With a series of economic and political crises throughout the past decade, Venezuela has become increasingly vulnerable to the rampant spread of HIV with little public accessibility to safe-sex materials and practices. The nation has faced extreme shortages of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in both pharmaceutical and clinical settings, leading to inflated treatment rates. Although there are around 110,000 people expected to be living with HIV/AIDS in Venezuela as of 2020, only 55% have proper access to complete and consistent viral regimens. Tens of thousands of individuals are continuously defenseless to this chronic, deadly virus with many forced to migrate to surrounding nations in the hope of receiving life-saving treatment plans.
Deterioration of Health Care Systems
Venezuela was previously considered one of the most well-suited nations in South America to deter the severity of the HIV/AIDs crisis, instituting free, centralized ART treatment through government funding in 1990s. However, when faced with newfound economic challenges in the early 2010s—the price of oil, a leading export of the nation, drastically plummeting worldwide—many mechanisms necessary for proper maintenance of its healthcare systems began to deteriorate. Hospitals could no longer upkeep effective follow-up and control measures with inaccurate estimations of affected patients.
Amid economic upheaval, the monthly price for ART rose to around $95-100 per month, a burdening cost for low-income citizens. From 2011 to 2015, there was a 75% increase in HIV-related deaths, the greatest amount since 2000. By 2017, there were no hospitals containing ART drugs to distribute, with 85% of pharmacies facing drastic drug shortages. Only 26% of people with HIV were able to acquire regular ART regimens, and more than 90% of individuals who had registered for ART treatment directly through the government did not receive it.
Barriers to Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Venezuela
HIV is a chronic, rapidly evolving virus, with ART serving as a long-term health necessity for those impacted. As many found themselves depleted of sufficient ART treatments, whether due to the heightened cost or sheer unavailability across the nation, they resorted to other temporary strategies to improve their condition: partaking in intermittent treatments or partial-self dosing, oftentimes utilizing expired medication.
Recent research showcased at the 19th European AIDS Conference in 2023 indicated that intermittent dosing of ART drugs increased the overarching rate of virological failure, leading to “concerningly higher” rates of resistance to this therapy. Although intermittent treatment may be beneficial in the short-term, shaping into the next-best option for those unable to obtain regular ART dosages, its long-term sustainability is undermined by these unintended, potentially life-threatening consequences. Even with the 67% coverage of ART for people with HIV reached by 2022, only 7% have obtained an undetectable (un-transmittable) status, speaking to the continued demand for full, regular ART dosages.
The primary preventative measure for HIV/AIDs is the usage of condoms, allowing for the practice of safe sex without the possibility of transmitting the virus. However, inflation has caused the price of condoms in Venezuela to escalate to over three times the monthly minimum wage. Education on HIV prevention is still stigmatized, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals, leading to an inability to navigate and employ fundamental safety measures.
Marginalized Communities
The presence of HIV/AIDS in Venezuela has disproportionately affected marginalized groups, highlighting the ongoing discrepancies in ART access. In 2022, there are an estimated 15,000 transgender individuals in Venezuela, with an HIV prevalence rate of around 35.8%, according to the Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN). Additionally, men who have sex with men (MSM) were found to have an HIV prevalence rate of 23.3%, contrasting the national 0.5% of the total population in Venezuela. Alongside other systemic barriers, many have noted the lack of enforcement of anti-discrimination laws instated throughout the Venezuelan health care system, leaving many LGBTQ+ individuals deprived of proper viral regimens.
The Warao people, the second-largest indigenous group in Venezuela, are another demographic experiencing the severity of the HIV/AIDs crisis. There is an overall prevalence rate of 10% among their population, although many doctors have suggested this rate may be as high as 35% among males. Removed from ART and other treatment measures that can properly manage the virus, many HIV-positive members of the community have ultimately passed away after developing end-stage AIDs.
Solutions for HIV/AIDS in Venezuela
Without acquiring the necessary ART from the government, many people with HIV in Venezuela have been forced to migrate to surrounding nations with more inexpensive treatment options, according to the HPN. And yet, as they relocated, another issue of xenophobia arose: while ART was now objectively more accessible, there were new barriers to treatment including health prejudice and discrimination.
In 2020, UNAIDS established a partnership with UNESCO to allow Venezuelan migrants “health education, prevention, and health promotion,” centering a future-oriented approach to ending the HIV/AIDs crisis. This collaboration emphasizes the physical and mental well-being of Venezuelan migrants, promoting sex education curriculums that prevent the onset of violence and discrimination. Activists have similarly focused on improving care for those living with HIV, such as Nilsa Hernandez, founder of Valientes Por La Vida (Brave for Life). A Venezuelan herself, she crossed the border to Brazil to continue receiving ART after being depleted of immunity for over two years. Hernandez hopes to support other migrants with HIV with guidance on adapting to life in Brazil, providing them with the necessary resources to navigate the country while obtaining access to viral regimens.
The rebuilding of Venezuela’s health care system—with international organizations continuously supporting migrants and other marginalized groups—reveals a hopeful path to mitigating HIV/AIDs in Venezuela by 2030.
– Eileen Lincoln
Eileen is based in Fairfax, VA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
Partners in Health Aids Poverty Reduction Through Health Care
Partners in Health (PIH) is a nonprofit global health organization committed to providing better health care to people struggling with extreme poverty across 11 countries. PIH strives to build relationships with sister organizations in countries where poverty is a major issue, aiming to improve health care access. It achieves this through two main approaches: delivering the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need and serving as an antidote to despair.
Poor health care and overall health significantly contribute to poverty in a country’s population. Many people living in poverty cannot afford treatment, leading to untreated illnesses and long-term health issues. However, stronger health care systems enable developing countries to enhance the overall status of their health services. Providing better health care means the population is healthier, can work, attend school and thrive rather than survive. Additionally, improving health care in developing nations boosts the economy, as a healthier population is more productive, contributes more effectively to the workforce and stimulates economic growth.
Global Reach and Mental Health Initiatives
PIH operates in countries across four continents, including Haiti, Rwanda, Peru, Mexico, Malawi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Kazakhstan and the United States (U.S.). The organization strengthens public health systems to ensure patients receive necessary care in their homes, local clinics or regional hospitals. Globally, PIH employs approximately 18,000 staff members, 99% of whom are from the countries where it serves.
PIH has established the Cross-Site Mental Health Program as one of its initiatives to support mental health development in the countries where it operates. Unlike many other NGOs, PIH strongly emphasizes community-based, primary care and hospital-linked mental health systems. This program addresses severe mental health conditions in areas that typically have little support for mental health.
Vision and Strategy for Mental Health Care
Many factors contribute to mental health issues, with some of the primary ones being homelessness or lack of home security, unemployment or unreliable income and family breakdowns, often due to the separation of families. While numerous other factors can affect mental health, many people living in poverty experience at least one of these issues. PIH aims to make the greatest impact on these individuals.
Partners in Health (PIH) aims to enhance the lives of poorer communities globally by increasing mental and psychological support in developing countries. Through its PIH Mental Health Value Chain, the organization strives to ensure that people receive the treatment they need, enabling them to lead better lives and escape poverty. The PIH model is built on four key pillars designed to improve mental health care in developing nations and enhance lives through better health care. The key pillars are as follows:
Health Care Improvements in Haiti
By improving health care related to mental illnesses, developing nations can boost morale and begin to reduce poverty levels, as poverty and mental health issues are often interconnected. People experiencing poverty are typically more at risk of mental health issues, so addressing mental health can also help decrease poverty. An example of Partners in Health’s (PIH) efforts to provide better mental health care is its work in Haiti, a developing Caribbean island nation with a long history of economic and political turmoil, natural disasters and postcolonial exploitation.
PIH and its partners have developed a more reliable health care system in Haiti, previously unavailable in the country. The program has integrated mental health into primary care through a task-sharing model in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH). As a result, psychologists, social workers, nurses, physicians and community health workers have become more common in the country, enhancing health care provision. This improvement means that people living in poverty have better access to care and increased chances of recovery. An enhanced health care system benefits developing countries in four main ways: it boosts productivity, reduces absenteeism from work and school, decreases poverty and improves quality of life.
Looking Ahead
As Partners in Health (PIH) expands its efforts to provide health care and mental health services in impoverished regions, the organization continues to make a significant impact on global health outcomes. By collaborating with local entities and enhancing health care infrastructure, PIH is fostering resilience and a better quality of life for communities in need. Moving forward, its work in improving health care access and mental health support promises to contribute to the economic and social development of the countries it serves, leading to more sustainable and healthier futures.
– Lachlan Wellington
Photo: Flickr
Alleviating Poverty in Post-Conflict Cities: UN Plans for Mogadishu
The UNDP
In the past eight years, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been a beacon of hope, supporting stable and legitimate governments in states transitioning out of FCS. This concerted effort has yielded tangible results, improving stability and increasing development in these transitioning countries.
In collaboration with the United Nations (U.N.)-Habitat, the UNDP has spearheaded reconstruction initiatives for transitionary regions, demonstrating the potential for significant poverty reduction in post-conflict cities.
Pathways for Peace
The 2018 U.N. publication “Pathways for Peace” offers a compelling solution. The Institute for Economics and Peace’s research reveals a striking cost-effectiveness ratio for conflict resolution: 1:16. This means that investing in peace and development saves donor nations money in foreign aid over time and significantly contributes to poverty reduction in post-conflict cities. The success of these strategies is evident in the case of Mogadishu, Somalia.
U.N.-Habitat Plans for Mogadishu
Since 2012, Mogadishu has been one of the fastest-growing regions in Somalia. As a result of several years of internal conflict, the city and municipality surrounding it lack the necessary infrastructure and the general information needed to create strategic urban plans.
Following the 2014 Urban Analysis of Mogadishu conducted, the U.N. developed five plans for the city’s all-around development and socially sustainable growth. Projects one and two focus on building or redeveloping highway systems that connect the city with the surrounding municipality.
Project three specifically affects the rehabilitation and historical preservation of the medieval historic districts, specifically by developing drainage and waste disposal centers within the districts. While it is currently impossible to restore the entirety of the “old town,” developers plan to improve the district with smart tourism and new business opportunities within vacant buildings.
Project four hopes to expand market access within urban Mogadishu while expanding public transportation opportunities to and around market centers. Finally, Project Five plans to redevelop public spaces with the input of the districts of Mogadishu to redevelop public places that are significant to the communities they foster.
Final Remark on Plans for Mogadishu
All projects being researched and prepared are based on the relative stability of Mogadishu. Poverty reduction-centric planning and aid can only work in regions of peace; poverty in post-conflict cities can be alleviated more consistently than FCS-based poverty. By investing in peace, poverty can be reduced for more than 74 million people, and organizations such as the U.N. and World Bank can create localized programs and initiatives to allow communities to rebuild themselves.
– Jamie Sackett
Photo: Flickr
Global Engineering Is Helping Impoverished Communities
Additionally, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently established the K. Lisa Yang Global Engineering and Research (GEAR) Center, thanks to a $28 million donation from philanthropist Lisa Yang. The GEAR Center focuses on applying engineering research to benefit resource-strained communities.
What Is Global Engineering?
Research Universities like the University of Colorado Boulder believe that global engineering is the application of engineering tools and technology to provide equitable access to safe water, sanitation, energy, food, shelter and infrastructure. The university’s ongoing research projects have included delivering cookstoves and water filters to households in Rwanda to prevent disease and providing research analysis on the safety of reconstructed shelters for hurricane disaster relief in the Philippines and Puerto Rico.
Furthermore, in May 2024, the university visited Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, to communicate and train with the Government of Armenia, local communities, students and faculty at Yerevan University on modern water management. University of Colorado Boulder also provided a program for Armenian students to understand water resource management, simulation modeling and data analytics.
Engineering is helping address the fact that billions of people worldwide face threats to their health due to poverty. At MIT’s new GEAR Center, a team of MIT researchers and engineers plan to utilize new technologies and science to face real-world global health issues. The team has already visited the Middle East and North Africa, providing water-saving and solar-powered irrigation solutions through exploratory field research.
The Future of Global Engineering?
The global engineering program at the University of Colorado wants to continue to evolve engineering education to adapt to the changing world. The program wants to train future engineers not just in science and technology but also in global development and equity. An interdisciplinary approach to the field of engineering means knowing how engineers can help global poverty reduction and improve the livelihood of people on a global scale.
At MIT, global engineering is helping a new generation of engineers apply research and design strategies to help impoverished communities and meet global challenges. “These talented young students, postdocs and staff have the potential to reach across disciplines — and across the globe — to truly transform the impact engineering can have in the future,” said Dean of Engineering Anantha Chandrakasan.
– Jacob Buckner
Photo: Flickr
The Effectiveness of Welfare Programs in Afghanistan
Poverty and Food Insecurity in Afghanistan
The Taliban takeover in 2021 increased displacement throughout Afghanistan displacing 3.2 million people from their homes. Most local and international NGOs stopped during that time but still held legal entity status. Samira Sayed Rahman, Afghanistan director of advocacy from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) stated, “Increasing hunger, natural disasters, unemployment, a banking and liquidity crisis, rights-violating restrictions on women and girls and the lack of a functioning economy mean Afghans are facing a multitude of simultaneous crises.”
More than 17 million Afghans face the daily threat of food insecurity. According to the World Food Program (WFP), Afghanistan is one of the largest global humanitarian crises to exist at the moment. With a population of 40.8 million people, 28.8 million of Afghanistan’s population needs assistance to alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity.
Causes of Poverty and Food Insecurity
Afghanistan faces multiple challenges contributing to 40% of its population facing food insecurity. These include a crumbling economy, recent floods, isolation, frequent earthquakes, recurring droughts, the impact of COVID-19, soaring food prices, the spread of illness, a water crisis and limited employment opportunities. Currently, international aid organizations subsidize more than 75% of Afghanistan’s public spending. Moreover, Afghanistan’s central bank funds remain frozen because the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has not agreed to the conditions proposed by the Alliance for Human Rights in Afghanistan.
During the Taliban takeover in 2021, the Taliban effectively infiltrated most U.N.-managed programs. In response, several human rights organizations convened in March 2022 and established the Alliance for Human Rights in Afghanistan. This alliance now helps these organizations monitor the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan.
Welfare Organizations in Afghanistan
The people of Afghanistan need long-term sustainable solutions. Due to Afghanistan’s long-term economic crisis, it is difficult to assess the long-term impact each organization has had. However, here are a few key organizations with active welfare programs in Afghanistan:
Looking Ahead
Organizations and welfare programs in Afghanistan, including the Organization of Human Welfare (OHW), continue to serve states by stabilizing livelihoods and promoting resilience. Its effectiveness and impact depend on economic growth and change. Moreover, by providing education and training, multiple welfare organizations aim to shift the focus of the Afghan people from crisis to growth, reduce poverty and decrease their dependency on international aid in the future.
– Pamela Fenton
Photo: Unsplash
Mercy for Haiti
In 2022, the population was reported to be 11.58 million people. This suggests that more than half of the Haitian population lives in poverty. Statistics also show that about one in five kids die before the age of 6 and that more than 400,000 children are orphans because of the country’s circumstances. However, the people of Haiti are being led to change with the help of a nonprofit organization.
The Mighty Fall
Instability can be blamed for Haiti’s fall from the top. Haiti constantly finds itself in a battle with instability caused by weather, political, social and developmental instability. Examples of this can be seen in its misplaced use of disaster aid and in its lack of access to work services. These actions have caused the country to rely on external revenue and farming. However, with the loss of value in its currency, not even this is enough to keep the nation afloat.
Political and social instability is another thing that Haiti has seen time and time again. Examples are the assassination of the nation’s president in July of 2021 and the population continuing to face tragedy with the inability to support themselves and family. Haiti is also home to gangs that prevent its people from leading their lives. These gangs have ruined many homes and families.
And so, between its unfavorable weather conditions from being placed on a fault line, facing debt with currency deflation and a lack of suitable income and gang violence, Haiti has found itself stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Mercy for Haiti
Despite the odds against it, Haiti has been shown grace by a nonprofit organization called Mercy International. Mercy International was founded by Dr. John Leigner, who felt “led” to aid the people of Haiti after he visited the country in 1974. With more than 100 visits and more than 50 years of work, Leigner and Mercy International are making great impacts.
Mercy International aims to rebuild the community with a helping hand from the gospel. This aim is followed through projects for medical facilities, housing and much more. The movement of this trajectory is nothing short of great for Haiti, considering the mass amounts of poverty, homelessness and orphans in the country.
Mercy’s Impacts in Haiti
Mercy International has established at least three villages in Haiti. This has enabled many residents to move from tent cities into permanent homes. In response to the devastating earthquakes in 2010 and 2020, as well as the 2016 hurricane, Mercy International has been deeply committed to addressing the urgent needs of the Haitian people.
Following these catastrophes, Mercy International built its first village in 2010, providing housing for around 700 people. Despite the subsequent storms, Mercy International persisted, establishing two more villages in southern Haiti. These villages offer more than just housing; they support residents with churches, educational programs and food initiatives.
The initiative’s educational programs in these villages have been particularly successful, resulting in many college graduates. This has been made possible through the dedication of volunteers, sponsorship and donations.
A Good Change
The work of Mercy International is crucial in a country like Haiti, where approximately 1,300 tent cities house an estimated 1.5 million people. Additionally, less than 60% of children attend primary school and 80% do not attend secondary school. The villages, education and supportive community provided by Mercy International are incredibly needed and impactful for the people.
Thanks to Mercy International, Haiti now has three new villages. This is in addition to education, housing, health care and food to support its citizens. As Mercy International continues to lead change in Haiti, more lives will be touched and more change will be seen.
– Yeliz Turkdil
Photo: Fickr
5 Shark Tank Alumni Fighting Poverty
5 Shark Tank Alumni Fighting Poverty
Looking Ahead
Shark Tank and its international counterparts have showcased entrepreneurs dedicated to fighting global poverty through innovative solutions. Businesses such as Yellow Leaf, X-Torch, LuminAID, Grace and Lace and TaDAH Foods demonstrate how entrepreneurial ventures can potentially make significant social impacts by supporting vulnerable communities and addressing critical needs. These companies have provided sustainable livelihoods, essential resources and humanitarian aid, highlighting the transformative potential of socially conscious business practices. As more entrepreneurs follow suit, the intersection of business and social good promises to foster greater economic and social change worldwide.
– Meredith Wyrick
Photo: Flickr
CIRCLE Alliance: Increasing Circular Plastic Economies
They aim to find solutions to scale the work already being done through their $21 million investment. Through this and by focusing on increasing circular plastics economies, CIRCLE will work to reduce the use and waste of plastic products. CIRCLE’s initial plan is to launch projects in four key countries: India, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Within these countries, CIRCLE will focus efforts on those who already perform most of the collection and disposal of waste – women.
Plastic in CIRCLE’s Key Countries
What Are Circular Plastic Economies?
In circular plastic economies, plastic waste is reduced by finding solutions to recycle and reuse plastic products that are currently being thrown away. Plastic, a material used globally, is estimated to double in production in the next 20 years. We are creating and producing new plastics daily and therein lies the problem. The world currently creates more plastic than is recycled for reuse. Currently, 84% of all plastic created is disposed of in landfills, fires or the ocean.
Globally, plastics are mostly operating in a “linear take-make-waste model,” a term coined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a leader in circular economy creation and research. With the introduction of circular plastic economies, the economic value of production is recouped. Additionally, the material does not find its way into the environment.
CIRCLE Alliance’s Investment in Entrepreneurs
CIRCLE Alliance has already shown its dedication to the cause and displayed how circular plastic economies promote poverty reduction. In the Philippines, for example, lives Riza Santoyo. Her inspiring story starts with a self-funded waste-collecting business in her small town. She used the resources available to her to collect waste, making about $2 a day. CIRCLE Alliance’s investment in equipment for Santoyo allowed her to increase not only her efficiency and productivity in waste collection but also her income. The efforts that the CIRCLE Alliance is making in these key countries are at the intersection of sustainability and poverty reduction.
Expand Producer Responsibility
Another initiative to increase circular plastic economies is to expand producers’ and companies’ responsibility for the aftermath of their products. To combat the myth that single-use plastic is the most cost-effective method, USAID, EY and Unilever are working to promote systems of use called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR Systems). These systems flip the responsibility of waste removal from the consumer to the producer. It forces the producer to evaluate the true cost of their single-use product. This has encouraged companies to make their plastic recyclable and to think of solutions outside of plastic for their products.
– Carlee Unger
Photo: Pexels
HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone
The Prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone
According to UNAIDS, there were 77,000 adults and children living with HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone in 2022, an incidence of 0.44 per 1,000 of the population. Of these people, 59,000 Sierra Leoneans know their status, shedding light on the increasing awareness of the disease within the nation.
However, this figure is below the 95-95-95 target from the UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy. This outlines the organization’s aims for 95% of those living with HIV to know their status, 95% of these people to be on ART and 95% of those on treatment to be virally suppressed.
There has been progress towards this goal, however, with the country seeing a 39% reduction in new HIV infections and a 42% reduction in AIDS-related deaths since 2010. Furthermore, almost all of those affected by the disease are on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), in line with UNAIDS’s strategy and highlighting increased accessibility to the treatment.
Yet the prevalence of HIV/AIDS amongst the younger population of Sierra Leone remains relatively high. The World Bank indicates that 6,700 children aged 0 to 14 are living with the disease, yet only 1,704 are receiving ART, according to UNAIDS.
Gender-Based Inequalities
The gender-based inequalities of HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone amongst young women are also an issue for the nation. The prevalence rate of the disease is double for women (1%) compared to men (0.5%) and The National Institutes of Health also remarks that over a third of women have encountered at least one HIV risk factor, raising issues surrounding sexual violence towards young women and girls.
In 2019, UNAIDS named Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone, as champion for the charity, in hopes of raising awareness of the gender-based inequalities of HIV/AIDS infections. As “a strong advocate for the empowerment of girls and young women,” according to UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, this position will hopefully produce more conversations on this issue, and mobilise the younger generation to become more conscious of the disease. By introducing the Hands Off Our Girls campaign, Maada Bio is striving to protect young women in Sierra Leone from rape and early marriages which are seen to be key factors in the transmission of HIV/AIDS in young women.
The Stigma
Awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone is key for changing preconceptions of the condition, and will hopefully mobilize more people to seek regular checkups and screenings. UNAIDS data shows that 67.1% of the population would not buy fresh vegetables from a shopkeeper with HIV, and a further 53% do not think that children living with the condition should be able to attend school with children who are HIV-negative. This highlights the social stigmatism towards HIV/AIDS that is still present in Sierra Leone.
Furthermore, amongst the younger Sierra Leoneans aged 15-24, only 29.13% know about HIV prevention. It is therefore imperative that information about the disease is accessible to young people, particularly about transmition, to reduce further infection rates.
With the HIV transmission rates falling, and the First Lady as the new champion of UNAIDS in the country, HIV/AIDS in Sierra Leone could soon reach the goals of the 95-95-95 strategy. However, education amongst the younger population is vital to prevent the further spread of the disease and encourage more to get regular screening to receive life-saving treatment.
– Ben Kane
Photo: Flickr
Addressing Recent Outbreaks of HIV/AIDS in Venezuela
Deterioration of Health Care Systems
Venezuela was previously considered one of the most well-suited nations in South America to deter the severity of the HIV/AIDs crisis, instituting free, centralized ART treatment through government funding in 1990s. However, when faced with newfound economic challenges in the early 2010s—the price of oil, a leading export of the nation, drastically plummeting worldwide—many mechanisms necessary for proper maintenance of its healthcare systems began to deteriorate. Hospitals could no longer upkeep effective follow-up and control measures with inaccurate estimations of affected patients.
Amid economic upheaval, the monthly price for ART rose to around $95-100 per month, a burdening cost for low-income citizens. From 2011 to 2015, there was a 75% increase in HIV-related deaths, the greatest amount since 2000. By 2017, there were no hospitals containing ART drugs to distribute, with 85% of pharmacies facing drastic drug shortages. Only 26% of people with HIV were able to acquire regular ART regimens, and more than 90% of individuals who had registered for ART treatment directly through the government did not receive it.
Barriers to Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Venezuela
HIV is a chronic, rapidly evolving virus, with ART serving as a long-term health necessity for those impacted. As many found themselves depleted of sufficient ART treatments, whether due to the heightened cost or sheer unavailability across the nation, they resorted to other temporary strategies to improve their condition: partaking in intermittent treatments or partial-self dosing, oftentimes utilizing expired medication.
Recent research showcased at the 19th European AIDS Conference in 2023 indicated that intermittent dosing of ART drugs increased the overarching rate of virological failure, leading to “concerningly higher” rates of resistance to this therapy. Although intermittent treatment may be beneficial in the short-term, shaping into the next-best option for those unable to obtain regular ART dosages, its long-term sustainability is undermined by these unintended, potentially life-threatening consequences. Even with the 67% coverage of ART for people with HIV reached by 2022, only 7% have obtained an undetectable (un-transmittable) status, speaking to the continued demand for full, regular ART dosages.
The primary preventative measure for HIV/AIDs is the usage of condoms, allowing for the practice of safe sex without the possibility of transmitting the virus. However, inflation has caused the price of condoms in Venezuela to escalate to over three times the monthly minimum wage. Education on HIV prevention is still stigmatized, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals, leading to an inability to navigate and employ fundamental safety measures.
Marginalized Communities
The presence of HIV/AIDS in Venezuela has disproportionately affected marginalized groups, highlighting the ongoing discrepancies in ART access. In 2022, there are an estimated 15,000 transgender individuals in Venezuela, with an HIV prevalence rate of around 35.8%, according to the Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN). Additionally, men who have sex with men (MSM) were found to have an HIV prevalence rate of 23.3%, contrasting the national 0.5% of the total population in Venezuela. Alongside other systemic barriers, many have noted the lack of enforcement of anti-discrimination laws instated throughout the Venezuelan health care system, leaving many LGBTQ+ individuals deprived of proper viral regimens.
The Warao people, the second-largest indigenous group in Venezuela, are another demographic experiencing the severity of the HIV/AIDs crisis. There is an overall prevalence rate of 10% among their population, although many doctors have suggested this rate may be as high as 35% among males. Removed from ART and other treatment measures that can properly manage the virus, many HIV-positive members of the community have ultimately passed away after developing end-stage AIDs.
Solutions for HIV/AIDS in Venezuela
Without acquiring the necessary ART from the government, many people with HIV in Venezuela have been forced to migrate to surrounding nations with more inexpensive treatment options, according to the HPN. And yet, as they relocated, another issue of xenophobia arose: while ART was now objectively more accessible, there were new barriers to treatment including health prejudice and discrimination.
In 2020, UNAIDS established a partnership with UNESCO to allow Venezuelan migrants “health education, prevention, and health promotion,” centering a future-oriented approach to ending the HIV/AIDs crisis. This collaboration emphasizes the physical and mental well-being of Venezuelan migrants, promoting sex education curriculums that prevent the onset of violence and discrimination. Activists have similarly focused on improving care for those living with HIV, such as Nilsa Hernandez, founder of Valientes Por La Vida (Brave for Life). A Venezuelan herself, she crossed the border to Brazil to continue receiving ART after being depleted of immunity for over two years. Hernandez hopes to support other migrants with HIV with guidance on adapting to life in Brazil, providing them with the necessary resources to navigate the country while obtaining access to viral regimens.
The rebuilding of Venezuela’s health care system—with international organizations continuously supporting migrants and other marginalized groups—reveals a hopeful path to mitigating HIV/AIDs in Venezuela by 2030.
– Eileen Lincoln
Photo: Flickr
Gender Wage Gap in Singapore
Unequal Earnings
The gender dimension is one of the most significant contributors to economic disparity and poverty in Singapore. Recent data from MOM highlights that women, despite having equivalent working hours and qualifications, earn less than men. These unequal earnings impact women’s financial stability, limiting their access to essential services such as health care and hindering their ability to save adequately in the Central Provident Fund (CPF). Women have about 40% less CPF savings compared to men, which underscores why 64% of women, versus 38% of men, depend on immediate family members for assistance with medical expenses, according to a 2010 health-care financing study by the National University of Singapore and Singapore Health Services.
The adjusted gender gap involving human capital and the labor market is 6.0% in 2023, lower than 6.7% in 2018. According to MOM’s report, the adjusted gap “is the unexplained component from the decomposition, which is the remaining gender pay gap between men and women employees after adjusting for both human capital and labor market factors where data was available.” The report considered, particularly, the occupational segregation of male and female employees as the main driver behind the gender wage gap in Singapore.
The report concluded three factors that could impact women’s choice of occupations: personality and skills; psychological traits; social norms and values. “These factors would continue to influence one’s choice of occupation, their career progression and earnings,” according to the report.
Unfair Treatment
A recent survey implied that in 2023, female employees still think they are not treated fairly regarding job compensation. In Singapore, 59% of investigated women employees said that they had an unfair base salary, and only 33% of them felt they were satisfied with the payment. Although the job market enhanced advocacy for diversity and encouraged women to have career paths in STEM, the fight against gender wage bias still has a long journey.
The gender pay gap is a concerned issue for the government and society in Singapore. In 2022, the White Paper on Singapore Women’s Development aimed to support female employees in acquiring equal wages and flexibility in the workplace. In a total of 115 pages, the White Paper gave a call to all Singaporeans to equal job opportunities, caregiver support, mindset shifts in the workplace, etc.
Minister Tan See Leng said that a closure in the gender wage gap in Singapore might need a “multi-pronged approach.” Fortunately, the Singapore government is striving for more equality in the job market by partnering with schools, industry, and the community to implement the SG Women in Tech movement, aiming to train and involve more talented female employees in the tech industry.
Tan also mentioned that the government has been advocating for equal sharing of caregiving responsibilities in families by “increasing Government-paid paternity leave from two weeks to four weeks.” MOM has introduced a guideline on Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) to assist employee’s requests for FWA. The government will also introduce the Workplace Fairness Legislation that sets goals to protect employees from discrimination in the workplace, according to the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).
Increase in PMET Occupations
By 2018, the number of women who have at least a diploma qualification rose to 71%, which is almost double higher than that in 2002, according to a 2020 report. While traditional occupations such as nurse and accountant still significantly represent women’s labor market in Singapore, there is a large increase in women’s share among professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs). From 2018 to 2023, the percentage increase in female PMET occupations is 2.5% more than that in males, according to MOM.
With the aid of Flexible Work Arrangements, women now have increasing participation in economic activity by enjoying equal educational and workplace opportunities. In the past decade, female employment for ages 25-64 increased from 69.2% to 76.6%, and the employment gap with men has decreased from 20.1 to 12.4 percentage points.
The Singapore government also works with the Council for Board Diversity to improve women’s share on the boards of the top 100 companies listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX). The percentage of women on boards increased from 7.5% in 2013 to 22.7% in 2023. Statutory Boards also had a nearly 10% increase in women’s representation, according to a 2024 report.
– Cindy Hong
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