Literacy in South Sudan is a significant challenge, with many women, girls and children queueing daily at wells to fetch water for their families. The program, Literacy at the Well, transforms their waiting time, often exceeding an hour, into a learning opportunity. This innovative initiative offers reading and writing lessons, effectively utilizing the time spent at communal water sources for educational purposes.
Literacy at the Well is an unconventional literacy program. It has been recognized by the United States Library of Congress as a best practice program in the area of Gender Equity and Maternal Literacy. The Literacy at the Well program, launched by the nonprofit organization Lost Boys Rebuilding Southern Sudan (LBRSS), aims to teach South Sudanese women to read and write. Founded in 2005 by South Sudanese refugees, known as the Lost Boys, LBRSS targets the critical literacy challenge in South Sudan.
The Lost Boys
In the 1980s, civil war in Sudan displaced or orphaned 26,000 children, ages 5 to 15, from the Nuer and Dinka ethnic groups. Of those who fled Sudan, only 13,000 reached the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya a year and some 1,000 miles later. They became known as the Lost Boys of Sudan because they arrived at the camp without their parents and separated from their families. These boys spent most of their childhood in refugee camps before resettling in the United States (U.S.).
In 2001, nearly 4,000 of these boys found refuge in the U.S., with many settling in Chicago. The International Rescue Committee assisted hundreds of them in starting new lives in cities across the country. The film “The Good Lie,” released in October 2014, highlights the physical, emotional and educational journey of the Lost Boys.
Literacy Rate in South Sudan
As of 2021, South Sudan holds the lowest adult literacy rate for individuals aged 15 and older, with more than 70% of its population under 30 years and half unable to read or write. The country also has approximately 2.8 million children out of school, representing the highest global proportion of out-of-school children. Moreover, a lack of education could keep South Sudan from developing, realizing its citizens’ full potential and breaking its dependency on external support.
The Vision Becomes a Reality
LBRSS raised funds to build schools and provide education in South Sudan. Yet, upon the completion of the first school, no girls attended. Recognizing that girls play a crucial role in spreading education within their families and communities, Ms. Wendi Dwyer, LBRSS’s executive director, joined the effort after meeting Arkangelo, a Lost Boy and founding member of LBRSS, who sought her assistance.
As LBRSS prepared to open a primary school, it found the building filled with women and girls seeking shelter from the sun while waiting to fill their water jugs. Upon being asked if the girls wished to learn to read and write, nearly all responded affirmatively. Thus, Literacy at the Well came into existence.
The Cost Explained
Providing a community with a teacher costs $4,000. Every dollar supports teacher training, salaries and supplies. South Sudan communities contribute by recruiting, training and hiring residents as teachers. Furthermore, these educators rely on students to extend their instruction by sharing lessons with neighbors, children, sisters and husbands.
Currently, LBRSS has 6 sites in 6 communities. Each site serves more than 200 women and girls. In addition, it has built the Malualkon Community Learning Center where more than 400 students attend classes each day.
Looking Ahead
The Literacy at the Well program in South Sudan is pioneering a transformative approach to education, turning everyday chores into opportunities for learning and empowerment. By tapping into the communal spirit at water wells, this initiative is not just teaching women and girls to read and write but is also fostering a culture of education that resonates throughout communities. Above all, the promise of literacy beckons a future where knowledge flows as freely as the water, enriching lives and nurturing the seeds of development and equality.
– Pamela Fenton
Photo: Unsplash
Crime and Poverty in the Dominican Republic
The complex relationship between crime and poverty requires solutions that address the underlying issues. The Peace Corps, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Crime Stoppers and the Pact are groups working to reduce poverty in the Dominican Republic.
How Crime and Poverty Are Interlinked
The World Bank, in its report “Conflict and Poverty,” sheds light on four critical issues that underscore the cyclical nature of the relationship. Delving into the consequences of conflict, it becomes evident that a child’s schooling will be reduced by nearly one-third if they encounter conflict and subsequent health issues, including addiction, diabetes, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
USAID Supports Education in the Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, impoverished children will drop out of primary school to earn income for their families. Recognizing the need to break this cycle, USAID has partnered with the Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic to ensure children receive proper education and opportunities to reduce the risk of criminal involvement. To address the multifaceted challenges faced by these vulnerable children, USAID has outlined three specific goals within its collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Education:
Crime Stoppers and Their Anonymous Services
Crimes committed in the Dominican Republic could go unreported to the authorities due to apathy or fear of repercussions. Estimates suggest that around 70% of observable crimes go unreported.
On September (2023). Crime Stoppers discussed opening an office within D.R. as an anonymous hotline to serve the people. The previous record from Crime Stoppers suggests a high success rate, with other offices already located within Latin America.
Peace Corps Projects Within the Dominican Republic
The Peace Corps is leading other nonprofit organizations in addressing the education gap within the Dominican Republic. The volunteers work with community leaders to provide a needed set of skills. In partnership with other nonprofits, the organization has established three projects in the Dominican Republic. The projects aim to help vulnerable children with low literacy.
The Pact’s Work Within the Dominican Republic
The Pact, an international nonprofit working for human development, recognizes the need for civil actors to seek change at a societal level. Using their research in human development, the Pact, in conjunction with USAID, set up the Civil Society Strengthening Activity program. The Dominican Republic’s poverty rate will drop because of this $12.5 million initiative that emphasizes the abilities of community leaders and how to use them to enact legal policies focused on women and children.
Conclusion
Crime and poverty in the Dominican Republic are interlinked. While this creates a complex phenomenon, the resolution to reducing crime is reducing poverty. International nonprofits, governments and programs aid developing nations to discover solutions that suit the country’s needs. As the World Bank states, “poverty alleviation in fragile states recognizes the need for organizations such as the U.N. and IMF to coordinate state capacity.”
– Luis Lujano-Garcia
Photo: Flickr
The Impact of Surge for Water on Indonesian Communities
How Did Surge for Water Come To Be?
The inspiration for launching Surge for Water originated during a childhood visit to India, where founder Shilpa Alva observed children her age deprived of the opportunity to play, forced instead to fetch water. As a child, she recognized the injustice of children bearing such responsibilities for their families’ survival.
At 21, Alva undertook a teaching assignment in the remote Indian village of Rajgarh. She encountered students frequently absent from school due to water-related illnesses or limitations. The establishment of Surge in 2008 was a direct response to this fundamental need. It was also a personal calling to address the water crisis affecting communities like those Alva had witnessed in India.
What Brought Surge for Water to Indonesia?
The Southeast Asian country of Indonesia, is facing a pressing issue threatening the well-being of its people and the environment – water scarcity. The water crisis in Indonesia is multifaceted, with several contributing factors exacerbating the situation.
How Surge for Water Is Making a Difference in Indonesia
Surge for Water takes a holistic approach to addressing the water crisis in Indonesia. It works closely with local communities to assess their specific needs and develop sustainable solutions that will have a lasting impact. This includes implementing water filtration systems, conducting hygiene education programs and empowering community members to take ownership of their water sources.
For example, at SD Pari Deta, an elementary school, the previous reliance on distant springs and rainfall for water hurt students and teachers due to inadequate toilet facilities. After an assessment, it was discovered that the school faced challenges such as a contaminated rainwater collection tank and a deteriorating well. Open defecation was also prevalent among students. It was determined that constructing a rainwater tank and improving toilet facilities were necessary.
Through collaboration with the local community and school leadership, a rainwater harvesting tank was installed to store 10,400 liters of water. A new toilet with separate stalls for boys and girls was also constructed. Yuliana Boko Kaka, a teacher for second-grade students, stated that the availability of clean water and secure restroom facilities has significantly influenced her students’ behavior. This has led to reduced consumption of contaminated water, the practice of open defecation and the neglect of handwashing practices.
Conclusion
Thanks to Surge for Water’s efforts, thousands of people in Indonesia now have access to clean and safe drinking water. This has not only improved the health and well-being of these individuals but has also empowered communities to thrive and grow. By providing necessities like clean water, the nonprofit is laying the foundation for a brighter future for the people of Indonesia.
– Sara Hatab
Photo: Unsplash
Plagues of Old: Locust Swarms Become a Global Concern
A swarm can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people. This directly threatens food security and induces a ripple effect, causing a profound loss of livelihood income and adversely affecting human capital. The repercussions are stark, with three million households compelled to forgo essential food, nutrition and education investments. The brunt of the impact is most acutely felt by households dependent on livestock and cropping.
Desert Locusts
Desert locusts usually form swarms under heavy rains, creating a mass of hungry insects that can cross continents and seas for food. The adults are pink (immature) and yellow (mature). They grow three inches in length. Their three to five-month life cycle has three stages: egg, hopper (nymph) and adult. Female locusts lay their eggs in warm, wet, sandy-clay soils at a depth of four to six inches. After hatching, the locusts mature and develop wings in two to four months. At this stage, they become difficult to eradicate. Since gregarious locusts can change their ecological and food habits, they can settle and breed in various habitats.
Locust Swarms Become a Global Concern
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-funded researchers worked to more accurately forecast when and where the swarms would appear. The team showed that examining soil moisture and composition could aid in predicting optimal breeding sites 85% of the time. In addition, researchers found the most effective time to eradicate desert locusts would be when the insects are in egg and hopper phases before wings develop.
In addition, scientists at Arizona State University created the Global Locust Initiative to “get people the information they need before a plague occurs,” stated Arianne Cease, director of the initiative. Cease became aware of the devastation locusts bring while in the Peace Corps in West Africa. Lastly, the Desert Locust Control Committee (DLCC) is the primary forum that supports locust-affected countries and agencies under the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) umbrella. The DLCC was established (1955) during a 12-year-long Desert locust plague in Madagascar.
Accordingly, the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa (DLCO-EA), a regional pest and vector management organization, has taken several preventative steps to offset the onslaught of desert locust swarms. These include enhancing surveillance and control operations to facilitate early warning, optimizing control strategies and insecticides based on the situation and the environment, establishing and strengthening a Locust Control Unit (LCU) within the Plant Protection Services Division (PPSD) and more.
– Pamela Fenton
Photo: Flickr
International Organizations Provide Aid to Venezuela
IFAD Empowers Rural Venezuelans
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an organization that empowers vulnerable rural populations. This organization has played a pivotal role in addressing the escalating socioeconomic disparities that have become increasingly pronounced across the region. Nowhere is this disparity more evident than in Venezuela, where poverty rates have become concentrated within specific demographics, notably indigenous regions like Warao and among landless households where women are primary income earners.
Recognizing the urgent need for targeted interventions, IFAD has been a beacon of hope for these marginalized communities. Since 1989, the organization has made substantial investments, totaling around $80 million in loans. The primary objectives of these investments have been twofold: promoting resource conservation and bolstering household incomes to mitigate the pervasive impact of poverty. Through its strategic investments, IFAD has directly benefited 50,000 households. This transformative assistance has been channeled through six projects, three still ongoing.
USAID Continues To Reduce Poverty
In a significant demonstration of its commitment to addressing the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) publicly announced a substantial contribution of $171 million in aid to Venezuela. This announcement, made by U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on March 17, 2023, underscores the nation’s unwavering dedication to providing support to “people affected by the ongoing crisis in Venezuela and the region.”
Due to 7.1 million Venezuelans fleeing the country, the $171 million investment was distributed into distinct services to help Venezuelan citizens access basic needs and funding for host communities.
1. Around $85 million of the total assistance went to humanitarian efforts such as health care and nutrition vouchers.
2. Around $31 million went to human rights and civil society organizations to help Venezuelans integrate into Colombia and Ecuador.
3. The remaining $56 million went to life-saving humanitarian programs, providing emergency shelters, water, hygiene supplies and health care access.
This recent announcement adds to the cumulative aid provided by USAID, which has exceeded an impressive $2.8 billion since 2017. This substantial financial commitment makes the U.S. widely recognized as the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.
UNHCR Saves Venezuelan Refugees
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a global organization committed to saving the lives of refugees, has been actively responding to the escalating socioeconomic crisis in Venezuela. The compounding factors of COVID-19 and rising living costs have forced a staggering 7.7 million Venezuelans to leave their homes.
In a proactive move, UNHCR increased its border presence to provide basic needs such as food and water. Specially designed shelters were established to cater to the vulnerable groups among refugees, including children, older people and individuals with disabilities.
WFP Combats Food Insecurity
In 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) played a pivotal role in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela by assisting approximately 550,000 individuals. WFP has been serving the developing nation due to the ongoing socioeconomic crisis, compounded by the recent COVID-19 virus and food price increases from inflation. Even with the economic growth experienced in 2022, families struggle to secure food and essential needs.
To combat food insecurity, aid to Venezuela in the form of school meals was started in 2021. The aim is to ensure children, especially those with disabilities, receive a meal daily. WFP transitioned to hot meals in April 2023 in three municipalities in Falcon, an agriculturally poor region with an arid climate. WFP partners with school staff to ensure the meal program rolls out to other areas through training and leadership programs. The work done in Venezuela prepares local communities on how to respond to emergencies to increase food security, providing logistical and coordination support.
Conclusion
Venezuela still requires further humanitarian aid to uplift its citizens to socioeconomic levels above the poverty line. The current obstacle for nongovernmental organizations working in the country is limited funding or resources transferred to other departments. While new and unpredictable challenges occur, organizations are still committed to providing aid to Venezuela with more significant opportunities, both in and outside the nation.
– Luis Lujano-Garcia
Photo: Flickr
AI Offers Promise for Africa’s Smallholder Farms
AI and Smallholder Farms
There is extensive room for improvement and modernization in the smallholder farm industry. AI has the potential to support crop yield, irrigation, soil content sensing, crop monitoring, weeding and crop establishment. AI technology can optimize the use of fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation. A change that would improve the health of humans as well as the environment. Africa faces two significant obstacles to fully harnessing the potential of AI, access to reliable internet connectivity and affordable technology. Smallholder farmers remain confined to simple devices such as mobile phones, radio and TV to access digital resources, including the Internet despite the availability of digital opportunities.
Small Holder Farms: Constraints and Successes
Smallholder farms are vital in Africa, contributing significantly to food production, enhancing rural livelihoods and reducing poverty. These farms typically operate on less than two hectares of land, equivalent to approximately 2.47 acres each. These farms usually cultivate a diverse range of crops such as yams, beans, rice, cassava, maize, vegetables and fruits and raise livestock including goats, cows and chickens. Individual farmers or families manage these operations, facing common agricultural challenges in countries like Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Here are some of the agricultural constraints:
Smart Farming Powered by Internet of Things (IoT) Technology
AI successes feature smart farming enhanced by Internet of Things (IoT) technology, which optimizes crop management through the use of sensors, gateways, and data analysis. These sensors collect vital data from the fields, which is then stored and analyzed. This process allows farmers to access real-time insights, enabling more efficient and informed decision-making.
Nigeria is home to 38 million smallholder farmers who account for 90% of Nigeria’s agricultural produce and employ 60% of the country’s labor force. More than 72% of residents live below the poverty line in Nigeria, where smallholder farms produce the majority of the country’s staples and employ millions.
AI Successes include Farmcrowdy, Nigeria’s first digital agriculture platform that connects small-scale farmers with smart farming techniques, quality farm inputs and access to superior markets to be able to earn a decent profit margin. Founded in 2016, Farmcrowdy began with 25,000 farmers. Currently, it is working with 50,000 farmers, with a plan to scale to 500,000 by the last quarter of the fiscal year 2020 and 3 million over the next 5 years.
AI successes feature Precision Agriculture, monitoring crop conditions, soil quality, weather patterns, and pest infestations. Additionally, Ujuzikilimo’s mission in precision farming aims to empower all farmers and stakeholders to make quick, informed, and data-driven decisions through the collection and analysis of agricultural data. The United Nations (U.N.). The initiative is exploring ways AI can be used to predict flood patterns and optimize Agrifood systems across Africa. Agrifood systems would predict the best times to plant, provide an assessment of soil health and monitor pest and disease outbreaks.
The Future of Full-Scale Agricultural Digitalization
The convergence of AI and agriculture in Africa offers a mix of potential benefits and challenges. While AI holds the capacity to enhance agricultural productivity and bolster food security, achieving widespread digitalization is still a goal out of reach. The claims of transformative impact often disconnect with the actual experiences of smallholder farmers, facing constraints like low literacy and scarce access to digital tools. Nonetheless, there are opportunities tailored to address both present and anticipated obstacles in smallholder agriculture, aiming to realize the full promise of digitalization in the sector.
– Pamela Fenton
Photo: Unsplash
The Lost Boys: Rebuilding Literacy in South Sudan
Literacy at the Well is an unconventional literacy program. It has been recognized by the United States Library of Congress as a best practice program in the area of Gender Equity and Maternal Literacy. The Literacy at the Well program, launched by the nonprofit organization Lost Boys Rebuilding Southern Sudan (LBRSS), aims to teach South Sudanese women to read and write. Founded in 2005 by South Sudanese refugees, known as the Lost Boys, LBRSS targets the critical literacy challenge in South Sudan.
The Lost Boys
In the 1980s, civil war in Sudan displaced or orphaned 26,000 children, ages 5 to 15, from the Nuer and Dinka ethnic groups. Of those who fled Sudan, only 13,000 reached the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya a year and some 1,000 miles later. They became known as the Lost Boys of Sudan because they arrived at the camp without their parents and separated from their families. These boys spent most of their childhood in refugee camps before resettling in the United States (U.S.).
In 2001, nearly 4,000 of these boys found refuge in the U.S., with many settling in Chicago. The International Rescue Committee assisted hundreds of them in starting new lives in cities across the country. The film “The Good Lie,” released in October 2014, highlights the physical, emotional and educational journey of the Lost Boys.
Literacy Rate in South Sudan
As of 2021, South Sudan holds the lowest adult literacy rate for individuals aged 15 and older, with more than 70% of its population under 30 years and half unable to read or write. The country also has approximately 2.8 million children out of school, representing the highest global proportion of out-of-school children. Moreover, a lack of education could keep South Sudan from developing, realizing its citizens’ full potential and breaking its dependency on external support.
The Vision Becomes a Reality
LBRSS raised funds to build schools and provide education in South Sudan. Yet, upon the completion of the first school, no girls attended. Recognizing that girls play a crucial role in spreading education within their families and communities, Ms. Wendi Dwyer, LBRSS’s executive director, joined the effort after meeting Arkangelo, a Lost Boy and founding member of LBRSS, who sought her assistance.
As LBRSS prepared to open a primary school, it found the building filled with women and girls seeking shelter from the sun while waiting to fill their water jugs. Upon being asked if the girls wished to learn to read and write, nearly all responded affirmatively. Thus, Literacy at the Well came into existence.
The Cost Explained
Providing a community with a teacher costs $4,000. Every dollar supports teacher training, salaries and supplies. South Sudan communities contribute by recruiting, training and hiring residents as teachers. Furthermore, these educators rely on students to extend their instruction by sharing lessons with neighbors, children, sisters and husbands.
Currently, LBRSS has 6 sites in 6 communities. Each site serves more than 200 women and girls. In addition, it has built the Malualkon Community Learning Center where more than 400 students attend classes each day.
Looking Ahead
The Literacy at the Well program in South Sudan is pioneering a transformative approach to education, turning everyday chores into opportunities for learning and empowerment. By tapping into the communal spirit at water wells, this initiative is not just teaching women and girls to read and write but is also fostering a culture of education that resonates throughout communities. Above all, the promise of literacy beckons a future where knowledge flows as freely as the water, enriching lives and nurturing the seeds of development and equality.
– Pamela Fenton
Photo: Unsplash
Charities Operating in Iraqi Kurdistan for Refugees
Sirkhane
Sirkhane is a charity operating in Iraq, Turkey and Syria, to provide child refugees access to creative activities such as photography, music and painting. Instead of violence and retaliation, Sirkhane teaches children to express their emotions through music and constructive social interaction.
It aims to give children who have witnessed poverty and displacement an outlet to express their imagination and develop critical social skills. By offering artistic opportunities the families would have otherwise been unable to access, they begin the process of recovering from their trauma and the stressful circumstances of their childhood.
Sirkhane projects include Darkroom where children get analog cameras and learn the principles of photography, the basics of visual composition and how to develop, print and achieve results using film photography. The organization encourages children to capture photos of their daily lives and allows them to be playful in difficult circumstances. Sirkhane later publishes photos in photobooks in collaboration with various artists.
Another project Sirkhane hosts is Müzikhane (House of Music) where volunteer musicians host workshops for children to learn instruments and music education, helping them develop story-telling skills.
The Lotus Flower
Focusing on the development of women and children, The Lotus Flower is a charity that provides opportunities for women to achieve financial independence and education. As women in Iraqi Kurdistan often have far lower literacy rates compared to men The Lotus Flower focuses on providing education programs in adult literacy, computing, and foreign languages. The charity has reached more than 60,000 women, children and community members.
As ISIS attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan displaced families from their homes, many women became the sole providers of their families. Concurrent conflicts and a lack of resources meant many refugees were unable to attain an education in their youth. The Lotus Flower provides textbooks, stationery supplies and classes for refugee women to learn essential life and employability skills.
The organization also has various activities for men’s mental health. A Domiz refugee camp in Iraq saw the need for mental health support for men, many of whom survived ISIS attacks. The Men and Boys’ Trauma project sought to connect refugees, improve their English language skills and provide them with trauma therapy.
Aid Gate Organization
Aid Gate Organization (AGO) focuses on providing vulnerable groups in Iraq and Syria with skills to assist their employability and support their families. Along with implementing vocational skills training, AGO also offers apprenticeships to individuals living in economically deprived areas. Its temporary work programs, while helping individuals they employ to earn cash, offer public services to the local community; through clearing debris from roads and rebuilding infrastructure.
As extreme weather disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in society, farmers in rural Iraqi Kurdistan struggle to keep up with changing weather cycles. AGO aids farmers through education on modern agricultural techniques and provides them with advanced tools.
AGO often collaborates with governmental departments, such as the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, to represent vulnerable minorities in the decision-making process.
Jesuit Refugee Service
Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international charity with community centers in Duhok. Its work in Duhok focuses on supporting victims of the 2014 Yazidi genocide. As a result of harsh living conditions, suicide attempts from displaced Yazidis have increased. JRS offers mental and psychological support to survivors, especially those tortured and separated from their families.
JRS also hosts a Primary Education Program in Iraq, providing for children who have had their education disrupted by warfare. Along with providing psychological help, children can begin the process of recovery from their traumatic experiences through connecting with other classmates and teachers.
Charities operating in the Iraqi Kurdistan region remain underfunded, requiring further donations and cooperation to make sure that every refugee has opportunity, dignity, and comfort in the face of displacement.
– Alara Pasinli
Photo: Unsplash
Health Care in Colombia: Improving Accessibility
There are also only 2.4 doctors per 1000 residents with a larger concentration in urban areas. The widespread health care coverage applies to a core set of services. However, some required out-of-pocket expenses still present a barrier to the 37% of the population living in poverty in both rural and urban areas.
Addressing this inequity demands infrastructure improvements, technological advancements and investment. Fortunately, thanks to efforts from emerging health care technology companies and humanitarian aid organizations, Colombia is making progress in enhancing health care accessibility.
Health Care Technology Companies
Colombia has seen a rise in health care technology startups with $39.4 million being invested in the “health tech” sector according to a 2022-2023 technology report. This investment was spread across 93 startups that aim to increase access to hospitals, specialized services and medical records.
Salvva, initially known as TuMedico and founded in 2021 as a spinoff of the leading Colombian health tech company SaludTools, leads the way in connecting patients with health care providers. This company aims to link low-income patients with health care providers through an easy-to-use and affordable app that simplifies the process of diagnosis and treatment. It became a finalist in the MIT Solve program in 2022 after connecting more than 7,000 residents with providers through top-tier telemedicine. To date, its website reports more than 24,000 consultations with health care companies and providers.
Another pioneering woman in health tech founded Yo Puedo Sentirme Bien, a tele-mental health platform for students in Colombia. From 2021 to 2023, the platform engaged 2,730 students at no cost to their respective universities. Although still in its infancy and primarily serving the academic community, this initiative marks a significant step toward addressing underserved health issues within underserved populations.
Humanitarian Aid Organizations
In addition to technology solutions improving health care accessibility in Colombia, there have been major humanitarian aid projects addressing infrastructure challenges and driving improvement in rural communities specifically.
World Bank
One of the biggest challenges in accessibility is the sheer distance that must be traveled to facilities. According to an analysis from the World Bank, 10.6 million people need to travel more than 60 minutes for essential health care services. Rudimentary road systems mean that many isolated regions are more effectively traveled by water transportation, but those trips can cost patients up to 11% of their monthly wage.
The World Bank has partnered with the Government of Colombia on multiple initiatives to address travel issues. Todos Somos PAZcífico is improving dock infrastructure in the Pacific region to increase mobility for these populations. The organizations are working directly with local communities in their implementation and will create employment opportunities as the hubs drive commercial activity. The improved infrastructure will also drastically reduce the travel time for these communities to access critical services.
While water transportation is critical for coastal communities, the road infrastructure confines the inland populations. Caminos Comunitarios de la Paz Total is another initiative from the World Bank and the Colombian government with an investment of $8 billion for road improvement and rehabilitation.
In improving accessibility to health care, Colombia must reduce the travel time and difficulty for isolated populations. These initiatives are addressing the challenges on both land and sea to open pathways for hundreds of thousands of people.
The European Union (EU)
The EU supports multiple humanitarian organizations in the region and provided €28.5 million in humanitarian aid in 2023. Médecins du Monde is one organization receiving support from the EU for its work in Colombia. The France-based organization aims to provide quality health care access to the most vulnerable populations. While the World Bank is allowing people to travel to access already existing health care facilities, Médecins du Monde is bringing health care to these confined populations. In 2022, the organization worked with a confined population in the Chocó region to organize mobile clinics, rehabilitate previous health posts and educate people on disease prevention.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Colombia has seen a rising Venezuelan migrant population that is especially vulnerable in terms of accessing health care. The USAID’s Local Health System Sustainability Activity (LHSS) aids the Colombian Ministry of Health in assisting this group by utilizing funds from the private sector to finance health services.
Colombia has achieved significant progress in enhancing its health care system over the last few decades, particularly in coverage. However, there is still room for improvement, with health tech companies and humanitarian aid playing key roles in continuing to improve health care accessibility.
– William Galante
Photo: Unsplash
HIV/AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago
National Planning
Alongside the Caribbean as a whole, Trinidad and Tobago began its work towards HIV/AIDS prevention. Multiple programs and national policy created noticeable positive changes in the spread of the virus as well as preventative testing and general education. The country’s HIV and AIDS coordinating committee implemented the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan in 2004. The plan incorporated youth empowerment programs, voluntary counseling, preventative testing and specific prevention of mother-to-child transmission. The government launched free antiretroviral treatment to manage infection for those who acquired the virus congenitally. This program led to dramatic decreases in the number of mother-to-child-related transmissions.
The island’s National Prevention and Control Program most recently created the National HIV/AIDS Policy 2020-2030. The policy places focus on key vulnerable populations at risk of infection. To achieve an end to HIV/AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago by 2030, the National AIDS Co-ordinating Committee (NACC) created objectives that include “universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention services/ programs/ interventions, an increased proportion of the population living with HIV that knows their status, increased coverage of testing, a decreased population that engages in risky sexual behaviors and increased use of technology in HIV prevention.”
UNICEF Support
In 2009, UNICEF brought support to the island’s fight against HIV and AIDS. An educational program “Kicking AIDS Out” began in Speyside by the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education. This organization uses games and sports to teach youth about the spread and prevention of HIV/AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago. Community members in that area of the country saw firsthand how AIDS can have a swift ripple effect. The increased testing and educated choices in the country’s youth made a noticeable impact on the amount of new HIV infections present within the population.
UNAIDS Regional Data
According to 2022 UNAIDS data, new infections of HIV have reduced by 15% in the Caribbean between 2010 and 2022 with stronger reductions among men. Virus-related deaths have decreased by 53% over the same time, yet are stronger among women. Sixty-three percent of the population living with HIV were on treatment in 2022 and 83% of the population living with HIV knew their status that same year. Antiretroviral therapy coverage increased from 19% to 63% among men since 2010, and from 21% to 74% among women.
Programs in place to prevent HIV transmission rose from 45% to 65%. However, these responses continue to rely on external sources. More than 70% of all available resources are received from international financing. According to UNAIDS, “transitioning to sustainable financing for HIV is crucial to build on the current progress and address the structural factors that limit access to services and increase HIV vulnerability in the region.”
Conclusion
These programs are creating positive change within Caribbean countries and Trinidad and Tobago specifically. By continuing to receive support from organizations such as UNAIDS and UNICEF, Trinidad and Tobago could potentially stop the spread of HIV and AIDS.
– Chloe Landry
Photo: Flickr
What To Know about Mental Health in Uzbekistan
Obstacles
Historically, mental health care in Uzbekistan has relied on institutions grappling with understaffing and inadequate funding. These obstacles have resulted in increased rates of mental health issues. This includes a 15% increase in registered mental disorders between 1991 and 2017 and a suicide rate being 8.0 per 100,000 people in 2019, according to WHO.
The journey to implement mental health reforms has been met with challenges. This has included stigmatization and low political support, according to the Central Asian Journal of Global Health. The stigma surrounding mental health is a global issue that hinders people’s ability to seek treatment.
Recent Initiatives
On April 20, 2023, the Uzbek Senate held a meeting to discuss the mental health and well-being of Uzbek youth. During this meeting, the working group for adolescent mental health discussed educational work to address the mental health crisis, bringing thousands of examples of how media can help this.
On June 19, 2023, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree outlining initiatives to improve the public mental health service. These initiatives include implementing the World Health Organization’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) and integrating Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into school curriculums.
The Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP)
mhGAP consists of 48 recommendations that aim to empower nations in confronting the mental health crisis head-on, with a specific focus on addressing neurological, mental and substance abuse disorders. These evidence-based recommendations range from training and intervention strategies to medication guidance.
The training that mhGAP Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) provides has been particularly impactful. A 2020 International Journal of Mental Health Systems study revealed this training has the power to boost participants’ knowledge and skills in mental health care despite obstacles such as resistance among staff and lack of financial resources. Since this initiative has only been present in Uzbekistan since 2023, there is not yet a record of its impact. However, past studies paint a promising picture for the future of mental health in Uzbekistan.
Education and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
SEL can be a powerful tool in the prevention and early intervention of mental disorders by promoting general mental well-being. It consists of five components: “self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.” These pillars not only promote personal development and well-being but also contribute to fostering resilient communities.
A few examples of how this could look in Uzbek classrooms are mindfulness practices or intentionally integrating skills such as cooperation or listening into daily activities, according to Be You. Implementing SEL in secondary schools can reach more youth as a result of Uzbekistan’s recent education reforms.
Other preventative educational initiatives include training sessions and seminars that the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Narcology conducted in hundreds of schools aiming to assist students in identifying signs of substance abuse, according to the Uzbek Senate.
Regional Collaboration
Uzbekistan is not alone in the ongoing battle to tackle the mental health crisis. In April 2023, Uzbekistan hosted talks about strengthening mental health care in Central Asian countries through community-led initiatives and partnerships. Further collaborative efforts occurred in October 2023 when Uzbek mental health representatives and professionals joined three other Central Asian countries for a study visit to Trieste, Italy. There, they learned about community-based mental health reform.
Looking Forward
In the ongoing battle against the mental health crisis, Uzbekistan stands alongside fellow Central Asian countries striving to address the issue through evidence-based reforms. With each strategic step, more than 30 million Uzbeks move closer to enhanced mental wellness.
– Madison Paulus
Photo: Flickr