The Republic of Moldova, a landlocked country between Ukraine and Romania, is considered to be one of the poorest countries in Europe. Unfortunately, the economic state of the country, coupled with a legacy of corrupt government practices, has made it difficult to fund and sustain its health care system. However, since 2007, several programs and legislation have targeted health care in Moldova.
The State of Health Care
The life expectancy in Moldova averaged 72.2 years as of 2018. It has improved significantly from the 2000s, when life expectancy fell to the mid-60s, but remains one of the lowest in the WHO European region.
The European Health Observatory reported that in 2021, Moldova had mandatory health insurance that covered 88% of the population. The sanitation in Moldova is good, with 89.9% of Moldovan people using improved sanitation systems that direct waste into a sewer system.
However, according to The Moldova Project, Moldovan families only have $188 a month to access essentials, including but not limited to health care. Furthermore, 44% of the Moldovan population does not have access to improved water.
What the Government is Doing
The government launched health care reforms in 2004. Between 2007 and 2013, the priority of the Moldovan government’s health strategy was the prevention and mitigation of diseases and risk factors. The health strategy changed in 2014 and continued until 2020, placing focus on sustainable well-being through enhanced public health services.
The government sought to modernize the health care system in 2016, which continued to be a priority until 2018. The same year, the Ministry of Health created Public Health Councils to improve the quality of health care, to ensure the implementation of legislative acts and to coordinate the activities of medical facilities. These councils exist in each district under the Centres of Public Health.
The Republic of Moldova redirects 6.8% of the country’s GDP into health care. While this is not the lowest percentage spent on health care in Europe, it is less than the 9.83% average of the world and less than its neighboring country, Ukraine.
How Foreign Aid Helps
On top of the government prioritizing sustainable health and well-being, various organizations are extending help to improve health care in Moldova.
One example of this is The Health Services and Social Assistance Project, which set multiple targets to improve health care in the Republic of Moldova. The World Bank released a report on this project in 2015 that demonstrated notable success. The Health Services and Social Assistance Project achieved its goal of the National Health Insurance allocating 30% of its budget to primary care, implemented a training program for family doctors and introduced 75 new protocols, which surpassed its goal of 60.
It had aimed to construct 65 health centers but was only able to construct 38 as a result of unforeseen construction costs. It did surpass its goal of renovating 74 health facilities, as it had renovated 77. The Health Services and Social Assistance Project aimed to have 80% of the population with mandatory health insurance, and surpassed this target with 85% of the population having mandatory health insurance in 2014.
The Moldova Project Gives Aid Through Health Care
Established in 2008, The Moldova Project typically aids single-parent families with three or more children. Many of these parents experience addiction, unemployment and poor mental health. The Moldova Project takes a multifaceted approach by providing a range of services, such as subsistence packets, clothes, home repairs and health care.
The organization offers and provides medical assistance, including treatments for serious illnesses and surgeries, to all beneficiaries. Without intervention, these injuries and illnesses would worsen. Each year, the organization helps provide approximately 200 medical interventions in Moldova. Additionally, The Moldova Project has a psychological support program to aid health care in the Republic of Moldova. This program can provide up to 900 sessions a year, including round-the-clock support to families, psychological support for youths and counseling for parents.
How WHO Helps Moldovans Access Health Care
The World Health Organization also promotes health in the Republic of Moldova. The first WHO office in Moldova was established in 1995 and the Country Office profile was upgraded in 2011. The current Head of the Country Office for Moldova invests in activities that support national policy development.
The World Health Organization has mobilized young people and carried out multiple awareness campaigns in Moldova to promote the COVID-19 vaccination. It even has football players engaged in its efforts. In March 2023, they implemented a training course on health workforce leadership to maintain a strong health force. The course is also in Armenia, Romania, Georgia and North Macedonia, and allows participants to interpret and apply evidence to policy, along with other skills.
While there are difficulties for Moldovans accessing health and well-being facilities, the future looks optimistic. The country has seen overall improvements in health care in the last two decades. As long as organizations like WHO and The Moldova Project support the country, health care should continue to improve.
– Lachlan Griffiths
Photo: Flickr
Renewable Energy in Singapore: ESS
What Is An ESS?
The Energy Storage System (ESS) stores renewable energy in Singapore so that it wouldn’t go to waste. It provides a relatively reliable source of energy from renewable sources when environmental conditions prevent its immediate generation. Typically the energy is stored in batteries, which run on charge and discharge cycles so that eco-friendly energy is released during times of peak electricity demand. Sembcorp’s ESS comprises of more than 800 lithium iron phosphate batteries, which have high energy density, fast response time and high round-trip efficiency, making them perfect for efficient energy storage and release on demand. A central control station controls the charge and discharge times of the hundreds of batteries, responding to peak times of supply and demand in Singapore. This means that eco-friendly energy is powering people’s daily lives, even when renewable energy in Singapore is not being actively generated.
Why Is It So Valuable For Singapore?
Singapore has traditionally found it hard to establish reliable sources of renewable energy due to its tropical climate. Wind speeds are not high enough for wind turbines to operate productively and it lacks a fast-flowing river or sufficient sea space that can be used to generate hydroelectric power. In 2021, nonrenewable sources of energy, namely oil, coal and gas made up 99.6% of the nation’s consumption. Therefore, the Sembcorp ESS represents a major advancement in the search for sustainable renewable energy in Singapore. Even in the face of mostly bad weather year-round, the ESS will ensure that eco-friendly sources of energy are at hand, even if only temporarily.
The Sembcorp ESS has a maximum storage capacity of 285 Megawatt hour (MWh). It claims that it is able to provide one full day’s worth of electricity to 24,000 Housing & Development Board (HDB) households in a single discharge. This equates to around 2% of total HDB households and 1.7% of total households in Singapore. While this number may not seem significant, Singapore’s ESS, Southeast Asia’s largest, is a sign of its commitment to tackling global issues like changing weather patterns and poverty.
How This Helps Singapore’s Poor
Singapore’s efforts to increase the general availability of renewable energy can help to address its low-income population’s struggles to meet the increasing costs of living. Very little is known about Singapore’s poor because the government is yet to implement an official poverty line. MP Janus Lim of the Singapore Workers’ Party brought up this problem in Parliament on April 17 this year, noting the lack of attention given to low-income Singaporeans precisely because of the dearth of information about them. Notably, in bringing the hardships of Singapore’s poor to light, Mr Lim focused on their difficulty to meet increasing necessity costs in a society still recovering from the effects of Covid-19. He stated that inflation “continues to eat away at incomes” and that the lowest-income workers’ expenses have grown nearly five and a half times faster than their salaries.
Rising energy costs worldwide in recent years are at the heart of Singapore’s inflationary problems. As the cost of energy goes up, the costs of production of many items have also increased. Consumers are more often than not forced to bear the burden of these increased costs. In Singapore, this is clearly happening without a proportionate rise in wages at all levels of the economy. Singapore’s ESS may alleviate energy costs in the long term. As renewable energy becomes a larger source of energy consumption in Singapore, the country will begin to decrease its historically complete reliance on oil and gas, much of which it imports. This means that over time, Singapore’s dependence on the global market for oil will go down, leading to stabilized energy costs and costs of living.
Singapore As a Role Model
While Singapore’s ESS is yet to bear statistical fruit, its investment in this significant project will alleviate poverty and improve the country’s sustainability. While energy prices worldwide are finally starting to deflate after the global crises of the late 2010s and early 2020s, they will remain too high for many of the world’s poor. Mr Lim’s comments show this to be true of Singapore, despite it being a country which most outsiders regard as one of the wealthiest in the world.
Improving access to renewable energy may be an expensive solution that may not yield immediate results, however, this is precisely why wealthy trend-setter countries like the U.S. and U.K. should invest more in these projects. By leading a potential global movement to increase worldwide access to and usage of renewable energy, future generations of global citizens will no longer have to worry about price fluctuations when the dominant energy sources of today, non-renewables, become scarce. If anything, Singapore’s success over time is proof that change does not have to come immediately.
– Tiffany Chan
Photo: Flickr
Agricultural Investment in Uganda
Despite the high agricultural activities in Uganda, the country uses only 35% of its arable land for cultivation. Under conditions of maximum utility, the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that Uganda’s agricultural sector could feed 200 million people.
The following are five ways that agricultural investment in Uganda is bringing about economic growth and poverty reduction.
Looking Ahead
Agricultural investment in Uganda has become a key point of focus for the EU and U.N. and these five initiatives evidence a specific interest in maximizing Uganda’s agropastoral capabilities. Improving Uganda’s capacity to aid agropastoral households and SMEs could serve as an impactful poverty reduction measure that also stimulates economic growth and alleviates food insecurity.
– Jennifer Preece
Photo: Flickr
COVID-19’s Impact on Poverty in Estonia
Poverty Before and After COVID-19
In 2018, before the pandemic, Estonia’s poverty rate was at its lowest, with only 20% of the country’s population living in poverty. When the pandemic hit in 2019, this number rose to about 60%.
Although Estonia initially had a strong COVID-19 rebound, it eventually encountered a quick and rapid decline in monetary aspects. It experienced a decline in the labor market, which contributed to an increase in poverty. The labor shortage issues have been causing steady price inflation since 2021.
Approximately 75% of Estonians aged 65 or older live in relative poverty, while the poverty rate for women has surged by around 10%. In 2021, 22.8% of Estonians were at risk of poverty. And the number of individuals who were already living in poverty escalated by approximately 2.2% after 2020.
The absolute poverty rate in Estonia is up to 5% as of 2021. The majority of those in absolute poverty are between the age range of 18 to 24 years old.
The heightened poverty rates in Estonia stem directly from the rise in unemployment rates. In 2020, job availability declined, causing many Estonians to lose their employment. Furthermore, certain industries, including social affairs, health care and education, faced difficulty in hiring qualified personnel to fill open positions.
Recovery Efforts
One positive aspect of Estonia’s situation is its existing digital infrastructure, which allowed the country to adapt more seamlessly to the rapid shift toward technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. The country’s advanced technological landscape has facilitated significant improvements in the areas of health and education.
By virtue of digital advancements, Estonia’s public services were able to continue operating without significant disruption during the pandemic. The country launched its e-Cabinet initiative in 2000, transitioning decision-making processes from paper-based documents to digital systems. This initiative was further strengthened in 2020, with minimal negative effects on Estonians, who were already familiar with these technological innovations.
Additionally, Estonia improved its healthcare system by utilizing its expertise in technological innovations. The country developed apps like the ViVeo Health app, which allowed Estonians to connect with health care professionals through video calls.
Measures that Aided Estonians During COVID-19
Between March 2020 and December 2021, the European Commission approved millions of euros on multiple occasions toward schemes that aim to help Estonia recover from the impact of the pandemic.
In addition to the European Commission’s donations, the Estonian government authorized a budget support package that was applied across several agencies and sectors. This support budget resulted in a 9% boost to the gross domestic product from 2018.
Estonia also preordered vaccines from various suppliers to ensure securing enough for its entire population.
Looking Ahead
Overall, COVID-19’s impact on poverty in Estonia has been far-reaching. COVID-19 caused an increase in unemployment and a decrease in job availability, ultimately leading to a rise in poverty rates. However, despite these negative impacts, Estonia continues to make progress in recovering from COVID-19. The country is benefitting from aid from the European Commission, improved fiscal support systems and strong digital advancements.
– Merlis Burgos-Ramos
Photo: Flickr
Vocational Education and Training in Palestine
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
The UNRWA is a U.N. agency that supports Palestinian refugees. The agency offers its support through vocational training and education offered to young Palestinian refugees. It manages eight training centers with semi-professional, trade and short-term courses in a variety of specializations that aim to prepare students for local employment. The region’s economic and social stability benefits from the specializations which include construction, nursing, hairdressing and fashion. The program has recorded significant success, reaching more than 123,000 graduates as of 2020. Even more, graduates of the program enjoy high success rates in finding employment or self-employment.
The UNRWA also supports young women through its training program. Out of the 7,930 trainees who graduated from the program in 2021, more than 3,500 were female.
Lutheran World Federation Vocational Training Program
The Lutheran World Federation in Jerusalem runs another initiative tagged the Vocational Training Program (VTP). This initiative has served as one path for Palestinians to receive vocational training, even through programs specifically designed for blind students, since 1949.
The VTP works actively to strengthen gender equity in the region by providing culturally accepted training to young women. One such example is training in electronics and telecommunication. The graduating class in 2015, which had 227 students, was 20% female.
With two training centers in Ramallah and Beit Hanina, the VTP is able to train about 210 students every year in fields such as carpentry, auto mechanics and telecommunications. There are even on-site boarding options available for students who have difficulty accessing the schools due to checkpoints and the Separation Wall. Short courses are also available in villages and refugee camps.
East Jerusalem YMCA
The YMCA operates a Vocational Training Center in East Jerusalem that aims to reduce poverty and provide Palestinian youth with opportunities for personal and professional growth. In addition to vocational courses, the center offers career counseling, dormitory space and a daycare nursery. These amenities are particularly beneficial for young women seeking enrollment in the program.
Graduates of Vocational Education and Training in Palestine have improved expectations for their future. In fact, 82% of graduates expect a better chance of finding employment while a higher 88% expect to start earning income after completing their programs.
These high expectations happen to be evident in employment rates too. While roughly 30% of Palestinian youth are employed or seeking employment, the number is 90% for Vocational Education and Training graduates.
Hope for Palestinians
Providing individuals with access to education and training could help in reducing poverty, as it presents an opportunity for personal and professional growth. In Palestine, education and vocational training play a vital role in providing youth with the means to build a better future. The region boasts several vocational training centers that offer equal opportunities for young Palestinians of any economic, disability or gender status to become qualified for employment within their communities.
– Christina Albrecht
Photo: Flickr
MobileODT: Cervical Cancer Screening Technologies
The Global Context of Cervical Cancer
In 2020, it is estimated that there were 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths from cervical cancer globally. Of those, 90% were thought to have been from low-and-middle-income countries. The highest mortality rates are seen in African countries, where rates can be as much as 10 times higher than those of higher-income countries.
Those in low-and-middle-income countries often face limited access to cervical cancer preventative measures, such as vaccinations and early detection screening programs. They also face a reduced availability of treatment options.
To achieve reduced cervical cancer instances, the WHO wants to screen 70% of women by age 35 and again by age 45. The organization aims to have 90% of girls vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by 15 years of age. To complete this by 2023, screening services in low-resource settings need to be addressed.
Cervical Cancer: Early Detection
A colposcopy is a procedure utilized by gynecologists to visualize the cervix. The colposcope acts as a microscope and, by using various stains, the gynecologist will assess the extent of any abnormality. This aids with diagnosis and treatment.
Colposcopy services are scarce in low-and-middle-income countries. One reason for this is the cost of the equipment. Traditional colposcopes can cost up to $15,000, making availability limited for the equipment required for screening.
MobileODT Innovations
MobileODT is a FemTech company revolutionizing the approach to cervical cancer screening by delivering affordable and practical health care innovations. The company has implemented its technology in over 50 countries to successfully screen more than 400,000 women.
The company has developed a smart colposcope – the EVAPro – which acts as a medical-grade case that can affix to a mobile phone. The case comes equipped with a light source and magnifying lens that enhances the ability of the phone camera, enabling it to act as a colposcope. This allows it to capture detailed images of cervical tissues.
The device is considerably cheaper than a traditional colposcope. At around $1,800, its use is widely accessible, particularly in low-resource settings. Furthermore, in countries with a shortage of trained gynecologists, nurses and midwives can easily use the device.
Innovations in women’s health technologies are vital to meet the World Health Organization’s targets. With devices like the EVAPro from MobileODT, women in low-resource settings are receiving essential screening.
– Jess Steward
Photo: Flickr
CloudFishers, Fighting Water Scarcity in Morocco
CloudFishers
Peter Trautwein, a German industrial designer, came up with the project in 2012, and since then, Dar Si Hmad and others worldwide have adopted it. The CloudFisher is a 600 square meters net in humid places that collects water from fog and moist air. The idea originated from ancient traditions of people in the Canary Islands that collected water by digging holes beside mountain trees that would drip water from fog and moist air collection.
The design is a meticulously crafted net structure that blocks fog and collects water. Fog contains water droplets ranging from 1 to 40 micrometers, so the net must be thoughtfully designed and correctly installed to ensure the successful attachment of the droplets. While fog can technically be collected from anywhere, the CloudFisher net has been found to be more efficient in mountainous regions due to the increased amount of water present.
Aït Baâmrane Community
The targeted individuals are mainly Berber or Amazigh tribes in western Morocco who live in nomadic villages bordering the desert. Dr. Aissa Derhem, the president of Dar Si Hmad and a native of Aït Baâmrane, knows the area and the people well. Currently, Dar Si Hmad provides water for five villages and over 90 families, with plans to expand its reach and provide for as many people as possible.
In these villages, it is common for women and children to walk up to 5 kilometers early in the morning to fetch water from wells. These wells are typically insecure water sources as they are open and lack filtering or purifying processes. The water from these wells may be contaminated, posing health risks to the lower class of Morocco and endangering the national economy, as agriculture accounts for about 20% of the GDP.
In rural areas of western Morocco, individuals from villages consume an average of 8 liters of water per person per day. Urban communities, however, use up to 85 liters of water per person per day, more than 10 times the amount of rural areas. The CloudFishers project aims to increase rural water consumption to 30 liters per person per day. Dar Si Hmad has established pipelines to transport water to the villages and reservoirs to store excess water.
The pipelines are monitored and water is filtered, though fog water is completely potable, it ensures water is not contaminated on the way to the reservoir.
Dar Si Hmad, More Than Water Heroes
Apart from the CloudFisher project, Dar Si Hmad also provides the communities with educational programs, including the water school and the functional literacy workshops and empowerment. These two programs target the same beneficiaries as the CloudFishers. The water school, which is supported by the Ministry of Education of Morocco, raises awareness among communities about water scarcity and resource management.
Children get to work with school gardens and learn about the importance of water conservation. The functional literacy workshops and empowerment focus on literary programs for women, who are also beneficiaries of the CloudFishers and empower them through education, taking advantage of the extra time they have after not having to walk hours to get water.
As desertification increases and droughts happen more often, Berber tribes in the west of Morocco are threatened by water shortages and insecurity. Dar Si Hmad is fighting for education, effective water scarcity management and women empowerment in rural Morocco through different educational campaigns and the CloudFisher fog projects. The CloudFisher fog projects’ innovative technology allows rural areas of Morocco to access clean drinking water, therefore boosting the overall welfare of the communities while being an exemplary organization for others worldwide.
– Sebastián Garcés
Photo: Flickr
Global Oral Health Inequality
The Burden of Oral Diseases
In November 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the Global Oral Health Status Report which revealed the organization’s aim for universal health coverage for oral health by 2030. Following this report, in January 2023, was WHO’s Global Oral Health Action Plan.
These reports highlighted that oral diseases present a burden greater than the next five most prevalent non-communicable diseases combined. This burden primarily comes from untreated tooth decay, gum disease and cancers of the lip and oral cavities, all of which are largely preventable. According to the same reports, oral diseases such as gum disease may develop into other conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular problems.
Despite the fact that the global burden of oral diseases costs around $387 billion, only 4.6% of global health care expenditure goes toward dental and oral care. For this reason, the WHO emphasized the need for immediate interventions that focus on oral health.
Oral Health Inequality
The WHO’s reports outlined the first global oral health profile which highlighted that developing nations, particularly in the South-East Asian and Western Pacific regions, face the highest levels of oral health challenges. As reported by the organization, “oral diseases disproportionately affect the poor and socially disadvantaged.” Consequently, vulnerable groups face issues ranging from reduced productivity to school disruption, all of which can lead to poverty.
Multiple social, cultural, economic and behavioral factors contribute to the existing disparities in oral health. Developing countries undergoing social and cultural transformations are experiencing a surge in oral diseases due to lifestyle choices. Nevertheless, access to oral health care remains limited in these countries, and where available, it is often unaffordable and unsuitable for the majority of the population grappling with oral ailments. This highlights two key determinants of oral health inequality which are health care accessibility and lifestyle choices.
Oral Health Care Accessibility
The first significant determinant of oral health is the cost of available dental care and the disposable income of the population. At both national and global scales, there is a clear economically-based distribution of oral health care provision. Of the total number of dentists worldwide, only 1.4% work in low-income countries.
According to the WHO’s report, the best way to ensure excellent oral health is to prioritize preventative measures. However, this relies on a health care system having the funds to sustain regular dental care and universal basic dental care coverage. As things stand, only the richest societies can afford a regular and sufficient supply of dental professionals and services.
National governments and the international community could effectively combat economically-based oral health inequality and access to oral health care by funding more accessible and affordable health care for those in developing nations. A cost-effective approach promoted by the WHO involves the use of innovative digital health tools, such as telehealth and video-supported health. Teledentistry typically involves an online dental consultation that makes dental support more accessible to those who cannot get face-to-face care. For example, Unilever provides a teledentistry service in South-East Asia, with the aim of reaching over 200 million people.
Lifestyle Choices
Another determinant of oral health inequality is the social and personal beliefs and habits people have around oral health. The consumption of sugar, alcohol and tobacco contributes to a range of non-communicable diseases that affect oral health. Additionally, a lack of education about oral hygiene can prevent people from taking the necessary personal care measures.
As a way to solve this problem, policymakers could focus on increasing health literacy and encouraging good oral hygiene among affected populations. Commercial advertising from large companies has been partly responsible for promoting habits like smoking and alcohol consumption, which can negatively impact oral health. The WHO suggests that these same companies hold the potential to promote beneficial habits such as those that support oral health among children and adults.
Digital Media and Oral Health
Low-income nations may not have the financial resources to implement effective media campaigns that focus on behavior change. However, the advent of digital media offers a potentially more accessible alternative. Online advertising campaigns are not only less costly, but they can also reach a wider audience.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Unilever collaborated with Cartoon Network to introduce an online educational program named Little Brush Big Brush. The program featured a series of videos that taught children about the significance of oral hygiene, with a particular emphasis on tooth brushing. Brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste can decrease the risk of tooth decay by 90%. Programs like this have the potential to create significant change since they can reach a vast audience. For instance, 95% of the global internet population watches videos on YouTube alone.
Looking to the Future
Current global patterns show that those living in poverty are most at risk from preventable oral diseases. While face-to-face dental care may be unaffordable for many, the growth in access to the Internet provides a more cost-effective solution. Through the expansion of digital health care and online advertising to promote positive behavior changes, there is hope to reach a much wider audience and reduce oral health inequality for the present and the future.
– Polly Walton
Photo: Flickr
How Brazil’s Floods Affect Poverty
Displacement & Infrastructure Damage
Flooding in Brazil often results in the displacement of people from their homes, particularly those living in informal settlements or slums known as favelas. The Organisation for World Peace (OWP) reported 4,000 residents of Sao Paulo facing displacement after ongoing flooding in February 2023. Recent flooding and landslides have damaged and/or destroyed infrastructure and communities in the regions of Sao Sebastiao, Barra do Sahy, Juquehy, Camburi, Boicucanga and Ubatuba.
Health Impacts
Water infrastructure has been either destroyed or severely damaged leading to authorities delivering drinking water in tank trucks throughout the affected areas, according to Worlds Aid. Flooding causes infections and bacteria to rampage through communities, with the most common being waterborne diseases, but others such as tetanus and bacterial infections are also present. The National Library of Medicine reported that from 2010 to 2014, Brazil had a total loss of R$ 9.2 billion ($1,845,240,412.00) due to flooding damages.
Social Vulnerability
Vulnerable communities such as indigenous populations face greater challenges when dealing with the impacts and recovery of flooding. These communities are less likely to gain access to health care services, and this exposes them to waterborne diseases.
Brazil’s agricultural sector has seen devastating declines since 2003, falling as low as 4.1% in 2010. However, reports in 2021 have shown an increase to 6.9%, the highest since 1994. The biggest influencer of this is climate change and floods, affecting vulnerable rural communities like farmers and creating further poverty in Brazil in these sectors.
Ongoing Efforts
The World Bank has provided over $100 million in an investment project to mitigate natural disasters in southern Brazil with the intent to construct disaster-prone economic hubs. Around 800 municipalities in the Southern regions are eligible to strengthen their urban resilience through this trust fund investment. In June 2022, the EU allocated a humanitarian fund of $1 million to several Brazilian municipalities which the floods affected. It provided for the rebuilding of infrastructure like schools and houses.
CAF America works with nonprofit organizations to establish funding and support for Brazil. Acao Cidadania, a humanitarian organization, has donated more than 200 tons of food and water amid the ongoing flooding crisis in Sao Paulo in 2023. And in December 2021, the Brazilian Red Cross launched the DREF operation in response to the heavy flooding and extreme weather that declared 155 of 417 municipalities in a state of emergency in Bahia. The Red Cross distributed vouchers to 800 families that covered the necessities. The organization provided 800 blankets and 300 mattresses to affected families, administered first-aid to more than 300 people, provided mental health and psychosocial support to 800 evacuated families and distributed water filters to 800 households.
Looking Ahead
With many residents prone to flooding, extreme poverty in Brazil is an issue that still affects vulnerable and poor communities. However, humanitarian groups continue to make efforts to provide additional support for those affected.
– Joshua Rogers
Photo: Flickr
Health Care in the Republic of Moldova
The State of Health Care
The life expectancy in Moldova averaged 72.2 years as of 2018. It has improved significantly from the 2000s, when life expectancy fell to the mid-60s, but remains one of the lowest in the WHO European region.
The European Health Observatory reported that in 2021, Moldova had mandatory health insurance that covered 88% of the population. The sanitation in Moldova is good, with 89.9% of Moldovan people using improved sanitation systems that direct waste into a sewer system.
However, according to The Moldova Project, Moldovan families only have $188 a month to access essentials, including but not limited to health care. Furthermore, 44% of the Moldovan population does not have access to improved water.
What the Government is Doing
The government launched health care reforms in 2004. Between 2007 and 2013, the priority of the Moldovan government’s health strategy was the prevention and mitigation of diseases and risk factors. The health strategy changed in 2014 and continued until 2020, placing focus on sustainable well-being through enhanced public health services.
The government sought to modernize the health care system in 2016, which continued to be a priority until 2018. The same year, the Ministry of Health created Public Health Councils to improve the quality of health care, to ensure the implementation of legislative acts and to coordinate the activities of medical facilities. These councils exist in each district under the Centres of Public Health.
The Republic of Moldova redirects 6.8% of the country’s GDP into health care. While this is not the lowest percentage spent on health care in Europe, it is less than the 9.83% average of the world and less than its neighboring country, Ukraine.
How Foreign Aid Helps
On top of the government prioritizing sustainable health and well-being, various organizations are extending help to improve health care in Moldova.
One example of this is The Health Services and Social Assistance Project, which set multiple targets to improve health care in the Republic of Moldova. The World Bank released a report on this project in 2015 that demonstrated notable success. The Health Services and Social Assistance Project achieved its goal of the National Health Insurance allocating 30% of its budget to primary care, implemented a training program for family doctors and introduced 75 new protocols, which surpassed its goal of 60.
It had aimed to construct 65 health centers but was only able to construct 38 as a result of unforeseen construction costs. It did surpass its goal of renovating 74 health facilities, as it had renovated 77. The Health Services and Social Assistance Project aimed to have 80% of the population with mandatory health insurance, and surpassed this target with 85% of the population having mandatory health insurance in 2014.
The Moldova Project Gives Aid Through Health Care
Established in 2008, The Moldova Project typically aids single-parent families with three or more children. Many of these parents experience addiction, unemployment and poor mental health. The Moldova Project takes a multifaceted approach by providing a range of services, such as subsistence packets, clothes, home repairs and health care.
The organization offers and provides medical assistance, including treatments for serious illnesses and surgeries, to all beneficiaries. Without intervention, these injuries and illnesses would worsen. Each year, the organization helps provide approximately 200 medical interventions in Moldova. Additionally, The Moldova Project has a psychological support program to aid health care in the Republic of Moldova. This program can provide up to 900 sessions a year, including round-the-clock support to families, psychological support for youths and counseling for parents.
How WHO Helps Moldovans Access Health Care
The World Health Organization also promotes health in the Republic of Moldova. The first WHO office in Moldova was established in 1995 and the Country Office profile was upgraded in 2011. The current Head of the Country Office for Moldova invests in activities that support national policy development.
The World Health Organization has mobilized young people and carried out multiple awareness campaigns in Moldova to promote the COVID-19 vaccination. It even has football players engaged in its efforts. In March 2023, they implemented a training course on health workforce leadership to maintain a strong health force. The course is also in Armenia, Romania, Georgia and North Macedonia, and allows participants to interpret and apply evidence to policy, along with other skills.
While there are difficulties for Moldovans accessing health and well-being facilities, the future looks optimistic. The country has seen overall improvements in health care in the last two decades. As long as organizations like WHO and The Moldova Project support the country, health care should continue to improve.
– Lachlan Griffiths
Photo: Flickr
Addressing the Mediterranean Migration Crisis
The EU’s response to the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean has been criticized for falling short in addressing and collaborating on the issue. Numbers of experts posit that the prioritization of borders over human lives is an uncomfortable truth that must be confronted as the deadly waters continue to claim the lives of those seeking a future free from poverty, war and violence.
Migrant Boat Shipwreck in Italy
The migrant boat shipwreck in Italy led to at least 63 confirmed deaths, including women and children. The migrants had hoped to land near Crotone in search of a new life free from poverty. About 200 migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Iraq and Iran boarded the boat, which had set out from Izmir, Turkey a few days before the shipwreck.
Due to high poverty rates and extreme living conditions in countries like Afghanistan, people are seeking better opportunities through migration. The economic collapse in Afghanistan, worsened by the Taliban’s seizure of power and international donors suspending non-humanitarian funding has created a humanitarian crisis. As of mid-2021, the U.N. Refugee Agency reported that 2.7 million Afghans were displaced across borders worldwide.
The loss of lives in this incident serves as a reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to the ongoing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean.
Recent data shows a noteworthy surge in migrant arrivals in Italy compared to the same months in 2021-2022, with the figures tripling. While the peak of the migrant crisis in the EU was witnessed between 2014-2017, this year has seen a steep increase in arrivals, with Ivorians, Guineans, and Bangladeshis being the most represented nationalities.
Many migrants originate from countries with high poverty rates, including Cote d’Ivoire, which experienced a 6.7% rise in GDP in 2022, yet more than 11% of its population lived below the international poverty line. Similarly, extreme weather events and other factors have led to 35 million people continuing to live below the poverty line, as per recent reports.
Taking Action to Resolve the Mediterranean Migration Crisis
The Global Route-Based Migration Programme, initiated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 2021, aims to improve the safety and dignity of people on the move, including migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and other displaced individuals, along land and sea-based migration routes in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and the Americas.
The program seeks to support 4.7 million people on the move and people in host communities annually by utilizing the expertise and reach of 57 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide. It is a tool that can be used to address the migration crisis and improve coordination and collaboration among organizations and governments, while also enhancing support and access to essential needs such as food, water, shelter, information and health care.
The Path Forward
Addressing the root causes of migration and providing support to those in need requires a collaborative effort. In a bilateral meeting on the aftermath of the migrant boat shipwreck in Italy, during a March 2023 EU summit in Brussels, French President Macron and Italian Prime Minister Meloni discussed the need for a common European solution to manage migration and aid those in need. While migration policy has been a point of tension between the two countries in the past, this meeting signifies a step toward finding common ground and working together to address the complex challenges of migration in Europe.
– Elena Maria Puri
Photo: Flickr