A lack of access to air conditioning, heating or refrigeration paints a picture of what energy poverty looks like for vulnerable populations. People in this category lack modern and renewable energy sources to help meet everyday needs. This is especially true for those in rural or hard-to-reach areas in Malaysia. This has called attention to the need for renewable energy in Malaysia.
More than 733 million people do not have access to electricity and 2.4 billion (more than half the population of Asia) cannot access clean cooking resources. As 2030 approaches, there is an increasing urgency to meet one of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): “affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.”
Energy poverty is high in Asia and in Southeast Asia specifically. Based on expectations, the energy demand could more than double by 2040. As one of the better-developed nations in Southeast Asia, Malaysia has the distinctive potential to develop a sustainable system reliant on renewable energy rather than fossil fuels.
To meet its clean energy target, Malaysia wants to recreate its national power grid by using digital systems, machine learning and automation. The country promises to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, using clean and renewable energy. There will be a replacement of power plants and the newer systems will be the standard beyond 2030. Battery energy storage systems or BESS’s are to be expanded to a 500MW capacity to meet solar energy goals.
Advantages of Renewable Energy
Multiple benefits come with investing and transitioning to renewable energy for Malaysia. Firstly, it is cost-effective in lowering energy, environmental or health expenses and can save the nation more than $9 billion annually by 2050. An investment in renewable energy also permits tax allowances and greater financial incentives for homeowners and businesses seeking locally sourced sustainable energy. And finally, the renewable energy transition can reduce rising labor and material costs and create millions of new work opportunities in various fields by 2030.
The First Local Battery Energy Storage Systems
Citaglobal and Genetec Technology formed Citaglobal Genetec BESS and launched Malaysia’s first developed and produced BESS. Successfully demoed in 2022, the system is designed to be portable and large-scale. If these challenges can be met, BESS makes grid integration and connecting to remote sites much more feasible.
It is also customizable and supports renewable energy such as hydro, solar or wind to multifaceted industries–from manufacturing to telecommunications. Such a system is key for Malaysia to help meet its 2050 net zero emissions target and secure renewable energy security. The Citiglobal Genetec joint partnership hopes to market the BESS system to other Southeast Asian countries.
Plus Xnergy
Plus Xnergy, cofounded by Group CEO Ko Chuan Zhen, is a Malaysian clean energy “solutionist”. Its revised 2023 budget aims to sustainably expand Malaysia’s job market and increase the average wage. The budget’s initiatives include: increasing tax allowances and exemptions from the previous three to five years, prioritizing flood mitigation and encouraging electric vehicle adoption. The clean energy company states that corporations will benefit from these initiatives and with lower energy costs, take up renewable energy much faster. By 2025, Plus Xnergy hopes to increase Malaysia’s clean energy mix by 31%, ensuring not only businesses, but homes receive low-cost, sustainable energy.
Plus Xnergy’s BESS product is designed to save energy and help populations and industries off the power grid in rural areas. The system reduces costs and provides stored, backup power in the event of a blackout or during peak seasons. Plus Xnergy claims that these affordable storage systems are quick and easy to install to scale. Additionally, purchasing these systems makes you eligible for the Green Investment Tax Allowance and helps reduce carbon footprints.
Gentari and Renewable Energy
Alongside battery storage as renewable, lower-carbon solutions, clean hydrogen is another viable option. Gentari is a clean energy firm whose mission is to responsibly and sustainably provide energy globally. As of now, it is collaborating with Singapore’s gas utility company, City Energy, to generate more than 1 million tons annually of clean hydrogen through a supply chain from Malaysia to Singapore. Green mobility is another pillar of Gentari’s solutions and it is working alongside City Energy on a charging network for electric vehicles across both countries’ borders.
Gentari further demonstrates its commitment to renewable energy in Malaysia by partnering with JLand Group (JLG), a Malaysian property developer, to create a green ecosystem across JLG’s many property projects. With the same renewable goals, its initiatives are slated to commence in the third quarter of 2023.
Transforming Energy for the Future
Taking action now will not only benefit Malaysia’s future economy but create reliable, renewable energy systems for rural and struggling populations. Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, told Rockefeller Foundation in 2021: “Access to energy transforms every facet of life, with reliable electricity often the first step toward helping a community lift itself out of poverty.”
– Clare Calzada
Photo: Unsplash
United States’ Intervention in the Venezuelan Refugee Crisis
Thankfully, many state and non-governmental organizations have stepped in to help out with the crisis. The largest contributor to the humanitarian response, however, is the U.S. State Department. Through its various branches, the State Department gives aid to the refugees, helping to heal the divide between the U.S. and Venezuela.
The Crisis
The origins of Venezuela’s crisis began long before the last few years. Arguably, they go all the way back to when investors found large oil reserves in the country in the 1920s. While their economy grew exponentially due to this discovery, it resulted in an increasing reliance on oil.
Years later, President Hugo Chavez utilized the nation’s oil wealth to expand social services, but also greatly expand his presidential powers to near-dictatorial levels. This is partly responsible for Venezuela’s consistent ranking as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Chavez’s successor Nicolas Maduro took power in 2014 and continued to enact corrupt policies while consolidating more presidential power. At the same time, the price of oil declined sharply and the Venezuelan economy declined with it, according to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).
Since then, the people of Venezuela have faced an extreme lack of economic opportunity, food scarcity, lack of medical resources, crime and lack of proper housing, giving rise to the Venezuelan refugee crisis. At the same time, they have continually tried and failed to oust their corrupt government from power. Because of all this, millions of migrants and refugees have fled to neighboring countries and other parts of the world.
State Department Aid
Though relations between the government of the U.S. and Venezuela have soured, the State Department is still intent on helping Venezuelans both within their own country and living abroad as refugees.
Since 2017, the U.S. State Department has given more than $2 billion in aid towards the Venezuelan crisis, making it the largest donor in the world. The State Department works through two separate agencies to assist Venezuelans. These are the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), which is a subsidiary of the State Department itself, while the other is USAID.
PRM primarily focuses on supporting refugees living outside of Venezuela. Its work helps provide a range of essential services including shelter, health care, water, sanitation, hygiene, education and more. Workers distribute this aid in 17 countries throughout South America, Central America and the Caribbean. PRM also utilizes refugee coordinators to work diplomatically with local government officials.
By contrast, USAID is more focused on helping Venezuelans in Venezuela with the same kind of necessary support PRM provides. However, it also assists refugees living in neighboring countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Latest Developments
Thankfully, the U.S. government affirmed its continued support for Venezuelan refugees at the ninth Summit of the Americas in June 2022. There, President Biden announced an additional $314 million in aid to Venezuelan refugees scattered throughout the western hemisphere.
The aid funding goes to both PRM and USAID with the former receiving $103 million and the latter receiving $171 million. An additional $40 million for development was also given to USAID.
And though much work between the U.S. and Venezuela has helped millions of refugees, there is a need for continued action. With time and effort, the State Department’s latest round of aid could alleviate much of the suffering. And if the U.S. and other governments continue to give crucial humanitarian assistance, there is hope that one day, Venezuela’s refugee crisis will be a thing of the past.
–Jonathon Crecelius
Photo: Flickr
Higher Education in Yemen
Effects of War on Higher Education in Yemen
As the war escalates, universities lack funding, rendering attendance unaffordable for potential and current students. Around 100 universities have suffered damage from air strikes and bombings, as of 2018, and military forces are utilizing dozens more. Professors in public universities suffer from a 40% reduction in salary, resulting in a shortage of professors. Students face challenges with displacement and injuries sustained from the war, financial burden from lack of employment, increased living costs, and possible abduction into soldiering. Nevertheless, various organizations have come forward to offer funding and support for Yemeni students, lowering the cost of education and ensuring that future generations can access learning opportunities.
Organizations that Lower the Barriers to Higher Education in Yemen
Looking Ahead
The organizations mentioned above actively take steps to ease the financial burden on Yemeni students and guarantee access to education during the ongoing conflict. These organizations accomplished this through scholarships, temporary learning programs, academic placements and comprehensive educational initiatives, scoring significant progress in lowering the cost of higher education in Yemen. These efforts empower students, dismantle socioeconomic barriers and contribute to fostering a more educated and resilient Yemeni society.
– Clara Swart
Photo: Flickr
Everything You Should Know about Renewable Energy in Malaysia
More than 733 million people do not have access to electricity and 2.4 billion (more than half the population of Asia) cannot access clean cooking resources. As 2030 approaches, there is an increasing urgency to meet one of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): “affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.”
Energy poverty is high in Asia and in Southeast Asia specifically. Based on expectations, the energy demand could more than double by 2040. As one of the better-developed nations in Southeast Asia, Malaysia has the distinctive potential to develop a sustainable system reliant on renewable energy rather than fossil fuels.
To meet its clean energy target, Malaysia wants to recreate its national power grid by using digital systems, machine learning and automation. The country promises to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, using clean and renewable energy. There will be a replacement of power plants and the newer systems will be the standard beyond 2030. Battery energy storage systems or BESS’s are to be expanded to a 500MW capacity to meet solar energy goals.
Advantages of Renewable Energy
Multiple benefits come with investing and transitioning to renewable energy for Malaysia. Firstly, it is cost-effective in lowering energy, environmental or health expenses and can save the nation more than $9 billion annually by 2050. An investment in renewable energy also permits tax allowances and greater financial incentives for homeowners and businesses seeking locally sourced sustainable energy. And finally, the renewable energy transition can reduce rising labor and material costs and create millions of new work opportunities in various fields by 2030.
The First Local Battery Energy Storage Systems
Citaglobal and Genetec Technology formed Citaglobal Genetec BESS and launched Malaysia’s first developed and produced BESS. Successfully demoed in 2022, the system is designed to be portable and large-scale. If these challenges can be met, BESS makes grid integration and connecting to remote sites much more feasible.
It is also customizable and supports renewable energy such as hydro, solar or wind to multifaceted industries–from manufacturing to telecommunications. Such a system is key for Malaysia to help meet its 2050 net zero emissions target and secure renewable energy security. The Citiglobal Genetec joint partnership hopes to market the BESS system to other Southeast Asian countries.
Plus Xnergy
Plus Xnergy, cofounded by Group CEO Ko Chuan Zhen, is a Malaysian clean energy “solutionist”. Its revised 2023 budget aims to sustainably expand Malaysia’s job market and increase the average wage. The budget’s initiatives include: increasing tax allowances and exemptions from the previous three to five years, prioritizing flood mitigation and encouraging electric vehicle adoption. The clean energy company states that corporations will benefit from these initiatives and with lower energy costs, take up renewable energy much faster. By 2025, Plus Xnergy hopes to increase Malaysia’s clean energy mix by 31%, ensuring not only businesses, but homes receive low-cost, sustainable energy.
Plus Xnergy’s BESS product is designed to save energy and help populations and industries off the power grid in rural areas. The system reduces costs and provides stored, backup power in the event of a blackout or during peak seasons. Plus Xnergy claims that these affordable storage systems are quick and easy to install to scale. Additionally, purchasing these systems makes you eligible for the Green Investment Tax Allowance and helps reduce carbon footprints.
Gentari and Renewable Energy
Alongside battery storage as renewable, lower-carbon solutions, clean hydrogen is another viable option. Gentari is a clean energy firm whose mission is to responsibly and sustainably provide energy globally. As of now, it is collaborating with Singapore’s gas utility company, City Energy, to generate more than 1 million tons annually of clean hydrogen through a supply chain from Malaysia to Singapore. Green mobility is another pillar of Gentari’s solutions and it is working alongside City Energy on a charging network for electric vehicles across both countries’ borders.
Gentari further demonstrates its commitment to renewable energy in Malaysia by partnering with JLand Group (JLG), a Malaysian property developer, to create a green ecosystem across JLG’s many property projects. With the same renewable goals, its initiatives are slated to commence in the third quarter of 2023.
Transforming Energy for the Future
Taking action now will not only benefit Malaysia’s future economy but create reliable, renewable energy systems for rural and struggling populations. Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, told Rockefeller Foundation in 2021: “Access to energy transforms every facet of life, with reliable electricity often the first step toward helping a community lift itself out of poverty.”
– Clare Calzada
Photo: Unsplash
Responding To Myanmar’s Cyclone Mocha
U.K. Support
In May 2023, the U.K. announced £2 million in funding to support 175,000 people affected by Myanmar’s Cyclone Mocha. The funding will provide shelter and clean water as well as prevent the spread of disease. Previously, local and international partners received £650,000 in funding from the U.K. With the additional pledge of £2 million, vulnerable people and their communities will receive much-needed emergency aid. Since 2017, Myanmar has received more than £81 million from the U.K. to help with the provision of water, food, sanitation and health care in Rakhine State. Committed to the support of peace and stability, caution and diligence are also in place to ensure the Myanmar military regime receives no U.K. aid benefits.
U.S. Support
On May 17, 2023, the U.S. announced an initial pledge of $200,000 to maintain current relief activities. Later, it announced a provision of almost $17 million in humanitarian aid. The additional support will provide clean water and sanitation as well as emergency shelter and relief items to cyclone-impacted communities. All humanitarian aid will be supplied through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Humanitarian partners are active in the affected areas. Prior to this, USAID partners worked in preparation for the cyclone. Currently, the U.S. is the leading donor of humanitarian aid in Myanmar. Since August 2017, reliable humanitarian providers have received more than $400 million from the U.S.
Oxfam Respond To Myanmar’s Cyclone Mocha
The cyclone has created significant damage in the Rakhine State. Rakhine State is host to thousands of displaced people due to conflict, with many living in temporary camps. The cyclone’s heavy winds led to the camps taking severe damage, further impacting the lives of displaced people who are already undergoing hardship. Oxfam and partners are assessing the destruction in order to plan for a humanitarian response. The organization’s aid will consist of providing clean water, sanitation and emergency cash and food. More than 100 Oxfam staff and volunteers are actively working in Rakhine State to distribute emergency supplies and aid.
H&M Foundation Donates
The philanthropic arm of the multinational clothing company, H&M Group, announced its donation of $250,000 to the Red Cross to support ongoing humanitarian aid in Myanmar. The donation is directed toward the supply of water, sanitation and hygiene. The distribution of clean water will be a particular focus and an integrated approach will be applied to provide access to the basic essentials.
Pope Francis Appeals For Solidarity
On 28 May 2023, during the Regina Coeli prayer, Pope Francis appealed to authorities managing Myanmar’s humanitarian aid access and delivery. The Pope spoke of the 800,000 people who remain in need of urgent help. Attention was also brought to the Rohingya refugees who are fleeing Myanmar’s violence and experiencing the devastating impact of Cyclone Mocha. The Pope concluded, “I appeal to those responsible to facilitate the access of humanitarian aid and I appeal to the sense of human solidarity and ecclesial solidarity to come to the aid of these brothers and sisters of ours.”
What is the Future for Myanmar?
Currently, the full impact of Myanmar’s Cyclone Mocha is unknown. Humanitarian assistance is crucial for those who are severely affected by the destruction. Organizations like Oxfam and the H&M Foundation are also stepping in to provide crucial support, while Pope Francis appeals for solidarity and urges authorities to facilitate humanitarian access. Together, these efforts aim to alleviate the suffering and inspire hope for a better future among the people of Myanmar during this challenging time.
– Grace Clay
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in Hawaii
5 Charities Operating in Hawaii
Placing collective well-being at the forefront of their values, these 5 charities operating in Hawaii are paving paths toward bright futures for those below the poverty line.
– Avery Pearson
Photo: Unsplash
New Initiative to Improve Maternal Care in Jamaica
About the Initiative
The initiative will see the nationwide distribution of Butterfly Monitors (handheld ultrasound machines) to improve prenatal care and complication checks. According to reports, 24 machines will be available to ten hospitals across Jamaica, including emergency departments at several more facilities. This will enable early diagnoses of problems such as heart conditions or maternal hemorrhaging.
Hospitals like Victoria Jubilee, Spanish Town, Princess Margaret and St Ann’s Bay, will benefit from these machines, improving prenatal care and complication checks as a result. The portability of these machines will allow for the provision of essential care without the need to move patients to different hospital departments, thus streamlining the care process for parents, fetuses and doctors. In addition, emergency departments at several more facilities like Kingston Public Hospital and University Hospital of the West Indies will benefit from these devices.
Other Support Efforts
To support this program, The Jamaicans Abroad Helping Jamaicans at Home (JAHJAH) Foundation trained more than 40 health care professionals on using the Butterfly Monitors in a two-day workshop earlier this year. The organization will also provide monthly training, including consultations and case reviews.
The second part of the ‘Right Start’ initiative is the ‘Snuggle Nest Kits’. This more pastoral approach to improving maternal care in Jamaica has already seen 60 kits, which contain portable infant beds, diapers and other hygiene supplies, distributed to disadvantaged new parents. The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) provided $25,000 in funding for the new ultrasound machines and donated 100 kits in collaboration with the U.S.-based company, Bailey’s Medical Supplies.
The Jamaican Ministry of Health and Wellness recently announced its intentions to order 2,000 more ‘Snuggle Nests’, and acknowledged the AFJ and Bailey’s Medical Supplies for offering support. These kits will mean young and vulnerable parents can provide a more safe and secure environment for their babies, particularly when they have other responsibilities around the home to take care of.
Looking Ahead
The ‘Right Start’ initiative is an important step toward reducing infant and maternal mortality rates by improving maternal care in Jamaica, particularly for the most susceptible babies and parents. Although Jamaica has made progress in this area, there is still work to be done to meet the U.N.’s target of ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age by 2030.
– Martha Probert
Photo: Flickr
Chhaupadi: Addressing Menstrual Taboos in Nepal
Making Living Conditions Worse
As a country suffering from extreme poverty, chhaupadi only serves to make living conditions in Nepal worse for girls and women. The poverty rate in Nepal stood at 17.4% in 2019. What’s more, the World Bank reports that development in Nepal is slower than usual in 2023, and this is due to import restrictions, monetary policy tightening, higher inflation and shrinking government expenditure.
Many women who had to practice chhaupadi have come to great harm or even death. The deaths of these women are often not recorded, so there are no reliable means of getting the exact death toll. But these deaths from menstrual taboos in Nepal are indeed happening, despite the lack of recordings. Recorded deaths include the case of Parbati Buda Rawat in 2019; she died from smoke inhalation after the blanket in her hut caught fire and the authorities took her brother-in-law Chhatra Raut into custody after suspecting he forced her into the hut.
Nepal outlawed chhaupadi in 2005. Yet, the practice has continued due to deeply entrenched social norms and traditions and a lack of legal enforcement from the side of authorities. According to a 2019 article, 77% of 14-19-year-old girls surveyed still actively practiced chhaupadi.
Social Norms and Traditions
The idea behind the social norms and traditions of menstrual taboos in Nepal is that a menstruating woman is impure, and is at risk of causing harm to those around her. The main reason that people in Nepal still seem to practice chhaupadi is social pressure. Jennifer Thomson, a lecturer at the University of Bath and an author of the aforementioned study, stated in a report that while criminalizing chhaupadi is a good first step, altering some of the people of Nepal’s outlook on it could be a different story: “We found that arresting somebody is a quick and easy measure, but changing attitudes, changing mindsets, changing practices, is going to take years.”
These pressures may come from external sources like family members pressuring young women in the family to comply with tradition. Comparatively, pressure may come from internal sources, with the menstruating girl or woman feeling the desire to stick to social normalities.
Eradicating Chhaupadi
Eradicating chhaupadi and making menstruation safe for women in Nepal is a challenging endeavor. The chhaupadi practice is deeply woven into their society, with thousands of women going through the experience every month. But recent trends suggest that putting an end to this practice is possible. The outlawing of chhaupadi was the first step and now organizations fighting against it continue to make progress toward freedom from period poverty and stigma.
For example, ActionAid, a charity for women and girls, has set up support groups in Nepal for women to discuss how chhaupadi impacts them. So far, the organization has encouraged more than 1,400 women to stop practicing it altogether. It has also managed to cultivate 11 chhaupadi-free communities in Nepal. The women who take part in these support groups often go on to create their own groups and continue making efforts to put an end to chhaupadi after ActionAid’s interventions.
Also, Radha Paudel, a nurse from Nepal, set up The Radha Paudel Foundation in 2016 to educate the public about periods, and to help push back against the myth of menstruation being dirty or impure. Paudel expressed her frustration with the perceptions of periods as such while aiming to make a difference. She was also frustrated at the origins of chhaupadi and its intrinsic connection to gender bias. Paudel said of chhaupadi to NPR that “these taboos perpetuate the idea that women are less powerful than men. This is about human rights and dignity,” NPR reports.
Looking Ahead
Efforts to eradicate the dangerous practice of chhaupadi in Nepal are making progress, offering hope for a future free from period poverty and stigma. Organizations like ActionAid are providing support groups and interventions that have empowered several women to abandon the practice. The Radha Paudel Foundation is also working to educate the public and challenge the misconceptions surrounding menstruation, emphasizing the importance of human rights and dignity for all.
– Jess Wilkinson
Photo: Unsplash
The Problem of Mental Health in Pakistan
The Stigma and Spiritualism
Around 90% of the population of Pakistan with common mental health disorders do not have access to treatment. And the British Asian Trust reports that roughly “50 million people in the country suffer from mental health disorders.” Also, “stigma, awareness and a lack of service” are all potential explanations for the mental health issues in Pakistan.
There is a common stigmatization of mental health and its effects in Pakistan, thus impacting the lack of awareness and support for those in the country struggling with mental health disorders. Along with this, there is also a recurring association between mental health and spiritualism. According to Sehat Kahani, people often use supernatural causes to explain mental health. In addition, communities look to religion as a cure for mental health issues. While religious observance may be able provide contentment for those suffering, an over-reliance on it in place of psychiatric health could actually hinder progress.
Poverty Impacting Mental Health
Sehat Kahani also suggests that as poverty is a prominent issue within Pakistan, mental health support is a “luxury” for many people in the country. As a result, there is a growing inaccessibility to essential mental health support services for a majority of those with mental health disorders.
According to the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, there is no political or governmental policy regarding the problem of mental health in Pakistan. An absence of mental health practices within the routines and schedules of trainee doctors bolsters this lack of awareness.
According to the World Bank, poverty in Pakistan could reach 37.2% in 2023. This equates to almost 3 million Pakistani people living in poverty. There is a significant cost to private mental health care in the country. Dr. Shoaib Ahmad, the psychiatric department head at Karachi Dow’s University of Health Sciences, notes that patients have to “pay Rs200,000 to Rs300,000 in advance to a well-known therapist in advance to book an appointment.” For those living in impoverished conditions, this could be massively unaffordable.
Making a Change
The COSARAF foundation, alongside the CareTech foundation and the British Asian Trust, has partnered to invest £1 million to deliver changes in mental health wellbeing and provisions in Pakistan. The program will cover access to clinical mental health services as well as access to mental health support for individuals suffering from mental health issues within their own communities as well as an increase in overall awareness.
According to COSARAF, the program aims to “enable 100,000 people with mental health problems to access mental health support within their communities, provide access to clinical mental health services for 10,000 people and ensure that 500,000 people have increased awareness of issues relating to mental health, leading to reduced stigma around mental health.”
Looking Ahead
In response to the urgent need for improved mental health support in Pakistan, the COSARAF Foundation, the CareTech Foundation and the British Asian Trust have joined forces to implement initiatives that aim to make a positive change. Through increased access to clinical services, community-based support and heightened awareness, these initiatives aim to benefit thousands of individuals and contribute to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. This collaborative effort holds the potential to create a brighter future for mental health in Pakistan.
– Ibrahim Azam
Photo: Unsplash
How Epilepsy Care is Managed in Africa
Common signs of an epilepsy episode may include seizures, unconsciousness, distress in movements and other psychological illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Premature death is three times more prevalent in epilepsy patients than in those without the disease, the highest rates being in rural areas. Not only is there a significant gap in treatment, but the rise of stigma and discrimination within African communities has prevented people from seeking care for epilepsy in Africa.
Fortunately, health care systems in African regions have begun to take action by incorporating facilities and therapies tailored to treat epilepsy for patients, especially for rural populations. On the other hand, due to embedded cultural and traditional values in African societies, there are still lingering struggles to understand what epilepsy is, its diagnosis and cures.
Barriers to Health Care
Around 80% of people with epilepsy in Africa are not able to obtain medicines to treat and manage seizure episodes. Rural communities in African countries are often confronted with a lack of awareness and comprehension when it comes to diagnostic treatments for epilepsy, which can often lead to misdiagnosis. Additionally, because health care institutions are uncommon in low-income areas, people have to travel a long way in hopes of accessing medical attention. Due to the unstable infrastructure in the health care systems, finding professionals like epileptologists and neurologists specializing in epilepsy care is rare.
Receiving treatment is also a major financial burden for many Africans, as the cost of health insurance ranges from $10 up to $50 per month. Medication and MRI scans which serve for assessing and treating epilepsy patients can cost between $50 to $1000.
Fighting Stigma and Discrimination
People with epilepsy living in poverty are usually the ones that receive the most backlash and face discrimination due to societal myths about the condition. Many people have perceived epilepsy as a contagious disease leading to them avoiding assisting someone during an epileptic episode. Along with this, discrimination has led to difficulty finding jobs and isolation from the rest of the community.
Education and legislation play a vital role in diminishing the stigma toward people with epilepsy. This is important because it can offer factual proof that calls for better assistance and treatment for epilepsy. Moreover, those who have seizure episodes in the work environment often face employment termination and are not able to continue work because of the stigmatization. Only a small portion of African countries have implemented legislation to safeguard individuals with epilepsy, but these protections have not always been in full enforcement.
Rehabilitation centers and health programs
On a positive note, there have been ongoing developments in the health sector that help to dismantle stigma and enable treatment access for people in need. Many African regions have been incorporating “Mobile Health Clinics (MHCs)” to help people in remote communities where there are no health institutions. This innovation paves the way for the right specialists and health care providers, who work with different therapies, to improve the livelihood of people living with epilepsy. Speech, physical and cognitive therapies are crucial to managing epilepsy in patients to relieve psychological stressors.
Other health programs have implemented reliable tests to distinguish and improve particular diagnoses of the disorder. The focal point for these programs is to work with communities in more impoverished areas while empowering women, the elderly and children. Additionally, this has offered a safe and unprejudiced environment for people with epilepsy, since they can speak through their condition without the feeling of judgment and dehumanization.
Future Prospects
Efforts toward advancing and prioritizing care for epilepsy in Africa have been on the rise, with a focus on offering rehabilitation and therapy services. Research organizations, like CURE Epilepsy, have been working with local organizations in various countries to continue with the efforts and support to better the livelihood of many African individuals living with epilepsy.
– Alessandra Amati
Photo: Flickr
Freedom from Poverty: Malaysian Palm Oil
Oil Palm: The Money Tree
Malaysia is one of the largest palm oil producers in the world, second only to neighboring Indonesia. Smallholders, farmers who cultivate oil palm areas of less than 50 hectares, account for 40% of palm oil output in Malaysia. Since the 1960s, land conversion schemes run by the government’s Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) agency have supplied smallholders with land to grow oil palm. These schemes have successfully reduced the poverty rate among smallholders by 90% (from 50% to 5%).
Oil palm cultivation has been an unprecedentedly effective means of reducing poverty. However, even today many Malaysian palm oil smallholders have average incomes below the national poverty line. These farmers and their families experience poor social and environmental standards as a result.
The Push for Sustainability
In 2013, the Malaysian government set up the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standard to regulate the Malaysian palm oil industry. Since 2020, smallholders have been required to have MSPO certification, which aims to improve management practices and reduce the risk of threats to biodiversity, like land conversion. In 2021, the Malaysian government provided 20 million Malaysian Ringgit (RM) to help smallholders acquire MSPO certification. However, mandatory sustainability certification requirements have increased smallholders’ financial burdens, compounding existing problems such as expensive land tenure and limited market access.
The EU Regulation
Malaysian palm oil smallholders are also facing international pressure to improve sustainability. In December, a new EU regulation banned imports of commodities grown on land deforested after 2020. Malaysia — along with Indonesia — has accused the EU of blocking market access for their palm oil and threatened to stop all exports to the economic bloc. In a joint statement, a group of six smallholder associations from both countries said that the EU’s “unrealistic demands on traceability and geolocation” could deny smallholders market access.
Historically, oil palm plantations have replaced swathes of forest and more diversified cropland in Malaysia. According to a study published in January 2023, oil palm is one of the “main crops threatening biodiversity and natural habitats in Southeast Asia” along with rubber. Malaysia’s national sustainability certification program was partly meant to assuage international fears about the deforestation risk associated with palm oil. And although the EU’s new regulation has the potential to harm the income of Malaysian smallholders, it should be considered in the context of Malaysia’s export markets. In 2022, the EU accounted for only 9.4% of Malaysia’s palm oil export volume.
Looking Ahead
In the face of domestic and international pressure, Malaysian palm oil smallholders are taking steps toward improving their sustainability practices. The Malaysian government’s establishment of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standard and financial support for smallholders to acquire certification demonstrates the commitment to enhancing management practices and protecting biodiversity. While challenges remain, including financial burdens and market access limitations, there has been progress toward a more sustainable palm oil industry that can benefit both smallholders and the environment.
– Samuel Chambers
Photo: Flickr