Dracunculiasis, also called guinea worm disease (GWD), is a crippling parasitic infection that has afflicted humankind for thousands of years. The parasite Dracunculus medinensis causes this infection, which spreads when infected copepods (water fleas) contaminate drinking water. Historically endemic across large swathes of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, GWD has long been linked to excruciating pain, disabling disease and economic deprivation in affected populations. However, a global eradication campaign led by the Carter Center, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, has nearly eradicated this parasitic disease. The near-elimination of GWD highlights the power of coordinated global health efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Here is more information about guinea worm disease eradication across the world.
The Lifecycle of the Guinea Worm Parasite
People contract GWD when they drink water containing copepods infected with Guinea worm larvae. Once ingested, the copepods die, releasing larvae into the host’s body. The larvae penetrate the stomach and intestinal walls, eventually maturing into adult worms. Female worms, which can grow up to one meter long, migrate to the skin’s surface about one year after infection. The worm forms a painful blister, typically on the lower limbs, which eventually ruptures, allowing the worm to emerge over several weeks. This agonizing process causes intense pain, inflammation and secondary infections. Many victims submerge the affected area in water to seek relief, inadvertently releasing new larvae into the water source and completing the transmission cycle.
Health and Socioeconomic Impact
Although rarely fatal, guinea worm disease wreaks havoc on affected communities. The intense physical pain and immobility render individuals unable to work, farm or attend school. In rural agricultural settings, this loss of productivity can jeopardize food security and local economies. Beyond health consequences, GWD perpetuates cycles of poverty, increasing economic strain on already overburdened healthcare systems.
Global Guinea Worm Disease Eradication Campaign
In 1986, GWD affected 3.5 million people annually across 20 countries. The Carter Center spearheaded a global guinea worm disease eradication campaign to combat this debilitating disease. The strategy included four main interventions: improving access to safe drinking water using water filters, conducting health education to promote behavior changes, containing cases to prevent water contamination and applying larvicides to kill copepods in stagnant water. By 2023, these efforts reduced cases to a handful in South Sudan, Chad, Mali and Ethiopia, with most countries, such as Ghana and Nigeria, declared free of GWD.
Challenges Eradicating GWD
Despite significant progress, several challenges impede the final push toward eradication. Guinea worm infections in animals, primarily dogs in Chad, complicate efforts to interrupt transmission. Political instability and conflict in countries like South Sudan and Mali hinder surveillance and containment efforts. Environmental factors, such as changing weather and shifting water patterns, may also alter transmission dynamics, creating new challenges for eradication teams.
The Role of Community Engagement
Community involvement has been the cornerstone of the eradication campaign. Empowering local populations to take ownership of the process has accelerated progress. Several community-driven initiatives have played crucial roles in combating guinea worm disease (GWD) with measurable successes.
In 2010, Chad implemented a cash reward program, offering financial incentives to individuals who reported suspected cases of GWD in humans. In 2015, this program was expanded to include reports of infections in animals, significantly improving case detection and containment efforts. Public awareness campaigns through radio, television and community outreach have been key to the program’s success.
Another critical initiative launched in South Sudan, where extensive surveillance networks originated, engaging thousands of volunteers to track and report cases. By 2018, these efforts led to the country announcing the interruption of GWD transmission after 15 consecutive months of zero reported cases.
Health workers and volunteers have also played an essential role in educating communities on water filtration and promoting early case reporting. In addition, local leaders have enforced containment measures and promoted safe water practices, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and resilience in affected areas. Through these sustained efforts, community engagement continues to be a driving force in the final push toward eradicating guinea worm disease.
Looking Ahead
The near-eradication of guinea worm disease represents a historic milestone in global health. It demonstrates how long-term collaboration among diverse partners, community engagement and innovative solutions can overcome even the most persistent health challenges. While obstacles remain, the lessons learned from this campaign will inform future efforts against other NTDs. Achieving eradication will improve millions of lives and affirm that with the right tools and strategies, even the most neglected diseases can be defeated.
– Maheer Zaman
Maheer is based in Fairfax, VA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
Renewable Energy Efforts Promote Poverty Eradication in Serbia
Poverty in Serbia
Just over a quarter of Serbia’s population is considered to be living in poverty. Rural regions, primarily located in the south east of Serbia are much more severe, where poverty rates are four times higher than those in Belgrade, the country’s capital. Given how heavily the Serbian economy depends on its rural and small-scale farming communities, it is noteworthy that poverty is most prevalent in these areas.
These poorer communities also suffer challenges such as natural disasters (primarily floods), inadequate infrastructure and public services, contributing to the continued poverty and economic instability.
It is also key to note that during the 1990s, the area faced extreme conflict due to the Yugoslav war, resulting in a significant economic downturn in many eastern European countries. Although global and national assessments reveal that infrastructure coverage has improved, there are still disparities in accessing housing, proper sanitation and education between rural and urban communities due to the long lasting devastation from this conflict.
The Innovative and Just Green Transition Project
Despite poverty proving to be a persistent challenge for Serbia, numerous innovations are underway by both the Serbian government and international aid organizations to combat and reduce poverty in the country. In recent years, Serbia has implemented many innovative approaches to combat poverty, focusing on sustainable development. A notable initiative is the Innovative and Just Green Transition project, launched in March 2023. The project focuses on energy poverty, particularly in the most vulnerable and rural parts of Serbia.
Since 2022, Serbia has been on a mission to build a greener, more sustainable future—thanks to financial backing of the Japanese government. This support has sparked the implementation of twenty innovative business solutions designed to drive the country’s Just Green Transition. One such initiative tackles landfill waste through large-scale recycling efforts, breathing new life into discarded materials.
Meris Ugljanin, a Serbian entrepreneur, is among those leading the charge. He is determined to cut energy costs and reduce his company’s environmental impact by installing solar panels and air-purifying filters. “Our goal was to switch to renewable energy,” he explains, hoping to inspire other businesses to follow suit.
How the Just Green Movement Works
While the Just Green movement is committed to phasing out fossil fuels, it also recognizes the harsh reality that doing so will disrupt countless jobs tied to the industry. A sudden shift could leave many workers without a livelihood, creating economic uncertainty. To prevent this, the initiative is taking a proactive approach—offering support, retraining programs, and pathways into sustainable “green occupations.” By equipping those most affected with new skills and opportunities, Just Green aims to ensure that the transition to clean energy is not only environmentally responsible but also fair and inclusive. As Serbia moves forward, these changes mark not just progress, but a shift in mindset—one where sustainability and economic growth go hand in hand. The Just Green Transition develops policies that will ensure access to affordable and clean energy, and aids in poverty eradication in Serbia.
The development of renewable energy is paramount for eradicating poverty and boosting Serbia’s economy as these projects not only reduce energy poverty but also stimulate economic growth by creating jobs and careers for Serbian’s. Encouraging new and innovative ways to produce green energy and lower energy consumption, resulting in both economic resilience and environmental sustainability.
Foreign Aid Efforts in Serbia
Foreign aid also plays a significant role in innovating new ways to eradicate poverty in Serbia. An example of this is a collaborative scheme between the Serbian Red Cross and UNICEF. This innovation provides aid for 500 families as part of the 1,000 Families from the Edge campaign. Deyana Kostadinova, a UNICEF Representative in Serbia, states that “UNICEF mobilized its own resources and engaged with the business sector and individuals to help raise funds to provide the poorest families with children the necessary financial aid to survive the winter.” The 1,000 Families from the Edge campaign was first implemented in 2022 and continues to provide humanitarian and financial aid for Serbia’s most vulnerable families.
Looking To the Future
Although poverty is still a serious concern for Serbia, the country’s innovative approach to poverty eradication through renewable energy and foreign aid offers hope for a stronger economic future for the country. Renewable energy projects, such as those focusing on sustainable energy solutions in rural areas. Encouraging both economic resilience and environmental sustainability. These clean energy initiatives paired with the support of foreign aid has been vital in providing the necessary resources for Serbia’s vulnerable communities that have long been underserved. Serbia is paving the way for a resilient and inclusive economy.
– Abbey G Malin
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Namibia
Namibia includes high rates of unemployment and a lack of basic necessities, especially in rural areas. Many are having difficulty in meeting their basic needs, such as access to quality health care, education and housing. Hence, since its independence from South Africa in 1990, various innovations in poverty eradication in Namibia have emerged to address the country’s socio-economic challenges. Their main focuses are on improving access to education, health care, income-generating opportunities and sustainable development. The Namibian government has set up a few programs under the Namibian Social Safety Net to work towards poverty eradication in Namibia.
Social Pension Program
Namibia is one of the only countries in Africa, alongside South Africa, Mauritius and Lesotho, that administers a social pension program for every person who reaches the age of 60. Every month after turning 60, each individual receives a pension of N$160 in the form of a cash transfer. This provides a way of securing long-term savings but also helps to alleviate poverty. One of the common redistributive practices in households with elderly people is grandparents spending their pension on the grandchildren’s school fees, which is a way to invest in the youth.
School Feeding Program (NSFP)
This program receives full funding from the Namibian government and the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC) manages it. When it began, this program mainly helped orphaned or vulnerable children, but as of 2023, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), approximately 466,860 schoolchildren benefitted from the program. Its primary goal is to improve access, retention and learning outcomes by providing timely access to diverse and nutritious food in schools, as well as to improve students’ nutrition and health. It also works as a link between the NSFP and smallholder producers, which further promotes local agriculture and helps alleviate poverty.
Basic Income Grant (BIG)
This is one of the most well-known pilot projects implemented in certain villages in Namibia to address poverty, with the intention of convincing the government to extend the scheme to the whole country. The main idea of BIG is to provide each citizen with a reliable and unconditional cash transfer of N$100 every month for a period of 2 years. This initiative was implemented to battle income inequality by giving each individual the opportunity to meet their basic needs, such as food, health care and housing. In the long term, this may reduce poverty by creating a more stable foundation for individuals and communities to thrive in.
National Employment Service
This government initiative, established in 2011 under the Employment Service Act no. 8, aims to connect job seekers with employers and promote employment opportunities. For example, in 2023, the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation (MoLIREC) mandated that all companies employing more than 10 people post job openings with the ministry to ensure that job opportunities are available to the general public. Whoever fails to do so will face legal consequences. Namibia improves economic stability for individuals and families by increasing job access and connecting job seekers with job opportunities.
Looking Ahead
These are just a few of the many formal and informal innovations in poverty eradication in Namibia implemented by the government and the public. According to World Bank data, Namibia’s poverty rate has more than halved, with approximately 17.4% of Namibians living below the national poverty line in 2015/16, down from 28.7% in 2009/10 and 69.3% in 1993/94. However, poverty rates remain relatively high for an upper middle-income country. This is why continuous advocacy is crucial to implementing and sustaining initiatives that will further combat poverty.
– Zainab Saad Hassan
Photo: Flickr
Renewable Energy in Eritrea: The Effects of Solar Power
The Role of Electricity in Economic Development
The World Bank identifies inclusive economic growth as the most effective means of reducing poverty. However, sustainable development is impossible without adequate, reliable and competitively priced modern energy. In Eritrea, where heavy reliance on imported oil has historically shaped the energy sector, the transition to renewable energy is not just about environmental sustainability–it is an economic necessity. By reducing dependence on expensive and volatile fossil fuel imports, Eritrea may be able to stabilize its economy and allocate resources more efficiently.
Solar Power: A Sustainable Solution
Eritrea is investing in renewable solutions to address this energy gap, including constructing a 30 MW Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant in Dekemhare funded by the African Development Bank. The plant will create both short-term and long-term jobs, but its secondary benefits are transformative. Increasing national energy capacity from 35 MW to 65 MW–closer to the 70 MW peak demand–will reduce power shortages and load shedding, ensuring more consistent access to electricity. This additional power is crucial for small businesses, agricultural operations and educational institutions. More stable energy access means businesses can extend working hours, farmers can use solar-powered irrigation systems, and schools can introduce digital learning tools.
Addressing Agricultural Challenges
Agriculture is the backbone of Eritrea’s economy, with more than 75% of the population relying on it for their livelihoods. However, limited electricity access restricts agricultural practices such as irrigation. Conventional pumps for irrigation require diesel, but low domestic oil production, decreased imports and high fuel prices have made it increasingly difficult for farmers to maintain operations. With a peak energy demand of 70 MW and only 35 MW of operational capacity, power shortages further exacerbate poverty and food insecurity. The introduction of solar power can significantly improve irrigation systems across the country and enhance overall agricultural productivity. By investing in renewable energy, Eritrea can strengthen food security while simultaneously driving economic growth.
A Path Forward
The transition to renewable energy is not just about meeting electricity demand–it is about transforming lives. With Eritrea’s GDP projected to reach $10.1 billion by 2043 and extreme poverty expected to decline to 13%, Eritrea stands at a pivotal moment where renewable energy can accelerate progress. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels and expanding electricity access, the country can unlock new economic opportunities, improve living standards and pave the way for sustainable development.
As the push toward renewable energy in Eritrea continues, the benefits will extend far beyond electricity. They will reshape communities, empower businesses and create a more prosperous future for all.
– Linnéa Matlack
Photo: Pixabay
UK Foreign Aid Shift Risks Global Poverty Efforts
Aid Budget Cuts and Spending Priorities
Since 2020, the U.K. has reduced its foreign aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5% of GNI. This cut remains in place despite earlier promises to restore the higher level when economic conditions improve. A significant portion of the current aid budget now covers in-donor refugee costs. In 2022, 29% of total Official Development Assistance (ODA) supported domestic refugee programs. That percentage increased further in 2023 due to rising migration and asylum pressures. These changes have fueled debates about whether the U.K. has diverted funds meant for international aid toward internal expenditures.
Cutting Global Health Funding
The U.K. also plans to reduce its contributions to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi), an organization that has vaccinated more than a billion children in developing countries and prevented nearly 18 million deaths over the past 25 years. As U.K. funding declines, Gavi’s capacity to distribute vaccines in vulnerable regions weakens. Aid organizations warn that these cuts could reverse progress in child mortality reduction and burden already fragile health care systems.
Tougher Refugee Citizenship Policies
The U.K. government has tightened refugee policies, making it harder for those arriving through unauthorized routes to gain British citizenship. Refugees who entered the country irregularly now face disqualification from citizenship applications. Critics argue that this policy contradicts the 1951 Refugee Convention and leaves many asylum seekers in legal limbo without a clear path to permanent residency.
Military Aid vs. Development Aid
While the U.K. reduces funding for health and humanitarian programs, it has significantly increased military assistance. Since February 2022, the U.K. has committed £12.8 billion in support to Ukraine, including £7.8 billion for military aid. In 2024/25 alone, the U.K. pledged £4.5 billion in military support. This shift reflects a growing focus on security rather than direct development initiatives, raising questions about the balance between defense spending and poverty reduction efforts.
The Future of UK Aid
The U.K.’s evolving aid priorities highlight an ongoing debate about the nation’s role in global development. The government defends its spending decisions, citing economic constraints and domestic pressures. However, critics argue that cutting aid to health, education and humanitarian projects undermines the U.K.’s leadership in poverty reduction and global health initiatives.
Looking Ahead
The Labour government, elected in July 2024, has emphasized poverty reduction, climate finance and gender equality as key aid priorities. Officials plan to release spending strategies for 2025/26 in the summer of 2025, with expectations of further refinements to aid allocation. The U.K.’s climate, humanitarian and health-related aid programs will likely face continued scrutiny amid shifting budget priorities. As international needs grow due to climate change, global health crises and conflict, the direction of U.K. aid could play a crucial role in shaping the future of vulnerable communities worldwide. Ensuring aid allocation aligns with poverty reduction goals remains essential to sustaining progress in global development.
– Arianna Distefano
Photo: Flickr
Plan to Expand Electricity Access in Africa
Historic Energy Investment
Recognizing the urgent need for electrification, the World Bank Group, African Development Bank (AfDB) and others have committed $50 billion to expand electricity access in Africa. This funding commitment was announced at a summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which was attended by 30 African heads of state, business leaders and global financiers. This level of funding is historic, making it the largest-ever investment in electric power in Africa, according to The New York Times.
The goal of these funders is to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, according to The New York Times. This ambitious goal would cut in half the amount of people without access to electricity on the continent. Beyond connecting people to electricity, another aim of the program is to spur economic growth through the creation of jobs and the fostering of business and trade growth. Electricity access is also a key aspect of poverty reduction. Access to electricity is essential in today’s world, and through this project, millions of people will be able to pursue new opportunities and gain access to the global economy.
Approach
Renewable energy sources are a central focus of the project. The plan evenly splits funding between two areas: the development of solar mini-grids, which serve individual rural communities, and the expansion of existing power grids, of which many are fueled by hydropower, according to The New York Times. Leaders of the project have emphasized the need for collaboration among local governments, businesses, banks, and philanthropists. Many African countries today highly struggle with high levels of debt and economic challenges and do not have the necessary funds to invest in energy infrastructure, making foreign investment and support crucial.
Several African leaders have begun or aim to initiate reforms to become more investor-friendly, to spur private energy investment. Country-specific plans are essential to making sure that the program is rolled out effectively across Africa’s diverse range of countries. Multiple countries have already begun to develop these country-specific plans to expand electricity access.
Looking Ahead: Electricity Access in Africa
Access to electricity is a major roadblock to economic growth and poverty reduction throughout Africa. If successful, this plan will not only provide electricity access to hundreds of millions of people, it will spur economic growth, lift communities out of poverty, and expand educational, employment, and health opportunities for millions of people. This massive burst of investment comes at just the right time as energy demand increases due to rapid population growth. With collaboration between governments, the international community and private partners, this project can revolutionize electricity access in Africa.
– Matthew Wornom
Photo: Flickr
endPoverty Creating Job Opportunities in Bangladesh
Lack of Employment for Women in Bangladesh
Despite steady economic growth in recent years, a stark contrast between rates of male and female employment remains prevalent in Bangladesh. Women are significantly more likely to experience unemployment than men, with rates of labour participation at around 80% for men, and 37% for women.
Prejudice permeates much of Bangladeshi culture, which in turn influences how many women enter work. UNDP estimates that approximately 90% of the population hold a distorted view of women, according to the Light Castle Partners. This bias includes beliefs that suggest women should marry young and therefore rely financially on their husbands and become primary caregivers, rather than completing education and pursuing a career. For women who are employed, misogyny is common as male colleagues may hold a bias against their female peers, which can result in exclusion and a lack of progression opportunities.
Women may also not receive the same access to opportunities as men due to a lack of networks and available information. Many jobs are posted through informal networks that women do not often have access to, again because of prejudice and lack of social mobility which also means many women do not have phones or the internet. Similarly, as women are often stuck in the home they receive less information about potential jobs than their male counterparts, making finding work more difficult which impedes their ability to attain employment, further increasing the gender employment gap.
The 3C Model
endPoverty utilizes the 3C Model to assist small businesses in creating both viable and maintainable growth opportunities, spearheading positive economic progress.
The first C – capital – ensures that small businesses can access low-cost, malleable capital that allows for innovation and economic advancements.
The second C – coaching – offers small businesses support in the form of personalised coaching sessions that tackle the individual needs and skills of the business, intending to spark further economic development.
The third C – community – situates like-mindedness and people at the forefront of business development by prioritising a faith-based community where people can meet other local entrepreneurs.
The Harvest Project: Job Opportunities in Bangladesh
The Harvest Project is one of endPoverty’s campaigns, aimed at tackling poverty through business and job opportunities. Based in Bangladesh, the Harvest Project works with local female entrepreneurs and offers them the support and guidance needed to be leaders in their communities.
This project follows a holistic approach, meaning that it works with micro-entrepreneurs who are seeking help to kickstart a business and provide for their families. Through this initiative, endPoverty aims to create a community for vulnerable women who are seeking financial relief to improve their family’s quality of life, as well as to safeguard one another in cases of domestic abuse.
endPoverty has provided support to many women in Bangladesh, for example, Romesa, who is from Ramnagar in Bangladesh. Before she discovered endPoverty, Romesa had been experiencing financial worries for three years due to her husband’s poor health and inability to work. She then came across a microentrepreneur in her community, named Minara, who taught Romesa administrative and technical skills that allowed her to create an income for herself. Romesa now continues to share her knowledge and the work of endPoverty, as the skills learned from Minara allowed her to create a better life for herself and her family.
Alleviating Poverty
endPoverty’s Harvest Project contributes to the alleviation of poverty by offering sequential training and a support network that, when combined, comprise a web of microenterprises that enable vulnerable women to support themselves and their families and ultimately improve their quality of life.
– Ella Dorman
Photo: Flickr
The Rafah Border Crossing Opening and Rebuilding Palestine
The Impact of the Border’s Closure
The Rafah border crossing was sealed in early May 2024 following Israeli military actions. During an offensive in the southern part of Gaza, Israeli forces seized control of the Palestinian side of the crossing. This closure severely hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of the injured, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Tania Hary, director of Gisha, an Israeli human rights group, stated, “The most vulnerable residents of Gaza—its children, sick, and elderly—are paying the highest price” as a result of the closure, The New York Times reports.
The border’s closure left more than 2 million Palestinians trapped in Gaza without access to medical treatment or relief, adding to the region’s suffering.
Before the reopening, more than 6,000 patients were ready for evacuation for medical treatment abroad, and more than 12,000 patients were in urgent need due to the collapse of Gaza’s health system.
Reopening and Humanitarian Efforts
Since the Rafah border crossing reopened, Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported that 37 children could enter Egypt for medical treatment, with approximately 60 family members accompanying them, according to AP News. This marked a significant success for those advocating for medical evacuations.
Several organizations have stepped forward to support these efforts.
The EU has reactivated its civilian mission to monitor the Rafah border crossing, deploying personnel to support Palestinian border officials. This initiative aims to ensure the efficient transfer of individuals requiring medical care out of Gaza.
International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance (INARA) has been instrumental in organizing evacuations and ensuring that those in need, especially children, receive the treatment they urgently require.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has been actively involved in coordinating medical evacuations, providing logistical support, and advocating for expedited transfers. It estimates that between 12,000 to 14,000 Palestinians require urgent medical care outside of Gaza.
Looking Ahead: The Path to Recovery
Despite the successful evacuation of some individuals, the process remains laborious. Arwa Damon, founder of INARA, described the evacuation of 2,500 Palestinian children requiring lifesaving medical care as a lengthy and complicated process. Parents or guardians must first apply for medical evacuation, after which the Health Ministry in Gaza reviews the cases and categorizes them based on urgency.
While the Rafah border crossing reopening has provided immediate relief, Gaza still faces immense challenges in its reconstruction efforts. The conflict has left extensive damage to infrastructure, with thousands of homes destroyed, and critical facilities like hospitals and schools severely impaired. The United Nations estimates that rebuilding Gaza will require more than $1.2 billion just to clear the rubble and could until 2040 to rebuild the shattered houses.
Security Concerns and International Efforts
The situation remains unstable, with fragile ceasefire talks still in progress. The outcome of these negotiations remains uncertain, as both local and international actors continue to push for a resolution. The international community’s continued involvement will be essential in navigating these complex negotiations.
The reopening of the Rafah border crossing is a vital step toward alleviating the immediate humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, substantial challenges persist. Long-term recovery will require continued international support, effective coordination, and the removal of material restrictions that hinder the region’s reconstruction.
– Mmanoko Faith Molobetsi
Photo: Flickr
Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Honduras
Nearly a third of Hondurans work in the agricultural sector and nearly half of the population live in rural areas, where the poverty rate is around 75%. From enabling farmers to develop climate-resilient agricultural practices to connecting them with supply chains, here are some examples of agricultural innovations in poverty eradication in Honduras.
Coffee Farming
The coffee industry is a vital part of Honduras’s rural economy. Indeed, Honduras is the largest coffee producer in Central America and the fifth largest globally, with coffee accounting for 5% of GDP and 23% of exports.
The non-profit organization TechnoServe launched the MOCCA project in 2018 with funding from the USDA. The project has trained more than 11,000 Honduran coffee and cacao farmers to develop climate-resilient agricultural practices.
In September 2024, TechnoServe launched Avanza Café to build on MOCCA’s success and train 35,000 small producers in regenerative agricultural practices. The project aims to increase yields and household incomes by 25%, while reducing carbon emissions and ensuring that 40% of participants are women and young people.
Sustainable Practices
The MAS Project 2.0 works to increase productivity and facilitate access to better markets for Honduran coffee farmers. In 2017, trainers from the program visited the village of Subinara, inhabited by the Indigenous Pech people and located in the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, where coffee production is limited to protect the local environment.
The trainers helped the farmers to establish “climate-smart” practices, such as planting shade trees, using coffee pulp as fertilizer and employing natural pest control solutions. These practices improved production by 200% and increased the community’s profits by 66%.
Access to Markets
The De Mi Tierra program enables farmers to gain direct access to markets, with training by the nonprofit Foundation of Rural Business Development (FUNDER) and distribution across the 46 stores of the La Colonia supermarket chain.
In cutting out the middleman and enabling farmers, 70% of which are smallholders, to reach larger markets, the De Mi Tierra program improves farmers’ profits and forges domestic supply chains that reduce the need for importing products.
Looking Ahead
In October 2024, Reuters reported that Honduras’ coffee exports in the 2024/25 season were up 14.5% from the previous year, an achievement that Pedro Mendoza, head of IHCAFE, attributes to the fact that “The farms are better, farmers have given them more care this year.” The increased yield and export volume could well be due to climate-resilient techniques and the development of direct market links.
If done right, the more coffee Honduras exports, the better for the country’s efforts to eradicate poverty. However, the EU might ban sales of coffee if companies cannot prove that the product hasn’t come from a deforested area. As Europe accounts for 55% of Honduras’ coffee exports, ensuring sustainable practices will be essential for maintaining and improving upon the successes already achieved by innovations in poverty eradication in Honduras.
– Oliver Tanner
Photo: Flickr
Ebola in Uganda: Strengthening Response and Prevention
Since the initial discovery of orthoebolavirus during the 1976 disease outbreaks in Zaire and Sudan, nearly 40 additional incidences have occurred. While these Ebola disease (EBOD) episodes have been reported globally, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for most of them. Countries such as Sierra Leone, Guinea and Uganda have all experienced EBOD outbreaks. In fact, Uganda itself has had several different episodes over the last 20 years. While these disease outbreaks cause harm and disruptiveness to many communities, they also provide valuable learning opportunities. Additionally, information that medical professionals glean from previous events can be useful for addressing future epidemics. To successfully control emerging outbreaks of Ebola disease in Uganda, medical professionals should heed lessons they learned from past orthoebolavirus outbreaks.
Knowledge Gains
Lessons learned from past orthoebolavirus outbreaks are plentiful and many partnerships between the country’s Ministry of Health (MOH) and global agencies have led to positive improvements for addressing Ebola disease in Uganda. These include:
Additionally, lessons learned from past orthoebolavirus outbreaks in Uganda involves supporting culturally appropriate burial processes. For this, the MOH is working closely with Uganda’s Red Cross teams. These teams include individuals from the community who understand the culture and who can work directly with those who have lost loved ones due to EBOD. Team members receive training in using personal protective equipment (PPE) and following rigid universal precaution requirements. This is especially important when addressing orthoebolavirus outbreaks.
Ongoing Challenges
While progress has occurred in addressing Ebola disease in Uganda, communication remains a challenge. Even though the government shares disease information about orthoebolavirus outbreaks, people do not always trust it and are hesitant about vaccines.
Because of the current Ebola disease in Uganda, many countries have implemented travel bans and advisories. Those in the tourist industry believe that the lack of clear communication from the government is causing a decrease in their revenue. This is significant for an industry that gained more than $1 billion in revenue during 2023. This is of great concern for the more than 42% of the people living in poverty.
Lessons learned from past othoebolavirus outbreaks also revealed the depth of distrust and culturally embedded conspiracy theories developed from previous Ebola disease in Uganda events. Some believe the outbreaks are a way for the government to remove certain populations or cover up the selling of people. They also believe that those infected with EBOD have had a hex cast upon them.
To remove communication barriers, more engagement with local communities needs to occur. Besides clear information, people also need increased education regarding Ebola disease in Uganda, especially as the country tries to initiate a new vaccine trial to fight the EBOD outbreak of 2025.
Summary
Uganda is located in East-Central Africa. It is home to six major lakes including Lake Victoria, which is the second-largest inland freshwater lake in the world. The country has a population of more than 48 million people of which almost 75% live in rural communities along Lake Victoria, roughly 72% of the rural population does not have access to improved sanitation facilities and nearly 20% of the rural population does not have access to clean drinking water.
These are significant aspects to consider when managing any orthoebolavirus outbreak. As Peter Piot, (the Belgium-British microbiologist involved with identifying Ebola) states, “We shouldn’t forget that this is a disease of poverty, of health systems and of distrust.” But with the lessons learned from past orthoebolavirus outbreaks and ongoing global support, efforts to contain future outbreaks of Ebola disease in Uganda will prevail.
– Kelly Chalupnik
Photo: Flickr
Guinea Worm Disease: Nearing the End of a Neglected Disease
The Lifecycle of the Guinea Worm Parasite
People contract GWD when they drink water containing copepods infected with Guinea worm larvae. Once ingested, the copepods die, releasing larvae into the host’s body. The larvae penetrate the stomach and intestinal walls, eventually maturing into adult worms. Female worms, which can grow up to one meter long, migrate to the skin’s surface about one year after infection. The worm forms a painful blister, typically on the lower limbs, which eventually ruptures, allowing the worm to emerge over several weeks. This agonizing process causes intense pain, inflammation and secondary infections. Many victims submerge the affected area in water to seek relief, inadvertently releasing new larvae into the water source and completing the transmission cycle.
Health and Socioeconomic Impact
Although rarely fatal, guinea worm disease wreaks havoc on affected communities. The intense physical pain and immobility render individuals unable to work, farm or attend school. In rural agricultural settings, this loss of productivity can jeopardize food security and local economies. Beyond health consequences, GWD perpetuates cycles of poverty, increasing economic strain on already overburdened healthcare systems.
Global Guinea Worm Disease Eradication Campaign
In 1986, GWD affected 3.5 million people annually across 20 countries. The Carter Center spearheaded a global guinea worm disease eradication campaign to combat this debilitating disease. The strategy included four main interventions: improving access to safe drinking water using water filters, conducting health education to promote behavior changes, containing cases to prevent water contamination and applying larvicides to kill copepods in stagnant water. By 2023, these efforts reduced cases to a handful in South Sudan, Chad, Mali and Ethiopia, with most countries, such as Ghana and Nigeria, declared free of GWD.
Challenges Eradicating GWD
Despite significant progress, several challenges impede the final push toward eradication. Guinea worm infections in animals, primarily dogs in Chad, complicate efforts to interrupt transmission. Political instability and conflict in countries like South Sudan and Mali hinder surveillance and containment efforts. Environmental factors, such as changing weather and shifting water patterns, may also alter transmission dynamics, creating new challenges for eradication teams.
The Role of Community Engagement
Community involvement has been the cornerstone of the eradication campaign. Empowering local populations to take ownership of the process has accelerated progress. Several community-driven initiatives have played crucial roles in combating guinea worm disease (GWD) with measurable successes.
In 2010, Chad implemented a cash reward program, offering financial incentives to individuals who reported suspected cases of GWD in humans. In 2015, this program was expanded to include reports of infections in animals, significantly improving case detection and containment efforts. Public awareness campaigns through radio, television and community outreach have been key to the program’s success.
Another critical initiative launched in South Sudan, where extensive surveillance networks originated, engaging thousands of volunteers to track and report cases. By 2018, these efforts led to the country announcing the interruption of GWD transmission after 15 consecutive months of zero reported cases.
Health workers and volunteers have also played an essential role in educating communities on water filtration and promoting early case reporting. In addition, local leaders have enforced containment measures and promoted safe water practices, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and resilience in affected areas. Through these sustained efforts, community engagement continues to be a driving force in the final push toward eradicating guinea worm disease.
Looking Ahead
The near-eradication of guinea worm disease represents a historic milestone in global health. It demonstrates how long-term collaboration among diverse partners, community engagement and innovative solutions can overcome even the most persistent health challenges. While obstacles remain, the lessons learned from this campaign will inform future efforts against other NTDs. Achieving eradication will improve millions of lives and affirm that with the right tools and strategies, even the most neglected diseases can be defeated.
– Maheer Zaman
Photo: Flickr