life Insurance Company (ALICO), Apollo Insurance, GMD Kenya, Kenya Alliance Insurance Company Ltd, and UAP Provincial Insurance. Other firms run medical schemes and they are in two categories: the first category provides healthcare through own clinics and hospitals (these include AAR Health Services, Avenue Healthcare Ltd, Comprehensive Medical Services, Health Plan Services), while the other category provides healthcare through third party facilities (examples are Bupa International, Health Management Services and Health First International). These medical schemes are also known as Health Management Organisations (HMOs). HMOs are registered as companies under the Companies Act. The concept originated in the US , where HMOs also help the government to disseminate preventive messages to the public. They were introduced in Kenya a decade ago in response to a 1994 Government call on the private sector to assist in medical care. HMOs are filling a vacuum left by the public health insurance scheme. In HMOs, the patient pays a fixed annual fee, called a capitation fee, to cover the medical costs. Members of a HMO must go to the doctors of that HMO. In addition, to see a specialist, their HMO family doctor must refer them. HMOs have grown rapidly especially in the last few years, especially among those who are covered by employer-provided health plans, mainly because they have helped contain cost increases. National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) The NHIF was established by an Act of Parliament in 1966 as a department in the Ministry of Health, which oversaw its operations, but responsible to the government Treasury for fiscal matters. The Fund was set up to provide for a national contributory hospital insurance scheme for all residents in Kenya. The Act establishing the NHIF provided for the enrolment in the NHIF of all Kenyans between the ages of 18 and 65 and mandates employers to deduct premium from wages and salaries. Contributions and membership are compulsory for all salaried employees earning a net salary of Kshs. 1000 per month and above. The level of contribution is graduated according to income, ranging from Ksh 30 to Ksh 320 per month. The Fund covers up to 180 inpatient hospital days per member and his/her beneficiaries per year. Besides being self-financing and self-administering, the Fund monitors its own collections and distributes benefits to providers. The NHIF Act also provides for the Fund to make loans from its reserves to hospitals for service improvement. Over the years, the original Act of Parliament has been reviewed to accommodate the changing healthcare needs of the Kenyan population, employment and restructuring in the health sector. The government restructured the NHIF Act in 1998 to make the Fund an autonomous parastatal. The apex of NHIF is no longer the Ministry but a Board of Directors. The Fund was given the task of enabling as many Kenyans as possible to have access to quality and affordable healthcare against a background of rising medical costs and a dwindling share of resources. According to the amended NHIF Act, beneficiaries are both in-patients and outpatients (section 22 of NHIF Act, 1998), but outpatient services are not yet operational. NHIF Management Board pays benefits to declared hospitals for expenses incurred at those hospitals by any contributor, his/her named spouse, child or other named dependant. According to the NHIF Act, the benefits payable from the Fund are limited to expenses incurred in respect of drugs, laboratory tests and diagnostic services, surgical, dental, or medical procedures or equipment, physiotherapy care and doctors fees, food and boarding costs (Republic of Kenya, 1999). Though the NHIF is meant to be a health insurance scheme after the amendment of the NHIF Act in 1998, it is still a hospital insurance scheme since it only pays for inpatient services only. Currently, NHIF pays more than half of a typical inpatient bill in private-for-profit sector in urban areas. Although benefit rates have been increased since the onset of the cost-sharing programme, the Funds reimbursement levels remain a small proportion of the total costs of care in many for-profit facilities The relevance of NHIF has been questioned in the light of access and affordability of healthcare for the poor, together with its coverage. It is for this reason that the Kenyan Government has proposed a scheme that is supposed to address fundamental concerns regarding equity, access, affordability and quality in the provision of health services in Kenya. National Social Health Insurance Fund The proposed mandatory social health insurance scheme, seeks to transform the NHIF into a National Social Health Insurance Fund (NSHIF) to provide health insurance cover to both outpatients and inpatients. The main objective of the Fund is to facilitate the provision of accessible, affordable and quality healthcare services to all its members irrespective of their age, economic or social status (Republic of Kenya, 2003b). It will be compulsory for every Kenyan and every permanent resident to become a member through enrolment and payment of a subscription either monthly or annually, or as may be deemed convenient to different socio-economic groups. Subscriptions for the poor will be paid for with funds from the government and other sources. The current cost sharing fees will be replaced by pre-paid contribution into the new scheme. Some of the services that the members will enjoy under the new outpatient cover include: general consultation with general practitioners; prescribed laboratory tests/investigations; drugs/medicines; prescribed X-rays and ultra sound diagnosis; treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs); Treatment, dressing or diagnostic testing; family planning; ante-natal and post-natal care; clinical counseling services; health and wellness education (Ministry of Health, 2004a) Statement of the Problem Health insurance is an institutional and financial mechanism which is seen as one option of obtaining additional resources for the financing of health care without deterring the poor and the vulnerable group from seeking care when they need it. It has the potential of generating substantial funds for equitable health care. Governments funds so saved could then be diverted to the development and expansion of primary health care services and other infrastructure. It is a way of improving quality and access to health care as well as managing resources more efficiently. Health insurance helps households and private individuals to set aside financial resources to meet costs of medical care in event of illness. It is based on the principle of pooling funds and entrusting management of such funds to a third party (government, employer or insurance company or a provider) that pays for healthcare costs of members who contribute to the pool. Lack of health insurance promotes deferment in seeking care, non-compliance of the treatment regime and results in an overall poor health outcome (Hadley, 2002). Tropical diseases, especially malaria and tuberculosis have long been a public problem in Kenya. However, Beyond grappling with a persistent high burden of infectious disease, including malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis, Kenya faces an emerging chronic diseases problem characterized by increasing rates of cardiovascular disease, cancers, and diabetes.   Since the 1990s some of Kenyas early achievements in health have begun to reverse: Over the past two decades life expectancy has declined to 53 years, and mortality among children under the age of five has risen slightly. In Kenya, only about 10% of the population has some form of health insurance (KNBS, 2010; Republic of Kenya, 2009; Kinuthia, 2002). Coverage has remained the same since 2003. This implies that a huge segment of Kenyans are still not covered hence the burden of paying bills lies with themselves or through fund raising. In addition, most of the insurance firms are located in urban areas where a substantial number of population can afford as compared to rural areas. With the current debate on the introduction of National Social Health insurance, there is need to examine the factors which affect individuals decisions of enrolling in health insurance scheme. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence choice of health insurance among Kenyans. Specific Objectives To evaluate socio-economic factors influencing choice of health insurance in Kenya. To determine the role of information on the choice factors of health insurance in Kenya. To determine how location factor influences the choice of health insurance in Kenya. Make policy recommendations Chapter two LITERATURE REVIEW Theoretical framework The theory of demand for health insurance is based on expected utility theory of The standard economic theory of behavior under uncertainty is well known; risk  averse individuals will pay to avoid severe financial consequences of the unfortunate  state of the world. In some markets, that willingness to pay to avoid risk leads to the  existence of contingent contracts, or insurance markets. In the health insurance context,  the unfortunate state of the world can be described as the event of illness or fear of  illness serious enough to require an individual or family to pay the full cost of necessary  and efficacious medical care solely out of current income or wealth. Risk averse  individuals facing actuarially fair prices will fully insure, but with unavoidable loading  costs in the real world, individuals prefer incomplete insurance. The optimal degree of  coverage in the face of loading costs is increasing in the degree of risk aversion. Ones degree or intensity of risk aversion to not having health insurance can be  reasonably posited to depend upon wealth (W), because the potential financial loss from  catastrophic illness is increasing in wealth, although after a very high threshold level of  wealth is reached, risk aversion may decline again; education (ED), because more  educated people know the consequences of not having insurance, they know the  likelihood of appropriate health care being efficacious, and they also may have more  confidence that they can obtain efficacious care within any insurance and delivery  system; income (Y), because financial protection both of wealth and of current income or consumption streams is a normal good; family status (FS), since parents and  married partners may be more likely to seek coverage for family members whom they  care about and/or for whom they feel responsible; other access to insurance  (OTHER_ESI, ELIG), since the value placed on any particul ar insurance option may be  different if one is married to a worker whose employer offers coverage, or if some family  member(s) is(are) eligible for public insurance; health status (HS) of everyone in the  family; perceived risk (RISK) to health status, increasing in age and other sometimes  observable clinical factors which we summarize with _, so that RISK = RISK(age,_);  gender (SEX), since men and women have different health use profiles; and then,  contingent on a health shock that requires an intervention, ones aversion to the risk of  illness also depends upon expected expenditures (EX) and the variance of possible  expenditures (_EX). These expenditure functions depend upon the quantity (C) and  quality (q) of medical care that may be necessary (and efficacious) as well as the  expected price of each unit of that medical care (PC). Note, when it comes to risk  aversion and demand for health insurance, the expected value of necessary medical care  is not more important than the variance of that potential demand or need for medical care,  i.e., the upper bound of potentially required medical care affects demand. In other words,  the first two moments of the health services utilization and expenditure distribution  matter, a priori, to insurance demand. We find it useful to think about an individuals demand for health insurance  having two classes of arguments: those that reflect influences on the subjective value of  insurance coverage per se, and those that determine the net price to the consumer. From  the above, one may summarize the value of a particular package of health benefits, V(Bi),  ERIU Working Paper 3 6 as: V(Bi) = V(W, ED, Y, FS, OTHER_ESI, ELIG, HS, RISK, SEX, EX(C,q,PC), _EX). Let the price of health insurance (to the individual) be P*. Health insurance demand for a  particular package of benefits is then: HId = 0 if V(Bi) HId > 0 if V(Bi) _ P*. Thus we have the truism, people will be uninsured if the value to them of the insurance  benefit package they can buy is less than the price they have to pay. We also note the  obvious that those which value health insurance the most are likely to buy the most of it,  conditional on a given price. This concept of V(B) is similar to Pauly and Herrings  notion of reservation price for health insurance (Pauly and Herring, 2002, forthcoming),  and V(B) P* is similar to consumer surplus. An interesting feature of health insurance markets is that some of those with the  highest V(B) are also those most likely to make choices such as seeking jobs from  employers that offer health insurance that lead them to find the lowest prices of health  insurance (P*). Thus purchasers of insurance are likely to obtain substantial consumer  surplus. Other people with high demand say those who expect to be very sick are  unable to work. They often either qualify for public programs or end up facing very high  prices in the private non-group insurance market, and sometimes can find no one willing  to sell insurance to them at any actuarially fair price.3 Therefore, it is difficult to sustain  the interpretation that observed prices paid in health insurance markets reflect  equilibrium marginal subjective values of having health insurance.{my argument is that  3Pollitz K, R Sorian, and K Thomas, How Accessible is Individual Health Insurance for Consumers in  L ess-Than-Perfect Health? Report to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, June 2001.  buyers have CS, so nobodys marginal utility is revealed in these markets. I inserted a  new CS sentence above}. The arguments in our expressions of health insurance demand are useful for  general expressions of demand, but we also need to make clear that some eligible people  do not enroll in insurance even though the monetary cost is zero . This would not seem  possible from our characterization of health insurance demand. The important point is  that P* in our framework represents more than just monetary cost. P* includes time cost  and any disutility from an enrollment process that is perceived as burdensome or  embarrassing (e.g. some say a kind of stigma is associated with Medicaid since it was for  so long associated with people on cash assistance). We explain more in section 4 what is  known about the ways P* exceeds zero for various public insurance programs with zero  nominal fees. 2.2 Socially Empirical Literature Kirigia et al (2005), using data from the 1994 South African Health Inequalities Survey (SANHIS) examined the relationship between health insurance ownership and the demographic, economic and educational characteristics of South African women. Applying binary logistic regression technique, they found out that environmental rating, residence, smoking and marital status variables determined health insurance coverage. The 2002 Jamaican Survey of Living Conditions was used to model the determinants of private health insurance coverage. Bourne and Kerr-Campbell (2010), using logistic regression to estimate the determinants of health insurance coverage, found out that social standing, durable goods, income, marital status, area of residence, education, social support, crowding, psychological conditions, retirement benefits, living arrangements, the number of males in the household and good health determined health insurance coverage. Nketiah-Amponsah (2009) investigated the determinants of public health insurance among women aged 15-49 in Ghana using primary data collected in three districts in Ghana in 2008. Using the logit model the paper concludes that marital status, income, age, religion and access to television and newspapers are the most significant determinants of womens insurance coverage. In addition, health inputs like medical personnel and health infrastructure increase demand for health insurance and health care. Another study using primary data was conducted in Ghana by Sarpong et al (2010) to explore the association between socio-economic status and subscription to the Ghanaian National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Applying logistic regression, they concluded that economic well being and distance to the closest health facility were important determinants of National health insurance coverage. Gius (2010), using data from the 2008 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) estimated the logistic model for determinants of health insurance coverage for young adults. They posit that socioeconomic factors among them, age, sex, race, employment, area of residence, cost of insurance and beliefs held about health insurance are important in determining the health insurance coverage. In Malawi, Makoka et al (2007), based on a logistic regression found income and education as significant determinants of private health care where public health services are free. This study used primary data collected from Blantyre and Zomba cities in 2003. A working paper study by Bhat and Jain (2006) examined factors affecting the demand for health insurance in a micro health insurance scheme setting. Estimating Takeuchi et al (1998) estimating the logistic model for factors associated with health insurance coverage among Chinese Americans in Los Angeles county found out that marital status, length of stay in the United States, education, employment and household income were important factors determining health insurance coverage. Hopkins and Kidd (1992), utilizing data from the 1989-90 National Health Survey examined the socio-economic variables which influence the demand for health insurance under medicare in Australia using the binary logit model. They conclude that age, income, health status, material wellbeing and geographical location are important determinants of decision to purchase insurance. Owando (2006) carried out a study on factors influencing the demand for health insurance in Kenya. Using the probit model, they found out that age, self evaluated health status, marital status, income, level of educational attainment, household size, risk behavior and employment status were important determinants of health insurance ownership in Kenya. CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY Theoretical Framework This study borrows heavily from the demand theory. Health Insurance is treated just like any other good. Hence, demand for health insurance should be affected by variables such as price of the commodity, price of related commodities, income, tastes and preferences among others. The demand equation for health insurance is modeled as follows: Model Specification The decision to buy health insurance will be formulated in two interrelated choices. First, the choice is related to the decision to buy or not the health insurance. Since the dependent variable takes two forms, will use binary logit model to study this choice. Theory and previous empirical work (Kirigia et al ,2005; Bourne and Kerr-Campbell, 2010) suggest that the probability that an individual owns a health insurance is conditional on several socio economic variables including age, education, area of residence, household size, occupation, marital status, health status among others. In this study, the relationship between the binary status variable and its determinants is specified as follows: Where are the following independent variables: age, sex, marital status, area of residence, level of education, proxy measures for economic welfare (land ownership availability of electricity, characteristics of dwelling place), knowledge (access to radio, television and newspaper), household size, occupation, health status (HIV and Tuberclosis), cigarette smoking. The second step, if the decision to buy insurance is positive is to focus attention to the types of health insurance, that is, community based health insurance, health insurance trough employer, social security and private health insurance. This can be handled by applying a polychotomous model, more in particular a multinomial logit model. This approach is justifiable because the categories refer to choices being made that are mutually exclusive. The regression model is expressed as follows: Data Sources and Variables The study will utilize survey methodology in which secondary data relating to the issue under investigation will be obtained from the 2008-09 Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS). This is a nationally representative sample survey of 8,444 women aged between 18-44 years and 3465 men aged between 15 and 54 years of age selected from 400 sample points (clusters) throughout Kenya. Data collection was done from the month of November, 2008 and February, 2009. Dependent and Independent variable The dependent variable will be health insurance ownership. For purposes of coding the health insurance ownership outcome

Bats :: essays research papers

INTRODUCTION There is an abundant amount of animal species in the world. They all have adapted and evolved to survive in their surroundings. Some have grown fins, others legs, and still others wings. One of the animals that has grown wings is the bat. The bat is a truly great creature. It has all the characteristics of mammals while also possessing the skill of a bird in flight. There are more than 800 species of bats in the world. They are of many different sizes, shapes, and lifestyles. They live all over the world and have drawn the curiosity of millions. Bats also have the unique feature of echolocation that it uses to catch insects. Though other mammals, like the flying squirrel seem to fly but actually glide, the bat is the only mammal that can truly fly (Lauber 1968). A Bat's Body Due to the great variety of species of bats some characteristics vary greatly, but the Little Brown Bat is a good example of a common bat. It has fur on the body, large naked ears, the rear legs have claws, a tail membrane, and it has the most distinguishing feature of a bat, wings (Lauber 1968). The upper arm of the bat is short while the forearm is very long (Fig. 1). The wrist is very small and from it comes the thumb and the four longer fingers. The thumb is short and used for climbing or walking. The fingers are long and thin. Interlocking the fingers is the wing. This arrangement of having the fingers in the wing gives the bat amazing flight maneuverability (Honders 1975). These bones look similar to a human hand. They are connected by rubbery skin to the bat's body enveloping all the fingers but the thumb (Anonymous 1990). Echolocation Bats have a "sixth sense" called echolocation. This was first proved by Donald Griffin. Bats produce ultrasonic sound waves and then use the echo of the returning sound to sense the world around them and in particularly to catch insects. These sounds are usually out of the humans range of hearing (Fellman 1993). This system is similar to that of dolphins. The sound is in the form of clicks that increase as the bat gets closer to the insect or whatever it is tracking (Anonymous 1990). Unlike humans, most insects can hear the bat's echolocation sounds. David D. Yager of the University of Maryland has found that the praying mantis has used this to its advantage.

Good vs. Evil in John Cheevers The Five-Forty-Eight Essay -- Five-For

Good vs. Evil in John Cheever's The Five-Forty-Eight John Cheever was an award winning American author of the twentieth century. His work often possessed 'psychological and religious vision' with central themes of 'sin, deception, and redemption' (Kennedy, 551). Cheever's short story entitled 'The Five-Forty-Eight' portrays a struggle of good vs. evil. Following the themes of sin, deception, and redemption, we read of a young woman (good) seeking revenge for the evil done to her. Through the course of the story the reader can distinguish between the traits of good and evil. The Webster's dictionary defines evil as 'that which is morally wrong.' Blake has some distinct morality issues. Blake, the evil force in the story, possesses many character flaws that are indicative of the force he portrays. He is self-absorbed, manipulative, and shallow and has isolated himself from his friends and family. Blake sacrifices his relationships to give into his sexual desires, which is our first indication of his evil streak. He sleeps with Mrs. Dent, his secretary, and proceeds to fire her. As a result of Blake?s many one night of stands, in which he manipulates women to sleep with him, he loses his wife, son, and friends. He is so incredibly shallow and self-involved that he married his wife for her beauty alone; he has no attraction to her in her old age. He does not even pretend to love his wife ?the physical charms that had been her only attraction were gone? (554). His neighbors and friends hear of the evil Blake has done to his own wife, and as a result they rej ect Blake as a friend. His self-involved attitude prevents him from caring that he has no companions. When his neighbor, Mrs. Compton, cannot give him a genuine smile, we r... ...relationship. Cheever?s preoccupation with sin and deception is played out in the story. Works Cited Cheever, John. ?The Five-Forty-Eight.? Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 8th ed. New York: Longman, 2002. 550-561. Chesnick, Eugene. ?The Domesticated Stroke of John Cheever.? Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Vol. 7 of 46. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Company, 1980. 48. Oates, Joyce Carol. Article on John Cheever. Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Vol. 11 of 46. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Company, 1980. 119-120. The New Webster?s Dictionary. New York: Lexicon Publications, Inc., 1990. 135. Tyler, Anne. Article on John Cheever. Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Vol. 11 of 46. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Company, 1980. 121.

Importance of Breakfast Essay

Studies have shown that person who take breakfast are more alert, with higher level of concentration and better problem-solving skills, and generally perform better in quality of work. The best time to eat breakfast is within an hour after waking up. After 10am, if people feel it is too late to eat breakfast, they can eat a healthy snack to give them some energy for the morning until lunch. If people having breakfast and develop a healthy breakfast routine, they will realize and understand the importance of breakfast. Let’s find out the importance of eating breakfast. To start the day, people need energy. One healthy way to get energy is through eating breakfast. The word â€Å"breakfast† literally means â€Å"to break the fast.† Breakfast provides your body and brain the nourishment it craves after an overnight fast. Having a meal in the morning helps you feel satisfied longer and helps deter snacking later in the day. Breakfast is essential to kick-starting your metabolism for the day. While you are sleeping and fasting, your body slows down many processes and burns less calories. Eating breakfast helps send the signal that it is time to bring these systems back up to speed so you burn more calories throughout the day. Now, you have know ones of other importance of breakfast, so let’s look another important of breakfast. Breakfast can produce brain power. Breakfast is your brain meal. When you wake up you have been fasting for about 8 hours. Energy giving glucose levels in your brain have dropped. The energy of the brain must be restored. Simply eating the right foods in the morning can maximize your brain power. Having a breakfast also can make your brain functioning at its optimal level. Your brain needs glucose to function, and after a night of not eating, your body’s stores have been depleted. Breakfast helps raise your blood glucose levels back to normal to give plenty of fuel for your brain to perform its best. The benefits of breakfast don’t just to get energy and to produce brain power. Regularly eating a healthy breakfast also help you to control the body weight. Eating breakfast may reduce your hunger later in the day, which may make it easier to avoid overeating. When the persons skip a healthy meal in the morning, that persons will pick snacks high in sugar and fat to curb the hunger. Another is healthy choices. Eating breakfast may get you on track to make healthy choices all day. When you eat breakfast, you tend to eat a healthier overall diet, one that is more nutritious and lower in fat. When you skip breakfast, you’re more likely to skip fruits and vegetables the rest of the day, too. Bear in mind that eating breakfast is important for your health. Without breakfast, it’s like climbing a mountain without any necessary equipment thus puts you at risk. The importance of breakfast is to get the energy, to produce brain power and help you lose excess weight and maintain your weight loss.

Plot Analysis: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Essay

Before the start of the novel, Voldemort, considered the most evil and powerful dark wizard in history, kills Harry’s parents but mysteriously vanishes after trying to kill the infant Harry. While the wizarding world celebrates Voldemort’s downfall, Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Rubeus Hagrid place the one year-old orphan in the care of his neglectful and abusive Muggle (non-wizard) uncle and aunt: Vernon and Petunia Dursley, who have a son, Dudley, a spoiled and selfish boy. For ten years, Harry is tormented by the Dursleys. Shortly before his eleventh birthday, a series of letters addressed to Harry arrive, but Vernon destroys them before Harry can read them, leading only to an influx of more letters. To get away from the letters, Vernon takes the family to a small island. As they are settling in, Hagrid bursts through the door to tell Harry what the Dursleys have kept from him: Harry is a wizard and has been accepted at Hogwarts. Hagrid takes Harry to Diagon Alley, a magically concealed shopping precinct in London, where Harry is bewildered to discover how famous he is among wizards as â€Å"the boy who lived.† He also finds that he is quite wealthy, since a bequest from his parents has remained on deposit at Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Guided by Hagrid, he buys the equipment he needs for Hogwarts. At the wand shop, he finds that the wand that suits him best is the twin of Voldemort’s; both wands contain feathers from the same phoenix.[1] A month later, Harry leaves the Dursleys’ home to catch the Hogwarts Express from King’s Cross railway station. There he meets the Weasley family, who show him how to pass through the magical wall to Platform 9 ¾, where the train is waiting. While on the train, Harry makes friends with Ron Weasley, who tells him that someone tried to rob a vault at Gringotts. During the ride, they meet Hermione Granger. Another new pupil, Draco Malfoy, accompanied by his sidekicks Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, offers to advise Harry, but Harry dislikes Draco’s arrogance and prejudice. Before the term’s first dinner in the school’s Great Hall, the new pupils are allocated to houses by the Sorting Hat. Before it is Harry’s turn, he catches Professor Snape’s eye and feels a pain in the scar Voldemort left on his forehead. While Harry is being sorted, the Hat wonders whether he should be in Slytherin, but when Harry objects, the Hat sends him to Gryffindor. After a terrible first Potions lesson with Snape, Harry and Ron visit Hagrid, who lives in a cabin on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. There they learn that the attempted robbery at Gringotts happened the day Harry withdrew money. Harry remembers that Hagrid had removed a small package from the vault that had been broken into. During the new pupils’ first broom-flying lesson, Neville Longbottom breaks hi s wrist, and Draco takes advantage to throw the forgetful Neville’s fragile Remembrall high in the air. Harry gives chase on his broomstick, catching the Remembrall inches from the ground. Professor McGonagall dashes out and appoints him as the new Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team.[a] When Draco tricks Ron and Harry, who are accompanied by Neville and Hermione Granger, into a midnight excursion, they accidentally enter a forbidden corridor and find a huge three-headed dog. The group hastily retreats, and Hermione notices that the dog is standing over a trap-door. Harry concludes that the monster is guarding the package Hagrid retrieved from Gringotts. After Ron criticises Hermione’s ostentatious proficiency in Charms, she hides in the girls’ toilet, crying. At the Halloween Night dinner, Professor Quirrell reports that a troll has entered the dungeons. While everyone returns to their dormitories, Harry and Ron rush to warn Hermione. The troll corners Hermione in the toilet but Harry and Ron clumsily save her. Afterwards, Hermione takes the blame for the battle and becomes a firm friend of the two boys. The evening before Harry’s first Quidditch match, he sees Snape receiving medical attention from Filch for a bite on his leg caused by the three-headed dog. During the game, Harry’s broomstick goes out of control, endangering his life, and Hermione notices that Snape is staring at Harry and muttering. She dashes over to the Professors’ stand, knocking over Professor Quirrell in her haste, and sets fire to Snape’s robe. Harry regains control of his broomstick and catches the Golden Snitch, winning the game for Gryffindor. Hagrid refuses to believe that Snape was responsible for Harry’s danger, but lets slip that he bought the three-headed dog and that the monster is guarding a secret that belongs to Professor Dumbledore and someone called Nicolas Flamel. Harry and the Weasleys stay at Hogwarts for Christmas, and one of Harry’s presents, from an anonymous donor, is an Invisibility Cloak owned by his father. Harry uses the Cloak to search the library’s Restricted Section for information about the mysterious Flamel, and he happens to find a room containing the Mirror of Erised, which shows him his parents and several of their ancestors. Harry becomes addicted to the Mirror’s visions until he is rescued by Professor Dumbledore, who explains that it only shows the viewer what he most desperately longs for. When the rest of the pupils return for the next term, Draco plays a prank on Neville, and Harry consoles Neville with a sweet. The collectible card wrapped with the sweet identifies Flamel as an alchemist. Hermione soon finds that he is a 665-year-old man who possesses the only known Philosopher’s Stone, from which an elixir of life can be extracted. A few days later, Harry notices Snape sneaking towards the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. There he half-hears a furtive conversation about the Philosopher’s Stone between Snape and Quirrell. Harry concludes that Snape is trying to steal the Stone and Quirrell has helped prepare a series of defences for it, which was an almost fatal mistake. The three friends discover that Hagrid is raising a baby dragon, which is against wizard law, and arrange to smuggle it out of the country around midnight. Draco, hoping to get them into trouble, tells Professor McGonagall. Although the dragon is safely away, they are caught outside of their dormitory. Harry, Hermione, Draco, and Neville (who, trying to stop Harry and Hermione after hearing what Draco had been saying, was caught by McGonagall as well) are punished by helping Hagrid to rescue a badly injured unicorn in the Forbidden Forest. They split into two parties, and Harry and Draco find the unicorn dead, surrounded by its blood. A hooded figure crawls to the corpse and drinks the blood, then moves towards Harry, who is knocked out by an agonising pain in his scar. When Harry regains consciousness, the hooded figure is gone and a centaur, Firenze, offers to give him a ride back to the school. The centaur tells Harry that drinking a unicorn’s blood will save the life of a mortally injured person, but at the price of having a cursed life from that moment on. Firenze suggests Voldemort drank the unicorn’s blood to gain enough strength to make the elixir of life from the Philosopher’s Stone, and regain full health by drinking that. A few weeks later, Harry learns from Hagrid that the dragon egg was given to him by a hooded stranger who had asked him how to get past the three-headed dog, which Hagrid had admitted was easy – music sends it to sleep. Realising that one of the Philosopher’s Stone’s defences is no longer secure, Harry goes to inform Professor Dumbledore, only to find that the headmaster has just left for a meeting in London. Harry concludes that Snape faked the message that called Dumbledore away and will try to steal the Stone that night. Covered by the Invisibility Cloak, Harry and his two friends go to the three-headed dog’s chamber, where Harry sends the beast to sleep by playing a flute. After lifting the trap-door, they encounter a series of obstacles, each of which requires special skills possessed by one of the three, and one of which requires Ron to sacrifice himself in a game of wizard’s chess. In the final room Harry, now alone, finds Quirrell rather than Snape. Quirrell admits that he let in the troll and that he tried to kill Harry during the first Quidditch match. Snape had been trying to protect Harry all along. Quirrell serves Voldemort and, after failing to steal the Philosopher’s Stone from Gringotts, allowed his master to possess him in order to improve their chances of success. However, the only other object in the room is the Mirror of Erised, and Quirrell can se e no sign of the Stone. At Voldemort’s bidding, Quirrell forces Harry to stand in front of the Mirror. Harry feels the Stone drop into his pocket and tries to stall. Quirrell removes his turban, revealing the face of Voldemort on the back of his head. Voldemort/Quirrell tries to grab the Stone from Harry, but simply touching Harry causes Quirrell’s flesh to burn. After further struggles, Harry passes out. He awakes in the school hospital, where Professor Dumbledore tells him that he survived because his mother sacrificed her life to protect him, and Voldemort could not understand the power of such love. Voldemort left Quirrell to die and is likely to return by some other means. The Stone has now been destroyed. Harry returns to the Dursleys for the summer holiday, but does not tell them that under-age wizards are forbidden to use magic outside Hogwarts.