Though Hawaiians live next to lush nature and clear blue waters, they are vulnerable to several diseases. The state’s 21% shortage of physicians exacerbates their risk, according to the Hawaii Journal of Health & Social Welfare, and Hawaii has the third highest cost of living in the United States. Additionally, the population of 1.5 million people, 376,000 of whom are Native Hawaiians, is at the highest levels of poverty in Hawaii. These are five common diseases in Hawaii.
1. Leptospirosis
The first of the diseases in Hawaii is leptospirosis. This is a bacterial disease that commonly exists in warm climates; of the 100-200 cases identified in the United States, around 50% occur in Hawaii, as KHON2 reported. Leptospirosis can infect both humans and animals, and symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle aches, red eyes, vomiting and diarrhea. Most cases are mild, but extreme cases can cause both acute liver and kidney failure or even death if not treated.
According to the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH), one of the most common ways people contract Leptospirosis is by swimming in bodies of fresh water such as ponds, rivers or streams; if the urine from an infected animal seeps into a body of freshwater, it an be contaminated, and the bacterium can enter through broken skin, the mouth, the nose or eyes.
In 2023, Hawaii Pacific University received $50,000 to research how leptospirosis grows in Hawaii’s wetlands and fishponds. To stop the spread, recommendations are that people not swim in freshwater bodies of water, drink from freshwater bodies, keep animals from accessing catchment water-collection areas from tree branches, and vaccinate farm animals and pets. Antibiotics like doxycycline or penicillin can treat the disease.
2. Oral Cancers
According to the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, the rate of oral cancer in Hawaii is higher when compared to the rest of the United States. Early symptoms can include a bump or sore in the mouth that has not healed in two weeks, difficulty swallowing, numbness in your mouth or face or constant earaches, and the survival rate is only 50%, according to Hawaii News Now.
One of the theorized causes of these higher rates is betel nuts. As part of cultural practices in Asia and the Pacific Islands, it is meant to be chewed sometimes with either tobacco or lime, which research suggests can cause oral cancer, according to the National Institute of Health.
Two organizations fighting oral cancer in Hawaii are the Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF) and the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center. OCF funds oral cancer research, like through their Oral Cancer Walk in Honolulu that raised more than $5,000 for oral cancer research, and connects people to free oral cancer screening events. At the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center, researchers have found new treatments for oral cancer survivors that include exercise.
Experts encourage individuals experiencing early symptoms to get screened for oral cancer. Additionally, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates, Inc. recommends performing monthly self-examinations using a light and mirror to detect any unusual changes.
3. Legionellosis
Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever are both referred to as Legionellosis. It is a disease caused by Legionella bacteria. While Pontiac fever is a milder infection similar to the flu, Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially deadly lung infection, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Hawaii News Now reported that the bacteria can be found in plumbing systems, hot water tanks, water fountains and air conditioning systems.
In recent years, there have been high-profile incidents of Legionella bacteria being found in water systems that serve a large number of people. In May 2022, the DOH confirmed five people were infected at a hotel in Waikiki. Then, in June 2024, Hawaii News Now reported legionella bacteria were discovered in the Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole federal building and courthouse in downtown Honolulu; around that same time, detectable levels of bacteria were found in six other federal buildings.
Though not specifically in Hawaii, there are organizations that provide education, conduct research and advocate among federal and state governments to prevent the spread of Legionellosis. These include Legionella.org and the Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires’ Diseases.
Those who are over the age of 50 or have a history of chronic lung disease, weakened immune system or cancer are at an increased risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease when exposed to Legionella bacteria. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include cough, shortness of breath or fever.
4. Melanoma
The skin’s overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV rays) from the sun can cause melanoma, and since Hawaii receives so many UV rays, Hawaiians are often more vulnerable. In a study of melanoma cases due to UV radiation across the United States, nearly 97% came from Hawaii; this is according to a study that the International Journal of Cancer conducted. The study also found that 94% of all cases in the United States occurred in non-Hispanic whites.
Organizations in Hawaii work to educate the public on how to reduce the risk of melanoma. In 2021, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center partnered with the Hawaii Skin Cancer Coalition to educate the public on how to stay safe while in the sun. When the sun is brightest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., they recommend that you seek shade whenever possible. Additionally, they encouraged the use of UV-protecting clothes, sunglasses, and sunscreen above SPF 30 and reapplied every two hours.
Additionally, the American Cancer Society in Hawaii provides resources for those battling cancer in Hawaii. They provide both transportation to medical appointments, through the Road to Recovery Program, and housing for Hawaiians battling cancer at the T.C. Ching Hope Lodge.
5. Measles
Another of the diseases in Hawaii is measles. Measles is a highly infectious disease that causes pneumonia, brain inflammation and death; it is also highly contagious, especially in areas with low rates of vaccination. Symptoms can include high fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes that are watery.
According to the DOH, a laboratory confirmed in April that measles infected two people, one school-age child and one adult; this came as measles cases all around the United States rose to more than 1,200. Though almost 90 people were exposed, most were either vaccinated or immune; the DOH said it is important that people in Hawaii are vaccinated to prevent outbreaks.
Looking Ahead
Though some of the diseases in Hawaii listed above are present all over the United States, it is important to consider how vulnerable Hawaiians are to these diseases. Considering the rates of poverty and income inequality in the state, especially among Native Hawaiians, those who contract these diseases will have a far harder time affording treatment and care. This underscores the importance of nonprofit work in Hawaii that fights both common diseases and financial insecurity in Hawaii.
– Seth Pintar
Seth is based in San Diego, CA, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Unsplash
Street Children in the Comoros
When one thinks about the issue of street children, the Comoros rarely, if ever, come to mind. Yet, the visibility of children working and living on the streets is a growing reality across the country’s three islands: Anjouan, Mohéli and Grand Comore. For many Comorians, encountering groups of children selling goods or soliciting money and cigarettes on the streets has become increasingly common.
Despite this, institutional policies, government data and international reporting on these vulnerable children remain absent. Although a few governmental programs were implemented in 2021 targeting child labor and education, they remain insufficient and fail to address the increasing phenomenon of street children. Similarly, international organizations are predominantly directing their efforts toward combating child labor and addressing de-schooling, leaving street children, especially those without family support, largely overlooked.
Street Children and Poverty
The causes behind the issue of street children in the Comoros are multifaceted. However, extreme poverty stands out as the main factor. In a country where more than 40% of the population experiences poverty, many children resort to street work to secure basic subsistence or help feed their families. Most of them have left the school system, which, although compulsory until age 15, lacks strong enforcement mechanisms to check and enforce school attendance. In 2023, more than 20% of primary school-aged children were out of school in the Comoros, excluding the high absenteeism rates.
Street Children and Parental Migration
Another major cause contributing to this problem, closely linked to extreme poverty, is the migration of many Comorian parents to the French-administered island of Mayotte. This mass migration leaves many children homeless as their parents seek better economic opportunities.
Street Children and Mental Health
Children with disabilities and mental health conditions face higher risks of living and working on the streets. This is due to a lack of proper psychiatric care, exacerbated by the presence of only one psychiatrist in the country and the high cost of medications, alongside educational exclusion. According to the most up-to-date UNICEF report from 2015, 73% of these children did not attend secondary school and only 2.9% progressed beyond secondary education, illustrating the exclusion children with disabilities encounter.
Gender-Based Vulnerabilities
Girls and young women are disproportionately affected by educational exclusion and societal norms that promote submission to male authority. This often leads to mistreatment, sexual abuse, early sexual activity starting as young as 12 and unwanted pregnancies. These factors contribute significantly to the increasing number of young women living on the streets, as some parents repudiate their daughters who have terminated unwanted pregnancies.
Life on the Streets Equates Survival
Once children are on the streets, whether they return home after working or both work and live there, survival becomes the primary goal. The lack of reliable housing exposes youth to physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Health issues such as parasitic diseases, pneumonia, sexually transmissible diseases and HIV are common, compounded by past and present trauma. Without adequate support, children become the perfect targets for drug dealers, both as consumers and sellers.
The absence of comprehensive systems and official data exacerbates their plight. The Comoros lacks social structures to shelter street children, with few competent host families. Children’s judges rarely place them under those families and there are not enough inspectors to follow up. The lack of official and international data on the number of children living and working on the street in the Comoros also worsens the situation, as their abuses remain undocumented and unacknowledged, leaving children vulnerable to aggressors who can commit crimes with impunity and many disappearing without anyone noticing.
Efforts Toward Empowerment
Despite the alarming situation, some organizations like Ticket to Life and MAEECHA are working to address these challenges, offering hope for street children in the Comoros. Ticket to Life provides vocational training and education to street children, children with disabilities, refugees and all of those who suffer from poverty. Since its creation in 2022, it has helped 400 children through scouting and sewing training. It enabled some students to open their sewing shops and become an integral part of their local communities, transforming their future. By 2026, Ticket to Life intends to assist another 2,000 children.
MAEECHA operates in Anjouans and focuses on education equality and support for isolated children through its Education, Care, Support and Inclusion (ECMA) program. Its center of professional insertion helps out-of-school children, including those at risk of street involvement due to family breakdown or abandonment. It provides professional vocational training in several fields, such as agriculture, sewing, electronics, carpentry and culinary arts, targeting about 60 children annually. It is supported by partnerships with French and European organizations promoting apprenticeships and certifications.
Conclusion
The phenomenon of street children in the Comoros is a multifaceted issue rooted in systemic poverty, inadequate social structures and violence. Working and/or living on the streets exposes children to sexual, physical and emotional abuse. While Ticket to Life and MAEECHA are making strides in providing support and comprehensive governmental action, the involvement of international organizations focused on this issue and American aid would help address the root causes of street children. It would also help protect the rights and futures of the Comorian children, especially as an increasing number of them attempt to join the French-administered island of Mayotte, often at the peril of their lives.
– Juliette Delbarre
Photo: Pexels
Things To Know About Child Poverty in San Marino
This statistic models an ongoing socioeconomic issue that requires persistent attention and committed action from the government. However, children are protected under the Children’s Rights Convention, which provides a vital foundation for their welfare. San Marino offers accessible resources to all adolescents to ensure that protection and stability are allotted to them. This commitment to their well-being is a cornerstone of the nation’s policy.
Justice
Criminal justice is another major issue in San Marino, particularly regarding the treatment of minors. Under the country’s Penal Code, which defines all criminal offenses, children aged 12 or younger cannot be charged with misdemeanors. Arresting a child at that age is considered both illegal and inappropriate. This legal provision reflects understanding child development and safeguarding children’s rights.
However, any child older than 12 can be prosecuted, which has sparked debate about the appropriate age of criminal responsibility. Adolescents under 18 may be granted a pardon under specific circumstances, such as limited cognitive capacity, allowing for flexibility in sentencing. While San Marino does not have dedicated juvenile detention centers, it has established separate divisions for questioning minors, ensuring a more sensitive and age-appropriate approach to handling such cases.
Infant Mortality Rate
San Marino’s low infant mortality rate is a critical health indicator that demands ongoing attention to prevent any potential rise. Between 2013 and 2023, the mortality rate for children under the age of five stood at 1.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). At that time, the population was approximately 33,733. By 2025, it has declined slightly to around 33,572, reflecting a gradual decrease over two years.
Respiratory infections are the most common cause of under-5 mortality in San Marino, with children experiencing symptoms ranging from mild to severe. In response, UNICEF reported that local health clinics have taken action to stabilize rates by providing targeted treatment. For instance, children experiencing diarrhea are given oral rehydration solutions, including fluid-based or pre-packaged treatment packets. These proactive health care measures support the well-being of San Marino’s youngest residents and help lay the foundation for a healthier future generation.
Conclusion
San Marino stands at a critical point, ready to tackle pressing challenges. Issues like child poverty in San Marino, complexities within the criminal justice system and managing mortality rates highlight the nation’s commitment to its youth. With the country introducing the Children’s Rights Convention and with UNICEF’s support, initiatives and instruction have been adhered to with great commitment. Furthermore, the public remains focused on expanding and improving communities, an essential goal for the country’s future. By addressing these concerns with practical solutions, San Marino can reinforce its legacy as the world’s oldest republic and build a more prosperous, equitable society for all its citizens.
– Janae Bayford
Photo: Unspalsh
The Impact of Aid on Internally Displaced Persons in Benue
About Benue State
Benue State was established on February 3, 1976, during the reorganization of Nigeria’s states. It was carved out from the former Benue-Plateau State. With more than 30 distinct ethnic groups, including the Tiv, Idoma, Igede and other indigenous communities, Benue boasts a rich cultural tapestry, each contributing its language, customs and artistic expressions.
For decades, the region has been marred by crises, including violent clashes between farmers and herders, which have significantly contributed to the rise of poverty in Nigeria. A particular episode occurred in 2012, known as the “Agatu Massacre,” which persisted until 2016. This conflict between native Idoma farmers and Fulani herders in the Agatu Local Government Area resulted in the loss of approximately 3,920 lives between 2013 and 2017, with an additional 2,000 individuals succumbing to internally displaced person (IDP) camps.
The Benue Crisis
The Benue crisis has continued to escalate, with numerous incidents reported over the years. Notably, in June 2025, about 200 individuals, including IDPs, were killed in the Yelewata and Daudu communities within the Guma Local Government Area. As of 2024, the number of internally displaced persons in Benue has surged to about two million, increasing poverty in the region by preventing people from working and children from attending school, among others.
Local Impact on Internally Displaced Persons
Local humanitarian organizations, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross Society and various security agencies, have collaboratively conducted a rapid needs assessment to facilitate the distribution of essential relief materials. These materials include bags of parboiled rice, maize, spaghetti, vegetable oil, seasoning cubes, tomato paste, iodized salt and nonfood items like mattresses.
On its part, the Foundation for Justice Development and Peace (FIDP) has made significant contributions to the welfare of IDPs in the Guma Local Government Area. It has provided vital support, including constructing an optimized toilet block, solar-powered lighting and a solar-powered borehole for the Daudu 1 and Gbajimba 2 IDP camps. These facilities were developed with generous support from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to end poverty in those areas.
Furthermore, in January 2025, Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia launched a comprehensive five-year action plan to enhance IDPs’ livelihoods. This initiative includes the establishment of 210 farmers’ cooperatives across all camps in the state, which will benefit more than 4,200 IDPs. The program is designed to provide extensive training in cultivating rice, maize, cassava and vegetables, covering all stages of agricultural production.
International Impact on Internally Displaced Persons in Benue
In addition to local interventions to support IDPs, international organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have collaborated to produce a biometric registration progress report. This report reveals verified figures indicating that there are currently 184,711 IDPs across 48,163 households in Benue State.
Notably, 86% of these individuals are women and children, with a demographic breakdown of 56% female, 44% male, 5% elderly, 12% classified as vulnerable and 16% children under five. These statistics were derived from six Local Government Areas (LGAs) identified as having IDPs, based on the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Round 11 conducted in March 2023.
As of 2025, the IOM has reported an expansion in the locations covered, with 31 new sites added to the 65 previously documented in 2024. This expansion has resulted in an additional 26,165 IDPs being recorded. While the overall distribution of demographics remains consistent, there has been a notable change in the percentage of individuals classified as vulnerable from 12% to 13%.
Utilizing the IOM biometric report, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) actively supports the residents of Benue State through various programs, psychosocial resources and counseling initiatives.
Final Remarks
Despite ongoing local and international efforts, the humanitarian crisis in Benue State remains far from over. As displacement continues to rise and resources fall short, sustained support and decisive government action are urgently needed to restore hope and dignity to millions of affected lives.
– Damilola Bukola Omokanye
Photo: Flickr
SPOONS Cambodian Restaurant: Transforming Young Lives
SPOONS, operating a cafe and restaurant out of Cambodia’s popular tourist city, Siem Reap, serves traditional and fusion Cambodian dishes alongside coffee and pastries. This would be impressive enough, but SPOONS is not only a Cambodian restaurant. Doubling as a locally-run charity training young people in culinary, hospitality and barista skills, SPOONS specifically recruits from disadvantaged communities across Cambodia.
The Program
Students are chosen from a pool of more than 350, spanning 10 different provinces. Last year, the 12-month program took on 75 students, 23 of whom had not even completed high school. Most come from rural towns and villages, with the SPOONS organization completing in-person interviews and home visits, to get to know the candidates and their conditions. After selection, they go from the remote jungles to Siem Reap’s budding restaurant scene in no time, transforming their lives.
Living in dorms only a few kilometers away from the restaurant, the students pick specializations and begin their hands-on experience, working with customers from across Cambodia and the world. Not only do they learn to cook, serve customers or bake, they practice vital English language skills alongside this. Last year, the program had no drop-outs – all 75 students graduated, according to the 2024 SPOONS report.
The Vision
This process furthers the SPOONS vision: to engage with the community and allow these young people a chance to escape their disadvantaged lives and make a living. Giving back to the Cambodian people remains the key focus, however. Originally U.S.-based Everything is Going to be Okay (EGBOK) organization shut down during the pandemic due to multiple difficulties, but current president Mao Sophany saw an opportunity to take the project back to Cambodia and start from scratch.
Beginning with just 10 students, the organization trained them up and began to involve the project with local community organizations. With this grassroots focus, by 2024, SPOONS gave back to Siem Reap by offering short courses in hospitality for hotels and Community-based ecotourism projects. The SPOONS organization is quickly expanding from a simple Cambodian restaurant to an influential community charity.
All 75 students found employment within just two weeks of graduation last year. Soon, SPOONS plans on continuing the main program whilst expanding community outreach alongside this, promoting local products and sustainability through its partnerships with other local and international nonprofits, according to the 2024 report.
The Focus
For many young Cambodians, education transforms their lives. Many, however, sacrifice this education for work or struggle to find proper infrastructure in rural communities. Struggling to provide for their families, young people drop out of high school and begin earning, rather than getting an education. SPOONS recognises this. After 12 months, graduates have a year’s experience in their chosen field and an education to support this career path.
The focus in the coming years is to prioritize these high school drop-outs who left education for work. Sophany affirms that, as a local charity it keeps focusing on “empowering Cambodia’s youth and creating a more inclusive society,” according to the 2024 report.
Even after these students start their careers, the SPOONS alumni network slowly builds. The program fosters a desire to give back, helping the next generation’s poor. 150 alumni pledge $2 a month, generating an additional $3,600 annually, which the charity puts towards supporting current students, according to the 2024 report. Graduates, through these donations, directly support the next generation of SPOONS alumni in their goals, creating a connection across generations. Through just one Cambodian restaurant, hundreds of lives are affected.
The Impact
Rachana, one of last year’s graduates, went from feeling hopeless and lost in her rural province of Banteay Meanchey to working at a five-star luxury hotel on Song Saa Private Island. She hopes “that the next generation will try their best to complete their study and create a better life for themselves,” SPOONS repots.
Many in Cambodia never complete high school or, like Rachana, feel this lack of opportunity to escape poverty after graduation. SPOONS is more than just a Cambodian Restaurant; it gives these young people security from uncertainty, and hope from their poverty.
– Lee Stonehouse
Photo: Flickr
Food Systems in the Galapagos Islands
Every day, approximately 1,100 food imports, consisting of related food, drink and basic equipment, travel 700 miles to arrive in the Galapagos city port, Puerto Ayora. Much of the population obtains imports such as crates of cereal and apples. The prices of food increased over the years due to the timely travel of shipments. Based on forecasts, food imports could increase by around 95% by 2037.
Efforts to Regenerate Food Systems
Environmental conservation organizations like Global Nomadic are diving into regenerating food systems across the islands. The organization accepts individual internships for an in-person experience, helping promote food manufacturing. More than 10,000 people applied as interns and volunteers to participate in Global Nomadic’s initiatives. The organization also provides instructors to guide committed students in assisting with these projects. About 40 countries have achieved transformation under these initiatives.
The organization involves small, dedicated groups of farmers helping restore soil and protect ecosystems. Some of its present projects range from harvesting gardens, composting, testing fertilizer packaging and seed germination. Global Nomadic believes in restoring organic farming management to grow the ethnic food supply. This is crucial for the Galapagos Islands, which rely significantly on daily shipping. By educating others to cultivate locally fresh crops, the organization aims to enhance sustainable efforts.
Impact of Tourism on Farming in Galapagos
Farmers do not exactly welcome the idea of traditional agricultural farming with enthusiasm due to the number of tourists visiting the islands each year. The industry sold more tours than the amount of food produced. Many local farmers use chemically-based equipment to nurture crops, so they proposed transitioning to a wholesome food system.
Efforts to Promote Family Farming
Galapagos’ Corporate Office, based in Quito, Ecuador, has rolled out two programs to swiftly run food production in the regions. The Heifer Ecuador Organization developed the National Flagship Program to promote family farming to build systemic modifications to improve food systems in the Galapagos Islands. Furthermore, the program gives producers a chance at transforming economic and social progress.
The Flagship Program started in 2020 and has reached nearly 189,000 families living in rural and urban areas. Its 2030 goal is to help 16,000 rural households to diminish all rates of poverty. The organization believes in raising the income of all families to improve lives. In 2019, about 18 value chains were constructed, aiding 32 families. It also spurred 123 organizations and 55 alliances to form, galvanizing strong unity across all communities.
Looking Ahead
Many consider the Galapagos Islands to be a special paradise to visit. The most iconic wildlife discovered there are the green tortoises and blue-footed boobie birds. Despite the vivid diversity, food is scarce for many of the locals. However, ongoing initiatives aim to improve food systems in the Galapagos for the better. The islands continue to hope for a new, revolutionized era.
– Janae Bayford
Photo: Flickr
Everything To Know About Disability and Poverty in Andorra
An Overview of Disability and Poverty in Andorra
Andorra, as a country, has impressive anti-discriminatory laws when it comes to disabled groups in its nation. Andorra is a signatory of the 2006 United Nations (UN) resolution, “Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).” In accordance with being a signatory to this resolution, Andorra offers numerous provisions to “general obligations of the public authorities with respect to the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities.” This includes “[improving] access to communication for all persons with disabilities,” providing protections for service dogs, and regulating that landlords will not charge renters for improvements to their dwellings with the intention of improving accessibility.
In addition, disabled members of Andorra’s population are allowed to access public funds—such as disability pensions and social insurance—in order to help them pay for food, rent and other basic necessities, provided they meet a certain number of criteria.
Disability Benefits
The government of Andorra gives much to the disabled community to combat disability and poverty in Andorra. For most, the government calculates the amount of a disability pension that someone is entitled to by “multiplying the insured’s total lifetime pension points by the value of the pension point.”
There are multiple pension types in Andorra as well, each corresponding to a specific disability benefit that the government offers. For example, Andorra offers social insurance to the disabled so long as the disabled are younger than the retirement age. Additionally, recipients must have an assessed earning loss of at least 60% due to their disability and have at least 12 months of contributions if they are under the age of 21.
The disability solidarity pension, meanwhile, offers disability benefits to those who are older than 18 but younger than the retirement age of Andorra. The income of the disabled must also be less than the “social cohesion threshold,” which is “100% of the legal monthly minimum wage for a person living alone[…] plus 50% for each dependent child younger than age 14.”
Once someone who is disabled reaches the Andorran retirement age, the Andorran government phases out of the disability pension program they are on, and phases them into Andorra’s old age pension system.
Looking Ahead
Studying how the Andorran government is combating disability and poverty in Andorra can be beneficial in numerous ways. For one, it can allow people to fully understand how Andorra can apply the social policies it has to help the disabled to the general population. Understanding the framework for how Andorra cares for its disabled can help to combat areas of social division where Andorra is lacking. One such example is coverage of essential health services, which, as of 2021, UNICEF marked as only average compared to other nations.
– Caelan Caukin
Photo: Unsplash
Fighting Diseases in Mozambique With an App
Community Health Workers in Mozambique
To ensure access to health care for everyone in the country, community health workers serve Mozambique’s more rural and impoverished areas. Community health workers diagnose and treat many diseases in Mozambique, including malaria, pneumonia, malnutrition and diarrhea.
They also provide family planning services, antenatal care, postpartum care and pregnancy tracking. Further, they give healthy children check-ups and follow-up care for patients with tuberculosis and HIV.
What is upSCALE?
upSCALE consists of two different applications. One is an app for supervisors of community health workers. The app allows them to monitor health care workers’ performance and monitor the stock levels of medical and health care supplies. It also allows them to schedule and follow up on supervisory visits.
The second application is designed for community health workers themselves. It features the Mozambique Ministry of Health’s official curriculum. It guides users through treatment, diagnosis, patient referrals, follow-ups, registration and routine health checks.
The program provides community health workers with mobile phones and supervisors with tablets to access the apps. Community health workers receive an initial five-day training on using the app, followed by a two-day refresher each year. Supervisors receive additional training tailored to their role. Between 2017 and 2022, the upSCALE app registered approximately 650,000 patients and supported health care services for more than 200,000.
How upSCALE Helps Fight Diseases in Mozambique
The app was originally developed to improve the quality and coverage of local health care. It aims to address community health workers’ inconsistent adherence to clinical guidelines and the inadequate supply of medications and health supplies. The app has largely been successful in both of these goals. By allowing supervisors to monitor the real-time stock of medication and health supplies, they can ensure that the stock never runs out.
Both apps have also helped the Ministry of Health fight diseases in Mozambique by giving the sector accurate and up-to-date information about the spread of diseases in the country. The information is also disease-specific, allowing the government to make informed decisions about community health interventions.
On a local level, the information enables supervisors to target their interventions and allocate resources more effectively. It has also been valuable for malaria treatment, helping to fill key knowledge gaps in malaria research.
Conclusion
The upSCALE app has proven to be a game-changer in Mozambique’s fight against disease. The country has strengthened health care delivery in underserved areas by equipping community health workers and their supervisors with essential digital tools. With improved adherence to clinical guidelines, real-time data sharing and better resource allocation, upSCALE saves lives and shapes the future of public health in Mozambique.
– Axtin Bullock
Photo: Unsplash
Everything To Know About Poverty in El Salvador
“The world’s coolest dictator,” Nayib Bukele, is attempting to transform El Salvador into a burgeoning digital hub, with Google announcing plans to open offices there in 2024. However, even during this wave of digitization and Bukele’s crackdown on organized crime, poverty in El Salvador remains a major problem.
As of 2023, 30.3% of the population lives in poverty, while 40% of the population lives in a situation of vulnerability. This is everything to know about poverty in El Salvador.
Everything To Know About Poverty in El Salvador
Solutions
CLOC-Vía Campesina-El Salvador, a grassroots advocacy group representing peasants, small farmers, indigenous people and other disadvantaged groups, fights for the rural poor in El Salvador. It is tied to the global La Vía Campesina movement, which has connected peasants around the world in a struggle for food sovereignty and security since 1993. CLOC-Vía Campesina-El Salvador is calling on the government for greater credit and funding to rural farmers, phytosanitary programs to eliminate screwworms and integration of rural farmers into local markets.
The Salvadoran American Humanitarian Foundation (SAHF) operates out of Miami in tandem with its Salvadoran sister group, FUSAL, to combat poverty in El Salvador. The groups focus on childhood development and malnutrition, educational disparities and natural disaster relief. In 2023, they sent an astounding $43 million in humanitarian goods to El Salvador, including glasses, food, wheelchairs, blankets, medicine and oral rehydration packets, which reached more than 100,000 people.
What Is Next for El Salvador?
Although these challenges to ending poverty in El Salvador remain, the country is making major strides towards poverty reduction. Compared to Latin American countries with similar income levels, El Salvador has some of the lowest poverty rates, and income inequality in El Salvador is among the lowest in all of Latin America. Additionally, the country has begun to manage its debt and spending effectively, which qualifies El Salvador to receive a $120 million loan from the IMF. This funding will allow the government to begin addressing some structural causes behind poverty, such as corruption, weak access to credit and low employment. Compared to its peers, El Salvador is on the right track to eradicating poverty, but they still have a lot of work left to get there.
– Max Turnacioglu
Photo: Flickr
Updates on SDG 3 in the Russian Federation
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care aims to alleviate suffering and improve quality of life among people with serious illnesses. According to the Osteosarcoma Institute, palliative care involves understanding the symptoms and pain that come with an illness and then, working in collaboration with a medical team to focus on comfort. Examples of palliative care include treatment for terminal cancer patients, Alzheimer’s patients, hospice care and pain management.
How Does Palliative Care Affect Poverty?
Access to health care is so crucial in the fight against global poverty, but why palliative care? As the Osteosarcoma Institute states, palliative care is providing care to those with serious and long-term illnesses. The long-term care necessary for these illnesses can get expensive very quickly, and without accessible palliative care, many can find themselves staring down the barrel of poverty. Palliative care also provides stability to people with these illnesses, which allows them to retain work. Essentially, poverty and palliative care share many connections. If somebody lacks access to long term services, they can quickly find themselves in poverty. Below the poverty line, health care access is even less accessible. Therefore, increasing access to palliative care is an effective method to reduce the number of those living in poverty.
The Center’s Mission and Objectives
Sechenov University organized The Federal Research and Practical Center for Palliative Medical Care in 2019 to develop the palliative medical care system in Russia. Specifically this institution aimed to bring better health care to Russian citizens. Article 36 of the Russian Constitution defines said health care as a social fundamental right. The Center itself focuses on the organizational side of the mission, by developing and implementing programs that will deliver this care to Russian citizens. By training medical personnel focused on palliative care, they are raising the quality of the health care industry across Russia. By bringing this program to Russia, they are ensuring more people have access to this long-term and expensive care. In doing so, they’re also reducing the presence of poverty.
Global Implications
The Federal Research and Practical Center for Palliative Medical Care, located in Sechenov University, is a center that is establishing a new standard for medical care in Russia. However, its implications reach much farther than that. The center has long partnered with prestigious medical institutions such as Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University and Oxford University. In doing so, they are fostering a new culture in the health care industry and creating a global exchange of research, expertise and medical knowledge. These partnerships develop systems that provide quality palliative care to those in need across the globe. As a result, this institution is strengthening the quality of medical care that Russian citizens have access to. Furthermore, it is cultivating globally competent palliative care and reducing the presence of poverty world-wide.
Challenges on the Path Forward
While major steps have been made toward SDG 3 in the Russian Federation, good health does not come easy. The path to improvement holds a number of challenges: lack of financing, shortfall of medical personnel and distribution of medical care. Specifically, in recent years, as the aggression between Ukraine and Russia deepens, the Russian Federation has prioritized military spending. This leaves the medical industry without the funds they need to progress. As a result of this, there is a blatant shortfall of medical personnel in numerous regions. For example, the Center for Eastern Studies notes that Altai Krai requires more than 1,500 physicians and 1,200 mid-level practitioners.
Moscow, the nation’s capital and largest city, is more fortunate with financial and medical resources. This makes it a hotspot for medical treatment in Russia. Moscow citizens reap the benefits of specialized hospitals, medical professionals and major investments into health care infrastructure. However, those outside the major city receive severely inferior treatment. To work toward the United Nations SDG 3 in the Russian Federation, policymakers must address the uneven distribution of these necessary resources.
A Step Toward Better Care
The World Health Organization’s recent designation of the center as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Training in Palliative Care marks an important step in pursuit of SDG 3 in the Russian Federation. It is a symbol of medical progress in Russia and across the world. Its mere existence fosters global exchange of information that improves the palliative care industry exponentially. By addressing their shortfalls in funding, staffing and infrastructure and redistributing materials more equitably across the nation, the Russian Federation will only continue to propel the medical industry to progress and reduce poverty globally. It is the hope of this center that one day it will not be an isolated example of progress. Instead, it will serve as the national standard for palliative care.
– Caroline May
Photo: Pixabay
5 Diseases in Hawaii
1. Leptospirosis
The first of the diseases in Hawaii is leptospirosis. This is a bacterial disease that commonly exists in warm climates; of the 100-200 cases identified in the United States, around 50% occur in Hawaii, as KHON2 reported. Leptospirosis can infect both humans and animals, and symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle aches, red eyes, vomiting and diarrhea. Most cases are mild, but extreme cases can cause both acute liver and kidney failure or even death if not treated.
According to the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH), one of the most common ways people contract Leptospirosis is by swimming in bodies of fresh water such as ponds, rivers or streams; if the urine from an infected animal seeps into a body of freshwater, it an be contaminated, and the bacterium can enter through broken skin, the mouth, the nose or eyes.
In 2023, Hawaii Pacific University received $50,000 to research how leptospirosis grows in Hawaii’s wetlands and fishponds. To stop the spread, recommendations are that people not swim in freshwater bodies of water, drink from freshwater bodies, keep animals from accessing catchment water-collection areas from tree branches, and vaccinate farm animals and pets. Antibiotics like doxycycline or penicillin can treat the disease.
2. Oral Cancers
According to the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, the rate of oral cancer in Hawaii is higher when compared to the rest of the United States. Early symptoms can include a bump or sore in the mouth that has not healed in two weeks, difficulty swallowing, numbness in your mouth or face or constant earaches, and the survival rate is only 50%, according to Hawaii News Now.
One of the theorized causes of these higher rates is betel nuts. As part of cultural practices in Asia and the Pacific Islands, it is meant to be chewed sometimes with either tobacco or lime, which research suggests can cause oral cancer, according to the National Institute of Health.
Two organizations fighting oral cancer in Hawaii are the Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF) and the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center. OCF funds oral cancer research, like through their Oral Cancer Walk in Honolulu that raised more than $5,000 for oral cancer research, and connects people to free oral cancer screening events. At the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center, researchers have found new treatments for oral cancer survivors that include exercise.
Experts encourage individuals experiencing early symptoms to get screened for oral cancer. Additionally, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates, Inc. recommends performing monthly self-examinations using a light and mirror to detect any unusual changes.
3. Legionellosis
Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever are both referred to as Legionellosis. It is a disease caused by Legionella bacteria. While Pontiac fever is a milder infection similar to the flu, Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially deadly lung infection, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Hawaii News Now reported that the bacteria can be found in plumbing systems, hot water tanks, water fountains and air conditioning systems.
In recent years, there have been high-profile incidents of Legionella bacteria being found in water systems that serve a large number of people. In May 2022, the DOH confirmed five people were infected at a hotel in Waikiki. Then, in June 2024, Hawaii News Now reported legionella bacteria were discovered in the Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole federal building and courthouse in downtown Honolulu; around that same time, detectable levels of bacteria were found in six other federal buildings.
Though not specifically in Hawaii, there are organizations that provide education, conduct research and advocate among federal and state governments to prevent the spread of Legionellosis. These include Legionella.org and the Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires’ Diseases.
Those who are over the age of 50 or have a history of chronic lung disease, weakened immune system or cancer are at an increased risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease when exposed to Legionella bacteria. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include cough, shortness of breath or fever.
4. Melanoma
The skin’s overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV rays) from the sun can cause melanoma, and since Hawaii receives so many UV rays, Hawaiians are often more vulnerable. In a study of melanoma cases due to UV radiation across the United States, nearly 97% came from Hawaii; this is according to a study that the International Journal of Cancer conducted. The study also found that 94% of all cases in the United States occurred in non-Hispanic whites.
Organizations in Hawaii work to educate the public on how to reduce the risk of melanoma. In 2021, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center partnered with the Hawaii Skin Cancer Coalition to educate the public on how to stay safe while in the sun. When the sun is brightest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., they recommend that you seek shade whenever possible. Additionally, they encouraged the use of UV-protecting clothes, sunglasses, and sunscreen above SPF 30 and reapplied every two hours.
Additionally, the American Cancer Society in Hawaii provides resources for those battling cancer in Hawaii. They provide both transportation to medical appointments, through the Road to Recovery Program, and housing for Hawaiians battling cancer at the T.C. Ching Hope Lodge.
5. Measles
Another of the diseases in Hawaii is measles. Measles is a highly infectious disease that causes pneumonia, brain inflammation and death; it is also highly contagious, especially in areas with low rates of vaccination. Symptoms can include high fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes that are watery.
According to the DOH, a laboratory confirmed in April that measles infected two people, one school-age child and one adult; this came as measles cases all around the United States rose to more than 1,200. Though almost 90 people were exposed, most were either vaccinated or immune; the DOH said it is important that people in Hawaii are vaccinated to prevent outbreaks.
Looking Ahead
Though some of the diseases in Hawaii listed above are present all over the United States, it is important to consider how vulnerable Hawaiians are to these diseases. Considering the rates of poverty and income inequality in the state, especially among Native Hawaiians, those who contract these diseases will have a far harder time affording treatment and care. This underscores the importance of nonprofit work in Hawaii that fights both common diseases and financial insecurity in Hawaii.
– Seth Pintar
Photo: Unsplash