India, a land of striking diversity, is in the throes of rapid urbanization, transforming its socio-economic landscape. This South Asian nation, home to more than 1.4 billion people, is witnessing a profound shift from agrarian traditions to urban centers. The catalysts for this change are multifaceted, encompassing factors such as industrialization, economic growth and rural-to-urban migration.
Urbanization can have a positive impact on reducing poverty and improving the lives of the population of any country. UN India states that India has witnessed remarkable urban advancement, with projections indicating that more than 400 million individuals will reside in its cities by 2030. Despite occupying just 3% of the land, cities significantly contribute to India’s GDP, amounting to 60%. This urban expansion has played a pivotal role in reducing poverty across the country, with approximately 80% of the overall poverty reduction attributed to urban growth. However, the challenges have not ended. Rapid urbanization in India has also shed light on some key issues regarding India’s growth and its fight against poverty. Here are four facts about India’s urbanization.
1. Extreme Weather Patterns Contribute to Urbanization
India’s urbanization is inextricably linked with harsh weather events, presenting a complex dynamic. Extreme weather patterns significantly impact Indian rural areas. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and extreme weather events disrupt agriculture, affecting livelihoods and food security. Water scarcity, crop failures and dying livestock compound the vulnerability of rural communities who are left with no option but to migrate to the rapidly urbanizing cities of India to sustain their families. Each year there are approximately 100 million interstate migrants in India.
2. Population Boom in Urban Areas
With the continuous influx of interstate migrants, Indian metros have witnessed an astonishing rise in population over the years. Mumbai experienced significant rural-to-urban migration, hosting a population of 12.5 million, making it India’s most populous metropolis, closely followed by Delhi with 11 million residents. According to the 2011 census, Delhi recorded the world’s fastest urbanization rate, with a 4.1% population increase, while Mumbai’s population grew by 3.1% and Kolkata’s by 2% compared to the 2001 census. For example, by 2015, Delhi had an estimated population of 26 million, Mumbai 24 million and Kolkata 16 million.
3. Urban Poverty
While on one hand India’s rapid urbanization has presented the citizens with grand skyscrapers and been beneficial for many to sustain comfortable, healthy lives, a grim reality persists on the ground level. As cities expand, a significant portion of the population grapples with inadequate housing, lack of basic services and limited access to education and health care. India’s population includes 65.49 million individuals residing in 13.7 million slum households nationwide. Approximately 65% of Indian cities have neighboring slum areas characterized by compact, closely spaced dwellings.
4. Rising Co-morbidities in Urban Areas
India’s urbanization, while propelling economic growth and modernization, has also contributed to a concerning rise in co-morbidities. As urban areas expand, lifestyle changes accompany the shift, with increased consumption of processed foods, sedentary habits and greater exposure to environmental pollutants. These factors have led to a surge in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and respiratory conditions. Urban residents often face higher stress levels, inadequate access to health care and suboptimal living conditions, exacerbating the prevalence of co-morbidities. For example, In urban regions, the prevalence of multimorbidity stands at 9.7%, surpassing the 5.7% rate in rural areas. Among adults aged 40–49 in urban areas, at least one multimorbidity is present in 56–64% of cases, compared to 39–50% in rural settings.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges that have come with urbanization, urbanization in India has also shown largely positive outcomes. Between 2005 and 2021, India witnessed a significant reduction in poverty, as 415 million individuals transitioned out of impoverished conditions. The poverty rate decreased from 55.1% in 2005–06 to 16.4% in 2019–21.
However, the implementation of properly planned programs and schemes is essential to combat the individual issues pertaining to unplanned rapid urbanization. For example, the Pradhan Mantri Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is an innovative government-funded initiative that launched in India in 2018, offering the largest public health insurance globally. Its primary goal is to make health care accessible and affordable, particularly for low-income individuals. Providing a substantial 500,000 rupee insurance coverage per family, the program strives for a comprehensive approach, delivering a wide range of health services rather than selective ones.
India’s urbanization journey is characterized by burgeoning metropolises like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, juxtaposed with smaller cities and towns experiencing their own growth spurts. This transformation brings both promise and challenges. On one hand, the idea of urbanization fosters economic opportunities, technological advancements and improved living standards, while on the other, it strains infrastructure, exacerbates issues like congestion and poses environmental threats.
As India navigates this intricate urbanization process, addressing these issues becomes imperative. Sustainable urban planning, infrastructure development and inclusive policies are key to harnessing the potential of India’s urban centers. By understanding and effectively managing its urbanization, India can aspire to build cities that offer a high quality of life while preserving its rich cultural heritage and natural resources.
– Piyush Plabon Das
Photo: Flickr
How the GPE Is Strengthening Education in Tanzania
The GPE’s Partnership With Tanzania
Since 2013, the GPE has partnered with Tanzania, working closely with UNESCO, to improve the quality of education both on Tanzania’s mainland and in Zanzibar. Total grant support over the past decade exceeds $3 million for Tanzania’s sectors in program development and implementation, sector plan development, COVID-19 relief and system capacity and transformation. These sectors address “persistent challenges, including poor school conditions, teacher shortages and teacher effectiveness, in systemic and sustainable ways.” The grants also go toward programming to increase young girls’ access to education through policies promoting gender equality and inclusion.
GPE-Supported Projects in Tanzania
Aiming to improve three priority reform areas — teacher workforce planning and management, gender equality and inclusion and the teaching and learning environment generally — the Global Partnership for Education has implemented several projects within Tanzania. Pamodzi for Inclusive Education in South-East Africa (PIESEA) focuses on promoting inclusive education policies and increasing public awareness of education policies implemented in Tanzania, as well as Kenya and Malawi.
PIESEA has developed a national strategy for inclusive education in Tanzania, which provides data on inclusive education for policy making, increases funding for inclusive education and increases community demand for an inclusive educational environment. The Global Partnership for Education is also working on a project to strengthen engagement in education planning, policy dialogue and monitoring. Objectives at the launch of the project include:
GPE’s Achievements Within Tanzania
Since 2013, Tanzania has experienced growth in gender equality within schooling systems through “improved girls’ transition rates from primary to lower secondary school and a recent reversal of a policy banning pregnant girls from attending school.” Removing the ban, which restricted girls who were pregnant from receiving education, was a step in the right direction for GPE within Tanzania, as this was one of their primary policy goals aiming to achieve gender equality. According to a World Bank study from 2020, secondary school enrollment increased from 1.8 million in 2015 to 2.2 million in 2018, a significant success for the education system in Tanzania.
However, 300,000 children in 2018 and 2019 could not receive secondary education due to a lack of space. According to 2020 data, 60,000 children drop out of lower secondary education each year, 5,500 of those children being pregnant girls.
The Global Partnership for Education recognizes that, each year, policies need to be reevaluated and reformed — the current operating model in Tanzania is GPE 2025, which focuses mainly on teacher workforce planning and management as the priority reform, ultimately aiming to achieve increased mobilization efforts for providing education within Tanzania.
– Marisa Kole
Photo: Flickr
How 4 USAID Programs in Laos Fight Poverty
History
Lao People’s Democratic Republic is a bustling nation bordered by Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Myanmar. Officially becoming the Lao People’s Democratic Republic on December 2, 1975, the country has become an integral Southeast Asian nation with 7.5 million people. Despite making strides in development in the last two decades, the country faces numerous challenges stemming from an unskilled workforce and economic hurdles. These challenges have caused Laos to remain one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia, with 18.3% of people living below the poverty line and 10% of employed people on only $1.90 a day.
Here are the four USAID programs in Laos that help support its economic reforms and sustainable growth.
1. Backing Businesses
The Laos government emphasizes a diverse economy with room for jobs in numerous sectors to improve the country’s economic conditions. USAID directly assists two key enterprises to support their endeavors: the Laos Business Environment (LBE) and the Laos Micro Enterprise (LME). The LBE helps business operations in the private sector. At the same time, the LME is a thorough support system for the rural markets. Together, these two enterprises create a backbone by which the Laos government can enhance its economy.
2. Educating Youth
To lift a country out of poverty, its population needs to be provided with a proper education. The Laos government and USAID understand this and have created critical programs to facilitate mass education. Learn to Read teaches reading skills to Lao children, especially those who are not native speakers or have disabilities. All Children Learning has similar goals, though it narrows the focus on providing vital recovery for education sectors hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Harvesting Energy
Reducing greenhouse gasses is a significant part of USAID’s bracket in Laos. Working together with the Laos government, USAID has established The Regional Southeast Asia Smart Power Program. It involves USAID directly assisting the Mekong’s transition toward energy security by partnering with organizations such as Japan U.S. Mekong Power Partnership (JUMPP). USAID helps Laos manage its electricity more efficiently by providing this support system, allowing it to be used more frequently for various projects. In addition, USAID partners with Électricitédu Laos (EDL) to help strengthen assets and manage the grid.
4. Improving Health Care
With 43 out of 1000 newborns perishing before their 5th birthday, USAID partners with the Laos government in essential health-related services to boost the nation’s health care systems. Regarding COVID-19 assistance, USAID provided 3 million vaccine doses to the Lao people while improving treatments and detection. Another program, the Capacity Strengthening on Maternal Child Health and Nutrition Project (LMCHN), improves new mothers’ and children’s well-being, nutrition and maternal health. USAID also provides strategic support to the country’s fight against HIV, malaria and other infectious diseases.
Without a doubt, Laos is developing rapidly. According to the World Bank, the poverty rate in Laos has halved from 46% to 18%. However, there is still a long way to go. USAID’s work through its programs in Laos is a testament to the country’s desire to improve the living conditions of its population and lift the Lao people out of the trenches of poverty.
– Atheeth Ravikrishnan
Photo: Flickr
Addressing Child Poverty in Kosovo
How Kosovo Became Independent
Since the conclusion of the Yugoslavia civil war that split the nation in 2001, Kosovo represents the ethnic tension that remained unresolved from the 10-year conflict. During this war, Serbia brutally massacred the Albanians in Kosovo, leading to the United States Department of State investigating the “ethnic cleansing.” Even after investigating Serbia’s war crimes, Kosovo remained within Serbia after the war. The ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, who make up a staggering 92% of the population, were displeased with being part of Serbia. Their discontent was answered with the establishment of an independent entity in 2008, but Serbia to this day views Kosovo as a Province within Serbia, not an independent nation.
Challenges with Social Protection
Ambassador Tomáš Szunyog, the Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, said that lack of spending on social protection is not the sole issue, as “allocations to beneficiaries of different social protection schemes are not adequate and equitable, and create inequalities.” The World Bank reported that of the bottom 20% of earners in Kosovo, just around a fourth of them qualified for Social Assistance Scheme benefits, Kosovo’s social protection package. Szunyog added that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure their social programs are employed effectively.
Ways to Reduce Child Poverty in Kosovo
Despite this apparent peril for Kosovo’s youth, the World Bank outlined a list of alterations to lower child poverty in Kosovo. The two main components of Kosovo’s society that need to be adjusted are their health care and education. The aforementioned high mortality rate in the youth is due to increased health costs, thus by reforming their health care.
Additionally, by investing in early education, Kosovo’s workforce will increase in skill, which, according to the World Bank, provides a 13% return on investment each year. Investing in the youth’s intellect and health will strengthen the workforce, boosting the economy and lowering child poverty in the nation.
To address the child poverty crisis, Kosovo’s president, Vjosa Osmani, introduced a national call to action in 2022, focusing on emphasizing the intellectual development of the nation’s youth. Osmani stated that Kosovo will ensure stable leadership and a strong vision for their early child development programs, and their funding in child development will increase. With child development at the forefront of the nation’s vision for improving the future, it has adjusted the social protection allocations to impact those in dire need and now look to cultivate a young generation of workers to stimulate the economy, putting an end to Kosovo’s child poverty crisis.
The Soskosovo Project
One organization that is supporting the children who this crisis is affecting is the Soskosovo project, which sends financial aid packages to families to support the health and educational needs in the poverty-stricken nation—additionally, the project aids in funding psychosocial aid for families, aiding the nation’s mental stability.
Putting an end to Kosovo’s child poverty will help children like Xhaka and Shaqiri will be able to prosper in the land they call home.
– Dimitri Lykidis
Photo: Flickr
Chil Femtech Center: Africa’s First E-Hygiene Shop
Africa’s Health Challenges
Finding decent health care is a continuous struggle for those in Africa due to underfunded national health systems, a lack of basic infrastructure to provide essential resources such as clean water or electricity and a shortage of equipped health care workers. The Ebola epidemic exposed the flawed health status in Africa, and the recent statistics paint a grim picture. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that Africa is responsible for “the global burden of diseases but has access to only 3% of health workers and less than 1% of the world’s financial resources.”
This recent initiative for more accessible health care stems from the WHO’s alarming statistics report, exposing that half of the world’s health facilities lack basic hygiene essentials. Without clean water, antibacterial soap and alcohol-based cleaning stations within hospitals or bathrooms, the number of infected individuals will only increase. According to the WHO, “Around 3.85 billion people use these facilities, putting them at greater risk of infection, including 688 million people who receive care at facilities with no hygiene services at all.”
E-Hygiene Shop
The E-Hygiene Shop will follow an E-pharmacy model offering various medically approved hygiene products from global brands. The program is currently being tested in school sickbays but has plans to expand all across Africa. The initiative also includes a flexible “buy now, pay later” option, allowing health facilities to upgrade their hygienic standards without increasing costs. The program’s primary goals include delivering health, cleaning and janitorial supplies at an affordable price while carrying significant stock and working directly with African, U.K. and USA-based hygiene product manufacturers. To reach the inaccessible population in the Middle East & Africa, secure medical services through the center’s network of spokes communicate to its hubs using their artificial intelligence chatbot connected to compatible telemedicine devices.
Dr. Shamim Nabuuma, the co-founder and CEO of Chil Femtech Center, emphasized the urgency of this matter, stating, “It is unacceptable for a patient to walk into a health facility for treatment, only to contract an additional ailment due to inadequate hygiene standards. Our E-Hygiene Shop is a bold step towards ensuring patients receive care in infection-free environments, which is pivotal for their complete Recovery.” She created the program strictly to fight back against breast cancer using e-oncology services guided by AI and drone-powered transportation of cervical cancer specimens from remote rural villages to laboratories.
Progress for the Future
The launch of the Chil Femtech Center’s new E-Hygiene Shop marks a significant stride toward enhancing health and well-being across Africa. This action is consistent with the center’s steady dedication to providing partner health care facilities with the necessary equipment to meet the requirements of prestigious health care facilities within urban areas. By providing easy access to essential hygiene products and fostering awareness about the importance of global health, this initiative can uplift communities and improve the continent’s health status. The integration of technology not only facilitates convenience but also signifies a progressive approach toward addressing health care challenges.
– Samantha J. Rentfro
Photo: Flickr
How to Overcome Period Poverty In Bolivia
Socioeconomic Factors
One of the primary drivers of period poverty in Bolivia is the country’s high level of income inequality. With more than 80% of people in rural Bolivia living below the poverty line, it is no surprise many families struggle just to afford their basic needs. For low-income households, buying sanitary products is not affordable, leading to using less hygienic alternatives.
Effects on Education
Insufficient awareness of menstruation contributes significantly to period poverty in Bolivia. Lack of adequate menstrual education leaves many girls and women uninformed about menstruation, causing them to feel ashamed and misinformed. Without proper education, women may not know how to manage their periods hygienically, exacerbating the problem.
UNESCO reports that the teachers in one school report that “boys make fun of girls if they know she is menstruating, they see it as something ugly and icky. However, this is due to a lack of knowledge and guidance from home.”
The consequence is girls are missing school during their menstruation, leading to lower attendance and performance. This can perpetuate the cycle of poverty by being denied educational opportunities and a chance to break free from the cycle of poverty.
Additionally, children learn about periods from their ancestors’ traditions and beliefs. These beliefs are not based on science and are confusing about periods for young girls. Girls are advised not to bathe during their period to avoid health complications like blood clots, stomach pain, irregular cycles and infertility.
Ongoing Efforts
Schools in Bolivia have not yet focused on menstrual hygiene in their education and health care systems. However, they have made progress in improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools.
According to data from the Bolivian Ministry of Education, most rural schools in the country are equipped with only one toilet per school. Moreover, the statistics reveal that 32% of these schools have hand-washing sinks, while 29% lack showers on their premises. Alarmingly, 13% of schools do not have access to clean water.
In response to these sanitation challenges, UNICEF has launched an intervention program targeting rural schools and communities. The first program involves the construction of Urine Diverting Dry (UDD) toilets in 21 rural schools. UDD toilets function by dividing urine from feces, which can be reused for agriculture, mostly in places where water and sewage facilities are scarce. The installation of toilets will be followed by an anthropological study to understand their use in rural Andean regions of Bolivia. Although UDD toilets do not address period poverty directly, they bring various indirect benefits. The list comprises better sanitation and hygiene, increased privacy and dignity, decreased health hazards and water conservation.
Addressing Period Poverty in Bolivia
In conclusion, period poverty in Bolivia is a complex issue with far-reaching consequences for the well-being and empowerment of women and girls. It requires a multifaceted approach, and the following systems need to be put into place to see radical change:
While period poverty in Bolivia has been an ongoing issue, efforts are in place to make a difference. Through continued work, period poverty should become a thing of the past in Bolivia.
– Sophie Higham
Photo: Pixabay
Child Poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Not only did the socio-economic conditions of post-war Bosnia make development difficult, the country’s high exposure to floods, landslides, earthquakes and wildfires posed serious problems. Twenty percent of Bosnia is susceptible to floods, which can severely impact infrastructure and leave thousands homeless.
The Rise of Child Poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina
According to UNICEF, almost all children under the age of four are deprived of at least one dimension of multidimensional poverty. Child poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina is rising at alarming rates. In 2011, 30.6% of children lived in poverty, compared to 23.4% of the total population. The right to education is not standardized within the country, and due to the practical division of the nation, there are numerous cases of discrimination against students based on their origin.
The Impact of Child Poverty on Education
The lack of education perpetuates a vicious cycle of child poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina as the intergenerational poverty transfer is a stark reminder of the need to improve education provisions for all children within the country. Children, adolescents and the rural population are the most affected by poverty within the country and children of ethnic minorities, including the Romani, face increased adversity due to heightened discrimination.
Romani Communities and Poverty
During the war, Romani families had to leave their homes and rarely recovered their houses. Even today, much of the Roma community lives in incredibly harsh conditions and often in extreme poverty. Generally, the education levels for Romani children, and girls in particular, are weak. A report from the European Commission in 2020 found that ethnic discrimination against the Roma community is evident in the provision of services like housing, health care, education and employment. Numerous children are victims of trafficking, mainly young girls and adolescents, who are targets of prostitution rings. These networks kidnap or, less often, pay the parents to take advantage of young girls in Bosnia, in the Balkans region and throughout Europe. However, work by the government and NGOs within the country is being maintained to prevent child trafficking.
Government Support for Poverty
The government implemented the 2020-2023 national strategy, and the State Coordinator produced an annual progress report and coordinated meetings with international organizations and local NGOs. The government has continuously funded these NGOs as they have begun to increasingly involve law enforcement and social workers in potential cases of child trafficking. In cooperation with NGO-run shelters, the government provided accommodation, psycho-social support, medical assistance, food and hygiene and legal assistance.
The government is making strides in eliminating the worst forms of child labor in the country. The Council of Ministers approved the National Action Plan for the Social Inclusion of Roma, which aims to improve education access for Roma children. In addition, the Anti-Trafficking Strike Force expanded its membership to include representatives from outside agencies.
World Vision and UNICEF Assisting with Child Rights
World Vision is another organization that aims to improve child rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It works to improve overall coordination and collaborative action between the government and civil society, as well as improve efforts to remove all barriers present in children’s lives within the country. Its goal is to amplify the voices of young people in the state, which, in turn, empowers them to seek change.
UNICEF is another critical player as their public information campaigns regarding improving child education and early health care reached more than 1.6 million people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they educated 2,294 parents about the importance of child immunizations and worked on air pollution programs through youth activism to encourage discussions with local authorities about preventing respiratory illnesses seen in children.
The work of developmental organizations within Bosnia and Herzegovina is vital in ensuring increased provisions to reduce child poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
– Maryam Rana
Photo: Flickr
USAID Programs in Libya Not Deterred by Cyclone Daniel
In response, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided $1 million in humanitarian assistance along with a Disaster Assistance Response Team. This team conducted needs analyses and connected with Libyan authorities and international partners to remedy the devastations on the ground.
USAID programs have a long history in Libya. Prior to Cyclone Daniel, USAID dedicated more than $178 million across five programs intended to improve democracy, governance and economic growth.
More than 2 million Libyans currently live in poverty, and approximately 125,000 remain internally displaced. The USAID programs in Libya aim to lessen poverty by increasing the capacity of the state to respond to the needs of the people, stimulating the workforce and reducing the prospects of violence.
USAID Programs in Libya
Looking Ahead
The situation in Libya is complicated. After the fall of Gaddafi, Libya split into two rival governments: the UN-supported democracy of Tripoli and the Libyan National Army (LNA). The LNA has shut down several ports for oil exports, suffocating the Libyan economy. As a result, USAID programs that focus on economic reform and business development have become critically important in Libya. With the help of USAID and implementation of its anti-corruption programs, transparency initiatives and legal reform, Libya can rebuild itself into a unified government.
– Anthony Coletta
Photo: Flickr
Exploring Poverty and Urbanization in India
Urbanization can have a positive impact on reducing poverty and improving the lives of the population of any country. UN India states that India has witnessed remarkable urban advancement, with projections indicating that more than 400 million individuals will reside in its cities by 2030. Despite occupying just 3% of the land, cities significantly contribute to India’s GDP, amounting to 60%. This urban expansion has played a pivotal role in reducing poverty across the country, with approximately 80% of the overall poverty reduction attributed to urban growth. However, the challenges have not ended. Rapid urbanization in India has also shed light on some key issues regarding India’s growth and its fight against poverty. Here are four facts about India’s urbanization.
1. Extreme Weather Patterns Contribute to Urbanization
India’s urbanization is inextricably linked with harsh weather events, presenting a complex dynamic. Extreme weather patterns significantly impact Indian rural areas. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and extreme weather events disrupt agriculture, affecting livelihoods and food security. Water scarcity, crop failures and dying livestock compound the vulnerability of rural communities who are left with no option but to migrate to the rapidly urbanizing cities of India to sustain their families. Each year there are approximately 100 million interstate migrants in India.
2. Population Boom in Urban Areas
With the continuous influx of interstate migrants, Indian metros have witnessed an astonishing rise in population over the years. Mumbai experienced significant rural-to-urban migration, hosting a population of 12.5 million, making it India’s most populous metropolis, closely followed by Delhi with 11 million residents. According to the 2011 census, Delhi recorded the world’s fastest urbanization rate, with a 4.1% population increase, while Mumbai’s population grew by 3.1% and Kolkata’s by 2% compared to the 2001 census. For example, by 2015, Delhi had an estimated population of 26 million, Mumbai 24 million and Kolkata 16 million.
3. Urban Poverty
While on one hand India’s rapid urbanization has presented the citizens with grand skyscrapers and been beneficial for many to sustain comfortable, healthy lives, a grim reality persists on the ground level. As cities expand, a significant portion of the population grapples with inadequate housing, lack of basic services and limited access to education and health care. India’s population includes 65.49 million individuals residing in 13.7 million slum households nationwide. Approximately 65% of Indian cities have neighboring slum areas characterized by compact, closely spaced dwellings.
4. Rising Co-morbidities in Urban Areas
India’s urbanization, while propelling economic growth and modernization, has also contributed to a concerning rise in co-morbidities. As urban areas expand, lifestyle changes accompany the shift, with increased consumption of processed foods, sedentary habits and greater exposure to environmental pollutants. These factors have led to a surge in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and respiratory conditions. Urban residents often face higher stress levels, inadequate access to health care and suboptimal living conditions, exacerbating the prevalence of co-morbidities. For example, In urban regions, the prevalence of multimorbidity stands at 9.7%, surpassing the 5.7% rate in rural areas. Among adults aged 40–49 in urban areas, at least one multimorbidity is present in 56–64% of cases, compared to 39–50% in rural settings.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges that have come with urbanization, urbanization in India has also shown largely positive outcomes. Between 2005 and 2021, India witnessed a significant reduction in poverty, as 415 million individuals transitioned out of impoverished conditions. The poverty rate decreased from 55.1% in 2005–06 to 16.4% in 2019–21.
However, the implementation of properly planned programs and schemes is essential to combat the individual issues pertaining to unplanned rapid urbanization. For example, the Pradhan Mantri Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is an innovative government-funded initiative that launched in India in 2018, offering the largest public health insurance globally. Its primary goal is to make health care accessible and affordable, particularly for low-income individuals. Providing a substantial 500,000 rupee insurance coverage per family, the program strives for a comprehensive approach, delivering a wide range of health services rather than selective ones.
India’s urbanization journey is characterized by burgeoning metropolises like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, juxtaposed with smaller cities and towns experiencing their own growth spurts. This transformation brings both promise and challenges. On one hand, the idea of urbanization fosters economic opportunities, technological advancements and improved living standards, while on the other, it strains infrastructure, exacerbates issues like congestion and poses environmental threats.
As India navigates this intricate urbanization process, addressing these issues becomes imperative. Sustainable urban planning, infrastructure development and inclusive policies are key to harnessing the potential of India’s urban centers. By understanding and effectively managing its urbanization, India can aspire to build cities that offer a high quality of life while preserving its rich cultural heritage and natural resources.
– Piyush Plabon Das
Photo: Flickr
3 Charities Operating in Italy
GCAP
Among the charities operating in Italy is GCAP. Supported by many citizens, organizations, trade unions, movements of civil society and associations in Italy, the GCAP refers to their organizations as “the Italian expression of a broader global movement that has the objective of countering the mechanisms that generate poverty and inequality in the world, promoting the adoption of sustainable development policies respecting human rights, the dignity of every person, gender equality, social justice and the environment.” Since 2005, several mobilization activities and international campaigns have taken place to encourage political leaders to stand by their commitments to the country and eradicate poverty.
Other issues raised during these movements include the environment, international conventions and human rights. Basing its vision on respect, dignity, equity and sustainability, here is what GCAP vows in its mission. “We want a world in which the economic system creates wealth for everyone and not just for the few; a world where governments, people and the private sector respect and take care of the planet to be habitable for us and future generations.”
Together with the other national coalitions, GCAP Italy supports all women and men in their battles to achieve greater justice and dignity, brings together the organizations of Italian Civil Society to dialogue with the institutions and intervenes in those processes that perpetuate poverty and social and economic uncertainty; defends and promotes fundamental human rights, gender equity, social justice and security necessary to guarantee universal dignity and peace.”
Caritas Italiana
Founded in 1971, Caritas Italiana is a pastoral organization of the Italian Bishops Conference. Supporting the most vulnerable people, the organization engages in many areas, including homelessness, immigration, mental health and old and new forms of poverty. They work within the Church to raise awareness on the issues surrounding charity — promoting the vitality of positive actions towards the poor. Not only does Caritas Italiana implement charitable actions to help those in need, but they also coordinate emergency responses in tragic disasters in Italy and abroad.
Caritas Italiana is also focused on convincing civil institutions to support the community’s human rights through legislation. The organization conducts research projects related to the causes of poverty and produces analysis. Providing staff training, they emphasize the importance of awakening public opinion and offering helpful services to various groups and movements. The organization remarks that “The deep moral and spiritual principles of dignity, justice, solidarity and stewardship still guide Caritas today.”
EMERGENCY
Having treated more than 12.5 million people across 20 countries, EMERGENCY is an independent organization that provides free, high-quality medical care to victims of war, landmines and poverty — treating one patient every minute. Since 1994, EMERGENCY has promoted respect for human rights, solidarity and a culture of peace. They believe that it is a fundamental human right to receive health care. Their approach to this belief is based on three things — equality, quality and social responsibility. EMERGENCY remark when referencing social responsibility and the government that “Governments must make the health and wellbeing of their citizens a priority. They must set aside the human and economic resources necessary for this end. The health care services governments and humanitarian organizations provide must be free and available to all.”
Since 2006, its work in Italy has received 533,947 consultations. The Italian Constitution states that “The Republic protects health as a fundamental right of the individual and in the interest of the community, and guarantees free treatment to the destitute.” However, due to poverty and the inability to navigate a complex health care system, many Italians will have this right overlooked. EMERGENCY’s Italy Programme strives to support vulnerable communities to receive the correct access to high-quality health care. Some of their positivity projects include providing medical assistance and psychosocial support to agricultural workers in Sicily. As well as implementing an information point for socio-medical counseling in Brescia and mobile clinics around Italy.
Despite the efforts of these charities operating in Italy to irradiate poverty in Italy, Istat revealed in its 2021 report that “At the individual level, there was also a significant increase in the incidence of relative poverty both in national average (which returned to the 2019 levels when it was 14.7%) and, in particular, in the Southern regions (from 22.6% in 2020 to 25.3% in 2021) and the Centre (from 8.9% in 2020 to 10.0% in 2021).”
– Katerina Petrou
Photo: Flickr
Diseases Impacting the Philippines
The Philippine’s Health Care System
The Philippines employs a health care system that blends both public and private services. The national health insurance program, known as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), strives to ensure equitable access to quality health care for all citizens. Despite progress toward health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the emergence of chronic diseases poses a new challenge, particularly in impoverished communities.
The health care system has great hospitals and capable medical providers who are unable to account for the large marginalized populations suffering from diseases impacting the Philippines. Made up of more than 7,500 islands and 20,000 miles of coastline, the Philippines has many remote communities whose medical infrastructure and resources are not adequate. This leads to an uneven distribution of health care resources between urban and rural areas, limited financing and a shortage of health care professionals.
Prominent Statistics
Vaccine-preventable diseases are increasing in the Philippines, “potentially reversing the positive results of decades of successful immunization campaigns.” Since 2019, the country has reported outbreaks of polio, measles, respiratory infections and waterborne diseases. In August 2019, the Department of Health declared a national epidemic due to a dengue outbreak. In November 2019, the Philippines faced significant health challenges. Dengue cases surpassed 370,000, resulting in 1,407 deaths. Additionally, 197 cases of diphtheria led to 47 deaths in October. Measles affected over 42,200 people, causing 560 deaths due to complications. The country, polio-free for 19 years, reported four cases caused by vaccine-derived poliovirus. These outbreaks persist due to low population immunity. It highlights the importance of vaccination to safeguard public health and prevent the re-emergence of previously controlled diseases.
Efforts by NGOs and the Government of Philippines
Thankfully, the World Health Organization’s Immunization Agenda of 2030 aims to make vaccinations available globally by 2030. On June 2, 2021, the Department of Health declared the polio outbreak non-urgent after years of “comprehensive outbreak response actions, including intensified immunization and surveillance activities” in remote areas. The Yale Institute for Global Health, UNICEF and Meta developed five graphic campaigns, four in Filipino and one in English, targeting people aged 18-55 years in the Philippines in order to increase awareness of routine vaccination and routine immunization for children.
Non-communicable diseases impacting the Philippines (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and Ischemic heart disease are also on the rise, “often linked to lifestyle factors such as diet and lack of physical activity.” Furthermore, there has been a recent spike in diseases such as dengue, diphtheria and malaria.
The Government of the Philippines is reducing NCD rates by implementing a multisectoral Strategic Action Plan for NCD prevention and control (2017-2025), a Plan of Action for Nutrition (2017-2022), various tobacco control policies, tobacco and alcohol taxation, parameters for labeling pre-packaged food and the universal health care (UHC) law. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for a one-third reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2030; investing in NCD solutions will reduce approximately 350,000 premature deaths over the next 15 years.
Other Ongoing Efforts
Looking Ahead
Exploring the health challenges in the Philippines could enhance awareness and support the ongoing conversation about public health in the nation. Although the government has made notable progress in tackling public health issues, ongoing trends draw attention to a continuous requirement for collaborative actions from broader stakeholders. This could involve cultivating a global commitment to public health and fostering a united effort to address health concerns.
– Samantha J. Rentfro
Photo: Flickr