Biological and gender-related discrepancies influence health significantly more in developing countries than in developed ones. For example, due to sociocultural factors, women’s health in South Africa is jeopardized. Some of the reasons for this include unequal relationships of power between women and men, social norms bolstering the decrease in girls’ education and job opportunities, as well as the encouragement of the importance of women’s reproductive role.
Maternal Mortality
Compared with other African countries, South Africa has one of the lowest rates of maternal mortality. The sub-Saharan nation has seen a decline in such deaths from 150 per 100,000 births in 1998 to 113 per 100,000 in 2019. Nonetheless, the leading causes of maternal mortality in South Africa are major obstetric hemorrhage (MOH), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related infections.
MOH – mostly occurring postpartum – is characterized by severe blood loss and provokes anemia, multi-organ failure and hysterectomy, disseminated intravascular coagulation and long-term trauma. Unskilled or understaffed birth attendance, delivery in poorly equipped facilities and lack of necessary obstetric care supplies (e.g., blood transfusion) are all factors that increase the likelihood of maternal death by MOH.
Hypertension is the most common disorder that occurs during pregnancy, with four types: chronic, gestational, (pre)eclampsia and chronic hypertension with superimposed (pre)eclampsia. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) defines it as “clinic maternal systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg on two or more occasions at least four hours apart.”
HIV is a sexually transmitted, lifelong condition that harms the body’s immune system. Many people experience flu-like symptoms, but others do not show any signs at all. The virus can be treated with effective medical care; nevertheless, if left untreated, it can develop into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and ultimately lead to death. The virus indirectly causes maternal mortality, as it triggers increased susceptibility to infections (e.g., pneumonia, malaria and tuberculosis). Many pregnant women are dying in South Africa because they do not attend antenatal care services for fear of having their HIV status revealed.
Former Secretary General of Amnesty International Salil Shetty, said: “It is unacceptable that pregnant women and girls are continuing to die in South Africa because they fear their HIV status will be revealed or because of a lack of transportation or basic health and sexuality education. This cannot continue”. “The South African government must ensure all departments work together to urgently address all the barriers that place the health of pregnant women and girls at risk,” said Shetty.
HIV Education and Testing
There is a lot of stigma surrounding HIV-related topics in many communities – which increases women’s fear of discriminatory treatment if they test positive for the virus. South Africa has the highest rate of HIV in the world, with approximately 7.5 million infected inhabitants in 2021 – 60% of whom were women. Young women aged 15-24 are at greater risk of contracting the virus; in fact, they are four times more vulnerable than men in that age range. HIV education in schools can not only enhance safer sexual intercourse, but it can also incite pregnant young girls to get tested for disease and if the result comes back positive, prevent mother-to-child transmission by taking medication.
However, gender inequalities, as well as conflicting cultural and traditional beliefs, significantly affect the teaching of and discussion about sexuality in the classroom. For example, teachers must follow guidelines implemented by the school, which include language use. More specifically, they cannot use terminology that might be deemed vulgar to the audience. As such, sensitive topics, such as sexual health, are not openly discussed, thereby compromising women’s health in South Africa.
In many health clinics, women and girls living with HIV are treated differently than those who are not. That is, they must stand in separate queues for their antiretroviral medication, schedule different days for medical appointments and have other colored antenatal files.
Shetty said: “While HIV testing is an important public health intervention, it must be done in a manner that respects the rights of women and girls and does not expose them to additional harm. It is deeply worrying that the privacy of pregnant women and girls is not respected in health facilities. The South African government must take urgent steps to correct this.”
It is vital that health care workers in South Africa receive additional training on providing quality care that is both free of judgment and stigma and that women and girls accessing sexual and reproductive health services can trust that their confidentiality will be respected,” said Shetty.
Accessing Healthcare Services in South Africa
Most South Africans live within a 7km radius of a health care facility, while others are based 2km away from one. Despite the proximity, transport to health services is a struggle for women due to the shortage of available public transport services. In the rural provinces, some roads are impassable, especially after rainfall and even when the ground is dry, most ambulances will not drive beyond a certain point on specific routes. “The South African government must build better road networks in these rural provinces to guarantee access to healthcare facilities. The government must also ensure that ambulances are always available to transport those who are in need,” said Shetty.
Looking Ahead To Improve Women’s Health in South Africa
The South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (SASOG) strives to achieve excellence and equity in the health of South African women. To achieve this, SASOG puts the promotion of the highest standards in clinical practice, training and research in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the support of continuous professional development at the forefront. Overall, SASOG pledges to redress healthcare injustices by eradicating gender oppression and inequality to enhance women’s health in South Africa.
– Abigail Roch
Photo: Pixabay
Women’s Health in South Africa
Maternal Mortality
Compared with other African countries, South Africa has one of the lowest rates of maternal mortality. The sub-Saharan nation has seen a decline in such deaths from 150 per 100,000 births in 1998 to 113 per 100,000 in 2019. Nonetheless, the leading causes of maternal mortality in South Africa are major obstetric hemorrhage (MOH), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related infections.
MOH – mostly occurring postpartum – is characterized by severe blood loss and provokes anemia, multi-organ failure and hysterectomy, disseminated intravascular coagulation and long-term trauma. Unskilled or understaffed birth attendance, delivery in poorly equipped facilities and lack of necessary obstetric care supplies (e.g., blood transfusion) are all factors that increase the likelihood of maternal death by MOH.
Hypertension is the most common disorder that occurs during pregnancy, with four types: chronic, gestational, (pre)eclampsia and chronic hypertension with superimposed (pre)eclampsia. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) defines it as “clinic maternal systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg on two or more occasions at least four hours apart.”
HIV is a sexually transmitted, lifelong condition that harms the body’s immune system. Many people experience flu-like symptoms, but others do not show any signs at all. The virus can be treated with effective medical care; nevertheless, if left untreated, it can develop into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and ultimately lead to death. The virus indirectly causes maternal mortality, as it triggers increased susceptibility to infections (e.g., pneumonia, malaria and tuberculosis). Many pregnant women are dying in South Africa because they do not attend antenatal care services for fear of having their HIV status revealed.
Former Secretary General of Amnesty International Salil Shetty, said: “It is unacceptable that pregnant women and girls are continuing to die in South Africa because they fear their HIV status will be revealed or because of a lack of transportation or basic health and sexuality education. This cannot continue”. “The South African government must ensure all departments work together to urgently address all the barriers that place the health of pregnant women and girls at risk,” said Shetty.
HIV Education and Testing
There is a lot of stigma surrounding HIV-related topics in many communities – which increases women’s fear of discriminatory treatment if they test positive for the virus. South Africa has the highest rate of HIV in the world, with approximately 7.5 million infected inhabitants in 2021 – 60% of whom were women. Young women aged 15-24 are at greater risk of contracting the virus; in fact, they are four times more vulnerable than men in that age range. HIV education in schools can not only enhance safer sexual intercourse, but it can also incite pregnant young girls to get tested for disease and if the result comes back positive, prevent mother-to-child transmission by taking medication.
However, gender inequalities, as well as conflicting cultural and traditional beliefs, significantly affect the teaching of and discussion about sexuality in the classroom. For example, teachers must follow guidelines implemented by the school, which include language use. More specifically, they cannot use terminology that might be deemed vulgar to the audience. As such, sensitive topics, such as sexual health, are not openly discussed, thereby compromising women’s health in South Africa.
In many health clinics, women and girls living with HIV are treated differently than those who are not. That is, they must stand in separate queues for their antiretroviral medication, schedule different days for medical appointments and have other colored antenatal files.
Shetty said: “While HIV testing is an important public health intervention, it must be done in a manner that respects the rights of women and girls and does not expose them to additional harm. It is deeply worrying that the privacy of pregnant women and girls is not respected in health facilities. The South African government must take urgent steps to correct this.”
It is vital that health care workers in South Africa receive additional training on providing quality care that is both free of judgment and stigma and that women and girls accessing sexual and reproductive health services can trust that their confidentiality will be respected,” said Shetty.
Accessing Healthcare Services in South Africa
Most South Africans live within a 7km radius of a health care facility, while others are based 2km away from one. Despite the proximity, transport to health services is a struggle for women due to the shortage of available public transport services. In the rural provinces, some roads are impassable, especially after rainfall and even when the ground is dry, most ambulances will not drive beyond a certain point on specific routes. “The South African government must build better road networks in these rural provinces to guarantee access to healthcare facilities. The government must also ensure that ambulances are always available to transport those who are in need,” said Shetty.
Looking Ahead To Improve Women’s Health in South Africa
The South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (SASOG) strives to achieve excellence and equity in the health of South African women. To achieve this, SASOG puts the promotion of the highest standards in clinical practice, training and research in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the support of continuous professional development at the forefront. Overall, SASOG pledges to redress healthcare injustices by eradicating gender oppression and inequality to enhance women’s health in South Africa.
– Abigail Roch
Photo: Pixabay
Penta Medical Recycling: Repurposing Prosthetics From the US
Penta Medical Recycling
Founded in 2016, Penta Medical Recycling provides affordable prosthetic care to amputees in low-income countries through repurposing what might otherwise be deemed medical waste in the United States. Penta works alongside governments and health care operators to provide prosthetics to 17 countries most affected by a lack of prosthetic support.
Penta recognizes the significant financial burden faced by all amputees, considering that prosthetics can range from $5,000 to more than $50,000. These costs do not even include the drastically increased health care costs for amputees due to regular check-ups, hospital appointments and operations.
The financial strain is particularly acute for individuals in lower-income countries. Therefore, it seems wasteful to throw away artificial limbs that could be beneficial to so many. In response, Penta has implemented a program to collect and recycle used, yet faultless, prosthetics. This initiative not only helps clinics by relieving them of unwanted artificial limbs but also provides amputees with the opportunity to walk, run, work and, most importantly, thrive.
Since its establishment, the nonprofit has helped more than 1,000 people. In 2022 alone, the organization donated more than 1,841 prosthetic components to partner countries and organizations. These components include feet, adapters, leg liners and artificial knees.
Interview With Pollyanna Hope
The Borgen Project spoke to Pollyanna Hope, an amputee and Global Mobility Ambassador for Penta from Hertfordshire, England. Hope had her right leg amputated below the knee as a result of a road collision when she was 2 years old. Now 18, she is a passionate dancer and one of the first amputees to receive an en-pointe prosthesis.
“Penta’s work is incredibly important because it creates a livelihood for people in developing countries to be included in their communities,” said Hope when The Borgen Project asked why she believes Penta’s work is important and unique. “I know from my own experience. My leg allows me to feel liberated. Prosthetics mean amputees feel more included in their communities and are able to live a more active and healthier lifestyle,” she added.
Hope emphasizes the significant quantity of usable prosthetic legs that are often discarded unnecessarily. She highlights that “artificial limbs typically need replacing every 3-5 years,” with a higher frequency for young individuals who are still growing. In her own experience, there were periods during her childhood when she “needed a new leg every six months.”
With more than 2.1 million amputees in the U.S. and more than 300,000 artificial limbs replaced annually, the inability to reuse or resell these limbs due to certain health regulations indeed raises concerns about wastefulness. Penta’s mission, therefore, becomes particularly vital in addressing this issue and contributing to a more sustainable and impactful approach to prosthetic care.
Conclusion
Even the most affordable and readily available prosthetic limbs can pose a substantial financial challenge and be deemed out of reach for many amputees and their families in lower-income countries. Penta does more than only provide these prosthetics. It gives vital physical mobility, facilitating the integration of amputees into their societies both economically and socially. The value and indispensability of Penta’s work cannot be understated.
– Sapphire Hope
Photo: Pexels
Extreme Poverty Fell to Pre-Covid Levels in 2023
COVID-19 in the Developing World
For many in the developed world, the detrimental impact of COVID was limited to restrictions on social gatherings, school and office closures and the cancellation of music and sports events. Of course, there were many tragic cases of lives lost too early, leaving a lasting impact on many. But thankfully for the majority of those in the West, society had the structural and digital frameworks to overcome the enormous shock that was the pandemic.
In contrast, COVID-19 in the developing world brought about different levels of devastation. It may have taken longer for the virus to seep into these countries, but when it did eventually hit, populations were more financially vulnerable and health systems were not ready.
It was apparent even amid the pandemic, that the least-developed countries were more vulnerable socioeconomically than the rest of the world. Where governments, businesses and individuals in developed countries may have had savings to fall back on allowing them to self-sustain and support one another, this was less often the case among the poorest countries in the world.
Moreover, certain disadvantaged groups such as women and less-educated workers were disproportionately affected by COVID-19, in middle and low-income countries in particular. As an aftereffect, millions more were plunged into extreme poverty during the year 2020.
COVID-19 and Extreme Poverty
The World Bank states that extreme poverty will mean people ‘are more likely to be malnourished, they have less access to services like education, electricity, sanitation and healthcare, and they are more vulnerable to conflict and climate change.’
Last year, the World Bank found that those in extreme poverty worldwide increased from around 700 million to more than 760 million in the year 2020. While this may not seem a seismic change, consider that this set us back to extreme poverty levels not seen since 2016. Only last year was it found that extreme poverty fell to pre-COVID levels. Although positive, the World Bank points out that considering these measures, we have lost three years in the fight against poverty worldwide.
Low-Income Countries Behind on the Road To Recovery
In many ways, to say that efforts to eradicate extreme poverty are back on track would be false. This is because all of the recovery has taken place in high- and middle-income countries. Many low-income countries are still experiencing increases in extreme poverty due to their incapability to roll out social welfare programs to counter the effects of COVID-19. This poses a huge problem for the aid sector as donor countries look to cut fiscal spending following the pandemic, but much of the developing world is now in need of aid more than ever. With the worst impacts of the climate crisis still to come, some have gone as far as suggesting that the aid system is running empty.
Aid Can Go a Long Way – How Extreme Poverty Fell
Back in 2020, researchers recommended that one way to reduce extreme poverty is to allocate more aid to low-income countries (LICs). This is because lower unit costs in those countries mean that development aid can go further and benefit more people. The Borgen Project has identified numerous examples of aid being extremely successful at delivering the desired results in LICs. Take the case of Legacy Manufacturers Limited covered in an article from April last year. A small grant of $50,000 from The Visa Foundation helped this business overcome import and manufacturing difficulties, allowing them to successfully deliver their soya, corn and maize products to the national market in Zambia. Without smart investments in local organizations such as Legacy, LICs have few opportunities to make these kinds of developmental steps which will help them overcome external shocks going forward.
The Role of Official Development Assistance
Foreign aid in the form of grants has been classed as Official Development Assistance (ODA) since the late 1960s. To be classified as ODA, donations must fulfill certain criteria. The U.N. recommends that donor countries commit 0.7% of their gross national income (GNI) to ODA.
Since the onset of COVID-19, there has been an overall increase in ODA, largely due to the worldwide refugee crisis. In 2022, the figure hit a record high of $204 billion. However, there has not been a unanimous move towards the U.N.’s 0.7% target. U.S. ODA still languishes at 0.23% of GNI. The U.K.’s ODA/GNI% fell from 0.7% to 0.5% from 2020 to 2022, amounting to around $3 billion in aid lost. Moreover, the number of countries meeting the U.N. target of giving 0.7% of GNI in aid fell from six countries to four in the same period.
Improved ODA figures can go a long way in combating extreme poverty conditions globally.
– Alex Finch
Photo: Flickr
6 Organizations Bringing Clean Water to Burundi
Water for Development
Water for Development is a nonprofit led by Burundian youth, employing point-of-water chlorine dispensers to reduce the prevalence of diarrhea to less than 10% in operational areas. The dispenser design alleviates the need to build fires for water boiling, a responsibility that falls primarily on women and children. This task, along with water collection, can consume between 3-10 hours a day for populations located more than 30 minutes away from a water source. The nonprofit is based in the Cibitoke Province, where community-elected “promoters” refill the dispensers and teach others how to use them. This organization has been especially impactful for children in Burundi, a quarter of whom suffer from illnesses related to dirty water.
The Gazelle Foundation
The Gazelle Foundation is a nonprofit organization formed in response to the story of Gilbert Tuhbonye, a retired professional Burundi runner and a survivor of the Hutu/Tutsi civil upheaval in the ’80s and ’90s. The organization is dedicated to constructing clean water systems across Burundi using tanks and PVC pipelines. It also invests in the local economy by sourcing supplies locally and providing employment opportunities to residents in the communities where systems have been installed. Thanks to local Burundian programs and fundraising from “water runs” held in Austin, Texas – where the Foundation is headquartered – 125,000 more people in Burundi now have access to clean water.
Sanitation and Water for All
Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is a multi-government-stakeholder partnership hosted by the United Nations (U.N.). It works with organizations from across the public and private sectors to garner political support for clean water and sanitation. Burundi joined the partnership in 2010 and with the support of SWA partners, the government developed National Water (PNEau) and National Sanitation Policies (NAP). These programs and policies led to a substantial increase in funding for water and sanitation in the country. Through this partnership, the Burundian Government established the objective of achieving universal access to safe drinking water by 2030.
Amazi Water
Amazi Water, founded by John Peake in 2015, is a Christ-centered organization headquartered in Burundi. The organization installs solar-powered, fully submersible pump systems with higher yields and lower labor costs when compared to hand-pump systems. The organization has installed more than 900 systems nationwide, providing clean drinking water to an estimated 2.5 million people. The organization also offers employment opportunities to locals and is one of the most impactful water projects in Burundi.
Beygood4burundi
BeyGood4Burundi is a collaborative program involving Beyoncé’s philanthropy arm, BeyGOOD and UNICEF. The organizations joined forces in 2017 to give women and girls in Burundi access to safe drinking water. Globally, women and girls spend 200 million hours daily collecting water, leading to them missing out on education. To address this, BeyGood4Burundi has aided in building and rehabilitating 80 water points, bringing water to 30,000 Burundians.
Join for Water
Join For Water is a nonprofit based in Belgium, operating in nine countries across Africa, Latin America and Europe. The organization has been active in Burundi since 1997, focusing mainly on the provinces of Bubanza and Isare. It collaborates with numerous local institutions to build more robust water systems, coordinating resources to provide support and training on how to manage existing systems. Join For Water also works to improve sanitation in Burundi, focusing on sanitation facilities in rural areas.
These are but a handful of the many organizations working to improve health and wellbeing outcomes in Burundi through buoyed access to clean drinking water. For a country with a large percentage of its population below the poverty line, organizations that provide clean water and employment opportunities can save lives.
– Ava Johnson
Photo: Pexels
5 Charities Operating in Nepal
The Small World
The Small World supports local development projects across Nepal, focusing on improving childhood education, enhancing women’s rights and empowerment and supporting health care facilities. For instance, The Small World has established female education centers in rural Nepal, where young girls who are born into poverty are often at risk of trafficking, child marriage, violence, poor health, and subsequent poverty. In a country where more than 35% of women are illiterate, providing women with a formal education means they are more likely to acquire future employment and earn a living.
Other projects include a health care facility providing free services to 32,000 people living in rural Nepal and the Friends of Arhaus Children’s Home which acts as a safe home to orphaned children in the Everest region, who would otherwise be subject to a life in poverty. Since its establishment, The Small World has built homes, classrooms and sanitation facilities, providing more than 300 families with clean water and educating more than 150 children.
Nepal Water For Health Foundation
In Nepal, “3.5 million people do not have access to basic water services” with a further 10.8 million people lacking access to adequate sanitation facilities. With more than 70% of all water facilities being contaminated with bacteria, water-related illness is a leading cause of death in Nepal.
The Nepal Water for Health Foundation (NEWAH) aims to provide WASH facilities to Nepal’s poorest communities, “irrespective of gender, caste, class, and belief.”
Since its establishment in 1992, NEWAH has provided WASH services to over 2.1 million people in Nepal through various projects such as community-led sanitation, improved menstrual hygiene and even helping communities adapt to natural disasters. As well as implementing clean water facilities in communities, NEWAH also educates Nepali citizens on proper hygiene and sanitation and researches developing new, innovative WASH technology to ensure sustainable water supplies in the future.
The Nepal Red Cross Society
As the largest humanitarian organization in Nepal, the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) began its journey in 1963 and is an independent charity providing immediate relief to those who require it. The NRCS provides a wide range of short-term and long-term services such as emergency health care and immediate natural disaster relief, as well as supporting community development projects and fighting gender discrimination, poverty and inadequate health care services.
In 2023, Nepal suffered major natural disasters in the form of earthquakes which caused a significant amount of damage. The NRCS helped ensure communities have sufficient emergency preparedness to minimize human suffering in the event of future disasters. For example, following the 2023 earthquake, the NRCS implemented the Earthquake Response Operation which efficiently deployed emergency services to most affected areas.
Rural Women’s Network Nepal
Established in 2007, Rural Women’s Network Nepal (RUWON) is a non-profit organization focussing on improving the lives of women in Nepal’s rural and poorest regions. According to RUWON Nepal, Nepalese society is “deeply patriarchal” and women are significantly more likely to be poor as well as face other human rights issues, suffer discrimination and have poor education.
RUWON Nepal aims to reduce the size of such gender disparities and improve the status and rights of rural women across the country. RUWON Nepal has implemented means of providing rural women with education, such as funding and supporting the education of more than 300 girls in the Sindhuli district in Kathmandu. The organization is also providing financing for women to set up their self-sufficient businesses, allowing women to both make a living and be empowered through independence. Other projects include providing free English lessons, the provision of sanitary products and sewing lessons to rural women, allowing women to have the opportunity to develop skills, gain an education and earn a living.
Prayas Nepal
Established in 2003, Prayas Nepal aims to improve the lives of those living in poverty in Nepal, particularly focusing on the welfare of children, with the charity’s initial project being a home for disadvantaged or orphaned children. Since then, Prayas Nepal has extended the focus of its work to support underprivileged children, women and the elderly.
Since 2003, Prayas Nepal has provided education scholarships to more than 2,000 people as well as implemented a vast number of community development projects across the country. Such projects include a Women’s Empowerment Project, COVID-19 relief projects, free health care centers, childhood education and elderly education programs. Due to the threat of natural disasters, Prayas Nepal has also developed almost 1,400 disaster management projects that provide emergency relief and rehabilitation to regions most impacted.
Making a Change
Although Nepal still stands as a “Least Developed Country” the work of local, national and international charities operating in Nepal, such as the five discussed here, has meant that poverty is steadily declining, with many people being lifted out of poverty between 2014 and 2019.
Nepal now aims to graduate from this status by 2026, according to the World Bank. However, economic, social and environmental issues are ever-prevalent in Nepal making the possibility for poverty alleviation challenging.
– Lucy Jacks
Photo: Flickr
The Organization Advancing the Rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka
At the fall of the British Empire, many Tamils found themselves stateless under the Citizenship Acts of 1948-49 and promises made by the Indian government to confer citizenship upon 600,000 Tamils were not fulfilled. Minority Rights Group, an NGO working with indigenous people around the world, states that, by the year 2000, about 300,000 Tamils were still stateless.
This situation and a desperation to be treated equally, both socially and politically, has resulted in severe conflict since the fall of the British Empire. The Sri Lankan Civil War was fought from 1983-2009 in which the political group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or the Tamil Tigers, fought to create an independent Tamil state but were defeated after thousands of deaths on both sides. The result has been the continued oppression and marginalization of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
What Is the Current Situation?
In September 2023, nine different human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, published an open letter criticizing the Sri Lankan government’s proposed National Unity and Reconciliation Commission. They wrote that the commission was unlikely to achieve any meaningful change for minority groups, asking instead for the government to recognize the widespread discrimination and inequalities Tamils still face.
Human rights groups in recent years have deeply criticized the 1979 Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), with the Guardian calling it “a stain on Sri Lanka’s human rights record” as it enables the arrest, forced confessions and torture of anyone suspected of terrorism. In 2020, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka reported widespread torture and excessive use of force by the police. Additionally, more than 130 Tamil politicians and activists were documented to be in detention despite government denials. The government argued that these individuals were imprisoned for violent crimes. In 2022, Amnesty International reported that Muslims and Tamils are disproportionately affected by the PTA in Sri Lanka. This situation highlights ongoing concerns regarding human rights issues, particularly about Tamils in Sri Lanka.
What Progress Is Being Made Today?
Despite this, various groups throughout Sri Lanka and the world have been fighting for Tamil rights and the Tamil Rights Group (TRG) is taking steps to hold the Sri Lankan government accountable for their actions against Tamil people. In December 2023, TRG engaged in in-person discussions with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands. The discussions centered on crimes against humanity, particularly the persecution of Tamils and the role of the military, exploring potential legal actions.
A follow-up submission is currently being prepared to continue addressing these critical issues. In a statement about the meeting, TRG emphasizes its commitment to “pursuing all available legal avenues to hold the Sri Lankan state and individual perpetrators accountable.” This holds the promise of legal change for Tamils, shedding light on their plight and potentially advancing justice for the affected communities.
Final Remark
The end of 2023 saw a rise in global awareness and recognition of the crimes committed against Tamils. This will likely lead to tangible changes that may address the plight of those most affected.
– Alice Brayford
Photo: Flickr
SDG 9 in Lebanon: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG 9 And Agricultural Infrastructure
The first update on SDG 9 in Lebanon is part of phase four of Lebanon’s Employment Intensive Infrastructure Programme (EIIP), which ran from January 2021 till December 2023, where the International Labor Organization (ILO) joined forces with the Ministry of Agriculture/Green Plan to enhance farm infrastructure through a collaborative effort. Lebanese Reforestation Initiative (LRI) agreed to provide support in identifying, designing and supervising farm infrastructure projects.
As of October 2023, the program resulted in the employment of 800 farmers, specifically displaced Syrian refugees and financially vulnerable Lebanese citizens, and tackled farms all over the country. According to ILO, the only region with 100% accomplishment is the Akkar one, but there are plans to accomplish the remaining areas by December 2025, which will constitute phase five of EIIP. Those areas are Baalbak-El Hermel, Bekaa, El Nabatieh, Mount Lebanon, North and South, according to the U.N.
Post-Explosion Reconstruction
Following the 2020 explosion in the port of Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, the country suffered the death of more than 200 people, the wounding of more than 6,000 and damage or destruction of approximately 70,000 apartments and 40,000 residential spaces, all within a 10 km distance from the scene of the bomb. Karantina, a neighborhood in Beirut, suffered the most in terms of physical destruction and human losses, with more than 700 households where migrant workers, refugees and impoverished Lebanese people lived. Subsequently, as of January 2023, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a two-phased response strategy in Karantina as part of its “Leave No One Behind” report
Another update on SDG 9 in Lebanon is that an urgent six-month plan is underway to address the immediate aftermath of the explosion in Beirut, focusing on rehabilitating shelters, providing legal assistance, supporting small businesses and implementing energy-efficient solutions. Concurrently, a 12-month sustained response is formulated to meet ongoing needs, including economic empowerment and neighborhood enhancement. The UNDP’s infrastructure recovery plan for Karantina has set a completion date of March 2025.
SDG 9 And Energy Infrastructure
Since the end of 2019, Lebanon has struggled with the depreciation of its currency, the Lebanese Lira Pound (LLP). While before then, $1 had a value of 1,500 LLP, the exchange rate in 2023 is fixed at 15,000 LLP but continues to be traded at 100,000 LLP to the dollar. This economic downfall came with shortages in utilities like energy and water where people are currently relying on privately-owned generators for electricity, and paying anywhere between $50 and $70 every month for electricity.
Starting in 2020, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Ministry of Industry (MOI) and Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI) and the Association of North Metn Industrialists (ANMI) developed SwitchMed III MED TEST III, which sought resource-efficient and cleaner production (RECP) for electricity companies by 2023. MED TEST III has three goals. The project plans to help 10 companies in important industries by giving technical support in RECP, studying how to use whey effectively in the dairy sector and providing international expertise through training and analyzing gaps and creating a plan to make industrial areas more environmentally friendly.
There are still no results for this test since MED TEST III is ongoing till March 2024. However, there is a foreseeable success with this test as the previous MED TEST II, from 2013 to 2018, had successful results in water, CO2, solid waste and energy savings.
Innovations in Education
Another SDG 9 update in Lebanon is IDEAS, an organization that works on pushing innovation in Lebanon, which launched the Summer of Innovation (SOI) initiative, alongside Lebanon’s Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Office of Prime Minister Saad Hariri. It had four main goals for Lebanon’s youth: innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and creativity. This initiative launched startups and groups across Lebanon to promote their four goals. In 2018, its success was evident when the events under SOI expanded to the greater population, beyond just youth, which proved effective as 4,000 people participated in SOI events that year. Also in 2018, SOI spearheaded three more programs promoting innovation: IDEAS, Bawabat al Ibtikar and Startup Scouts. While Lebanon is four years into an economic deficit situation as of 2023 with a 12.8% GDP deficit, Summer of Innovation contributed to Lebanon’s 2018 economic growth of 0.2%.
Making Progress
Lebanon has made strides in its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ranking 95th out of 166 countries in overall SDG performance, with the updates on SDG 9 maintaining achievement. As of 2021, Lebanon’s most successful aspects of SDG 9 are increasing the population using the internet to 86.6%, a population of 77.8 per 100 people on mobile broadband subscriptions and 0.8 per 1,000 population of articles published in academic journals. Overall, Lebanon is steadfast in completing its SDG 9 goals by 2030, with most of the initiatives as mentioned earlier and programs to be completed in 2025, according to the U.N.
– Lucciana Choueiry
Photo: Flickr
Child Poverty in Benin
Economic Factors
According to the World Food Program USA, Benin’s economy is primarily agrarian. Up to 70% of the population relies on agriculture as a core source of income. Vulnerable to weather fluctuations and changing weather patterns, the sector of rain-fed agriculture has been challenged by the success of consistent food crop production. In addition, the country is often exposed to droughts and floods that threaten the economic conditions of Benin’s population. This frequently leaves families in uncertain economic situations. As poverty rates among families increase, child poverty in Benin worsens due to insufficient resources to fulfill their essential needs.
Threatened Food Security
In addition to contributing to a lack of financial stability, the unstable nature of agribusiness in the nation has also led to an increase in food prices. As reported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), children in Benin are severely affected by malnutrition. Up to 50% of children up to 5 years of age have developmental issues as a result of nutritional deficiency. The World Food Program USA shows that up to 32% of Beninese children suffer from recurrent malnutrition.
Health Concerns
While improper nutrition has emerged as a significant health concern for children in Benin, the absence of proper health care has also affected the nation’s children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), malaria is the leading cause of death for children under 5 years old in Benin. USAID states that the COVID-19 pandemic posed a risk to ongoing efforts made to reduce the transmission of the disease. The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, created in 2005, has been working toward the reduction and treatment of the disease in African countries, including Benin.
Despite the pandemic’s impact on developmental progress, the initiative’s 2024 strategy outlines the introduction of the malaria vaccine in Benin within the initial quarter of the year.
Child Labor
A direct repercussion of child poverty in Benin is the educational deficit due to child labor. As Beninese families go through financial hardships, children quit their education and engage in varying work practices. Some of these include domestic work, working on cotton plantations and forced begging. Children exposed to child labor practices become vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Work conditions can be hazardous, and children are at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. Data published by UNICEF shows up to 25% of children in Benin are victims of child labor.
Aid Initiatives
Tackling child poverty in Benin requires a wide range approach, integrating economic development, health care, food security and education. Recent years have shown multiple attempts to improve Beninese children’s livelihoods. A report published by the U.S. Department of Labor states that social services inspections freed up to 400 children from child labor in 2021.
In 2022, the government maintained the Integrated National School Feeding Program, providing meals to up to 75% of Benin’s schools. That same year, UNICEF expanded its presence in the north of the nation. UNICEF also collaborated with the religious congregation known as the Salesians of Don Bosco to build a temporary residence for children living on the streets. The congregation runs the charity Foyer Don Bosco, with the mission to fulfill all basic human needs of children living in poverty in Benin. It heavily focuses on helping victims of child labor and human trafficking, striving to ensure that children receive quality education so they can have a better future.
Efforts by organizations like UNICEF and the Salesians of Don Bosco reflect a collective commitment to combat child poverty in Benin and serve as a source of optimism in the ongoing fight against it.
– Paula Gibson
Photo: Flickr
Reducing Preterm Birth in Low-Income Countries
Globally, preterm birth kills more children under 5 years old than any other cause. Disability is an additional outcome of preterm birth with grave consequences for families and communities. Preterm birth has multiple interconnected risk factors and initiatives to address preterm birth in low-income countries are underway.
Risk Factors for Preterm Birth
Humanitarian settings often expose expectant mothers to risk factors for early birth. These risk factors include infection, such as HIV and malaria, gender-based violence and unclean living conditions. Undernutrition, excess physical work, air pollution exposure, adolescent pregnancy and reduced time between pregnancies also contribute to preterm birth incidence.
In low-resource conditions, health care is often disrupted or inaccessible for mothers and preterm infants. Displacement can also create formidable language and monetary barriers to health care. Conflict also contributes to limited health care for women and newborns. About 90% of countries with the highest neonatal death rates are in high-conflict locations.
Initiatives To Improve Preterm Birth in Low-Income Countries
Many programs aim to reduce the incidence of preterm birth and improve outcomes in low-income countries. Since 2007, the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS) has partnered with several organizations to improve birth outcomes. In 2011, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded a $20 million GAPPS program called the “Preventing Preterm Birth Initiative.”
The program develops ways to prevent preterm birth and gives priority to low-resource settings. The funded research projects include a study on the connection between infections and preterm birth and a search for biomarkers to predict preterm birth. Additionally, the program runs research sites in Bangladesh and Zambia, enrolling pregnant women in studies to gain insights into the causes of preterm birth in these nations.
In 2014 GAPPS initiated the Scaling, Catalyzing, Advocating, Learning and Evidence-driven (Every Preemie-SCALE) project with a $9 million U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Cooperative Agreement. From 2014 to 2019, this program widened the use of preterm birth interventions in two dozen Asian and African countries. In 2016, Every Preemie published an analysis to promote the global utilization of antenatal corticosteroids in cases of impending early birth to boost the survival of newborns. In Malawi, Every Preemie evaluated the Family-Led Care Model, a strategy designed to improve facility and home care for preterm infants.
Since 2017, Birth With Dignity has provided education and training to health care providers in Uganda, a low-income country with high preterm birth rates. The organization provides education on postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia and emergency communication. The nonprofit’s work at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital and St. Francis Nsambya Hospital enhances high-risk care for mothers and babies.
Going Forward
Preterm birth in low-income countries is a critical issue. There are multiple approaches to improving its incidence and outcomes. In a 2023 global report, the World Health Organization (WHO) detailed strategies to prevent early birth, including quality care during pregnancy, sufficient nutrition and effective education. The report also recommended quality neonatal care for infections and breathing and feeding difficulties to reduce newborn mortality and disability. These strategies provide a path forward to improve global preterm birth.
– Kelly Carroll
Photo: Flickr
4 Things You Didn’t Know About Poverty in Madagascar
Education
Despite poverty levels in Madagascar. the country makes excellent efforts to ensure that a proper education is provided to all. School is compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 14. The school year begins and ends in October. Primary school lasts five years, followed by a 4-year post-primary schooling system, with upper secondary school ending at age 18. However, according to statistics, almost 40% of girls of secondary school age are absent from school, compared to 37% of boys of the same age. The biggest disparity between those attending and those not attending is between rich children and poor children.
Health Care
The health care system in Madagascar fights to provide for the country’s growing population. About 60% of its citizens live within 5 kilometers of a health center. However, this can be an issue for those living in remote areas, as the centers are often in difficult-to-reach locations. Many people walk 5 to 10 kilometers to access the nearest health center.
In the ’70s, Madagascar launched its Primary Health Care Drive. This initiative provides health care to the inhabitants of the country through the help of health aides who travel on foot or bicycle, thereby making health care accessible to those who would otherwise not be able to access it.
Nature
Madagascar has suffered huge food shortages, bringing people to the brink of famine in a drought that has been the worst in over 40 years. In 2023, Tropical Cyclone Freddy dealt a severe blow to the eastern part of Madagascar and the population continues to endure the lingering effects. Madagascar’s National Policy to Combat Climate Change, launched in 2010, is doing everything to battle the losses and devastation the cyclone has caused.
Wildlife
Madagascar’s wildlife, particularly the lives of lemurs, have suffered significantly due to the impact of poverty. Although lemurs are considered sacred, the lack of food has led to increased hunting of the species. This, accompanied by dry forests and harsh living conditions, has made life very difficult for the animals.
Surveys show that hunting pressure has led to the threat of extinction of the largest living lemur. Initiatives like the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have carried out significant research on the consumption of lemurs and note the major threat that illegal hunting of wildlife species has caused those endangered species. A 2019 survey highlighted that 53% of 659 households had eaten lemur meat. It is revealed that while hunters are not seeking to break the laws that protect these animals, they are mostly people who have fallen to survival tactics to help feed the villagers.
Final Remark
Although Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, making poverty in Madagascar a large problem to tackle, it is making tangible efforts towards developing its health care system and educational sector and protecting its wildlife.
– Éadaoin O’Leary
Photo: Wikimedia Commons