Togo is a small country in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea that has struggled with human rights issues for years. In February 2005 their leader of 38 years, Eyadema Gnassingbé, died suddenly and his son, Faure Gnassingbé, was appointed.
His appointment drew widespread criticism, so Gnassingbé left the power and held elections which he won in April of that same year. Gnassingbé’s opponents declared the election fraudulent and hundreds of people were killed during this time of political unrest.
Today, Gnassingbé continues to serve as the president of Togo after being reelected in 2010 and 2015, but the new and fragile democracy still struggles with human rights violations. Below is an examination of five major facets to human rights in Togo, what improvements have been made and what still needs to be done in the future.
1. Legality and acknowledgement of the importance of protecting human rights on a national level has improved.
One crucial step that Togo recently took is its decision to become involved in international human rights conventions such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention against Torture. In an of itself, this participation is primarily symbolic; however, it is still a vital step toward a better future for the citizens of Togo.
The Constitution of Togo sets the stage for a country that prioritizes human rights. Articles 15 through 18 state that nobody shall be arbitrarily detained, those who are in prison will be treated humanely and everyone maintains a presumption of innocence before a fair trial.
Article 21 condemns torture, Articles 25 and 26 declare freedom of speech and of the press and Articles 36 and 37 protect working conditions and the fair treatment of children. Reading through The Constitution of Togo, it is clear that at least on paper, human rights in Togo are respected.
2. Criminality is not handled lawfully, those on trial do not maintain a presumption of innocence and some wrongful arrests are made.
Although the constitution states otherwise, arbitrary arrests do happen and there is little to protect a citizen’s presumption of innocence. Despite every defendant’s right to obtain legal advice, most cannot afford it and must represent themselves. The practice of pretrial detention also renders the presumption of innocence futile as these detention periods can be lengthy and harsh.
Amnesty International reported that after the 2015 lawful protest demonstrations in Mango, “Five men remained in detention without trial… There were concerns that they may be held solely because they were the organizers of the protest.”
Detainees awaiting trial account for about 65 percent of the prison population and are not separated from convicted prisoners. Togo does not provide any alternatives to incarceration; therefore, those prosecuted for less serious or nonviolent crimes are detained in the same prisons as violent offenders.
3. Prison conditions are unacceptable.
The dangerous and inhumane prison conditions in Togo are alarming and still require significant reform. In some prisons, prisoners only receive one meal per day and die of hunger. The 2015 report from Amnesty International stated that, “Torture and other ill-treatment were used to extract confessions from detainees, and prisoners were denied timely medical treatment.”
Togo prisons hold more than double their capacity, which leads to increased risk of disease and death.
The 2016 Human Rights Report states that 27 prisoners died that year due to inadequate conditions. The overcrowding crisis in Togo prisons that is responsible for appalling human rights violations, is a direct result of pretrial detention and a broken justice system.
4. Laws against political corruption and penalties against criminal corruption are not properly implemented.
According to Togo’s 2016 Human Rights Report, The National Commission for the Fight against Corruption and Economic Sabotage lacked specific anticorruption legal mandates and was inactive. Other entities like the Government Accounting Office and Finances Inspectorate had limited resources and reported very few results.
Many reforms are still needed into the electoral process, such as instituting a presidential term limit, but the National Assembly rejected the bill that would institute that and other reforms.
5. Child labor and human trafficking have been addressed, but with only moderate improvement.
In November 2015, the National Assembly passed a revised penal code that increased penalties for child labor and human trafficking violations. However, these increases penalties have not been successful in ending child labor, human trafficking or torture.
According to The United States Department Of Labor, Togo “has not devoted sufficient resources to combat child labor, and enforcement of laws related to child labor remains weak. In addition, Togo’s social programs to combat the worst forms of child labor do not match the scope of the problem and rely largely on NGOs and international organizations for implementation.”
Overall, Togo has made positive steps in its acknowledgment of the importance of protecting human rights; however, the country still has a long way to go in implementing protection and improving the lives of its citizens. The justice system and police force currently do not line up with what the Constitution of Togo declares, leading to continuing hardship and violations of human rights.
Since 2005, Togo has come a long way, but there is still a need to raise awareness and advocate for better prison conditions, corruption accountability and increased resources put toward combating child labor and human trafficking.
– Katie Hemingway
Photo: Flickr
Future Solutions for the Problem of Hunger in Central America
This crisis, while dire, has been a rare outlier in the largely successful efforts to ease the pangs of hunger in Central America. Among the major problems contributing to the food shortages of Central America has been widespread poverty. Extreme poverty in Central America was reduced by 50 percent between 1995 and 2011.
The same can be said for hunger itself. Between 1992 and 2014, the number of people affected by hunger in Central America was reduced from 68.5 million to 37 million. While success this resounding is encouraging, it does not by any means imply that the fight to end hunger in Central America is over.
The El Niño drought was one of the worst in recent memory. Though its severity was extreme, it remains indicative of a problem which Central American farmers must face constantly. Droughts devastate Central America with shocking regularity, whether caused by El Niño or other malignant weather patterns.
In order to address the droughts, which, alongside endemic poverty, have been the biggest contributors to the problem of hunger in Central America, the U.N. has begun working with the governments of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala in order to better construct strategies that will allow the countries to remain independent in cases of severe drought. The U.N. has instructed farmers to plant crops that are both less water-dependent and more flood-resistant.
The problem of hunger in Central America is not one which will solve itself, but continuing to allow the countries hit hardest by droughts and poverty to rely on foreign aid and intervention a strategy that will not work in the future. The pattern the U.N. and forward-thinking governments like those of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala have established is one that must be followed. Countries such as these can utilize the ingenuity of their people alongside the expertise of foreign aid to alleviate both poverty and hunger, creating a prosperous cycle that will benefit themselves both now and in the future.
– Connor S. Keowen
Call for Congress to Reduce Child Poverty
Strides were made last week as Congress moved forward in making this happen by acting on restructuring the debt. Now, there is a call to act on proposals made by the Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico to support sustainable development.
Reducing child poverty is about providing stability for the future. It is about action now for growth later. Recent congressional assessment of foreign aid continues to mobilize efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Agenda by 2030.
This agenda aims to break the vicious cycle of poverty that has stagnated development for decades. The key is solidarity across all generations. The new approach and energy of the youth must combine with the wisdom and experience of the aged to support the sustainability of the world’s growing population.
These new methods continue to point our world in the right direction of sustainability. On August 7, Wang Qishan, China’s top graft-buster, supported President Xi Jinping’s poverty alleviation program that highlights corruption prevention and inspection as part of the campaign.
Efforts similar to this that focus on specific contributors to global poverty rather than tackle this major issue as a whole are the driving force for the Sustainable Development Agenda.
The call to address this problem has become a call to Congress to reduce child poverty by promoting development across all aspects of culture and life. Providing aid supports this movement when pointed in the right direction and Congress has the power to do so.
– Tucker Hallowell
Photo: Google
Heart, Lungs, Kidney: Three Most Common Diseases in Albania
After gaining total independence in the 1990s, the country has suffered from a continually depressed economy. This depressed economy has caused economic hardship in the region for many of its citizens. This article’s purpose is to elaborate on the most common diseases in Albania
1. Ischemic Heart Disease
The most common disease in Albania is Ischemic heart disease. Ischemia is an illness which causes blood flow restriction in a particular part of the body. Ischemic heart disease restricts blood flow to the heart and without proper health care, the disease can lead to stroke and heart disease if left untreated. When measured in 2015, 44 percent of deaths occurred as a result of untreated Ischemic Heart Disease.
2. Lung Cancer
Another of the most common disease in Albania is lung cancer. Around 64 percent of Albanian men smoke tobacco on a daily basis which is one of the leading causes of the illness. Some effects of lung cancer include continued coughing, weight loss, chest pain and difficulty swallowing. If the disease is left untreated, it has the potential to spread to other parts of the body. This spread has the potential to cause more severe health effects which can include death. About 39.7 percent of deaths in 2015 were caused by lung cancer.
3. Chronic Kidney Disease
When measured in 2015, about 29 percent of deaths occurred from Chronic Kidney Disease. This condition describes the gradual loss of kidney function and can be extremely dangerous due to the kidney’s important role in the body. On top of filtering the waste of the body, the kidneys also filter blood. Without properly functioning kidneys, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and waste can build up in the body and cause premature death.
Improvements
The most common diseases in Albania take numerous lives every year, and the government is doing all it can to combat this phenomenon. The Albanian government established the WHO country office on top of increasing its funding of public health care. WHO has promoted education to the country’s citizens to help them avoid contracting these disease, and this work by WHO, alongside an increase in the government’s spending on health care, is sure to help reduce the number of deaths caused by the most common diseases in Albania.
– Nick Beauchamp
Photo: Google
5 Things to Know About Poverty in Czech Republic
There have been actions taken to reduce the possibility of the recession on the working poor — that is, maintaining employment levels that support the economy. Although there is no set result on this concept, the goal of reducing poverty in Czech Republic is ever-present in the country.
– Brandi Gomez
Photo: Flickr
Hunger in Mali Driven by Drought and Conflict
Today’s crisis in Mali
Hunger and poverty in Mali have worsened in recent years, primarily driven by climate change impacts, including severe droughts and over a decade of ongoing conflict. The Sustainable Development Report indicates that Mali is significantly off track in achieving SDG2, which aims for zero hunger by 2030, as the population suffering undernourishment increased from 4.2% in 2015 to 12.8% in 2021. The situation is even worse for children under 5, with 1.5 million affected by acute malnutrition and 22% facing stunted growth.
Hope Amid Crisis
Some organizations have been working in Mali to reduce the suffering and despair of the population. The text describes the commendable efforts of two such organizations.
The Road Ahead
The challenges of hunger and food insecurity in Mali are daunting. Still, the efforts of organizations like the FAO and WFP and the resilience of Mali’s people offer a beacon of hope for the future. With continued support and international collaboration, Mali can move closer to achieving zero hunger and improving the quality of life for the people, ultimately contributing to a more stable and prosperous future.
– Leah Potter and Maria Waleed
Photo: Flickr
Updated: November 4, 2024
5 Important Facts To Know About Human Rights in Togo
His appointment drew widespread criticism, so Gnassingbé left the power and held elections which he won in April of that same year. Gnassingbé’s opponents declared the election fraudulent and hundreds of people were killed during this time of political unrest.
Today, Gnassingbé continues to serve as the president of Togo after being reelected in 2010 and 2015, but the new and fragile democracy still struggles with human rights violations. Below is an examination of five major facets to human rights in Togo, what improvements have been made and what still needs to be done in the future.
1. Legality and acknowledgement of the importance of protecting human rights on a national level has improved.
One crucial step that Togo recently took is its decision to become involved in international human rights conventions such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention against Torture. In an of itself, this participation is primarily symbolic; however, it is still a vital step toward a better future for the citizens of Togo.
The Constitution of Togo sets the stage for a country that prioritizes human rights. Articles 15 through 18 state that nobody shall be arbitrarily detained, those who are in prison will be treated humanely and everyone maintains a presumption of innocence before a fair trial.
Article 21 condemns torture, Articles 25 and 26 declare freedom of speech and of the press and Articles 36 and 37 protect working conditions and the fair treatment of children. Reading through The Constitution of Togo, it is clear that at least on paper, human rights in Togo are respected.
2. Criminality is not handled lawfully, those on trial do not maintain a presumption of innocence and some wrongful arrests are made.
Although the constitution states otherwise, arbitrary arrests do happen and there is little to protect a citizen’s presumption of innocence. Despite every defendant’s right to obtain legal advice, most cannot afford it and must represent themselves. The practice of pretrial detention also renders the presumption of innocence futile as these detention periods can be lengthy and harsh.
Amnesty International reported that after the 2015 lawful protest demonstrations in Mango, “Five men remained in detention without trial… There were concerns that they may be held solely because they were the organizers of the protest.”
Detainees awaiting trial account for about 65 percent of the prison population and are not separated from convicted prisoners. Togo does not provide any alternatives to incarceration; therefore, those prosecuted for less serious or nonviolent crimes are detained in the same prisons as violent offenders.
3. Prison conditions are unacceptable.
The dangerous and inhumane prison conditions in Togo are alarming and still require significant reform. In some prisons, prisoners only receive one meal per day and die of hunger. The 2015 report from Amnesty International stated that, “Torture and other ill-treatment were used to extract confessions from detainees, and prisoners were denied timely medical treatment.”
Togo prisons hold more than double their capacity, which leads to increased risk of disease and death.
The 2016 Human Rights Report states that 27 prisoners died that year due to inadequate conditions. The overcrowding crisis in Togo prisons that is responsible for appalling human rights violations, is a direct result of pretrial detention and a broken justice system.
4. Laws against political corruption and penalties against criminal corruption are not properly implemented.
According to Togo’s 2016 Human Rights Report, The National Commission for the Fight against Corruption and Economic Sabotage lacked specific anticorruption legal mandates and was inactive. Other entities like the Government Accounting Office and Finances Inspectorate had limited resources and reported very few results.
Many reforms are still needed into the electoral process, such as instituting a presidential term limit, but the National Assembly rejected the bill that would institute that and other reforms.
5. Child labor and human trafficking have been addressed, but with only moderate improvement.
In November 2015, the National Assembly passed a revised penal code that increased penalties for child labor and human trafficking violations. However, these increases penalties have not been successful in ending child labor, human trafficking or torture.
According to The United States Department Of Labor, Togo “has not devoted sufficient resources to combat child labor, and enforcement of laws related to child labor remains weak. In addition, Togo’s social programs to combat the worst forms of child labor do not match the scope of the problem and rely largely on NGOs and international organizations for implementation.”
Overall, Togo has made positive steps in its acknowledgment of the importance of protecting human rights; however, the country still has a long way to go in implementing protection and improving the lives of its citizens. The justice system and police force currently do not line up with what the Constitution of Togo declares, leading to continuing hardship and violations of human rights.
Since 2005, Togo has come a long way, but there is still a need to raise awareness and advocate for better prison conditions, corruption accountability and increased resources put toward combating child labor and human trafficking.
– Katie Hemingway
Photo: Flickr
How to Help People in Chile
About 14 percent of this Spanish-speaking nation is below the poverty rate. Although the government has been working to improve conditions and livelihoods for Chile’s residents, the anti-poverty organizations currently in place have not been particularly helpful.
United Nations Special Rapporteur, Philip Alston, stated that Chile “continues to tolerate levels of poverty and inequality which are very high for a country belonging to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).”
Chile needs support in the areas of education, income equality and human rights in order to prosper in today’s society. Here are just a few ways to help people in Chile:
1. Educate
In Chile, 99.5 percent of the population speaks Spanish, whereas 10.2 percent speak English. In a changing global society, Chile has realized that it is important to educate children in the English language so that they can be more communicative and productive in their future endeavors.
The English Open Doors Program is an organization that is looking for English teachers to volunteer four months of their time in Chile. Literacy rates in Chile are already very high – 96 percent – and therefore just need a little extra help to become extremely successful.
2. Equality For All
Gender inequality in the workforce is a huge issue in Chile. Alston says, “Women’s participation in the workforce needs to be facilitated by a range of measures that include better community care facilities, and better economic rewards for currently unpaid female care workers.”
To help eliminate this discrimination in the workforce, labor laws and reform programs are needed. If you’re wondering how to help people in Chile with this issue even though you live thousands of miles away, there is a simple solution: advocating. Even though you may not be able to picket on Chilean streets, you can raise awareness by posting signs around town, for instance, and getting people to talk about this issue.
3. Human Rights
Aside from the inequality in the workplace in Chile, discrimination in regards to human rights has also been a pressing issue. According to Alston, “There is a deep need for an entity with the responsibility, authority, funds and resources to coordinate government-wide human rights policies.”
Whether this is in regard to sexual education for young women or protection rights for the poorest in Chile, “Mr. Alston called for a specific, integrated plan to tackle both poverty and extreme poverty and for more effective coordination mechanisms.”
Chile’s government and reform programs have been working hard to reduce inequalities and human rights issues, but have so far proven to be insufficient. Are you wondering how to help people in Chile with these issues? The simplest way to work toward equality and peace in Chile is to raise awareness of these problems. Post signs on the walls of your local coffee shop, talk to your co-workers or even contact your congressional leaders about supplying aid to the Chilean people who need it most.
– Sydney Missigman
Photo: Flickr
Displacement Impact Common Diseases in Niger
The latter has increased significantly with the rise of Boko Haram and an influx of refugees from Mali and northern Nigeria in particular. The most common diseases in Niger are shared by many of its regional neighbors; consequently, any disease outbreak is of immense concern due to its probable potential for growth not just within Niger, but the nations surrounding it.
The increasing threat of waterborne common diseases in Niger, such as cholera and diarrheal infections, is clearly tied to population shifts in the Lake Chad area. Such shifts are a result of regional instability as refugees and migrants flow across the borders, with some 150,000 living in makeshift and unsanitary conditions in the southeastern Diffa region of Niger.
Though UNICEF and partners are active in the region in an effort to educate about practical prevention, such as handwashing, and to provide sanitary services, such as clean water access, their funding is inadequate for the task; only 20 percent of their necessary funding has been met.
The Diffa region is also seeing Hepatitis E outbreaks as a result of its location in the Lake Chad crisis area. Porous borders due to refugee flow have increased the risk of Hepatitis E diffusion into other parts of the region, making the outbreak a severe concern, although its mortality rate has currently been contained to 9.7 percent. The WHO is actively working to educate about practical prevention techniques and is closely monitoring the situation in the hopes of inhibiting its diffusion into other parts of the Lake Chad crisis area.
With a mortality rate of 20 percent, Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is another of the most common diseases in Niger and a high-priority concern for the Nigerien people. A virus spread among people and livestock, more than 59 percent of those affected are stockbreeders, although it is also heavily affecting those simply living along livestock travel routes as well.
Its economic backlash is compounded by the dual loss of both citizens that would have engaged in the economic system and the livestock which would serve as income generators. Consequently, more research is being conducted as to how the virus affects animals in particular in an effort to mitigate the significant economic losses accompanied by human-animal deaths.
An outbreak of a virtually unprecedented strain of meningococcal meningitis, called serogroup C, has ravaged Niger in recent years, arising in 2015. Due to the strain’s historical rarity, vaccine supplies have been insufficient to meet the needs of the outbreak.
Nonetheless, vaccine campaigns targeting children have dropped fatality from 11 percent to 7 percent. The situation is concerning but seemingly contained, which is heartening as a major concern was its spread to other nations in Africa’s meningitis belt.
The vast majority of Niger’s topography is desert, with only the southern 20 percent being a savannah suitable for agriculture and living. As a result, malaria is largely confined to this southern portion of the nation. Fifty-three percent of the population lives in an area of high malarial transmission. Despite this, less than 1 percent of the more than two million reported cases result in death, thanks to internationally funded government programs which focus on both prevention via insecticides and treatment via antimalarials.
The most common diseases in Niger are of large concern due to their implications for the unstable region as a whole. Such diseases are either augmented by regional instability, or of even higher concern due to potential transmission to other nations as a result of regional instability. Essentially, then, Niger’s health problems are not confined to its borders and extend to its region on the whole, particularly the Lake Chad area. Consequently, the WHO and other health organizations have a strong interest in monitoring health fluctuations so as to protect the region altogether.
– Kailee Nardi
Photo: Flickr
Ceaseless Violence Among Causes of Poverty in Sudan
Although Sudan’s GDP per capita rose to $2,140 in 2016, unequal distribution of wealth and resources has exacerbated socioeconomic inequality through different regions of the country. Poverty levels differ depending on location, with a smaller percentage of severely impoverished citizens in metropolitan Khartoum than rural North Darfur. Altogether, 46.5 percent of the population of Sudan lived below the poverty line in 2009.
The harsh climate and scarce natural resources create adverse conditions for farmers. Low levels of rainfall particularly affect subsistence farmers living in remote areas outside of irrigation zones. Short growing seasons and lack of access to new technology contributes to low agricultural productivity. These factors seriously impact poor farmers in isolated communities and further perpetuate the inequality present between urban and rural citizens.
Poor allocation of government resources has worsened existing inequality. Military expenditures and government spending on the development of populous towns in the Nile valley greatly exceeds spending on outlying farming communities. This culture of inequality and the extreme poverty faced by the isolated poor led to civil conflicts that culminated in the cession of the southern states and the formation of the Republic of South Sudan in July 2011.
Explosive violence has long been among the causes of poverty in Sudan. The recent civil war and the resulting divide of the country only deepened the country’s resource deficit. The secession of the oil-rich southern states resulted in a loss of over half of Sudan’s government revenues and more than 95 percent of its exports.
Furthermore, civil war in South Sudan has led to an influx of refugees to Sudan. As of March 2017, approximately 332,885 people have fled to Sudan. This population explosion further strains Sudan’s small resource pool.
However, Sudan’s parliament approved the Five-Year Program of Economic Reforms in December 2014. This plan emphasizes further development of agriculture and livestock to combat low productivity and poor crop yields, leading causes of poverty in Sudan. The new economic plan could provide a solution to the loss of South Sudan’s resources and could lead to an increase in economic stability.
Furthermore, the U.S. eased sanctions on Sudan in 2017. These sanctions were implemented in 1997 and expanded in 2006. The trade and financial sanctions were imposed as a response to human rights violations carried out by the Sudanese government. The Obama administration temporarily lifted some of the economic sanctions as a response to improved conditions in Sudan. The Sudanese government now allows humanitarian aid to reach inhabitants of conflict areas and has orchestrated a ceasefire with the rebel army, the People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO).
This temporary reprieve from sanctions allows trade between Sudan and the U.S., creating some small economic stimulus in Sudan. The policy is under six-month review and pending approval to become permanent. The removal of these sanctions would finally offer an opportunity for some economic growth in a country long plagued by explosive violence and poor governance.
– Katherine Parks
Common Diseases in Croatia
With its undeniable destination appeal bolstering revenue, Croatia’s growing prosperity has paved the way to an improved and functional universal healthcare system that has dramatically reduced the mortality from communicable diseases. Nevertheless, as a transitioning nation, there are still struggles to overcome and common diseases in Croatia that must be addressed. Here are a few of the most common diseases in Croatia.
Like developed nations, one of the most common diseases in Croatia and most prevalent causes of premature death is coronary heart disease. According to the World Health Organization, it was estimated that heart disease accounted for 48 percent of deaths in 2014, compared to 31 percent for the United States in the same year. In Croatia, the leading risk factors include smoking, obesity, hypertension and diabetes. The good news, however, is that in 2015 Croatia saw a 5.2 percent decrease in the number of premature deaths caused by heart disease from 2005.Despite these statistics, Croatia is still considered to be among the highest for cardiovascular risk compared to other European countries. To strengthen preventative measures, the Croatian Heart Foundation has spearheaded a national e-campaign called “Heart Keepers” that seeks to educate medical professionals and patients alike on preventative care concerning the disease. It contains online courses for physicians as well as a mobile app to connect patients with healthcare providers. The campaign is the first of its kind in Croatia and was set to be implemented during the entirety of 2016.
Lung cancer ranks third in leading cause of death and common diseases in Croatia, right behind heart disease and stroke. Smoking is the leading cause, with nearly 30 percent of the adult population being smokers.Other reasons for such a high mortality rate could be a lack of resources, education and proper preventative care and treatment plans. While the healthcare system in Croatia is fairly developed compared to other transitional countries, it still lacks a focused strategy for reducing the risk of lung cancer in its population.This approach might include a campaign to better control risky behaviors like tobacco and alcohol use, or to decrease the exposure to occupational hazards and air pollution.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infectious disease affecting the central nervous system. It is contracted most often through the bite of an infected tick belonging to the Ixodidae family, although it may be transmitted by the consumption of raw dairy products as well. Thousands of people are infected every year in high-risk regions spanning across Europe and Asia.Croatia is an endemic region for this disease and it is particularly common in forested and rural areas. The number of cases continues to rise as the tick population increases during bi-annual peak seasons (late March to Early June; August to October) due to mounting regional temperatures.Two-thirds of patients experience non-specific, wide-ranging symptoms including fever, headaches, nausea, and general malaise. Twenty to 30 percent of patients enter a second phase of the illness after a brief remission period. These patients experience the more extreme symptoms associated with encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) such as a decline in motor abilities, confusion, seizures or paralysis.
Presently, there is no definite drug therapy for tick-borne encephalitis. Patients experiencing symptoms are hospitalized and treated on a case-to-case basis depending on the severity of the disease. There are, however, vaccines available as a preventive measure.
The good news is that deaths resulting from the common diseases in Croatia have almost been reduced to solely noncommunicable illnesses, with infectious diseases like malaria all but eradicated. In 2014, the total percentage of death from factors like malnutrition, infectious disease and prenatal and maternity complications was a mere 1 percent. In the United States that number was 6 percent in the same year.
This staggering triumph for Croatia demonstrates how far the country has come in eradicating curable diseases. Its greatest challenge now will be developing strategies to tackle such formidable killers as heart disease and cancer, no easy feat when the cures for these illnesses continue to evade the medical institutions in even the wealthiest of industrialized nations.
– Mickie Fischer
Photo: Flickr