On Friday, August 8 the World Health Organization declared Ebola a global health emergency as more than 1,000 lives have already been claimed by the pandemic that is being characterized as an “unusually tragic outbreak.” But what does this really mean, and how prepared should we be?
1. The term “Global Health Emergency” has only been used twice before this.
Once with the outbreak of H1N1 swine flu in 2009 and once this past May after the deadly re-emergence of polio, this most recent global health emergency notice is only the third of its kind. While many are criticizing lack of action on the ground, others have nonetheless supported WHO’s decision to label the outbreak as such, hoping it will trigger a psychological response.
2. Just like the title implies, the label of “Global Health Emergency” has no border restrictions and applies internationally.
Defined as “an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of the disease,” global health emergencies should be taken as an international precaution, and as a chance for the world to come together to combat the disease.
3. Some critics say the declaration doesn’t actually save lives.
While declaring the disease an emergency could bring in more foreign aid, some health experts, such as Dr. David Heymann, are less optimistic the label actually saves lives. While statements themselves certainly won’t eradicate an entire disease, others hope the classification of the disease will alert the public — and governments — to act more quickly.
4. We have been planning to respond to public health emergencies for years.
The Centers for Disease Control and The Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness Program have been preparing for years how to properly respond to public health emergencies. While these and many other programs are still testing these measures, we have made significant headway in responding to pandemics and other incidents.
5. Global Health Emergencies are bad for our economy.
Since the past quarter century, more than $9.5 billion has been spent on polio eradication — just one emergency over the past few years. In fact, the WHO stated that failure to eliminate polio could result in “the most expensive public health failure in history.”
6. We’ve only fully wiped out a disease once.
While modern technology has done wonders to help limit the spread of certain diseases, we have actually only completely wiped out a disease once: smallpox, in 1979. By taking serum from a cow affected with the disease and injecting it into humans, Edward Jenner started by vaccinating people from poorer countries with fewer health resources and working his way to richer nations — and it worked.
Ebola has hit African countries especially hard, with at least 931 deaths and 1,702 cases in Africa’s Western countries as of August 4. At least two Americans have been affected by the disease, who are being treated with an early vaccination in their home country.
– Nick Magnanti
Sources: Yahoo, WHO, USA Today, City of Philadelphia, The Atlantic, PBS, The Washington Post
Photo: Yahoo,
Ghana Seeks Aid from IMF
The Western African country of Ghana recently announced that it will seek the assistance of the International Monetary Fund in order to help bolster the country’s currency.
Although the country was once a beacon of hope for strong economies in Africa, it is currently struggling with high rates of inflation — with the current rate at 15 percent. A high inflation rate means that prices of goods are increasing too fast for people’s incomes and standards of living to keep up.
The cedi, Ghana’s currency, has fallen 40 percent against the U.S. dollar this year, moving it to the forefront of one of the world’s worst-performing currencies.
While the country is a major exporter of gold, oil and cocoa, Ghana continually struggles with budget and account deficits. President John Dramani Mahama stated that his government is open to assistance, but emphasized that it is not a bailout.
The country’s finance minister was similarly defensive. In an interview with BBC, the minister said that Ghana could fix its own currency problems and that receiving funding from the IMF was a last resort.
The country could tackle inflation by freezing wages, although this is an unpopular solution among citizens.
The IMF assistance is forecast to help boost investor confidence as the government prepares to sell as much as $1.5 billion in Eurobonds by the end of August.
The country last went to the IMF for aid in 2009, when it secured a $600 million package over three years. The government also has received assistance in the past from a campaign to help poor countries, wherein the majority of its debt was written off.
Michael Kafe, an economist from Johannesburg noted in an interview with BBC that the recommended three year program from the IMF is disappointing.
Kafe explained Ghana’s continued need for support, “This likely points to greater focus on short-to-medium-term solutions for the country’s foreign-exchange issues and not what we see as necessary medium-to-long-term solutions required to deal with chronic balance of payments imbalances that have historically stoked cedi weakness.”
-Caroline Logan
Sources: BBC, Bloomberg
Photo: AFKinsider
Madagascar’s First School Meal Program
Many classrooms in Madagascar are overcrowded, led by under qualified teachers and lack basic resources. The country also has a high drop out rate in primary schools.
The government is helping to improve the education system and keep more children in school by providing food for students. The Ministry of Education, in partnership with the World Food Programme, the World Bank and the Partnership for Child Development, is currently working to develop a school meal program that serves all public schools.
Nationwide, only 60 percent of students complete their primary education. The secondary school completion rate is below 25 percent. And while enrollment has increased in recent years, access to education remains a critical problem in poorer regions.
The southern districts of Madagascar have the lowest enrollment rates and the highest levels of poverty in the nation. For this reason, the initiative focuses primarily on schools in the Southern part of the country. Offering both breakfast and lunch will help to ensure that children do not go hungry, which will also enable them to concentrate better during class.
Thanks to cooperation between government and NGOs, Madagascar’s first school meal program has begun. The WFP has implemented the school-feeding program for over 220,000 children from the southern part of the country. The World Bank is also helping the government by funding meals to more than 107,000 students throughout the country. However, Madagascar still needs about $3.5 million in additional funds to feed the remaining 113,000 school children.
School meals are critical to improving the education system.
The program will incentivize parents to keep their children in school. Often, boys and girls from poor homes must drop out of school so they can work to support their families. Providing food at schools lessens the financial burden on families and increases food security since parents know that their children will have a reliable source of food.
The Ministry of Education also aims to purchase the food for the school meals from local farmers and markets. This will help the national economy, aid small farmers and make the program more self-sufficient.
With children receiving proper nutrition and an education, Madagascar’s school meal program will help to break the cycle of poverty in poor regions of the country. The food provides children with proteins and vitamins to foster cognitive and physical development, allowing children to properly receive educations and better their lives.
While the education system in Madagascar faces many problems, the government’s commitment to implementing a school meal program is a significant improvement. Supplying breakfast and lunch at school is beneficial for poor children, who might otherwise go hungry. The meals help to increase both primary and secondary completion rates and ensure a brighter future for Madagascar’s youth.
– Kathleen Egan
Sources: World Food Programme, World Bank, UNICEF
Photo: World Food Programme
Basketball Brings Hope to Mexico’s Triqui Tribe
The consequences of poverty are many: some impoverished people go hungry, others become ill and others are forced to take on informal jobs that rob them of dignity or safety. Yet, a widespread effect of poverty is the loss of hope due to a lack of resources, social status and opportunities. Poverty can be difficult to escape; accordingly, those who experience it often feel it will define the rest of their lives.
Basketball programs for children of the Mexican Triqui tribe have made the news in the last year – the chance to play the sport that’s become wildly popular throughout the Oaxaca region of Mexico is giving boys and girls alike hope that they may avoid the poverty and violence that plagues much of their tribe.
Despite the fact that many families are too poor to purchase shoes for their young basketball stars, these children remain committed to honing their skills on the court and many aspire to become local coaches or international athletes. In fact, some of their dreams are already coming true; last fall, a team of Triqui boys traveled to Argentina to compete in an international basketball festival and beat more than 50 other teams (while playing barefoot) to become festival champions.
Basketball isn’t just giving these children hope, it’s giving them opportunities. Triqui basketball players have the chance to travel outside of Oaxaca and learn about options for their futures. League rules require that players maintain certain grades, so the love of the game keeps kids in school as well.
Furthermore, girls participating in basketball programs are changing the ways that women are treated in their traditional communities. Though Triqui girls are often discouraged from pursuing education and are encouraged to marry young, the opportunities that basketball provides them pave the way for gender equality. When girls can hold their own against boys on the court, people – including the girls – see them as equals.
Basketball may not be the most customary method of eliminating poverty, but it’s one that may work in the long run for the Triqui people of Mexico. In the meantime, it’s giving the community hope for the future.
-Elise L. Riley
Sources: The Guardian, CNN
Photo: The Guardian
Get Out and Play: Sports and Child Development
Playing is fun! The importance of play goes beyond simply passing time or seeking health benefits. A study completed by scientist Jaak Panksepp supports the pre-existing hypothesis that play is critical to child development.
Panksepp, along with others in the scientific community, theorizes that humans, as social animals, need play to learn social rules and cues. Through sports, people form communication skills, learn cooperation and leadership and come to better understand others.
To test this idea, Panksepp experimented with rats. He isolated one group so they could not play, while allowing another group to play. When both groups were placed in the same cage, the rats that received more stimulation were better able to interact and mate than the rats that were not allowed to play.
A comparable study done on kittens by a different group of scientists observed similar results. The young cats that were unable to play failed to acquire certain social skills. And although the kittens that were deprived of play could still hunt well, they were more aggressive and had trouble fitting in socially with other cats.
Lack of play, especially at a young age, proves to be a serious problem. Panksepp concluded that, with play, both humans and animals learn to live in social groups, build relationships, express emotions and master skills that do not come instinctively.
The importance of play for child development cannot be understated, according to Panksepp and many others concerned with the health and well being of young people.
The U.N. and UNICEF hold play as a fundamental right for every child, and protect that right under Article 31 of the Convention of Right of the Child. Sport and recreation are essential components of a child’s education, allowing children to gain confidence and lead healthier, more balanced lives.
Unfortunately, children living in poverty and areas of conflict are the most deprived of play.
Children are denied their rights when they are forced to work at a young age. In an effort to support their families, poor children drop out of school and work long and hard jobs. Across the world, there are over 168 million child laborers. Laboring like adults prevents them from playing and gaining the important life skills that come with play.
War and violence also keep children from play. Those in conflict zones live in constant fear and cannot run and have fun outside. With current conflicts raging in Gaza, Iraq and Syria, to name a few, the impact of war on children’s lives today is extensive and pervasive.
Without play, children living in poverty and conflict are denied essential interactions. Childhood is a critical period to set the foundations for healthy development, and play acts as an important component to this growth. The study completed by Panksepp suggests that the conditions experienced by children in poverty and conflict can have long-term negative consequences on their development.
– Kathleen Egan
Sources: NPR, UNICEF, International Labor Organization
Photo: UNICEF
Hospital and Rehabilitation for Disabled Children
The Hospital and Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children, the only children’s orthopedic hospital in Nepal, is working toward treating Nepalese children and performing affordable surgeries that would otherwise go undone.
In Nepal, about 83 percent of the population lives below the $2 a day poverty line. Once a child gets sick, it is unlikely that its family can make it to a treatment center or hospital, and less likely that the family could pay for for the treatment without crippling its savings. The HCDR was created to change that.
The HCDR was erected in 1997, but the team has been working with children’s surgeries since 1985 in remote villages and smaller buildings. The organization’s founder and current leader is Dr. Ashok Kumar Banskota, a Nepalese doctor who was educated in India and the United States.
Once he returned to Nepal after his studies, Dr. Banskota wanted to make healthcare accessible to all who need it in his home country rather than to just the rich or those in the most accessible regions.
The HCDR is a tertiary level pediatric hospital that performs about 1,500 surgeries each year, and provides physical therapy and prosthetics when needed. In order to reach as many patients as possible for aftercare, HCDR has community-based rehabilitation services that follow up with patients in their villages and show families how to properly care for their children after surgery.
The team has worked hard to make its care accessible to all, with the average cost of surgery at only $151. It has also incorporated home visits to make post-surgery adjustments easier on the patients as well.
HRDC works on continually training new doctors to keep its hospital well staffed. They get trained in Primary Rehabilitation Therapy in order to continue recovery for patients. There are also periodic courses offered to keep everyone up to date.
A study done to test the impact of HRDC on the patients it has treated previously showed positive results. The study showed over 90 percent of the children reported positive impact from HRDC treatment on further growth and development, both physically and socially.
– Courtney Prentice
Sources: Global Giving, Himalayan Foundation, Google, HRDC Nepal
Photo: Talk Vietnam
Improving Nutrition Improves the Economy
The long-term benefits of improving nutrition around the world are more than just a humanitarian accomplishment. Improving the human condition is undoubtedly vital; economists, investors, governments and researchers all over the world are taking a look at nutrition from another angle with a focus on how minimizing poor nutrition works to maximize the growth potential of the global economy.
Research supports the fact that improving nutrition is a fundamental stepping stone for the world to reach global health and development goals.
Adrianna Localbo, Campaign Director of the 1,000 days campaign, explained the urgency of looking at nutrition with a comprehensive perspective. The 1,000 days campaign outlines the need for proper nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
In an interview with Devex Impact, Localbo emphasized that the proper nourishment in that critical time period is necessary for achieving substantial rises in the way of education and economic productivity in developing countries.
Localbo stated that when a child is well-nourished in those critical early stages, they are more likely to go farther in school, have a higher IQ, and possess a greater earning potential.
Good nutrition is critical to boost a child’s immune systems to prevent the devastating effects of diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. A well-nursed child is 13 percent more likely to be in the correct grade of school. On a larger scale, proper nutrition can help a country’s GEP improve by up to 11 percent.
Recently the private sector has become increasingly involved in supporting the fight for improved nutrition. Localbo stated that ninety businesses worldwide have made financial pledges to help reduce poor nutrition.
She noted that the private sector recognizes that the support is an investment to push for the creation of a sustainable, resilient population. The population is, after all, what makes not only the workforce but also the base of consumers.
At the hunger summit in 1996, countries pledged to work to halve hunger by 2015. Heads of states came to an agreement that the cost of hunger greatly hurts the economic growth of countries.
Investing in nutrition is an investment in human and social capital. According to researchers, it is the future of economies.
– Caroline Logan
Sources: FAO, Devex
Photo: Quest Garden
What a Global Health Emergency Implies
On Friday, August 8 the World Health Organization declared Ebola a global health emergency as more than 1,000 lives have already been claimed by the pandemic that is being characterized as an “unusually tragic outbreak.” But what does this really mean, and how prepared should we be?
1. The term “Global Health Emergency” has only been used twice before this.
Once with the outbreak of H1N1 swine flu in 2009 and once this past May after the deadly re-emergence of polio, this most recent global health emergency notice is only the third of its kind. While many are criticizing lack of action on the ground, others have nonetheless supported WHO’s decision to label the outbreak as such, hoping it will trigger a psychological response.
2. Just like the title implies, the label of “Global Health Emergency” has no border restrictions and applies internationally.
Defined as “an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of the disease,” global health emergencies should be taken as an international precaution, and as a chance for the world to come together to combat the disease.
3. Some critics say the declaration doesn’t actually save lives.
While declaring the disease an emergency could bring in more foreign aid, some health experts, such as Dr. David Heymann, are less optimistic the label actually saves lives. While statements themselves certainly won’t eradicate an entire disease, others hope the classification of the disease will alert the public — and governments — to act more quickly.
4. We have been planning to respond to public health emergencies for years.
The Centers for Disease Control and The Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness Program have been preparing for years how to properly respond to public health emergencies. While these and many other programs are still testing these measures, we have made significant headway in responding to pandemics and other incidents.
5. Global Health Emergencies are bad for our economy.
Since the past quarter century, more than $9.5 billion has been spent on polio eradication — just one emergency over the past few years. In fact, the WHO stated that failure to eliminate polio could result in “the most expensive public health failure in history.”
6. We’ve only fully wiped out a disease once.
While modern technology has done wonders to help limit the spread of certain diseases, we have actually only completely wiped out a disease once: smallpox, in 1979. By taking serum from a cow affected with the disease and injecting it into humans, Edward Jenner started by vaccinating people from poorer countries with fewer health resources and working his way to richer nations — and it worked.
Ebola has hit African countries especially hard, with at least 931 deaths and 1,702 cases in Africa’s Western countries as of August 4. At least two Americans have been affected by the disease, who are being treated with an early vaccination in their home country.
– Nick Magnanti
Sources: Yahoo, WHO, USA Today, City of Philadelphia, The Atlantic, PBS, The Washington Post
Photo: Yahoo,
The Asia Microfinance Forum
For two days, 500 delegates from 36 countries attended the 2014 Asia Microfinance Forum in Shanghai to discuss financial inclusiveness and the future of microfinance in Asia. Themed “Financial inclusion in Asia: Creating dynamic financial ecosystems for the poor,” the event showcased speakers from national organizations, non-profits, governments and individual innovators to speak on the role of microfinance in helping the poor.
The event began on August 5 when Chairman of the Banking with the Poor Network, Chandula Abeywickrema, began the event with his remarks at the opening session. Then, Duan Yingbi, President of the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, spoke on the status of microfinance institutions in China.
Yingbi noted there are over 300 MFIs in China, most of which started seeing significant growth after 2005. Currently, Yingbi says, commercial banks are very active in China, but the MFI industry is not well defined (thus the impetus for inviting professionals to help define the future of MFIs in China and Asia).
Additional speakers went on to talk about the role of microfinance in China and elsewhere in the continent, and emphasized serving the poor and innovating as two clear goals.
On the last day of the forum, Eric Duflos, Regional Representative for East Asia and the Pacific at the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor; Vijayalakshmi Das, CEO of Ananya Finance for Inclusive Growth & Friends of Women’s World Banking, India; Arjuna Costa, Investment Partner at the Omidyar Network; Dennis White, President at the MetLife Foundation; Chuchi G. Fonacier, Managing Director of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Mr. Bai Chengyu, Secretary General of the China Association of Microfinance, all spoke on the unique position of microfinance institutions in Asia.
Speakers commented on the importance of inclusion amongst MFIs, digital finance and risk-management. “I am sure if we have a partnership between all the stakeholders, we will be able to achieve all we wish to achieve,” Das said.
All in all, the event sponsored speakers who offered insights into the role of MFIs in countries like India, China, Indonesia and Bangladesh. It was an important stepping-stone for many MFIs, as China expressed interest in creating a national framework for MFI activity.
Increasing microfinance options for the poor, particularly those in rural communities, can help increase opportunities for social mobility and poverty reduction. Asia has a large share of the world’s rural poor, so increasing the quality and quantity of MFI services will undoubtedly help the poor connect with the financial resources they need to advance their human development.
– Joseph McAdams
Sources: Microfinance Focus 1, Microfiance Forum 2, Microfinance Forum 3, The Australian
Photo: Microfinance Focus
JADEtribe: Fashion With a Conscience
In the fall of 2008, Kimberly Hartman decided to temporarily leave behind a 16-year-long career in fashion in pursuit of an opportunity to pause, reflect and gain some perspective: an extended solo trip to India and South East Asia. What she discovered on her journey inspired JADEtribe, the iconic handbag collection that has altered not only Hartman’s career path, but also her global impact.
The fashion and design guru landed in Laos, a far cry from the cosmopolitan cities she’d been theretofore residing in. Laos, one of the poorest countries in East Asia—and one of the few countries that remains communist—has made significant gains with poverty alleviation within the past two decades, bringing the poverty rates from 39 percent down to 26 percent with the help of foreign aid. The country is heavily mountainous and landlocked, and though less than 5 percent of the land is suitable for agricultural production, the economy remains agrarian.
While exploring a weaving market in a remote village in Laos, Hartman found what she was looking for: inspiration. She became at once enamored by the colors created with natural, organic dyes, and by the awe-inspiring textiles that were woven from them. Fabrics and prints that were unlike any others she had seen before caught Hartman’s well-trained eye. Here, in Laos, where women work more than men—taking on an average of 70 percent of the farming and household duties—and receive less education were beautiful creations that essentially went unnoticed. Hartman was inspired.
She has since employed the weaving village to create exclusive colors and patterns that laid the groundwork for her entirely unique collection of JADEtribe handbags.
And it was more than just a brave career move for Hartman, who had established a name for herself in New York City managing some of the industry’s top brands. It was the perfect marriage of two things about which Hartman has always been deeply passionate: fashion and humanitarianism.
Through the creation of JADEtribe, Hartman has discovered a way to launch a brand that directly gives back to the people of a country in which 41 percent of the population is malnourished. By commissioning villagers, leather artisans and female sewers to create her handbags—and paying a fair price—Hartman has created immense opportunity for growth in jobs and an increased quality of life for a population of a least-developed country.
One hundred percent natural and ethical, JADEtribe bags truly represent fashion with a conscience. Seen on celebrities and in boutiques and trade shows across the globe, JADEtribe is a shining example of how one person’s passion and desire to make a difference truly can transform lives. Hartman’s JADEtribe bags are available on her website, www.jadetribe.com.
– Elizabeth Nutt
Sources: UNDP, JADEtribe, World Vision, UN, The Borgen Project
Photo: BoutiqueBlu
Head Start on International Day of Charity
September 5 will mark the second annual United Nations International Day of Charity, a day on which the U.N. encourages the world’s citizens to raise awareness and donate time to charitable acts. The U.N. General Assembly created the Day under Resolution 67/105 in 2012 “to promote charitable activities around the world.” The GA selected the date to honor Mother Teresa, who dedicated much of her life to charity and who passed on September 5, 1997. “Donations of time or money; volunteer engagement in one’s own community or on the other side of the world; acts of caring and kindness with no thought of recompense; these and other expressions of global solidarity help us in our shared quest to live together in harmony and build a peaceful future for all,” said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Here are a couple of ways to celebrate the Day:
Volunteer Close to Home
Explore websites like Volunteer Match that allow its users to browse volunteer opportunities based on location and interests. A 2001 U.N. report claims volunteering grows social networks, increases self-esteem, develops skills important to future employment opportunities, gives volunteers a sense of purpose, and equates to a U.S. economic benefit of $225 billion per year. To volunteer with the spirit of International Day of Charity to the fullest extent, volunteer without any intention of including the experience on a resume. Choosing to volunteer for an issue or organization for which you are passionate, could lead you to continue the effort even after the Day of Charity.
Log On to Social Media
With Social Media connecting millions of people around the world, it is now easier than ever to advocate at the grassroots level. The Blackbaud Index estimates the nonprofit sector raised $22 billion online in 2011. Starting an online fundraising campaign to share with your friends and followers can raise funds for a noble cause and inform others about the issue. However, if those of you with social media accounts do nothing else to celebrate International Day of Charity, like their Facebook page and follow @IntDayOfCharity. Supporters can tweet using #CharityDayUN, share the website of their favorite charity or volunteer organization, or share articles relating to the Day of Charity.
Donate
Americans gave $335.17 billion to charity last year alone, and the U.N. would like to see a spike in that giving in September. But beyond giving directly to your organization of choice, try involving more people in donating for the Day of Charity. A door-to-door food drive for a local soup kitchen is another chance to remind others about the upcoming Day and encourage them to participate. Those who may not be able to give monetarily could consider sorting through old clothes and household items to donate to organizations like the Salvation Army.
However you choose to celebrate the International Day of Charity, remember to, as Ki-Moon says, “recognize charity for what it is at heart: a noble enterprise aimed at bettering the human condition.”
– Erica Lignell
Sources: Facebook, United Nations, United Nations 2, Twitter, Volunteer Match, Market Watch, Olympic Information Center, Deseret News
Photo: Calls Free Calls