Latin America and the Caribbean rank fourth for the highest number of cancer cases among all the continents and cancer is currently the leading cause of premature death in nearly half of the region. Approximately 1.5 million new cancer cases and 700,000 deaths occur annually in this region with mortality rates of 86.6 per 100,000. In 2020, the most common cancers were prostate, breast, colorectal, lung and stomach. If these rates remain unchanged, the cancer burden in the region will only increase. There is an estimation of an increase of 67%, meaning there will be approximately 2.4 million new cases annually by 2040.
Some of the health issues in Latin America are exacerbated by poverty. While there have been some policies in place to limit social inequities from poverty, including improvements in education and health-related sectors, including increased school access and reduced infant mortality, the maintenance of these policies has been insufficient. With that, many people lack access to basic health care and treatment. This results in a high amount of the population, specifically the elderly, experiencing poor conditions and lack of healthcare, leading them to be more likely to receive diagnoses of disabling diseases including cancer.
The Latin American and Caribbean Code Against Cancer
A new method is being put into place to lower the risks of getting cancer and mortality rates. This method is through the Latin America and Caribbean Code Against Cancer. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) launched this initiative on October 17. This project aims to have code generate recommendations based on current scientific research. There are 17 recommendations based on this research, which have conformed to common scenarios for the region. These recommendations are to limit the likelihood of developing cancer and if a person already has cancer, the recommendations can decrease the risk of mortality. In addition, 30 policy recommendations accompany the previous suggestions. These policy recommendations are not legally binding as some structural and socio-economic factors prevent the implementation of these suggestions.
17 Actions to Limit the Risks of Cancer
Specialists and representatives convened by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the World Health Organization have reviewed the recommendations made by the code and recommend a set of 17 actions that people should take to start preventing cancer in Latin America. The first 14 actions include not smoking and maintaining a smoke-free environment, maintaining a healthy weight and doing daily physical activity, eating a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol, breastfeeding to prevent breast cancer, protecting yourself from direct sun exposure, ensuring there is no smoke buildup in your home, limiting time in areas with high air pollution, adopt preventative measures in a job that has exposure risks, get checked for bacteria or virus infections, and do not use hormone replacement for menopause.
The first of the final three actions is that people between the ages of 50 and 74 should visit a healthcare provider to have an early test for colon and rectal cancer. The second of the final three recommendations is that people 40 years or older should visit a health provider every two years for a clinical breast exam. Then, from ages 50 to 74, get a mammogram every two years. The last of the final three recommendations is that people from the ages of 30 to 64 should visit a health provider for an HPV test every 5-10 years for cervical cancer. A combination of these 17 actions will help lower the risks of getting cancer and lower the risks of mortality if cancer already persists.
30 Policy Recommendations to Mitigate Cancer
To accompany these 17 actions are 30 recommendations. These recommendations are not legally binding as some factors affecting the region make it difficult to implement them. These factors include poverty, unemployment, lack of housing, difficulty obtaining healthy food, and lack of health infrastructure. These 30 recommendations fall under the categories of tobacco, weight, physical activity, diet, alcohol and breastfeeding, sun exposure, indoor air pollution, outdoor air pollution, occupational hazards, helicobacter pylori, viral infections, hormone replacement, early detection of colon and rectal cancer, early detection of breast cancer and early detection of cervical cancer. These recommendation categories are very similar to the 17 actions as they are meant to be used in tandem. As they are meant to be used together, they will help limit the risk of developing cancer and lower mortality rates.
For the code to work effectively, countries in the region are to include all 17 actions without making any changes to the wording. The only exceptions are for synonyms that are generally accepted. Additionally, no changes are to be made to the public policy recommendations accompanying the actions. With effective use of both the actions and the policies, it will be easier to begin preventing cancer in Latin America.
Conclusion
The pressing challenge of cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean, ranking fourth globally in cancer cases and facing high mortality rates, demands urgent attention and comprehensive strategies. Code Against Cancer provides hope for preventing cancer in Latin America through the initiative guidelines. The 17 actions and 30 recommendations include diverse lifestyle aspects and public policy, providing a comprehensive framework for cancer prevention. Through collaborative action and commitment to preventive measures, there is hope for preventing cancer in Latin America and lowering mortality rates.
To begin to limit cancer even further in the Latin American community, poverty should be addressed to limit inequities in receiving treatment and access to healthcare. There are organizations that are beginning to limit poverty including TECHNO, which is a global organization advocating for social policies that is currently operating in 19 countries in Latin America. This organization is taking a three stage approach to limiting poverty. Their website states that “the initial phase is a needs assessment through Community Organizing Committees, the second phase is the implementation of programs in response to the needs and the third phase is the promotion of the implementation of lasting and sustainable solutions.” With organizations including TECHO, poverty will begin to be reduced at larger scales. Limiting poverty in combination with Code Against Cancer will be beneficial in lowering cancer rates and keeping the population healthy.
– Sara Agosto
Photo: Flickr
Highlighting the Role of Women in Agriculture in Tanzania
Recognizing Women’s Contributions
Tanzania, like many other countries, has long relied on the agricultural sector as the backbone of its economy. This sector makes up 25% of the country’s GDP and employs around 75% of the workforce–80% of whom are women. According to the Integrated Labor Force’s 2014 study, Tanzanian women worked 432 minutes per day, with 238 working minutes going unpaid. In comparison, Tanzanian men worked for 408 minutes and had only 64 minutes of unpaid work.
Entrepreneurial Empowerment
Empowering women in agriculture in Tanzania extends beyond providing resources and education; it also involves fostering entrepreneurship. Tanzanian women are encouraged to take on leadership roles within the agricultural value chain, from production to marketing. However, there are some constraints preventing women’s entrepreneurship, such as needing more capital and unsatisfactory access to child care.
Tanzania promotes economic growth and challenges traditional gender roles by supporting women-led agricultural enterprises. This is crucial as Tanzania aims to reduce its dependence on food imports. With a demand of 1,000,000 tons of wheat and a capability of only 100,000 tons, it is important to strengthen the agricultural sector with entrepreneurial opportunities for women. Potential solutions include offering subsidies for land-titling to low-income households or providing incentives for spouses to hold land titles jointly.
In Tanzania, women in agriculture also face disparities in land ownership in contrast to their male counterparts. Men hold 73% of the land in Tanzania, while women own just 27%. Women-operated farms are typically smaller, boast fewer plots, are less likely to be irrigated and employ less hired labor than those managed by men. Securing loans from banks or financial institutions also proves more challenging for women. Despite the establishment of the Tanzania Agriculture Development Bank (TADB) to enhance farmer access to finance, women’s acceptance of loans remains limited due to the absence of property rights required as collateral.
Technology Integration
Technology is a crucial element in Tanzania’s approach. The widespread ownership of mobile phones in Tanzania, especially among the rural population, has become a valuable tool within the farming community. In August 2020, reports indicated that farmers using mobile phones experienced a surge in profits (67% of respondents), coupled with reductions in both cost (50%) and time investment (47%) associated with farming.
In May 2015, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Economic and Social Research Foundation launched the Mobile Kilimo ICT platform, facilitating a direct link between farmers and traders. This platform ensures that farmers gain timely access to vital information about markets and prices. The groups also implemented SMS-based messaging platforms, providing farmers with essential agricultural information such as recommended agronomic practices for specific crops, insights on climate change and accurate weather forecasts.
Agenda 10/30
On April 4, 2022, President Samia Suluhu introduced the “Agenda 10/30,” a transformative initiative focused on agriculture. Agenda 10/30 is a strategy to bolster agricultural output growth by 10%. This initiative outlines a plan to expand irrigation coverage to encompass 50% of all cultivated land by 2030. The strategy emphasizes the empowerment of women and youth and ensures that each farmer is allocated a minimum of 10 acres of land, fostering economies of scale. Agenda 10/30 also involves innovative seed multiplication techniques to enhance agricultural productivity.
Pushing Forward
Significant steps have been made in achieving gender equality for women in agriculture in Tanzania. By addressing the challenges women face in this sector, Tanzania ensures the sustainable development of its agricultural industry and empowers women across the nation. As women in agriculture continue to thrive, their success becomes a testament to the transformative power of gender-inclusive policies and initiatives in the pursuit of a more equitable society.
– Sophie Higham
Photo: Unsplash
Xolani: Startup Harnessing AI to Combat Diseases in Nigeria
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is faced with a myriad of health challenges, including malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child mortality. These diseases affect millions of people and pose a significant burden on the country’s health system and economy.
A startup called Xolani is using artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle some of these health problems and improve the quality of life for Nigerians.
What is Xolani?
Xolani, which means “peace” in South Africa’s Zulu, is a digital health platform founded in 2021 that leverages AI to provide personalized and affordable health care solutions for various diseases. The platform uses machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision and blockchain to create innovative products and services that can diagnose, prevent and treat diseases. Here is how the startup is achieving these.
Empowering Diagnosis with AI’s Precision
One of Xolani’s flagship products is XolaNets, a suite of Neural Network AI Models that can detect health abnormalities. Imagine a rural clinic where a healthcare worker scans a patient’s X-ray. Within minutes, an AI-powered analysis flags potential signs of malaria, an efficient killer in Nigeria. This isn’t a scene from a sci-fi movie; it’s Xolani’s reality.
Their AI platform, trained on vast medical data, analyzes X-rays, blood tests and patient history, delivering faster, more accurate diagnoses. This is game-changing for a nation battling infectious diseases. Apart from malaria, other diseases XolaNets can detect include:
Breast Cancer (Mammography)
“This Model uses X-ray images of the human female breast that have been scanned cancerous.” These X-ray images are then processed through XolaNets to predict whether the condition is benign or malignant. The machine uses a deep learning algorithm to analyze the images.
COVID-19
Xolanets has found a way of detecting COVID-19 from the X-ray of the human chest. In this process, an X-ray image of a human chest is passed through XolaNets to detect if the patient is COVID-19 Positive or Negative.
Musculoskeletal Abnormality
Here, an X-ray image of a human bone is passed through XolaNets to detect an abnormality in the bone structure. This aims to improve the detection and management of the disease, especially in resource-limited settings where conventional methods are scarce or unreliable.
With great products like Dicom X and Xolani Air, the startup aims to provide high-quality, assisted diagnostics in radiology and clinical pathology workflows. Medical Images are uploaded and these cloud-based AI models detect possible health issues and generate reports.
Xolani didn’t stop at Xolanets. They went the extra mile by building Xolani Bridge, a web-based teleradiology platform that provides easy access to an online global community of radiologists to collaborate, share and analyze medical images in real-time.
A Pan-African Beacon of Hope
Xolani’s impact stretches far beyond Nigeria. They envision an Africa where AI isn’t just a buzzword but a life-saving tool. They are building a Pan-African AI healthcare powerhouse, ensuring every African, regardless of location or wealth, has access to the same cutting-edge diagnostics, personalized treatment and preventive measures.
This is a leading example of how AI can be harnessed to combat diseases in Nigeria and beyond. By using AI, Xolani hopes to make a positive impact on the lives of millions of people and contribute to the global fight against poverty and disease.
– Abraham Ikongshul
Photo: Flickr
Days for Girls: Combatting Period Poverty
Lack of Proper Menstruation Care
Approximately three to eight years of a person’s life is spent menstruating. A lack of proper care can prevent women and girls from enjoying even their most basic human rights.
In some regions and cultures across the world, misconceptions about menstruation have excluded women and girls from public life. Women and girls with periods face more vulnerability than women and girls who have not begun menstruation. In some societies, girls getting their periods are perceived as ready for marriage and childbirth, making them more vulnerable than they were beforehand.
Women and girls may not have equal access to health and sanitation as their male counterparts. In developing countries with high rates of poverty or ongoing crises, there may not be safe and clean facilities for menstruating persons to use. Additionally, they may not have access to the supplies they need for their periods.
What is Period Poverty?
Approximately 1.9 billion people are currently menstruating worldwide. Out of this group, about 500 million face period poverty. Period poverty, according to the American Medical Women’s Association, is “inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and education, including but not limited to sanitary products, washing facilities and waste management.” Period poverty is a global issue, but its impacts are disproportionately affecting developing countries, where economic or humanitarian crises and existing poverty make access to sanitary products and menstrual pads challenging. On average, women and girls use around 9,000 sanitary products throughout their lives. The lack of access to menstrual hygiene products can have serious consequences for women and girls. It forces them to resort to unhygienic materials, leading to health problems. Consequently, many have to miss school or work due to the absence of access to these products.
Days for Girls
Days for Girls is a global nonprofit that works towards providing sanitary menstrual products and eliminating the stigma that women and girls face for having periods. The organization started in 2008 when the founder, Celeste Mergens worked with a foundation in Kenya. Mergens learned that many girls at the orphanage would sit on pieces of cardboard in their rooms for several days each month that they had their period. They would be isolated from others and only receive food if someone brought it to them.
The initial solution to this problem was disposable pads. However, these pads were not sustainable, as the women and girls had no proper means of disposal. Subsequently, Mergens and her team devised a sustainable solution — washable and long-lasting pads that did not need disposal after a single use.
Days for Girls is headquartered in the United States (U.S.), with additional offices in Guatemala, Nepal, Ghana and Uganda. Local chapters worldwide collaborate with the international organization to create Days for Girls Kits. From college clubs to community groups, people globally contribute to the production of these kits, preparing them for distribution in developing countries to address period poverty.
The Days for Girls Kit
The Borgen Project spoke with a member of the Days for Girls who wishes to remain anonymous for privacy reasons. She has been a part of the organization at the local level for approximately four years. She told The Borgen Project about the contents of the Days for Girls kits that local chapters within the U.S. and other countries make before sending them to developing countries where period poverty is highly prevalent. The kit includes the Days for Girls reusable pad, underwear, washcloth, soap, liners, a use and care instructions sheet, a small bag to keep things separate and a larger, drawstring bag to carry everything in.
When speaking with The Borgen Project about the kits, she said, “The local chapters make the kits. Sewing lessons are usually given to new members and the clubs meet for sewing sessions.” The local chapters of Days for Girls sew the kits and put them together before mailing them to the organization headquarters. From there, the kits are sent to women and girls experiencing period poverty. The local chapters of Days for Girls across the U.S. sew the kits and put them together before mailing them to the organization’s headquarters, from where they are sent to women and girls experiencing period poverty worldwide.
Conclusion: Combating Period Poverty
Days for Girls has found a sustainable and viable solution for combating period poverty. The reusable pads provide women and girls with long-lasting products for their periods. Without having to worry about their periods and bleeding through their clothes, women and girls can attend school, work and not be forced to isolate themselves from public spheres.
– Komalpreet Kaur
Photo: Pickpik
The Ways Leaders Work Towards Solving Child Poverty in Uruguay
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), COVID-19 heavily impacted Uruguay, causing delays in addressing poverty-related issues such as education and access to health care. The government has initiated programs to compensate for the lost time, especially for children’s issues.
According to a 2022 report by Prensa Latina, 22.5% of Uruguayan children under age six live in poverty. This figure is twice the estimated rate of the general population, which is 10.7%. Humanium reports significant numbers of children have been rendered homeless or are living in slums without access to basic amenities such as clean drinking water or electricity. Many are exposed to hazardous conditions, including gang violence and child labor. Here is information about what some are doing to address child poverty in Uruguay.
A Right to Education
According to UNICEF, Uruguay has implemented the Educational Transformation program to enhance access to and quality of education. This program reduced the disparity between children of different economic backgrounds. The reform enabled educators to gain more complete training, placing qualified teachers in economically disadvantaged areas.
Furthermore, the Digital Bridges for Educational Equity initiative facilitated learning on digital platforms, which helps overcome barriers to classroom access, including providing children with the necessary technology for it. The agenda facilitated various initiatives geared towards enhancing education at all grade levels. These include an English curriculum for secondary school students, a literacy promotion campaign and an online learning platform called Plataforma de Lengua, which offers Spanish language and literature content.
Household Income
Numerous factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and unemployment rates, have contributed to child poverty in Uruguay. The United Nations University (UNU) reports that poverty increased 2.8% in 2020 alone. To address this issue, the Uruguayan government introduced the Asignaciones Familiares (AFAM) program in 2021, which provided unemployment insurance to those who lost their jobs. This enabled them to receive subsidies from the government to help them cope with the economic downturn, which decreased poverty by 1.6%. The AFAM program has been instrumental in mitigating the impact of unemployment on child poverty in Uruguay.
The Psychological Impact
UNU reports on the significance of the psychological ramifications of poverty on children. Children in poverty-stricken families experience feelings of shame and mental health issues, leading to disenfranchisement from attending school. This removal from the stability of an educational environment increases psychological stress, reduces future employment options and leaves children vulnerable to predation.
In response, Uruguay developed an app called GURÍ, which facilitates communication between teachers and parents, actively engaging parents in their child’s education and allowing for proper supervision of the issues they face. The efficacy of any program designed to mitigate cognitive biases in children and alter their perceptions of school is contingent upon the parents’ active engagement with the program. While governments may provide support, parents must facilitate the process for the scheme to be effective. Uruguay hopes to continue engaging parents and increasing school attendance.
Housing
The Uruguayan government increased urban housing for rural citizens, who often lack access to essential services. The United Postal Union supports the government’s efforts to address this issue by implementing an ‘addressing’ system. This system aims to transfer individuals to urban areas or provide them with accessible infrastructure in rural regions.
The Spatial Data Infrastructure (IDEuy) is a database that allocates and catalogs addresses for residents, making them eligible for support in urban areas. This strategy connects people of all economic classes, regardless of financial status, which helps increase children’s access to educational and medical support. By leveraging this system, the government is working towards bridging the gap between urban and rural areas and ensuring all citizens have access to essential services.
Conclusion
These examples illustrate Uruguay’s significant strides towards ending child poverty. The fortitude and perseverance of Uruguayans who face adversity are inspiring. With the backing of their government and the international community, substantial progress can provide children with optimal opportunities to realize their aspirations and lead healthy lives.
– Jordan Cunningham
Photo: Flickr
Being poor in Prince Edward Island
The Condition
The socioeconomic condition of PEI sits within a fluctuating funding and policy environment. This is primarily due to changing funding levels, insufficient resources and a lack of public investment. These factors lay a foundation for other circumstances: financial instability, lack of organizational sustainability, an increase in volunteering expectations and reduced services. There is a further administrative burden associated with public funding practices.
PEI experienced an inflation rate of 9.7%. For the past two years, Canada recorded the highest rate. Various factors, including loss of supply due to COVID-19, food costs, hikes in oil and shelter costs, and after-effects of the Russian-Ukraine war on energy and food prices, as per some experts, were the root causes behind the rise in inflation. Food prices were up by 12.4% in November 2022. A study showed that PEI faced food insecurities at a staggering amount of 15.3%, with an increased number of Island homes lacking access to the essential requirements of nutritious food.
Child Poverty
Over the past decade, the scope of early child education has gone through a significant number of local and global changes. PEI has only reduced the percentage of low-income children by less than 2% after making these changes over two decades between 2000 and 2019. Amongst the varying provinces, PEI had the highest food inflation rate, with the depth of poverty increasing over the years. Even with an increase in the income respective to the size of the low-income families, inflation widened the gap. This leads to more children living in deeper poverty.
Family Poverty
Being poor on Prince Edward Island is a significant challenge. As per data from 2019, 12.3% of the population had incomes under the official poverty line. Their poverty rate exceeded the national poverty rate by 2%. Out of the 19,000 people, 13,000 fell between the age groups of 18 and 64. Not only did this age group have a higher rate of poverty, their average poverty income gap was at 36.2%. This meant their average income was much further down from the official poverty line.
Exiting Low-Income Groups
However, PEI has been surfing on an upward trend in the last decade regarding Islanders successfully exiting the low-income groups. From 2008 and 2013, there was an increase in Islanders entering the lower-income group. In comparison to couples, singles and lone-parent households were more likely to join the group. In contrast, a larger ratio of couples could exit this group successfully. Since 2013, however, there has been a change to an upward pattern, with more Islanders of all households successfully leaving the low-income group.
Poverty Reduction Action Plan
The province introduced an action plan between the years 2019 and 2024 to take into consideration the poverty-stricken state of PEI. The action plan had to execute certain goals. The goals are for the islanders to support the most vulnerable, strengthen the existing communities and improve the living conditions of future generations. The data retrieved throughout this plan could be more focused on optimizing resource utilization and identifying the specific areas and impacts of the differences being made.
Looking Ahead
Over the last few years, the province has witnessed an optimistic trend, with Islanders successfully leaving the low-income groups; however, challenges remain. The Poverty Reduction Action Plan, which is still in action from 2019 to 2024, aims to address these challenges. The success of this plan depends highly upon optimizing the utilization of resources and understanding the impacts of the specific mediating factors.
– Siddharth Thampi
Photo: Flickr
Preventing Cancer in Latin America
Some of the health issues in Latin America are exacerbated by poverty. While there have been some policies in place to limit social inequities from poverty, including improvements in education and health-related sectors, including increased school access and reduced infant mortality, the maintenance of these policies has been insufficient. With that, many people lack access to basic health care and treatment. This results in a high amount of the population, specifically the elderly, experiencing poor conditions and lack of healthcare, leading them to be more likely to receive diagnoses of disabling diseases including cancer.
The Latin American and Caribbean Code Against Cancer
A new method is being put into place to lower the risks of getting cancer and mortality rates. This method is through the Latin America and Caribbean Code Against Cancer. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) launched this initiative on October 17. This project aims to have code generate recommendations based on current scientific research. There are 17 recommendations based on this research, which have conformed to common scenarios for the region. These recommendations are to limit the likelihood of developing cancer and if a person already has cancer, the recommendations can decrease the risk of mortality. In addition, 30 policy recommendations accompany the previous suggestions. These policy recommendations are not legally binding as some structural and socio-economic factors prevent the implementation of these suggestions.
17 Actions to Limit the Risks of Cancer
Specialists and representatives convened by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the World Health Organization have reviewed the recommendations made by the code and recommend a set of 17 actions that people should take to start preventing cancer in Latin America. The first 14 actions include not smoking and maintaining a smoke-free environment, maintaining a healthy weight and doing daily physical activity, eating a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol, breastfeeding to prevent breast cancer, protecting yourself from direct sun exposure, ensuring there is no smoke buildup in your home, limiting time in areas with high air pollution, adopt preventative measures in a job that has exposure risks, get checked for bacteria or virus infections, and do not use hormone replacement for menopause.
The first of the final three actions is that people between the ages of 50 and 74 should visit a healthcare provider to have an early test for colon and rectal cancer. The second of the final three recommendations is that people 40 years or older should visit a health provider every two years for a clinical breast exam. Then, from ages 50 to 74, get a mammogram every two years. The last of the final three recommendations is that people from the ages of 30 to 64 should visit a health provider for an HPV test every 5-10 years for cervical cancer. A combination of these 17 actions will help lower the risks of getting cancer and lower the risks of mortality if cancer already persists.
30 Policy Recommendations to Mitigate Cancer
To accompany these 17 actions are 30 recommendations. These recommendations are not legally binding as some factors affecting the region make it difficult to implement them. These factors include poverty, unemployment, lack of housing, difficulty obtaining healthy food, and lack of health infrastructure. These 30 recommendations fall under the categories of tobacco, weight, physical activity, diet, alcohol and breastfeeding, sun exposure, indoor air pollution, outdoor air pollution, occupational hazards, helicobacter pylori, viral infections, hormone replacement, early detection of colon and rectal cancer, early detection of breast cancer and early detection of cervical cancer. These recommendation categories are very similar to the 17 actions as they are meant to be used in tandem. As they are meant to be used together, they will help limit the risk of developing cancer and lower mortality rates.
For the code to work effectively, countries in the region are to include all 17 actions without making any changes to the wording. The only exceptions are for synonyms that are generally accepted. Additionally, no changes are to be made to the public policy recommendations accompanying the actions. With effective use of both the actions and the policies, it will be easier to begin preventing cancer in Latin America.
Conclusion
The pressing challenge of cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean, ranking fourth globally in cancer cases and facing high mortality rates, demands urgent attention and comprehensive strategies. Code Against Cancer provides hope for preventing cancer in Latin America through the initiative guidelines. The 17 actions and 30 recommendations include diverse lifestyle aspects and public policy, providing a comprehensive framework for cancer prevention. Through collaborative action and commitment to preventive measures, there is hope for preventing cancer in Latin America and lowering mortality rates.
To begin to limit cancer even further in the Latin American community, poverty should be addressed to limit inequities in receiving treatment and access to healthcare. There are organizations that are beginning to limit poverty including TECHNO, which is a global organization advocating for social policies that is currently operating in 19 countries in Latin America. This organization is taking a three stage approach to limiting poverty. Their website states that “the initial phase is a needs assessment through Community Organizing Committees, the second phase is the implementation of programs in response to the needs and the third phase is the promotion of the implementation of lasting and sustainable solutions.” With organizations including TECHO, poverty will begin to be reduced at larger scales. Limiting poverty in combination with Code Against Cancer will be beneficial in lowering cancer rates and keeping the population healthy.
– Sara Agosto
Photo: Flickr
Lumen Vitae Supports Education in Haiti
Education in Haiti faces substantial challenges, with a limited percentage of the population gaining access to tertiary education. The CIA World Factbook estimated that in 2021, only about one in 20 young adults in Haiti had the opportunity to pursue higher education. Underfunding, inadequate infrastructure and ongoing political and economic instability have further exacerbated this issue. Despite these challenges, Haiti remains hopeful for improvement through government initiatives and external partnerships to expand access to higher education. These efforts are crucial in providing the country’s youth with better prospects for the future and strengthening higher education in Haiti.
Education Linked to Poverty
Education in Haiti is closely intertwined with the nation’s poverty issue. Nearly 90% of Haitians live below the poverty line, with nearly a third of them living in extreme poverty. With poverty playing such a prevalent role across the country, many of Haiti’s citizens lack the agency to be able to pursue tertiary education. The lack of affordable options and inadequate educational infrastructure further hampers the prospects of economic improvement for most of the population. Expanding access to higher education is essential to break the poverty cycle and offer Haiti’s citizens a brighter future.
Education and Gender Inequality
The topic of education in Haiti is closely tied to gender inequality in the country. This gender disparity is evident in the enrollment rates, with fewer females accessing tertiary education. Additionally, as the World Bank points out, adult men in Haiti are far more likely than their female counterparts to attend or complete secondary and tertiary education. Cultural and socio-economic factors often limit educational opportunities for women, perpetuating gender disparities in various aspects of Haitian society. This gender imbalance hinders the empowerment and economic prospects of women and contributes to the broader issue of gender inequality in the nation.
About Lumen Vitae
The organization Lumen Vitae can trace its beginnings to a small mission trip group that visited Camp Corail in Croix-des-Bouquets in 2011. This group joined the efforts of the group Caritas in Veritate International to bring critical aid to internally displaced refugees following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that shook Haiti. Many of the mission trip’s participants were avid members of Jesus Youth, an international missionary movement rooted in the Catholic Church. With the support of Jesus Youth, these mission trips continued for a few years, returning to Haiti to help rebuild the country after such a devastating natural disaster. Humble beginnings of educational outreach were also possible, with an initiative led in conjunction with the local Scalabrini Fathers to educate 25 Haitian children.
Through continued mission trips, Jesus Youth continued to support financial assistance for students located in Camp Corail. By taking a definitive step forward, the organization sent a missionary of its own in 2016 to explore the possibility of a larger project for education in Haiti. This probe proved to eventually be successful, with Jesus Youth deciding to create Lumen Vitae in 2017. As a subsidiary charitable organization, Jesus Youth started Lumen Vitae to bring dignity through education to those living in poverty in Haiti. Since then, Lumen Vitae has been able to lead initiatives and programs to further its goal of educational equity, especially by opening the Lumen Vitae Office, the “Limye Lavi Learning Center” professional school, and reaching more than 600 Haitian children.
However, Lumen’s Vitae’s efforts are not just limited to educational equity. The organization has also extended its charitable efforts to other areas, recognizing the interconnectedness of global poverty in affecting many aspects of life. For example, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic had disastrous effects worldwide, which were even more prominent in developing countries such as Haiti. In response to the rapid inflation of goods in Haiti during this time, Lumen Vitae played a pivotal role in organizing a “Race for the Light” donation event. With more than 2,450 people participating in the event, it raised $260,000 to feed poor families in Haiti.
When Passion Intertwines With Purpose
As a senior at the University of Notre Dame majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Poverty Studies, Allan George found himself deeply attracted to the mission of Lumen Vitae. In an interview with The Borgen Project, he remarked that he was “looking for an opportunity to explore the issue of global poverty and also be able to do some good in the world.” This search led him to find Lumen Vitae. Subsequently, he landed an internship with the organization, helping the marketing team reach potential donors to sponsor children’s education in Haiti.
To achieve this, he helped set up Hubspot, a customer relationship management software, to manage prospective donors properly. He also worked on Lumen Vitae’s Podcast with Audio editing with Logic Pro and Video editing with Final Cut Pro. He helped publish the Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Although he has many incredible thoughts about his Lumen Vitae internship, George shared that “what stood out to [him] the most was the ability to turn small actions into something meaningful which can help to reduce educational inequality. [He] greatly encourages anyone interested to look into getting involved with organizations in order to alleviate global poverty.”
– Nathaniel George
Photo: Flickr
How Project HOPE Provided Aid After Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas
Economic Vulnerability of The Bahamas
Situated in the Caribbean, The Bahamas are an archipelago of 700 islands, only 30 of which are inhabited. Famed for its white beaches and clear water, the area is a popular vacation destination. Between January and July 2023, 5.89 million tourists visited the islands.
While high rates of tourism promise economic profitability, reliance on tourism to support the economy places the country in a vulnerable position. In 2023, the Investment Climate Statement of The Bahamas reported only 30% of the country’s GDP stems from non-tourism-related services and more than half of the workforce is part of the tourism industry. With the Bahamas’ GDP heavily reliant on tourism, natural disasters and external factors such as COVID-19 can cause the economy to greatly suffer.
The Damage that Hurricane Dorian Caused
The catastrophic damage of Hurricane Dorian included the destruction of more than 13,000 homes, forcing many to evacuate. Project HOPE reports that on the Island of Abaco, which was among the worst regions affected, only 20% of all buildings were left unscathed. Medical attention and supplies, food, sanitary water, gas and electricity supplies were all impeded.
Project HOPE’s Impact
Project HOPE’s emergency response team (ERT) was able to reach Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, three days after the hurricane. Working in conjunction with the locally registered NGO Restoration Abaco, they delivered more than 16,000 critical relief and hygiene supplies, including body bags, soap, bandages, diapers, toothbrushes and drinking water. The ERT also ensured the donated supplies were usable and organized them efficiently. Overall, Project HOPE delivered more than $3 million of medical supplies. It also set up a triage and examination area in the Fox Hill Community Center, where more than 200 survivors were sheltering.
Hope for the Future
Although the initial impact of the hurricane was visibly evident, its long-term consequences continue to impact the region. Project HOPE provides ongoing support for recovery and rebuilding in The Bahamas. It conducts first-aid and health care training through Creole-speaking volunteers to the Haitian population, is rebuilding damaged infrastructure and provides crucial psychological support to survivors. Investing in long-term solutions for The Bahamas allows the sowing of the seed of hope and creates greater resilience against future extreme weather events.
At the end of 2022, the International Trade Administration reported that the government of The Bahamas has subsequently invested in light manufacturing, agriculture, fisheries and renewable energy to diversify The Bahamas’ economy.
– Heidi Helen Horgan
Photo: Flickr
Roche Invests $240 Million in Colombia’s Health System
The History of Roche
Founded in 1896, Roche is one of the world’s largest and oldest biotech companies. Its founder, Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche, launched the company in Basel, Switzerland, with the idea that manufacturing improvements from the industrial revolution could be beneficial in fighting disease.
Roche pioneered 32 of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) List of Essential Medicines. In 1962, it introduced the first anti-cancer drug, Fluorouracil. In the mid-1990s, Roche developed a series of drugs for cancer treatment, including Herceptin for metastatic breast cancer and MabThera as a life-extending treatment for leukemia. Roche developed new diagnostic tests and automatic analyzers in 1968, setting up service laboratories to process the data.
Roche currently has facilities in more than 100 countries and provides services such as:
Colombia’s Health System
The WHO ranks Colombia 22nd in the world for health care system efficiency, above the United States, Canada and Australia. A 1991 legislation, Law 100, extended universal health coverage to the majority of the population, making key reforms in Colombia’s health system. Public health care coverage rose to 65% of the population in the following decade.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Health at a Glance 2023 report reveals that 95% of the Colombian population has access to health care services. However, only 41% report being satisfied with the services that they receive. Additionally, Colombia has a shortage of health care professionals, with 2.5 practicing doctors and 1.6 practicing nurses per 1,000 people. OECD suggests 3.7 practicing doctors and 9.2 practicing nurses for optimal population coverage.
Despite the efficiency of Colombia’s health system and its work on universal health care, the lack of financial sustainability, inequity of care in rural areas, fragmentation of the system and limited investment in primary health care detract value from it. Many of Colombia’s aging citizens with chronic diseases suffer from an unequal distribution of an already limited number of health care workers.
Approximately 88% of Colombia is rural, with limited access to health care, increased violence and greater levels of poverty — factors that contribute to disease. Within the country, 10.6 million people live more than 60 minutes away from the nearest hospital, and 63.6% of those people live in rural regions. Colombia’s most isolated region requires 5-11% of a person’s monthly wage and over three hours of travel to reach the nearest hospital.
Roche’s Investment in Colombia’s Health System
In 1957, Roche founded its affiliate in Bogotà, Colombia, marking the beginning of a decades-long investment in Colombia’s health system. In 2022, Roche performed 168 million diagnostic tests and 731,000 treatments in the country.
This year, Roche announced that it will be investing a total of $240 million into Colombia’s health system over the next five years. Roche recently invested $40 million in a new distribution center just outside of Bogotà. The company is confident that its investments will provide safe, high-quality and effective health care to Colombians. Its focus includes work on pathologies with high public health impact and providing care to populations that have been neglected.
Working with stakeholders in the country, Roche hopes to reduce inequalities in health care access by providing educational programs on disease prevention and self-care to populations with limited access to health care. Additionally, Roche’s Pink Offices in Colombia employ visually impaired women with heightened senses of touch to assist in breast cancer screenings — offering financial independence for a marginalized population, encouraging greater community involvement in health care and increasing early diagnosis rates.
Concluding Remarks
Roche’s $240 million investment in Colombia’s health system is a continued promise of the company’s work in the country. The company is providing quick, efficient and safe health care to patients across Colombia, combatting existing inequality in health care access. Its continued investment in Colombia has the potential to decrease disparities in disease management with greater diagnostic tests and treatments.
– Komalpreet Kaur
Photo: Flickr
How Elephant Poo Paper Is Alleviating Poverty in Sri Lanka
Elephants defecate 16 times daily, and 100 kilograms of dung can be used as paper pulp. Sri Lanka has been exploiting this resource since 1997, and this genius idea of elephant poo paper has been responsible for alleviating poverty, facilitating job creation and rural empowerment. This process has also saved billions of trees from being axed because the Rainforest Action Network estimated that 3 to 7 billion trees are cut down globally to manufacture paper.
Sri Lanka’s Elephant Dung Paper Industry
Eco Maximus is a foundation that began in 1997 that exploits the huge excretory system of elephants, purchasing manure from elephant sanctuaries. A portion of the trust’s earnings goes towards the Millennium Elephant Foundation (MEF), an NGO that provides a secure haven for sick, elderly and disabled elephants. Without the care that the foundation provided, these elephants are in danger. When one purchases and uses products made from elephant dung paper, they actively enhance the well-being of Sri Lanka’s magnificent elephants.
Local Impact on Poverty
The elephant poo paper industry is alleviating poverty in Sri Lanka. This innovative sector creates sustainable job opportunities, by hiring rural people to collect the elephant dung not only addresses the pressing need for employment but also becomes a catalyst for economic empowerment, building local economies to be self-reliant. Individuals engaged in collecting, processing and crafting paper products increase income and, in turn, contribute to alleviating poverty in Sri Lanka.
Local artisans craft the products and empower the lives of both the community members and the elephants, with the business employing 150 people as of 2020. Artisans find purpose and livelihoods within the elephant poo paper production process, showcasing the potential of unconventional industries to alleviate poverty in Sri Lanka. This enhances their proficiency in the industry and broadens their employability and income-earning potential. As the artisans become adept at transforming elephant dung into unique, eco-friendly paper products, their newfound skills contribute to a sustainable and self-reliant livelihood.
One notable initiative is the “Ellie Pooh” project, where local artisans collect and process elephant dung to create a range of handmade paper products such as notebooks, cards and stationery. Although it may not entirely eradicate the human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka, Ellie Pooh’s paper has significantly increased farmers’ tolerance towards elephants. Consequently, elephants are viewed more as economic assets than mere nuisances or threats. This shift in perspective makes the local population less inclined to see elephants as a problem that needs elimination. The role of Ellie Pooh’s paper becomes crucial in the conservation efforts to preserve the population of Asian elephants in Sri Lanka.
The Future
The prospects of the elephant dung paper industry in Sri Lanka are promising, with the potential to shape the country’s economic landscape significantly. As the industry gains traction, there is room for substantial growth, driven by increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly products worldwide. The unique nature of elephant dung paper positions it as a distinctive player in the market, attracting environmentally conscious consumers. Furthermore, the industry’s positive impact on poverty reduction, skill development and community empowerment enhances its social value, making it an integral part of Sri Lanka’s economic fabric.
By continuing to innovate, establish strategic partnerships and address challenges, the industry can contribute to sustainable economic growth and serve as a model for other environmentally friendly initiatives. As awareness of the industry grows, its role in shaping Sri Lanka’s economic landscape will likely expand, offering a harmonious blend of economic prosperity and environmental conservation.
Conclusion
The elephant dung paper industry is a transformative force in alleviating poverty in Sri Lanka, embodying a synergy between unconventional livelihoods, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability. By converting a perceived problem, the human-elephant conflict, into a solution, this industry provides sustainable jobs, income opportunities and community empowerment. The symbiotic relationship between humans and elephants is undergoing redefinition as communities utilize elephants for economic opportunity.
– Ellen Jones
Photo: Unsplash