The vast majority of health systems in developing countries are arguably only “designed to deal with acute conditions and diseases,” with the WHO defining quality of life “as an individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of culture and value systems in which they live.” Because Botswana is a very rural and agricultural country, many elderly people living in poverty are particularly vulnerable, as accessing hospitals, support and even basic amenities can be a particularly challenging task, with care solely falling upon family members.
Furthermore, even when the elderly attempt to access support, there are many barriers. According to one study from the NIH, Botswana is facing a challenge when it comes to addressing loneliness and social isolation due to the lack of comprehensive policies and programs in place.
Therefore social networking links are particularly weak, and to make things worse, most of the facilities available are particularly difficult to access. Unfortunately, many buildings still do not prioritize accessibility by lacking lifts or ramps.
In particular, a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine in 2019, suggested that the solution to solving elderly poverty and the issues associated with it was to improve social structures. “Services to tackle later-life loneliness and social exclusion need to be more widely available and robust if they are to promote healthy aging and build resilience, support and independence.”
Common Illnesses in Botswana
Due to the majority of those who are elderly in Botswana living in extreme cases of poverty, many suffer from malnourishment, which leads to further health complications later in life.
A study, conducted by the Epidemiol Institute of Health in 2000, which analyzed elderly poverty in Mmankgodi Village, stated, “Among our group of elderly, 69, 21% were classified as moderate or severely malnourished. This indicates that malnutrition is a significant health problem among the elderly in this region.”
Additionally, “Blindness was the single most frequently found physical disability, affecting 10% of the study population. The majority suffered from cataracts, a condition that can be surgically treated.”
However, despite this being the most common condition in the region, the surgery to remove the cataract is only conducted in three hospitals in Botswana. This means that many elderly people eventually become blind, as the treatment required is inaccessible to most.
Current Actions To Support the Elderly
An organization that is currently working in the area to take care of the elderly is the Pabaleong Hospice homecare program, run by the Sisters of Nazareth Charity. The sisters and caregivers who work for the hospice provide support for vulnerable people through doing both home visits and treating them at the 10-bed inpatient facility which is based in Metsimotlhabe.
The charity has so far reached 90 patients who are living at home, and has provided palliative care throughout the country.
Someone who has been supported by the program is a man named Matthew (named changed to protect his privacy). Matthew speaks of having been “woken by pain from an infection in his right leg.” Normally having to walk over a mile to receive treatment, the Pabalelong Hospice program was able to provide support by visiting Matthew’s home, and the sisters have been making visits regularly to ensure that he remains in stable condition.
“I don’t think I could have walked to the clinic today, it is very painful,” Matthew says, rubbing his wound. “I have also run out of bandages, so I am really happy you have come to see me today,” he tells his caregivers.
Despite the success of this program, much more work needs to be done to support the elderly in Botswana. This consists of improvements to health and social care, making infrastructure capable of accommodating those who require special access to buildings and ensuring that an elderly person’s family isn’t the only source of help out there.
– Megan Rose Miley
Photo: Unsplash
The Impact of Organized Crime Syndicates on Poverty in Romania
After coming out of being ruled under a dictatorship for decades, Romania is still enduring political instability. Although more than 30 years have passed since the end of Nicolae Ceausescu’s rule, the nation is still struggling to find its footing, with the combination of widespread corruption and powerful organized crime syndicates leading to rampant poverty.
Effects of Corruption on the Romanian People
Since assuming office in December 2014, President Klaus Iohannis has had 13 different Prime Ministers and corruption has wormed its way into every aspect of Romanian society.
This volatility has made it difficult for the nation to recover from the damaging economic policies of Ceausescu. This instability has contributed to about 22% of the Romanian population living below the national poverty line in 2020, according to World Bank data.
How Criminal Syndicates Prey on Poorer Communities
In an interview with The Borgen Project, Serious Organized Crime Coordinator for Central and Southern Europe Richard Calver explained how organized criminal syndicates capitalize on poverty; “When political instability and grand corruption result in failing state services, organized crime groups will establish illicit economies.” These economies will undoubtedly target the poorest in society and exacerbate the issues they are facing by driving them toward crime and away from the possibility of support.
Calver elaborated on this describing how, “over time these established criminal dynamics can become culturally ingrained in poorer communities, further isolating them from state protection and perpetuating an acceptance of exploitation.” The venality in these communities also provides prime recruitment grounds for the syndicates responsible for the corruption in the first place.
Patrick Winn explains in his book “Hello, Shadowlands,” how widespread corruption inevitably forces politicians to turn to crime and pushes individuals into a state where they have to choose if they want to become predator or prey. If the government and law enforcement are in league with criminal persecutors, finding a foothold in the underworld can often seem like the only way to survive.
Unfortunately, criminality is not just prevalent among the residents of these poorer communities, corruption spreads through all levels of Romanian society. The crime syndicates strive hard to preserve this status quo since these poor areas are a lucrative source of money for them. The consequence of this is widespread bribery, corruption, violence and those in power overlooking the plight of the Romanian people.
According to the Corruption Perceptions Index that Transparency International released in 2021, Romania scored 45 out of 100, making it the second most corrupt nation in the European Union. These factors create a vicious cycle as the instability, poverty and organized crime all feed off each other and make it extremely difficult for the nation’s economic issues to be resolved.
The Search for a Solution
Calver speaks of the vital role understanding plays in solving these situations, stating, “When considering initiatives to tackle poverty, consideration must be given to understand the vested interests of criminal actors who profit from the suffering of others.” A large part of Calver’s work involves developing this understanding. His time in Romania and the hard work of his team promise to help both Western governments and humanitarian organizations address the issues the Romanian people face in a more effective manner.
One of the humanitarian organizations working to improve the quality of life for impoverished people in Romania is Habitat for Humanity. Habit for Humanity began working in Romania in 1996 to address housing poverty, particularly in rural areas where people “live in cramped and decaying apartments in condominium complexes,” according to its website. Its work involves constructing and renovating homes for low-income families throughout the country. Habit for Humanity’s building rehabilitation work targets low-income households living in dilapidated communist-era apartment blocks. In 2018 alone, the organization served 280 people in Romania through housing initiatives.
Calver and his team along with the international community and humanitarian organizations like Habitat for Humanity aim to improve the quality of life of Romanians amid corruption and the presence of organized crime syndicates. Despite the difficulties the nation’s people face, with an understanding of the intricacies of issues at play, there appears to be hope for change.
– Henry Tuppen
Photo: Flickr
India’s Railway Crash And The Risks Of Modernization
India’s railway crash which occurred in India’s eastern state of Odisha on June 2, 2023, was a tragic accident, one of the worst in the country’s recent history. However, as many have pointed out, it is one of many accidents. Indian citizens and external organizations alike are criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his seeming prioritization of speeding up India’s modernization over the safety of workers carrying out the modernization. This elicits wonder as to what position India’s railway system occupies in the country’s path to zero poverty and how authorities can better manage it and ensure it does not become a source of harm in the fight against poverty.
India’s Railway System
India boasts the fourth largest railway system in the world, having built more than 68,000 km of track. More than 24 million people use the railway system every single day and the system transports nearly 204 million tonnes of freight throughout the world’s seventh-largest country. It began in 1954 and is also one of the oldest systems in the world. The Indian government manages this huge, sprawling network of trains and passengers under the company Indian Railways.
Indian Railways is therefore the second-largest employer in India after the Indian Armed Forces and the seventh-largest employer in the world. Under the state, 1.4 million people earn a living while contributing to the economic activity of India, allowing business owners who depend on train transport to make a stable income.
As such, the Indian railway system is a symbol of India’s modernization. The network hosts the world’s tallest railway bridge, which will open to visitors in late 2023/early 2024. It has also developed a High-Speed Rail Track system using Japanese bullet train technology. These advancements are displays of the increasing wealth of the Indian economy as well as indicators of how India is using the whopping $30 billion budget for train development at the moment. From these statistics alone, it seems that India is witnessing a decrease in poverty levels.
The Consequences of the Crash
The events of June 2 in Odisha threw the pace and stability of such rapid modernization and poverty alleviation into question. On the day, two passenger trains carrying more than 3,000 travelers and a freight train collided near Bahanaga Bazar station.
Furthermore, due to the lack of clarity surrounding the official cause of India’s railway crash, many eyes are turning toward India’s Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, called Kavach. Kavach emerged in March 2022 and boasted advanced elements like an automatic brake application, aids to improve visibility in unfavorable conditions and communication and SOS response systems in cases of emergency. Yet, Kavach either did not undergo development or failed to work adequately in the trains that were in the Odisha railway crash.
While this is all hearsay at the moment, the severity of the crash has put the safety of the Indian railway system into focus, in contrast to the newness of Kavach and the billions that PM Modi spent on modernizing Indian Railways. The Guardian, for example, stressed the increase of Indian rail accidents by 37% in 2022 despite Kavach’s introduction and stated that “safety remains the biggest problem for the Indian railways.”
Moving Forward After India’s Railway Crash
Kavach is a great idea for ensuring the safety of all those who work for Indian Railways and the millions of ordinary people using its services on a daily basis. However, it could be beneficial to employ human safety managers alongside this advanced technology, as such a move would also increase the number of jobs available in the Indian labor market.
Having people specialize in monitoring and operating Kavach would unleash the full potential of this safety mechanism and the overall capacity of the railway system in India to carry the country out of unemployment and poverty. The loss of talented lives, the stress on medical services and the damage to the reputation and credibility that a crash like the one in Odisha has caused could be repaired in the long run. All in all, there appears to be a need for Indian Railways to combine the human and mechanical potential to prioritize the safety of its services.
– Tiffany Chan
Photo: Flickr
USAID Programs in Burkina Faso
Agriculture and Food Security
Agriculture plays a massive role in the Burkinabè economy, with the sector being responsible for the income of 80% of the population. Despite this, food insecurity is high. The WFP estimates that over 3 million people face acute food insecurity, which is why USAID programs in the country work to improve agriculture production and access to food in the country.
In the fiscal year 2021, USAID provided over $11 million for agriculture and food security programs in Burkina Faso. Regarding agriculture, one of the areas of focus for USAID programs is increasing the production of food by educating farmers on better agricultural practices. In addition, by strengthening the stability of markets and providing microloans, the U.S. helps Burkinabè farmers have more stable, financially viable agriculture businesses.
Due to the high levels of food insecurity, USAID programs in Burkina Faso addressing this issue are essential. By way of USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (FFP), the agency works with the World Food Programme to donate food to hundreds of thousands of people. FFP also partners with other agencies working in the country. For example, in 2018, together with ACDI/VOCA, FFP pledged $50 million in food assistance and resilience building for particularly vulnerable families in Burkina Faso’s Centre-North region.
Democracy and Human Rights
Burkina Faso saw the democratically elected leader of the country ousted in 2022, in a blow to the country’s democratic transition. USAID programs in Burkina Faso remain committed to supporting democracy — for example, through the training of independent election officials and organizing conferences on democratic governance.
USAID programs in Burkina Faso also support those institutions in the country that monitor human rights violations and ensure victims of human rights violations are able to access justice.
Health
Like many impoverished countries, Burkina Faso faces a number of challenges in the health sector, so USAID programs in Burkina Faso that work towards improving the health of the population are of high importance.
The main health issue concerning Burkina Faso is the prevalence of malaria. The disease, which has been eradicated in many wealthy countries, is the main cause of death for children under the age of 5 in the country, according to UNICEF, and USAID reports that nearly 20,000 people were killed by malaria in Burkina Faso in 2020 alone. This number can be seen as the reason why USAID provided $128.5 million for the fight against malaria in Burkina Faso between 2017 and 2022. Malaria prevention infrastructure, diagnostic tests and medication are all funded by USAID programs in Burkina Faso, highlighting the broad approach aid is taking to fight the disease. For the future, a new, effective Malaria vaccine looks promising, and USAID programs are likely to fund vaccine distributions should a vaccine become broadly usable.
While malaria may be the main health issue facing Burkina Faso, the country also requires support in fighting HIV/AIDS. Regarding this illness, international efforts including those of USAID appear to be bearing fruit as the number of HIV/AIDS-related deaths has steadily declined since the early 1990s.
Humanitarian Assistance
A significant portion of USAID programs in Burkina Faso is focused on the provision of humanitarian assistance. The country has seen multiple humanitarian crises in the past years, due to crop failures, domestic armed conflict and natural disasters. As a consequence of these crises, the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre estimates that as of 2022, around 2.2 million people were internally displaced in Burkina Faso. By way of its Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, USAID provided $54.4 million in humanitarian aid to the country in the fiscal year 2021 alone.
Water and Sanitation
UNICEF estimates that in 2021, 2.4 million people in Burkina Faso lacked access to safe water. This is why USAID programs in Burkina Faso improving the water and sanitation circumstances have a high priority. Within this area, USAID has a broad field of programs to improve the lives of Burkinabè. Concrete actions by USAID include the improvement and establishment of water points, the monitoring of groundwater and water systems infrastructure as well as the provision of tools and education enabling communities and health care providers to access safer water.
Looking Ahead
The challenges faced by Burkina Faso are great, and poverty remains widespread in the country. USAID programs in Burkina Faso will need to continue providing support for the foreseeable future if the lives of Burkinabè are to be improved. The announcement of additional aid by the U.S. in the last two years to West Africa may be a sign that USAID will further expand its programs in the country and spells hope for those in need in Burkina Faso.
– Patrick Brownlow
Photo: Flickr
Eliminating TB in India
However, this is no easy feat to accomplish for India. Poor sanitation and crowded areas greatly increase the risk of transmission — a harsh reality for India with 1.4 billion people and 1/10 living below the poverty line. Furthermore, a lack of stable infrastructure, awareness and accessibility add barriers to reducing TB. To combat these poor environmental factors the Indian government has developed a myriad of programs to improve TB outcomes.
Panchayat Initiative
The goal of the Panchayat (a village council) Initiative is to tackle TB on a small-scale village level. By working with local governments the initiative has elevated TB awareness, care and prevention in more than 500,000 villages. This was accomplished by creating TB units that covered five villages each and had members inform residents about TB identification, early diagnosis and treatment.
Ni-Akshay Mitra Campaign
The Ni-Akshay Mitra campaign focuses on reducing the stigma surrounding TB in India. By creating a public government program easily accessible via the internet citizens are able to access vital information. The program offers an array of support ranging from dietary, diagnostic and occupational information. The campaign has already reached over 1 million TB patients and has had success in building a culture aiding the elimination of TB in India. It also highlights nutritional information that recent studies have shown can be instrumental in preventing and reducing TB.
Government Aid
A primary barrier to TB treatment in India is a lack of monetary resources. TB treatment can total about $700 in direct and indirect costs, but the average monthly salary in India is $387. To curb this, India’s Direct Benefit Transfer a government program provides money to TB patients. The program has helped about 8 million patients and distributed $260 million.
The government has also focused on helping citizens with care. Recently developing a family-focused model of care through the Ministry of Health to aid family caregivers in treating TB. Information made easily accessible by the government teaches caregivers through media, videos and animations.
Looking Forward
While there are still barriers and challenges regarding TB that need addressing, such as increasing drug resistance and hindered infrastructure due to the COVID-19 epidemic, India is no doubt ahead of the WHO’s schedule in eliminating TB. Reducing TB is another weight that is lifted off those suffering from poverty and is a great step in working to improve the lives of billions living in India.
– Aditya Arora
Photo: Flickr
5 Organizations Helping Children in Singapore
5 Organizations Helping Children in Singapore
Looking Ahead
While Singapore has been ranked highly in human capital development, there still remains a need to aid those who lack funding and support. These organizations provide children with resources, ambition and courage to grow. Through the 2022 Children Enrichment Programme by Children’s Wishing Well, for example, roughly 80% of children involved became highly motivated to escape the poverty cycle and curate their futures. With the continued efforts of organizations that aid impoverished children in Singapore, these children will grow academically and mentally, given the care and support that allow them to succeed.
– Kristina Gaffney
Photo: Flickr
Tackling HIV/AIDS in Equatorial Guinea
Treatment
In recent years, the main treatment for HIV/AIDS in Equatorial Guinea has been ART, which stands for antiretroviral therapy. This involves patients taking a combination of medicines that help prevent HIV from replicating in the body. This allows for CD4 cells to replenish, which helps fight infection in the immune system. About 41% of those living with the disease in Equatorial Guinea were receiving some type of ART treatment, showing that the country has a ways to go to ensure all citizens infected with the virus receive treatment. Furthermore, just 42% of pregnant women are receiving this treatment. This is especially alarming as pregnant women can pass on HIV/AIDS to their children through birth or through breastfeeding. Helping pregnant women become untransmissible could be one of the best ways to stop the spread of the virus. One becomes non-transmissible through the use of medications and treatments such as ART.
Action Being Taken
In 2014, then President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang, met with the UNAIDS Executive Director to discuss ways forward in combating HIV/AIDS in Equatorial Guinea. They discussed how, in recent years, Equatorial Guinea has opened new treatment centers that provide care for citizens with the disease. This has allowed the nation to reduce the number of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. From 2011 to 2014, pregnant women’s access to ART treatments increased by 13%. Teodoro Obiang promised to work with UNAIDS to help end the epidemic in his country by 2030. While this meeting was promising, little has been said by the Equatorial Guinea government in several years on their current policy on HIV/AIDS and any action being taken.
Outside organizations are also working to fight against HIV/AIDS in Equatorial Guinea. One of these is the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). In November of 2022, the organization partnered with the NGO SOS Children’s Villages met with several schools and youth centers near Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea. During these meetings, UNFPA educated the youth on stigmatized topics such as HIV, AIDS, STIs and teen pregnancy and distributed informational materials such as brochures. It is the hope of UNFPA that greater education around these issues will help reduce cases of HIV and AIDS.
Looking Ahead
Currently, many individuals are battling HIV/AIDS in Equatorial Guinea. However, with renewed commitment taken by the government in terms of increased access to treatment for civilians, it is entirely possible that the population can bounce back from this epidemic and drastically reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS.
– Emma Glas
Photo: Flickr
The Kuwait Fund: Small State in the International System
The KFAED typically assists by extending concessional loans to fund development projects in agriculture, energy and transport amongst other vital industries that promote social and economic advancement in recipient states. Over the years, the Fund extensively grew its reach and influence to become a prominent actor in international humanitarian assistance, working toward alleviating the conditions of the most vulnerable worldwide.
A History of Kuwaiti Economic Assistance
Throughout the 1950s, under colonial rule, Kuwait began bargaining for more control over its oil production and wealth and funneling significant amounts to the aid of all seven Sheikhdoms that now constitute the United Arab Emirates (UAE). After its independence, Kuwait was quick to establish the KFAED with the mission of channeling the state’s wealth toward assisting more of its neighboring Arab states.
The Fund rapidly grew and began investing in projects that would become especially prominent in the Middle East. For instance, KFAED’s eighth loan was directed toward the development of the Suez Canal in Egypt. By 1974, the fund had widened its geographical coverage and became involved in projects across continents, eventually reaching nations across Asia, Africa, South America and Eastern Europe.
While the fund started as a 50 million Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) initiative, in the span of a decade it became worth 1 billion KD and constituted the world’s largest foreign aid program at the time. The fund also proved to be resilient, as during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, the KFAED moved its headquarters to London where it remained operational, and was able to return the following year to resume its operations from Kuwait.
International Humanitarian Aid
The fund has also been quick to respond with humanitarian aid during natural disasters and wars. Figures since 2015 place Kuwait’s foreign aid contribution at more than double the U.N. Official Development Assistance 0.7% commitment target. The fund has also pledged $500 million in humanitarian aid to Yemen and Syria each, making it the third largest donor to Syria since the onset of the war. The KFAED also provided $200 million to Iraq in aid, along with an agreement to postpone $4.6 billion worth of Gulf War compensation owed to it by Iraq.
The fund took it upon itself to take part in co-finance projects with other national, regional and international partners. The KFAED joined the Arab Coordination Group, and in 2016 took part in the Arab-DAC Dialogue on Development held at the OPEC Fund for International Development. In addition, the KFAED’s scope expanded to include offering grants and subsidies to support development initiatives, with its beneficiaries encompassing both governments as well as other organizations.
Partnership with the UNDP
In 2021, the KFAED joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support individuals and communities affected by crises worldwide. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kuwait Fund signed a partnership agreement with the UNDP to support and build resilience in affected areas while assisting them in achieving U.N. Development Goals in the face of new global challenges. The partnership set out to advance what they termed the humanitarian-development-peace nexus which is primarily aimed at recovery and post-crisis stabilization but also tackles poverty, inequality and climate change.
As part of the agreement, the KFAED provided funding for the UNDP’s operations across 170 countries to find long-term solutions and implement durable plans and responses. In the joint projects in Iraq, Jordan and Yemen, the fund contributed a total of $16.5 million. The projects specifically aimed to enhance the living conditions of Internally Displaced People, refugees and asylum seekers by providing access to essential health services, shelter, improving water services and installing solar power. Notably, the joint initiative included building and commissioning the Khan Younis wastewater treatment plant, greatly improving public health and access to water for more than 217,000 individuals in the Gaza Strip.
By 2023, the Kuwait Fund had issued more than 1,000 loans across 105 countries. Ultimately, through the far-reaching initiatives of the KFAED, Kuwait has established itself as a key facilitator and supporter of initiatives aimed at enhancing resilience and supporting the vulnerable in the face of the world’s most urgent crises. The agreement between the Kuwait fund and the UNDP then serves to demonstrate further Kuwait’s growing global prominence at the intersection of international humanitarian aid and development.
– Nadia Asaad
Photo: Flickr
Elderly Poverty in Botswana
Furthermore, even when the elderly attempt to access support, there are many barriers. According to one study from the NIH, Botswana is facing a challenge when it comes to addressing loneliness and social isolation due to the lack of comprehensive policies and programs in place.
Therefore social networking links are particularly weak, and to make things worse, most of the facilities available are particularly difficult to access. Unfortunately, many buildings still do not prioritize accessibility by lacking lifts or ramps.
In particular, a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine in 2019, suggested that the solution to solving elderly poverty and the issues associated with it was to improve social structures. “Services to tackle later-life loneliness and social exclusion need to be more widely available and robust if they are to promote healthy aging and build resilience, support and independence.”
Common Illnesses in Botswana
Due to the majority of those who are elderly in Botswana living in extreme cases of poverty, many suffer from malnourishment, which leads to further health complications later in life.
A study, conducted by the Epidemiol Institute of Health in 2000, which analyzed elderly poverty in Mmankgodi Village, stated, “Among our group of elderly, 69, 21% were classified as moderate or severely malnourished. This indicates that malnutrition is a significant health problem among the elderly in this region.”
Additionally, “Blindness was the single most frequently found physical disability, affecting 10% of the study population. The majority suffered from cataracts, a condition that can be surgically treated.”
However, despite this being the most common condition in the region, the surgery to remove the cataract is only conducted in three hospitals in Botswana. This means that many elderly people eventually become blind, as the treatment required is inaccessible to most.
Current Actions To Support the Elderly
An organization that is currently working in the area to take care of the elderly is the Pabaleong Hospice homecare program, run by the Sisters of Nazareth Charity. The sisters and caregivers who work for the hospice provide support for vulnerable people through doing both home visits and treating them at the 10-bed inpatient facility which is based in Metsimotlhabe.
The charity has so far reached 90 patients who are living at home, and has provided palliative care throughout the country.
Someone who has been supported by the program is a man named Matthew (named changed to protect his privacy). Matthew speaks of having been “woken by pain from an infection in his right leg.” Normally having to walk over a mile to receive treatment, the Pabalelong Hospice program was able to provide support by visiting Matthew’s home, and the sisters have been making visits regularly to ensure that he remains in stable condition.
“I don’t think I could have walked to the clinic today, it is very painful,” Matthew says, rubbing his wound. “I have also run out of bandages, so I am really happy you have come to see me today,” he tells his caregivers.
Despite the success of this program, much more work needs to be done to support the elderly in Botswana. This consists of improvements to health and social care, making infrastructure capable of accommodating those who require special access to buildings and ensuring that an elderly person’s family isn’t the only source of help out there.
– Megan Rose Miley
Photo: Unsplash
USAID Programs in Mali
Agriculture and Food Security
The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that nearly a fifth of the Malian population is affected by food insecurity. This highlights the importance of USAID programs in Mali that combat hunger and help the agriculture sector, which is responsible for 80% of employment in the country. USAID’s “Feed the Future” program, which runs in a number of other countries as well, implements help in a number of ways.
The program works with members of the private sector to incentivize private companies to commit to sustainable agricultural production and the sale of agricultural products in Mali. To aid the highly agriculture-dependent population, the program also provides education to Malian farmers on better farming practices and soil and water conservation techniques. In addition, Feed the Future helps them gain access to better soil, fertilizer and financing, so that farmers are able to increase food production and reduce food insecurity. In the year 2021 alone, Feed the Future was able to assist the nutrition of nearly 2 million children under the age of 5, making it one of the most impactful of all USAID programs in Mali. Feed the Future even branches out into the more political sphere, with USAID representatives working with local government and NGOs to encourage the harmonic use of resources so that food insecurity may be reduced.
Health
Mali is faced with a number of health crises which USAID programs in Mali aim to combat. While the scope of USAID health aid is large, ranging from the provision of training to health workers and medical equipment to health facilities and much more, there are some initiatives that are more targeted at specific health issues. The Presidential Malaria Initiative, for example, is committed to fighting the disease malaria in the country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria ranks as one of the leading causes of death in Mali, making work to combat the disease of high importance. By way of the Presidential Malaria Initiative, USAID provides a wide range of aid to both prevent malaria from spreading and treat infected Malians. Malaria prevention measures include the provision of preventive treatments for pregnant women, the distribution of mosquito nets, rapid diagnostic tests and insecticide spray. In addition, USAID treats malaria-infected Malians with fast-acting medicines, to prevent further spread and enable those with the disease to recover from it.
Education
Around 12.5% of Malian children of primary school age do not attend school, according to the WFP. In addition, USAID reports that boys are more likely to be enrolled in school than girls, who are regularly deprived of an education in favor of working in the home. USAID programs in Mali seek to increase school participation and graduation and to increase the number of girls given the opportunity to receive an education.
The USAID program Girls’ Leadership and Empowerment through Education (GLEE) works to decrease the barriers girls face to receiving an education and to empower them to become more independent and less vulnerable to exploitation. Amongst other initiatives, the program supports the establishment of “Accelerated Schooling Centers,” which are learning centers that provide an education to girls who missed out on school years. As of June 2023, USAID reported that 21,745 girls had been enrolled in such institutions, giving them a chance to catch up with their education.
Human Rights
With armed internal conflicts and crises regularly occurring, the human rights situation in Mali is difficult. USAID programs in Mali aim to strengthen democracy, human rights and the justice system in the country.
The Empowering Malians through Elections, Reforms and Governance Efforts (EMERGE) program, for example, aims to inform democratic debate and strengthen fair democratic elections. The program, which was founded by USAID in partnership with the Swiss and Danish stakeholders, has delivered training to nearly 5,500 local election observers and provided accurate information on elections to over 25 million Malians over the radio, in-person and on social media platforms.
Looking Ahead
Mali faces a number of challenges, ranging from food insecurity to disease and education issues. However, some progress has been made, as international aid, including USAID programs in Mali, works to improve the lives of Malians. For example, life expectancy at birth increased by over 10 years in Mali since 2000, per the WHO. Continued and increased aid is needed to continue this trend and ensure that Malians have a better future.
– Patrick Brownlow
Photo: Flickr
Health Care in Comoros
Political Instability and Health Care
The nation has struggled with political unrest since its independence from France on July 6, 1975. Because of recent laws, the average duration of each government has not been longer than six months. These political fluctuations have caused a major toll on health care in Comoros.
During these 41 years of political unrest, Comoros experienced 21 coups, causing a massive health care crisis among the islands. These turbulent years made it harder to implement institutions that provide medical care to all people no matter their socio-economic status.
Health Care Workers
Often, very skilled medical workers choose to migrate out of Comoros. Additionally, ever since its independence, the islands have struggled to distribute health care workers evenly across the country. This demands imperative action in Comoros to increase health care workers and organize better health care distribution processes so all people in Comoros can access safe and effective health care.
Health Issues
A weak health care system leads to illnesses and disorders that go undiagnosed or untreated. In Comoros, the most common health issues include malaria, diarrhea, diabetes, intestinal parasites, respiratory infections and HIV/AIDS, which is less common but equally fatal. These diseases and illnesses left untreated cause significant deaths, most commonly in children and pregnant women.
The revival of old diseases like cholera, chikungunya, malaria and HIV/AIDS points to the political turmoil playing a big role in the poor health services in Comoros. It isn’t just diseases that cause health issues in Comorians, however. Over the years, children have continued to die from chronic malnutrition, illustrating the adverse state of poverty the nation is in.
What is the Problem?
The years of political instability in Comoros have had drastic effects on poverty and health care. As there is no national health insurance in Comoros, the average Comorian will pay 45% of the cost of a health visit out of pocket. This elite group highlights the economic disparities people face in Comoros. Due to the national poverty levels, 60% of health workers in public facilities are unpaid volunteers.
Help in Times of Hardship
Because of the urgent need for a change of health care in Comoros, in 2019, the World Bank approved the Comprehensive Approach to Health System Strengthening Project (COMPASS). It has invested $30 million into the improvement of primary health care in Comoros. Its goal is to prioritize delivering aid to women and children under the age of five as well as to the general population.
The World Bank continues to reinforce better health care in Comoros by providing more accessible and affordable services to the general public. The organization creates better health institutions, trains more workers and provides rehabilitation services to patients. The World Bank also has also given Comoros a large quantity of equipment and vehicles that help medical workers on the islands. The project hopes to deliver quality and time-efficient care to patients with disease and illness outbreaks in Comoros.
Comoros Takes Action
In recent years, Comoros has fought to control malaria, and the nation is close to succeeding, currently in the pre-elimination phase. Furthermore, the Comoros government has worked to reduce health care costs by more than 40% since 2010.
Moreover, the islands have adopted a new national health policy for the period of 2015-2024. This initiative aims to end the cycle of poverty keeping people from accessing the health care that they need in Comoros. By creating more accessible health care the country can help combat the rising amount of devastating diseases that create a huge toll on the population.
– Marina Blatt
Photo: Flickr