In the East African country of Eritrea, the shadows of mental health challenges often go unnoticed. This article highlights the experiences of Eritreans, their access to mental health services, the importance of education and its effect on the country’s economy.
Mental health includes an individual’s emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how an individual thinks, feels and acts. It can also affect how we handle stress, make health decisions and relate to others. It can affect a person’s physical health. For example, depression increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Similarly, chronic conditions can increase the risk of mental illness. Mental health disorders refer to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect mood, thinking and behavior. A mental health concern becomes a mental health illness when it affects your ability to function, and symptoms become frequent stressors in daily life. In most cases, treatment can be either medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two.
Background
In 2022, the people of Eritrea continued to experience the impact of weak socioeconomic conditions, low food production, a decline in family remittances due to economic sanctions and a depletion of groundwater levels, affecting access to potable water. Additionally, mental health problems are rising in Eritrea, with mental illnesses among the leading causes of disability, comorbidity and mortality. In 2015, there were an estimated 219,549 cases of depressive disorders (4.3% of the population) and 156,599 cases of anxiety disorders (3.1% of the population) with other common conditions, including schizophrenia, neuroticism, stress and mood disorders, epilepsy and dementia. Approximately 30-40,000 children are estimated to have intellectual disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, childhood intellectual disability and childhood neurological origin.
Regarding the treatment and services for mental health patients, Eritrea has a small network of mental health facilities, the main being Saint Mary’s Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, located in Asmara. This provides inpatient care and long-stay residential services for individuals with mental disorders. A second community residential care facility serves those with relatively stable and chronic mental disorders not requiring intensive medical interventions.
Eritrea also has a long-standing commitment to social justice, accessibility, and the right to health care, with a range of medicines, including antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood stabilizers, available free of charge. However, despite being free of charge, many children and adolescents drop out of school due to mental health issues.
Mental Health Support in the Education System
The introduction of mental health and psychosocial support into the education system could aid the stress of mental illness in Eritrea and help keep children in school. In 2022, the Eritrean Government reported that around 300,000 children and adolescents aged 6-17 were out of school. During humanitarian emergencies, child mental health can be affected in several ways, including exacerbating existing mental health issues, reducing educational participation and worsening educational outcomes. As a result, mental health issues combined with low academic attainment can result in low lifetime earnings. This can not only affect individuals but can also affect Eritrea’s economy.
UNICEF completed a global cost-benefit analysis and found that the impact of failing to address the mental health and psychosocial support needs of 10-17-year-old children affected by humanitarian emergencies would result in the equivalent loss of a global US$203 billion loss of potential lifetime earnings.
In Eritrea, there is a high urban-rural distribution disparity of mental health workers and services, with the majority located within urban areas. Patients in rural areas have reduced accessibility to services. Spreading mental health work throughout schools in both rural and urban areas could help to reduce this disparity and align with Eritrea’s long-standing commitment to social justice, accessibility and the right to health care. Introducing mental health support into the education system could inspire a new generation of psychiatrists and mental health support workers in Eritrea.
Currently, the country only has one psychiatrist. Comparing this number with the United Kingdom, which has 13,170 psychiatrists per 67.33 million people, Eritrea should have around 708 psychiatrists for its population of 3.62 million. Eritrea does have an initiative to send doctors and medical professionals abroad to train as psychiatrists, which should help to grow the country’s mental health support network.
In January 2021, the Eritrean Minister of Health, Honorable Amina Nurhussien, launched a four-year health sector strategic development plan for 2022-2026. This development plan would include essential tools to help guide the country towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This plan should allow all who need it to access mental health support and treatment. Eritrea has made remarkable progress in health care since 1991, achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) health care targets, and shows great promise in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 by 2030.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Eritrea is making significant efforts towards improving mental health support. However, introducing it into the education system could enhance it further. Allowing children and young adults to learn about mental health in a school setting could provide them with an interest in a career in mental health support and provide Eritrea with a new generation of psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health support workers.
– Charlotte Campion
Photo: Flickr
Mary’s Meals is Reducing Hunger in Ethiopia
Mary’s Meals
Mary’s Meals is a nonprofit organization that Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow founded. It works to provide school meals to impoverished communities around the world. The organization believes that every child should have one nutritious meal daily. Magnus argues that this meal should be available at school. He asks, “How can any part of the human family make progress if its children are without adequate food and access to at least a basic education?”
A meal provides nourishment, enables access to education and provides hope for a different future.
Ethiopian Outreach
Mary’s Meals spread to Ethiopia in 2017. It now supplies meals to 24,320 Ethiopian children in the semi-arid impoverished Tigray region in an effort to reduce hunger in Ethiopia.
It costs $2,794 to feed a child for a year, and people around the world share their resources to help feed these children.
School Feeding Program
Mary’s Meals has been serving Ethiopia since 2017, working with a trusted in-country partner to deliver and support the sourcing, cooking and serving of meals to children in 36 places of education. Children in Tigray recently shared what a meal and education meant to them with Mary’s Meals staff.
Making a Difference
According to reports, Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries, ranking at 32, according to the Global Finance Magazine. An estimated 36% of children under the age of five have stunted growth. Ethiopia also has a very high school dropout rate, with an estimated 66% of children not completing primary school.
Because of these statistics, children attend school where they can receive a meal and an education which can be a changing point and a lift out of poverty. It can also be a bridge to a better tomorrow. Helena Finnegan and the organization believes this is the turning point for making a difference.
She shared that it is crucial to have a partnership to make a school-feeding program possible. Mary’s Meals’ in-country partner delivers the program with the commitment of dozens of local volunteers. The volunteers prepare, cook and serve the meals, ensuring that more than 24,000 children receive a meal. For many children it is the only meal they receive in 24 hours.
Devastation in Ethiopia
Mary’s Meals believes that its ability to continue providing meals throughout a sudden two-year civil war is a very great accomplishment as Tigray has been at the center of the conflict.
Since thousands of people had to leave their homes when this sudden conflict occurred, Mary’s Meals’ trusted in-country partner was able to pivot from feeding children at school to delivering emergency food to more than a dozen centers in Mekelle where people sought refuge.
Visiting Ethiopia
When asked about their hands-on work done in Ethiopia, Helena Finnegan said, “While periodic in-country visits are needed to provide support and check on program status and impact, etc., these visits are undertaken in conjunction with other regional trips to maximize outreach efficiently. During the two-year conflict, it was not possible to travel to Tigray, and communications were sporadic, so this recent visit to reconnect and ensure support was particularly meaningful for everyone.”
Improvement
As Mary’s Meals’ founder, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow says, “We always want to reach the places where life is most difficult for children, where people are suffering the most…In the many countries in which we serve such as Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, that is made even more challenging due to conflict and climate shocks.”
After 21 years, Mary’s Meals has created and grown a well-organized, efficient and low-cost school feeding model for the students of Ethiopia who are unable to afford meals outside of school.
Looking Ahead
When asked about the future, Helena Finnegan said, “A visit this summer enabled us to review the situation, meet with the partner and communities to determine their needs and the best ways to move forward in re-establishing the feeding programs back in schools/places of education.
We are looking forward to partnering with the local Tigray communities as they work to re-open schools, which will be a process. In many cases, that requires repairing and rebuilding schools and the kitchens where food was prepared and cooked and coordinating the reestablishment of an in-school education program.”
Mary’s Meals will continue to grow and reduce hunger in Ethiopia using the skills it has developed over the years since establishment.
– Abigail DiCarlo
Photo: Flickr
Noma: The Disease That Should Not Exist
What is Noma?
Noma, also known as gangrenous stomatitis, is a rapidly progressive bacterial disease that affects the mouth, nose and lips. It is most commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa and mainly affects children, with most cases occurring under the age of 10. If detected at an early stage, noma is easily treatable through basic hygiene, antibiotics and nutrition.
The Symptoms
The word noma stems from the Greek word “nomē,” meaning “to devour,” and looking at the disease, it is easy to see why. The disease starts in the mouth, with gingivitis developing in the gums over one to two days. In three to four days, ulcers develop within the mouth, along with swelling in the gums and cheeks. These ulcers spread rapidly and before the end of the week, the disease begins to eat away at the soft tissue within the mouth and cheeks, leading to a hole developing in the face. The infection continues to spread over the following days and gangrene sets in in the affected areas, causing devastating damage to facial tissue and bones. Depending on where the infection began, the jaw, lips, cheeks, nose or eyes are quickly destroyed, leading to severe disfigurement and life-threatening impairments.
The Causes
The exact cause of noma is unknown, but certain factors can influence the development of it within patients.
The Fight Against Noma, a Disease That Should Not Exist
Noma, a disease that should not exist, has left a devastating mark on many children and adults in developing countries, both mentally and physically. There are, however, those out there who are fighting to lessen the impact of the disease. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), supports one of the world’s only dedicated noma hospitals. Based in Sokoto in Northern Nigeria, the hospital is a haven for victims and survivors of noma.
Founded in 2009, the hospital offers four main components of care. They offer intensive care, such as wound treatment, medication and oral hygiene. It also offers continuous care, such as surgical interventions and post-operative care for survivors. Finally, it offers integrated hospital and community-based services that provide support for patients and lessen the stigma that often comes with the facial disfigurements left by the disease. The hospital admitted nearly 500 patients between 2014 and 2019 and continues to help those in need today.
Through continuous efforts, hopefully, noma will disappear completely. Until then, MSF is making a significant difference.
– Jodie Donovan
Photo: Unsplash
How Foreign Aid in Afghanistan Helps
On October 7, 2023, a powerful earthquake hit the grounds of Afghanistan and wreaked havoc. Violent shakes hit the city of Herat three times. More than 2,000 people lost their lives due to the natural disaster. The quakes reduced whole villages to rubble, burying families and leaving many homeless as winter arrived. After the earthquakes in Afghanistan, global aid groups and rescue teams have issued warnings. With the recent seismic activity, an escalating humanitarian crisis amid war and a collapsed economy requires attention. What is even more concerning is the human recovery aspect. The earthquakes reduced entire villages to debris, and inadequate funding, coupled with limited global awareness, hampers foreign aid efforts in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan in Relentless Crisis
On August 15, 2021, Taliban rule looked over Afghanistan as NATO and U.S. forces left the country. This year, the country is entitled to no growth territory by the World Bank. The private sector appears weak, with no opportunity for growth. The industrial and agricultural sectors also saw sharp decreases in GDP. This decline is due to harmful gender policies that have shut down women-run businesses and weather conditions with no resources for the farmers to adjust.
Following the Taliban takeover, civilian and security aid abruptly ceased, amounting to more than $8 billion annually, roughly 40% of Afghanistan’s GDP. This sudden economic shock, compounded by sanctions, the freezing of Afghanistan’s foreign exchange reserves and the reluctance of foreign banks to engage with the country, placed an unparalleled strain on Afghanistan’s economy. Afghanistan’s GDP is a challenge, but estimates suggest a roughly 20% decrease in the aftermath of August 2021. Hunger and hardship are continuously increasing in Afghanistan.
How the Earthquake Has Worsened the Condition
The reduction in Afghanistan’s foreign aid after the occupation of the Taliban for two years and much international assistance has also stopped. This change had a dire effect on the country’s health care system. The consecutive earthquakes in Afghanistan have made this problem more grave.
Residents report that after the earthquakes in Afghanistan, Taliban fighters barricaded the streets leading to the hospital, preventing anyone from seeking medical assistance and subjecting those searching for loved ones to beatings with pipes and guns.
Within the hospital, survivors from homes reduced to rubble now occupy beds in the courtyard or sit on the floors. Fatigued health care personnel are making valiant efforts, but supplies are dwindling, and the oxygen reserves are nearly depleted. Patients endure agonizing waits of hours or even days for critical medical care without access to pain relief. In this case, Afghans desperately need foreign aid to survive.
Foreign Aid in Afghanistan Aids in Crisis
The first to respond and send immediate help after the earthquakes in Afghanistan was The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS). Additionally, the IFRC and another partner Red Cross Red Crescent Societies also came. They worked rapidly and provided emergency medical aid, along with non-food supplies. The survivors received temporary shelter while rescue and search operations in the affected provinces also occurred.
The United States, via USAID, is offering $12 million in immediate humanitarian aid. Seeing the devastation, along with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), aid was supplied to earthquake-affected individuals with emergency shelter kits, cooking and water collection materials, blankets, solar lamps, clothing and household items. Considering the possibility of disease outbreaks like watery diarrhea, IOM is also working on rehabilitating water sources in villages with damaged infrastructure to ensure safe drinking water access.
Despite the challenges that Afghanistan has faced, these foreign aid efforts in Afghanistan are making a considerable impact. Through the work of The Afghan Red Crescent Society, USAID, IOM and more, quality of life for Afghanis should only improve.
– Asra Mairaj
Photo: Flickr
Committee for Women’s Rights in Monaco Integrates App-Elles
With one-third of its residents being millionaires and a lack of income tax, the principality does not track poverty rates. Economists state that due to the high wealth of Monaco’s residents, poverty is nonexistent. But that does not mean every citizen of Monaco is ultra-wealthy. Monaco, with a population of approximately 9,000 native Monégasques and limited housing options in its small 1-square-mile area, faces unique circumstances. The nonexistent poverty rates have led the government to prioritize social programs for the benefit of its residents.
The Committee for The Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights
The Sovereign Order of Monaco created the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights on October 25, 2018. The goal of this committee is to promote gender equality and combat all forms of violence against women. The Principality of Monaco and its Prince, Albert II, consider women’s rights an important issue. It is a core priority since Monaco accepted the United Nations and the Council of Europe’s conventions on women’s rights and protection.
Female Abuse
The Committee for Women’s Rights in Monaco conducts an annual report with Monaco Statistics to track key data on the abuse of women in the principality. In January, the report’s findings showed that there was an increase in abuse against women. The number rose from 23 in 2021 to 33 in 2022 and approximately half were cases of physical abuse. While there hasn’t been a significant increase in the number of cases, this data aims to emphasize the importance of protecting women’s rights in Monaco. It underscores the need to take necessary measures to address and prevent domestic violence.
While the laws are helpful in criminalizing domestic violence within the courts, the Committee wanted a resource for victims and witnesses to use. The Committee partnered with the Resonantes Association to integrate “App-Elles” into Monaco’s emergency response network.
App-Elles
“App-Elles” was originally launched in 2015 to bring all of France’s resources and emergency contacts into one place for easy access. The app is currently available in 15 countries and has multiple languages available. This integration of the app into Monaco’s emergency landmark represents a significant step in Monaco’s commitment to protecting women’s rights and ensuring their safety within the principality.
This app aims to help victims and witnesses of domestic violence call for assistance when they require it. The app gives users quick access to all of Monaco’s emergency contact numbers and resources. Additionally, the app can quickly alert trusted relatives and geolocate users during a crisis.
Other services that the app provides include sound recordings starting from the moment the user triggers an SOS alarm. The recordings and geolocation tags are stored on a secure server for 15 days. If users want to keep these recordings, then they must download the files. These recordings are admissible as evidence in Monaco’s courts.
On September 26 and 27, the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights in Monaco and the Resonantes Association conducted workshops to introduce the app to the residents and educate them on how to use the application to its full potential.
Looking Ahead
“App-Elles” represents one of Monaco’s many initiatives in line with its commitment to advancing women’s rights and addressing violence against women. Monaco’s legal framework has been structured to criminalize acts of violence against women. The incorporation of “App-Elles” into Monaco’s emergency network offers crucial resources and evidence for individuals facing domestic violence during moments of crisis. Should this application prove effective in the coming years, it could serve as a model for other countries seeking to integrate similar tools into their emergency networks across Europe and, potentially, on a global scale.
– Komalpreet Kaur
Photo: Unsplash
Nigeria Invests $5 Billion Annually Towards Poverty Reduction
The Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund was approved by the FEC and unveiled by Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu. The fund will be realized through the collaboration of public and private sectors, as well as philanthropic organizations and individuals.
“This, of course, is a victory for the poor and indeed would bring help and succor, which the Renewed Hope Agenda stands for,” Minister Betta Edu stated in Vanguard News.
Background
According to the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics, it is estimated that approximately 63% of the population suffers from poverty. Moreover, more than half of the population does not have basic access to housing, health care, food, and clean energy. Of those affected by poverty, approximately 51% are children — two-thirds of children in Nigeria are victims of inadequate living conditions.
In response to concerns about these living conditions, Nigeria announced the Renewed Hope Agenda on October 17, where President Tinubu outlined the nation’s new strategies in poverty reduction. These include government restructures that will make poverty reduction a key focal point in order to provide effective implementations without the hindrance of government corruption. Furthermore, the government announced collaborations with private sector groups, such as the World Bank, to provide zero-interest financial support to the state’s national social safety net expansion program, which will deliver aid to vulnerable Nigerians. The recently announced Renewed Hope Agenda will act as a seven-year plan to aggressively address humanitarian crises and poverty in the country.
Expected Outcomes
With increased funding, the Nigerian government will be able to deliver new shelters to impoverished households, refugees and those suffering from disabilities. The agenda will deliver school meals to 10 million children across the nation, while also providing education to children who have previously been unable to access it.
The government will also be funding agricultural developments on 500,000 hectares of land, as well as providing farmers with 225,000 metric tons of fertilizers, in an effort to tackle food shortages. To strengthen the economy, the agenda will deliver support to an estimated 2 million beneficiaries in Nigeria through business grants.
With the combined annual dedication of $5 billion as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is taking an aggressive and direct approach toward implementing poverty reduction. By working with private sectors and charity organizations to support these new, ambitious policies, the Nigerian government hopes to propel the nation into economic stability and improve the lives of many Nigerians who face the obstacles posed by poverty on a daily basis.
Final Thoughts
“Our objective is to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty. Yet, this will only be possible with the cooperation of the people we seek to help. Let us continue to work together to achieve our collective goal of eradicating poverty in Nigeria,” said President Tinubu in his address to the nation.
– Remigius Kim
Photo: Pixabay
Using the Education System to Support Mental Health in Eritrea
Mental health includes an individual’s emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how an individual thinks, feels and acts. It can also affect how we handle stress, make health decisions and relate to others. It can affect a person’s physical health. For example, depression increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Similarly, chronic conditions can increase the risk of mental illness. Mental health disorders refer to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect mood, thinking and behavior. A mental health concern becomes a mental health illness when it affects your ability to function, and symptoms become frequent stressors in daily life. In most cases, treatment can be either medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two.
Background
In 2022, the people of Eritrea continued to experience the impact of weak socioeconomic conditions, low food production, a decline in family remittances due to economic sanctions and a depletion of groundwater levels, affecting access to potable water. Additionally, mental health problems are rising in Eritrea, with mental illnesses among the leading causes of disability, comorbidity and mortality. In 2015, there were an estimated 219,549 cases of depressive disorders (4.3% of the population) and 156,599 cases of anxiety disorders (3.1% of the population) with other common conditions, including schizophrenia, neuroticism, stress and mood disorders, epilepsy and dementia. Approximately 30-40,000 children are estimated to have intellectual disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, childhood intellectual disability and childhood neurological origin.
Regarding the treatment and services for mental health patients, Eritrea has a small network of mental health facilities, the main being Saint Mary’s Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, located in Asmara. This provides inpatient care and long-stay residential services for individuals with mental disorders. A second community residential care facility serves those with relatively stable and chronic mental disorders not requiring intensive medical interventions.
Eritrea also has a long-standing commitment to social justice, accessibility, and the right to health care, with a range of medicines, including antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood stabilizers, available free of charge. However, despite being free of charge, many children and adolescents drop out of school due to mental health issues.
Mental Health Support in the Education System
The introduction of mental health and psychosocial support into the education system could aid the stress of mental illness in Eritrea and help keep children in school. In 2022, the Eritrean Government reported that around 300,000 children and adolescents aged 6-17 were out of school. During humanitarian emergencies, child mental health can be affected in several ways, including exacerbating existing mental health issues, reducing educational participation and worsening educational outcomes. As a result, mental health issues combined with low academic attainment can result in low lifetime earnings. This can not only affect individuals but can also affect Eritrea’s economy.
UNICEF completed a global cost-benefit analysis and found that the impact of failing to address the mental health and psychosocial support needs of 10-17-year-old children affected by humanitarian emergencies would result in the equivalent loss of a global US$203 billion loss of potential lifetime earnings.
In Eritrea, there is a high urban-rural distribution disparity of mental health workers and services, with the majority located within urban areas. Patients in rural areas have reduced accessibility to services. Spreading mental health work throughout schools in both rural and urban areas could help to reduce this disparity and align with Eritrea’s long-standing commitment to social justice, accessibility and the right to health care. Introducing mental health support into the education system could inspire a new generation of psychiatrists and mental health support workers in Eritrea.
Currently, the country only has one psychiatrist. Comparing this number with the United Kingdom, which has 13,170 psychiatrists per 67.33 million people, Eritrea should have around 708 psychiatrists for its population of 3.62 million. Eritrea does have an initiative to send doctors and medical professionals abroad to train as psychiatrists, which should help to grow the country’s mental health support network.
In January 2021, the Eritrean Minister of Health, Honorable Amina Nurhussien, launched a four-year health sector strategic development plan for 2022-2026. This development plan would include essential tools to help guide the country towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This plan should allow all who need it to access mental health support and treatment. Eritrea has made remarkable progress in health care since 1991, achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) health care targets, and shows great promise in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 by 2030.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Eritrea is making significant efforts towards improving mental health support. However, introducing it into the education system could enhance it further. Allowing children and young adults to learn about mental health in a school setting could provide them with an interest in a career in mental health support and provide Eritrea with a new generation of psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health support workers.
– Charlotte Campion
Photo: Flickr
How the Bean Industry in Africa Could Help Reduce Food Insecurity
What is PABRA?
The Pan-African Bean Research Alliance is based in Nairobi, Kenya. The alliance works with members in 30 countries to provide better beans and economic growth within those countries. They believe that their research on beans can:
Food Insecurity in Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa faces an alarming food crisis, with around 146 million people food insecure. The causes of food insecurity in Africa include extreme weather and armed conflict. Food insecurity has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which reduced essential food imports to African countries.
Beans are a popular food item across Africa, with approximately 300 million people eating beans. Researchers Ulrike Rippke and Julian Ramirez-Villegas 2016 studied when and where bean farming will become unviable in Africa. They found that if action is not taken, 60% of the land in sub-Saharan Africa will be unviable for bean farming by the end of the 21st century.
Better And Diverse Bean Varieties
PABRA’s efforts to reduce food insecurity in Africa have led to the creation of 650 new bean varieties. These new bean varieties are more resilient and better acclimated to the extreme wet and dry seasons that Sub-Saharan Africa is facing. PABRA’s beans use less water than other beans.
The newly developed beans also double productivity. The director of PABRA says that in Ethiopia, there is a shorter harvest time for PABRA’s beans. Therefore, you can harvest the beans and sell them before other crops. Additionally, the beans provide diversity and a more comprehensive range of crops that can be grown by farmers. Through diversity and high resilience, farms can better withstand the shock in the cropping system.
Economic Benefits Of Better Bean Crops
Bean crops are a valuable income source for at least 37 million farmers across the African continent. PABRA reports that there has been a 30% income increase in more than 5 million households due to their beans. From 2003 to 2021, with PABRA’s improved bean varieties, farmers in Zimbabwe saw $500–$800 income gains per hectare under rain conditions and $1,000 per hectare for irrigated plots. For further poverty reduction, PABRA found that households using their beans are 6% more likely to be food secure. The likelihood of being poor also decreased by 6%, according to PABRA’s 2022 report.
Concluding Remarks
The Pan-African Bean Research Alliance’s efforts towards bean development are one of the many ongoing projects to reduce food insecurity in Africa. The diverse bean varieties provide new sources of income and food for consumption to approximately 30 countries and millions of people.
– Komalpreet Kaur
Photo: Wikimedia
How the IAEA Is Changing Cancer Care in Benin
World Bank
In April of 2022, the World Bank allocated nearly $200 million dedicated to improving their health care system. Access to care is a significant issue in Benin and these funds will improve Benin’s ability to care for their citizens. However, the World Bank country manager said there is still much work to be done to create a successful and robust health care system.
Cancer care in Benin is an area in desperate need of improvements. Throughout Benin, around 5,000 people die each year from cancer, and about 7,000 more people are diagnosed with some form of the disease. These numbers are extremely alarming, but luckily, they are being addressed by multiple organizations and the local government.
In 2022, the government in Benin worked closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency to develop a comprehensive plan to help current and future cancer patients nationwide. The WHO helped provide expertise and insights that will help support the plan that the government is working to implement between 2023 and 2027.
Rays of Hope
As mentioned before, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also been a driving force in improving cancer care in Benin. The plan that has been outlined would certainly not be possible without the help of the IAEA. The agency created a program called “Rays of Hope,” which is dedicated to increasing access to radiation care for cancer patients in areas with struggling health care systems. This new initiative is needed to improve cancer care in Benin.
The IAEA has embarked on a unique mission with the “Rays of Hope” program due to its robust nature. The program does not only provide the necessary equipment for radiation care for cancer patients, but it also includes a variety of other services. The IAEA is working to make sure radiation care is put into place safely through training and fighting for legislation that will regulate the use of the new medical treatments. In Benin, they have worked with the local government to use the new equipment to be able to help identify cancer in patients early on and, as a result, hopefully decrease the number of cancer deaths per year throughout the country.
Final Thoughts
Cancer care in Benin will continue to improve drastically because of the “Rays of Hope” program. The IAEA has stated that they are working hard to increase their impact throughout the world and increase access to radiation. They hope to find new groups and organizations to help them move their new program forward.
– Dylan Lyons
Photo: Flickr
How Gentrification Exacerbates Poverty
Some argue that there are positive effects originating from gentrification. For example, as a more affluent demographic begins to infiltrate an area, crime rates tend to decrease, and homeowners can benefit from higher property values. As the increasingly wealthy move to an area, consumption will also typically increase, which benefits local businesses and generates additional job opportunities. Investment increases, due to increased construction of modern homes and large boulevards. Rapid development may occur as a result of increased investment, generating success for any given area, which is typically construed as a net positive for society. Others may argue that this is not the case.
Gentrification in Developing Nations
Rapid development is highly sought after in any developing country, due to the exponential benefits to be reaped. Investment in capital and infrastructure is a major accelerator to development, typically leading to higher levels of GDP growth. However, the benefits of growth are not reaped equally, and rapid development can often be an opportunity for income and wealth inequality.
In developing nations, where absolute poverty is already a prevalent issue, high levels of inequality and decreasing social mobility can act as a major barrier to poverty reduction. The displacement caused by gentrification can affect an individual’s access to basic necessities such as healthy food, education and health care. For those living on less than a dollar a day, gaining access to these amenities is more important than ever in poverty reduction efforts.
Impacts of Gentrification: Mozambique and Brazil
Mozambique is a nation affected by a type of social polarization or rather a rich-poor divide. This is fortified by the dual socio-spatial structure of some of its regions — for example, Maputo, which is sometimes referred to as a segregated city. This originated in the colonial period in the 16th century, when the colonialists and the colonized were segregated, creating a harsh divide between society.
Socio-spatial patterning in divided areas may sometimes mean that amenities of a city are located at the center, typically surrounding more affluent areas and excluding those with low or no income. This results in the creation of densely concentrated areas of poverty. This social stratification increases the divides between different socioeconomic groups. Restricted opportunities and unbalanced wealth, compounded with reduced social mobility, create a cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Brazil is another area that has been impacted by gentrification. A type of area known as a ‘Favela,’ which translates to ‘slum’. This area is often found in the outskirts of Brazilian cities, more prominently in Rio. Favelas are known for their high-density, compact organization, but can sometimes be described as less than liveable, with conditions in these areas sometimes being dysfunctional and destitute. In this scenario, the increasing popularity of locations such as Rio has meant that many have suffered from displacement, being confronted with rent increases and forced evictions to higher-risk locations.
As a result, many previous residents may find themselves relocated to the outskirts of the city, suffering from worse conditions and less access to basic necessities. Once again, this exacerbates poverty for those already on low incomes, creating a cycle of intergenerational inequality.
Policy as the Solution
Policy is the key to mitigating the negative consequences of gentrification. The main frameworks that could be implemented include managing rent affordability, preventing tenant displacement and strengthening participation from residents in general society. Gentrification can be a net positive when taking place under the correct conditions — that is, while ensuring that society’s most vulnerable are protected. To prevent the creation of wide inequality gaps, policy should aim to ensure economic equality of all residents, thus ensuring that low-income residents do not suffer and ultimately slip into poverty.
– Hannah Bugeja
Photo: Flickr
Satellite Imagery, AI and Poverty Reduction
In a world where poverty is a constant challenge, two key technologies are joining forces to revolutionize the approach to this global problem: artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite imagery. This powerful combination provides governments, organizations and policymakers with innovative solutions and knowledge-based insights that can potentially transform the fight against poverty as it is today.
Satellites: Guardians From Above
Satellite photography with detailed views of the Earth’s surface has evolved into an invaluable tool in the fight against poverty. These satellites do more than just take pictures; they collect a significant amount of information about the conditions of the planet. Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in effectively processing this data, revealing patterns and trends that used to be hidden. In addition, the satellites provide a real-time window into impoverished areas. Satellites monitor land use changes, crop health, infrastructure development and even natural disasters. This information is central to understanding the dynamics of poverty in order to make informed decisions.
AI Control of Satellite Data
AI analytics capabilities are key to unlocking the potential of satellite imagery. Machine learning algorithms can analyze significant data sets with unprecedented speed, identify trends related to poverty and help predict future developments. This synergy between artificial intelligence and satellite images opens up possibilities in the fight against poverty.
Satellites’ and AI’s Applications in the Fight Against Poverty
Real-World Application of Satellites & AI in Africa
Stanford researchers have developed an innovative tool that combines satellite imagery and artificial intelligence (AI) to estimate poverty levels across African villages. By analyzing both nighttime and daytime satellite images, the tool identifies indicators of development, such as lights at night and human infrastructure during the day. Deep learning algorithms create an asset wealth index, a common measure of household wealth, based on these characteristics. Tested on around 20,000 African villages, the tool accurately gauges poverty levels over different time periods.
This technology has substantial potential to combat poverty in Africa by providing valuable economic data at local and broad scales. It facilitates improved targeting of anti-poverty programs, aids in product distribution by NGOs and supports market growth analysis for businesses. The democratization of this technology, with publicly available satellite imagery, makes it accessible for widespread use. By addressing the challenge of measuring economic progress and poverty interventions, this tool contributes to enhancing the well-being of impoverished populations in Africa.
As the world continues to improve and expand the use of artificial intelligence and satellite imagery, the fight against global poverty will become a powerful ally. With clear data and innovative solutions, these technologies can significantly reduce poverty and offer hope for a more equitable world.
– Suhani Bhattad
Photo: Flickr