Afghanistan’s opioid trade, the largest in the world, has been thriving under the new Taliban regime. Driven by a desire for economic and political stability, the Taliban’s actions around the opioid trade have serious implications for Afghanistan’s citizens who were plunged into poverty following the group’s takeover in 2021.
The Taliban’s Ban on Drugs
Once processed, opium poppies from Afghanistan sell as opium, morphine and a range of grades of heroin in every region of the world, with the exception of Latin America. The production and sale of drugs constitute a significant portion of the country’s GDP each year.
When the Taliban assumed power in Afghanistan in August 2021, it vowed to end the production and trade of drugs in the country. The group, however, faced a production system on an upward trend. In 2020, Afghanistan saw a 37% increase in the area of land used to grow opium poppies compared to the year before. In that same year, Afghanistan produced 85% of the opium consumed across the world.
The History of the Opioid Trade in Afghanistan
Afghanistan has been producing opium poppies in large numbers since the mid-1950s. Fraught with political and economic inconsistency for decades, the history of efforts to reduce the opioid trade in Afghanistan is complex. In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. The war that followed created economic devastation that left many in Afghanistan with no reliable source of income aside from trading narcotics. The Taliban, established in 1994, made significant steps towards banning the trade, halving the land used for growing poppies in the regions of Afghanistan it controlled at the time.
When the Taliban gained power in Afghanistan in 1996, however, it had already relaxed its approach to the drug trade. Instead of clamping down on production, the Taliban began to tax opioid farms and labs and even sought to expand the trade by providing farmers with official government licenses to grow opium poppies. The group declared an outright ban on poppy cultivation in 1999, but by September 2001, it had reversed this decision, and the practice was thriving again.
Under the Afghan government from 2002 to 2021, following U.S. intervention in 2001, drug production and trafficking in Afghanistan soared. International aid funded the majority of counter-narcotic efforts over these two decades. The United States spent more than $8 billion over a 15-year period in attempts to reduce the trade of opioids in Afghanistan.
The Opioid Trade in the New Taliban Regime
In April 2022, the Taliban issued a decree prohibiting all poppy cultivation and narcotics trade, representing a new wave of counter-narcotic efforts in Afghanistan. However, the timing alone of this decree caused many to question the motives of the Taliban, as it came shortly after the largest annual harvest of opium poppies. High-ranking Taliban officials claim that drug production and trafficking are over, but the evidence suggests that the trade is still thriving and may have increased since the regime change.
The gap between the Taliban’s stated intention to rid Afghanistan of drugs and its lack of action is likely due to the fact that it is not currently in its interests, economically or tactically, to crack down on the opioid trade in Afghanistan. Since its formation in 1994, estimates suggest that the opioid trade has accounted for more than half of the Taliban’s revenues, according to Colin Mathers. The Taliban have for many years collected a tax on all opium poppies grown in Afghanistan, all laboratory-based processing of opioids and all trading of these drugs. From 2018 to 2019 alone, the Taliban received more than $400 million from narcotics.
The Economic Impact
To survive as a regime, the Taliban need enough income to be able to keep factions, soldiers and civilians on its side. In the Taliban’s first year in power, Afghanistan’s GDP dropped from $20.15 billion to $14.79 billion due to economic sanctions and the removal of foreign aid. This marked the country’s lowest GDP since the 2008 global financial crisis.
With the country deprived of billions of dollars from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and bilateral aid, reports suggest that the income from opium poppies is more critical than ever to both the security of the Taliban and the stability of the country, according to Brookings. In 2022, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimated that since the regime change, the number of Afghans living in poverty had doubled to nearly 34 million, representing 85% of the country’s population. The removal of the opioid trade would further cripple the Afghan economy and hundreds of thousands of citizens would fall into extreme poverty, creating a serious risk of domestic unrest.
The Future of the Opioid Trade in Afghanistan
For these reasons, the reward remains higher than the risk for those involved in the opioid trade in Afghanistan, which encourages its continuation and expansion, according to UNODC. Forecasts suggest that there is no end in sight for global sanctions and the Afghan economy seems unlikely to grow significantly in the short term. Therefore, the tactical and financial incentives remain for the Taliban to support this industry and Afghans have few viable alternatives to growing opium poppies, according to VOA News.
Nonprofit organizations like Afghanaid have been working closely with those crippled financially by the Taliban takeover. Since August 2021, Afghanaid has provided around 1.8 million men, women and children with emergency aid. The NGO runs schemes across impoverished areas of Afghanistan that could be vital in creating reliable alternative sources of income for those who may otherwise rely on opium poppy cultivation.
For example, Afghanaid supports farmers and village communities in the Badakhshan Province to replant and irrigate their forests. This scheme has led to the employment of members of more than 130 households across the region. And as a result, some families have been able to send their children to school. Schemes such as this support the development of reliable alternative sources of income for impoverished families in Afghanistan. The goal is to minimize or end the country’s reliance on the opioid trade.
Looking Ahead
The opioid trade in Afghanistan is thriving in the current financial crisis, as the trade provides stability for both impoverished citizens and the new Taliban regime. One of the ways to end the opioid trade involves providing viable alternative sources of income for those that rely on the consistency of producing and selling opioid products. In this way, NGOs like Afghanaid could be central in reducing the growth of a trade that has negative impacts worldwide.
– Polly Walton
Photo: Pixabay
Improving Mental Health Care in Ghana
The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that “mental, neurological and substance use disorders account for more than 10% of the global disease burden.” Furthermore, the “lost productivity resulting from depression and anxiety, two of the most common mental disorders, cost the global economy $1 trillion per year.” Concerningly, in developing nations, more than three-quarters of people suffering from mental conditions do not receive adequate care or treatment. In response, the Ghanaian government has taken steps to improve mental health and mental health care in Ghana. However, in 2022, WHO reported that just “2% of Ghana’s 2.3 million people living with mental health conditions [received] psychiatric treatment and support from health facilities.”
Mental Health Care in Ghana
According to the WHO Mental Health Atlas 2020, Ghana allocates approximately 3% of the government’s total health expenditure on mental health care, with 67.8% of this amount going toward funding the services provided in mental health hospitals across the country.
Ghanaians with mental conditions contribute about 20% toward the cost of the mental health services they use, and similarly, about 20% toward the cost of associated medicines.
Although Ghana had been in the developmental stages of the mental health care sector, from 2014 until 2020, the number of mental health care workers per 100,000 population rose by about 2%. According to the 2020 Atlas, Ghana has 39 psychiatrists, 26 psychologists and 2,463 mental health nurses.
Furthermore, Ghana has three official mental hospitals while 250 hospitals across the country have outpatient mental health facilities. Ghana also has 1,016 community-based mental health outpatient facilities, which makes mental health care more accessible.
The major mental health problems in Ghana are schizophrenia, mood disorders and substance abuse. People with mental disorders in Ghana are often ostracized and treated inhumanely, for example, through restrictive measures such as shackling.
Addressing the Inhumane Treatment of Mentally Illness
Human Rights Watch reported at the end of 2022 several eyewitness accounts of shackled people suffering from mental health conditions. In January 2023, at the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of Ghana, U.N. Member States called on the government of Ghana to urgently “address the shackling and inhumane treatment of people with mental health conditions in Ghana.”
Several media outlets have reported on the shackling of mentally ill people in Ghana. Human Rights Watch reported, “Families often take people with mental health conditions to faith-based or traditional healers because of widely held beliefs that psychosocial disabilities are caused by curses or evil spirits.” People who are shackled face further issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder and muscular atrophy. Furthermore, in these faith-based centers and camps, shackled mentally ill people are confined to small and unhygienic spaces, deprived of basic human needs.
Understanding the Problem
Mental health nurse and founder of the Ghanaian NGO called the Mental Health Advocacy Foundation, Stephen Asante, has a different view. He explains that the use of shackles is not a matter of “abandonment or abuse,” but rather, of poverty and under-resourced health care systems. Families and other caregivers resort to chaining due to a lack of access to medication and adequate mental health care treatment. Asante notes that by addressing underfunding and the lack of mental health care resources in Ghana, the issue of shackling will dissolve.
Due to the cultural stigma surrounding mental health in Ghana, people suffering from mental health conditions object to and fear seeking help. Therefore, many Ghanaians remain suffering in silence. Changes in attitudes toward mental health will require community-wide interventions and campaigns.
Ghana’s mental health budget stands at about 1.4% of its total health care expenditure, according to WHO. This is low in comparison to the 11% that the U.K. committed to mental health care in 2015.
Moving Forward
The Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG) is a grassroots membership association that aims to improve access to quality and affordable mental health care across Ghana. This association is managing to aid 18,000 people suffering from mental illnesses and their caregivers, across Ghana. MEHSOG also aims to advance mental health in Ghana by influencing decision-makers to implement policies that uphold the rights of people with illnesses and the people who care for them.
In February 2021, MEHSOG partnered with the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations (GHAFTRAM) to hold three training sessions to train 10 owners and managers of traditional prayer camps and healing centers in Ghana on the rights to bear in mind when treating people with mental health conditions. Michael Osei-Koranteng, the main investigator at the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) facilitated these training sessions using his expertise in human rights. Osei-Koranteng highlighted that these facilities must never utilize torture, abuse or any other violations of human rights when dealing with people who have mental conditions.
With greater funding and commitments to upholding the human rights of mentally ill individuals, mental health in Ghana has the potential to significantly improve.
– Louise Kiernan
Photo: Flickr
The White Helmets: The Volunteer Group Giving Aid in Syria
History
Throughout the last decade, Syria has been one of the most unstable countries in the world, due to both political instability and natural causes. The Syrian Civil War, a conflict that began in 2011 and continues even now, is the main reason for this instability. The fighting mostly occurs in urban areas, and it typically involves mass artillery strikes and chemical weapons attacks. As a result, nearly 7 million people have been displaced from their homes, according to World Vision. World Vision also estimates that food insecurity currently affects 12 million people throughout Syria, while nearly half of all Syrians live in poverty as of March 2023.
In addition to the ongoing conflict, the northwest of Syria suffered two massive earthquakes on February 6, 2023. Both earthquakes registered well over 7.0 on the Richter Scale. The devastating earthquakes were responsible for over 7,000 deaths throughout Syria. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDS), 8.8 million people live in the areas that the earthquake impacted, and this dramatically increases the need for humanitarian aid in the country.
Making an Impact
Over the course of the Syrian Civil War, the White Helmets have provided invaluable aid to those in need. Its official website estimates that the efforts of the White Helmets “saved more than 100,000 lives over the past five years.” The volunteers began with urban search and rescue teams, often scouring through the rubble of bomb sites to find survivors.
The White Helmets continue to make an impact today as it provides earthquake relief. In the early stages of recovery from the earthquakes, the Syria Civil Defense was able to save over 3,000 people, helping pull people from the rubble of destroyed buildings, delivering food and medicine to those in need and distributing medical care all around the affected area.
The Story Continues
Now an influential organization, the White Helmets began as nothing more than groups of everyday people who wanted to look out for others. When the Syrian Civil War first began, there was little to no effective infrastructure to help those hurt in bombings, shootings and a variety of other deadly hazards that the war caused. Despite a total lack of organization and incredible danger, the first members of the White Helmets took it upon themselves to help those in need.
The institution has come a long way since those days, as it has become one of the most well-known aid organizations currently operating in Syria. The White Helmets got a nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2016. Although it didn’t win the prize, the publicity gained from the nomination was invaluable. In 2016, a documentary titled The White Helmets won an Oscar for best short subject documentary. The White Helmets’ impact has earned recognition from around the globe, and the organization’s work continues to make a difference.
– Ezra Bernstein
Photo: Flickr
Conflict in Sudan Puts Poorest at Risk
The Cause of Conflict
In 2019, the deposition of long-term dictator Omar Hassan al-Bashir failed to result in the establishment of a stable and democratic civilian government in Sudan. The army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, launched a coup and took control of the country in 2021. Civilian rule was due to be restored in Sudan at the start of April 2023 following an agreement brokered in December 2022 between the army and political and civil groups. However, disagreements over the deal, which would see the RSF integrated into the army, resulted in a power struggle between the two factions. On April 15, violent clashes between the army and the RSF broke out. Reports suggest that Khartoum, the country’s capital, has been consumed by 24-hour conflict since Saturday. Battles are also taking place across western Darfur and other regions in Sudan. So far, at least 400 people have died.
Sudan’s political and economic issues have worsened in the years following the 2019 uprising and military takeover. Western nations and international organizations have suspended the majority of aid and loans for Sudan. In the context of international isolation, chronic political unrest and economic hardship, conflict in Sudan spells even more misery for the country’s poorest. The long-dreaded violence between the country’s two chief military factions threatens to destabilize the Northeast Africa region and increase the number of internally displaced people in Sudan (already 3.7 million), and this could consequently make the process of getting humanitarian aid across to the country’s most vulnerable more challenging.
World Food Program Halts Operations
WFP, the world’s largest humanitarian organization, halted all operations in Sudan on Sunday, April 16, 2023, after three of its employees were killed the day before. The killings happened in Kabkabiya, North Darfur. An additional two employees were injured in the same incident. In a statement, WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain explained that all operations in Sudan had been suspended “pending a review of the evolving security situation.” Ms. McCain said threats to their teams make it impossible to operate safely and effectively in the country and carry out WFP’s critical work. She also said that damage inflicted on a U.N. Humanitarian Air Service aircraft during an exchange of fire at Khartoum airport seriously impacted the WFP’s ability to transport humanitarian workers and aid within the country.
The indefinite suspension of activities by the WFP represents a significant blow to the humanitarian effort in Sudan. WFP Sudan recently received a €24 million ($26 million) payment from the European Union (EU) to help meet the basic food and nutritional needs of the country’s poorest. As the conflict in Sudan continues, it is still unclear when citizens will receive this aid. Although the WFP was already experiencing “pipeline breaks” to its nutrition support and school feeding program before fighting broke out, the people of Sudan could begin to feel the loss of its activity as they run low on food and water.
International Aid
Former dictator, Omar Hassan al-Bashir’s ban on NGOs in the country had inhibited humanitarian assistance to Sudan. International charitable organizations have nonetheless managed to establish themselves in the country. Organizations such as UNICEF Sudan, Save the Children, Mercy Corps and Plan International continue to provide vital aid in Sudan, even as the WFP ceased operations on Sunday. UNICEF Sudan, for example, remains the leading agency providing long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to Sudan.
Sudan lies at the epicenter of the global nutrition crisis. And the current conflict in Sudan could exacerbate this issue. A collective of humanitarian organizations estimated in a 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan that 14.3 million people across Sudan required humanitarian aid in 2022. Of those in need, most are female, and more than half (7.8 million) are children. In January, UNICEF launched an ‘acceleration plan’ in Sudan and 11 other mainly sub-Saharan nations to prevent and treat ‘wasting’ in women and children. Women urgently need the delivery of this plan, as malnutrition afflicts approximately 25% of mothers across the region. Conflict in Sudan threatens to interrupt the work of organizations like UNICEF. Additionally, it makes it harder for mothers to access the vital care they need.
Looking Ahead
Governments and organizations all over the world have condemned the outbreak of conflict in Sudan. Head of the U.N. Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) Mr. Volker Perthes has warned that acts of violence disrupt the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance: “When incidents like this occur, it is women, men and children in desperate need of assistance who suffer the most.” As the withdrawal of the WFP from Sudan shows, violence directly impacts the provision of aid to Sudan’s most vulnerable. But while the suspension of operations by the World Food Program is a setback, efforts to address the nutrition crisis and support vulnerable populations in Sudan are ongoing. The resilience and dedication of these organizations UNICEF and Save the Children offer a glimmer of hope for a brighter future for the people of Sudan.
– Samuel Chambers
Photo: Flickr
Combating Child Poverty in Bangladesh
According to the Center for Policy Dialogue in Bangladesh, in 2020, 46% of children in Bangladesh endured multidimensional poverty — the experience of several deprivations at once. The government and organizations are taking action to address the pressing issue of child poverty in Bangladesh.
5 Facts About Child Poverty in Bangladesh
Taking Action to Reduce Child Poverty in Bangladesh
In 2013, the Bangladesh government collaborated with the World Bank to launch a program called Reaching Out of School Children (ROSCII). This initiative opened new opportunities for impoverished students to complete their primary education and pursue secondary education. Since 2017, the program provided quality primary education to 735,000 impoverished children from underserved rural areas and slums, with girls accounting for 50% of this number.
UNICEF reports that 90% of children in Bangladesh experience “physical punishment or psychological aggression” from caregivers or educators. To uphold the rights of children who experience violence, neglect and exploitation, UNICEF is striving to establish a child-friendly justice system in Bangladesh.
In 2015, the Government of Bangladesh launched the Income Support Program for the Poorest (ISPP), commonly known as the Jawtno program. “The program supported 600,000 poor pregnant women and mothers with children under five years, in locations with high child malnutrition and poverty rates. It provided cash payments to incentivize the parents’ use of services aimed at improving their children’s nutrition, cognitive development and readiness for school,” the World Bank highlights. The program recorded positive results. For instance, mothers used the cash payments to invest in their children’s development and engaged with their children more to strengthen the mother-child bond and prepare them for school.
The World Bank and UNICEF have supported the Bangladeshi government’s efforts to reduce child poverty in Bangladesh. With this support, the country’s government is working to ensure that all children live a higher quality of life.
– Gurjot Kaur
Photo: Flickr
Breaking the Cycle Of Poverty in Guatemala
The World Bank’s Support
On Oct. 20, 2022, the World Bank approved a Development Policy Loan (DPL) of $250 million to support the poor and vulnerable in Guatemala, promote a “green recovery” and enhance public sector transparency. This loan is in addition to the $500 million loan granted in 2020. These funds aim to reverse the economic losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic by improving access to health care for all communities. One of the plans for the DPL is to support school feeding programs, where the goal is to increase the number of beneficiaries from 2.56 million as of 2019 to 3.01 million students by 2024. In 2017, the World Bank granted Guatemala a $100 million loan to address chronic malnutrition, as the country reported the highest malnutrition rates in Central America.
Efforts to Alleviate Malnutrition
The government of Guatemala faces the challenge of eradicating all forms of malnutrition by 2030. According to the World Food Program (WFP), half of the population cannot afford a basic food basket, with one in five children under 5 years old suffering from stunted growth. In the hardest-hit communities, stunting rates reach as high as 90% for all children. However, Guatemala launched the “National Strategy for the Prevention of Chronic Malnutrition” in 2016 and assigned the World Bank’s “Grow up Healthy” project. According to the Global Hunger Index, Guatemala’s score improved from 21.7 in 2014 to 18.8 in 2022. Additionally, the prevalence of stunting in children decreased from 45% in previous years to below 40% in 2022.
Food For The Poor (FFTP)
In 2022, FFTP partnered with Caritas Arquidiocesana to implement three water distribution projects in three Guatemalan departments. These projects aided 100 families, alongside helping an additional 332 families. The partnership also improved Los Anonos schools by replacing roofs, gutters and restrooms while upgrading water systems.
Furthermore, FFTP collaborated with Archdiocesan Caritas to construct 50 homes in Chiyani, 51 in Los Prires, 40 in the village of El Tablon and 45 kitchens in Hatio and Cofradias. FFTP has been supporting Guatemala since 1996.
Approximately 80% of Guatemala’s rural population lives in poverty. Organizations including Mercy Corps have been working to assist Guatemala since 2001 by addressing violence, improving health and providing economic opportunities for rural communities. In 2019, their services benefited more than 333,000 Guatemalans. In the agricultural sector, Mercy Corps is helping small farmers to differentiate and track their crops to improve crop quality and increase their incomes.
Looking Ahead
While poverty is still an issue in Guatemala, the country made some progress in the right direction. Communities, towns, villages and cities are seeing a reduction in child and adult malnutrition. With organizations such as Mercy Corps making contributions toward breaking the cycle of poverty in Guatemala, there is hope for even more progress.
– Joshua Rogers
Photo: Flickr
Abu Dhabi Ports’ Strategic Maritime Initiative with Angola
The group is a renowned port operator and logistics provider with a global presence. It operates several ports and industrial zones in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) including the flagship deepwater Khalifa Port. The company has an exemplary track record of delivering world-class port infrastructure and advanced technology services. Abu Dhabi Ports promotes the maritime industry in the UAE and enhances the flow of imports and exports, making it an ideal partner for Angola.
Angola and Its Natural Resources
Angola is a country with a long coastline and vast natural resources. The country “is the second largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa.” It has an output of 1.55 million barrels of oil a day. Unfortunately, the volatile nature of the oil market has resulted in high levels of poverty and inequality in Angola. In 2018, Angola’s poverty levels were just under 50%. In contrast, the country ranks 6th in the world for diamond production. Furthermore, Angola is also rich in certain minerals including iron, phosphates, copper and gold. With demand for these minerals rising in the near future due to the global energy transition from fossil-based systems to renewable energy sources, mineral extraction could eventually comprise a significant portion of Angola’s GDP.
Economic Instability and Underdevelopment
Despite the abundance of natural resources, Angola as a country has struggled with economic instability and underdevelopment. In 2022, Angola had an urban unemployment rate of approximately 38%. Angola’s government, however, has recently launched a series of reforms to attract foreign investment and promote economic diversification. These reforms have resulted in this partnership between Abu Dhabi Ports and Angola’s Ministry of Transport.
The two parties have entered an agreement to begin the development of maritime services and infrastructure across Angola. Abu Dhabi Ports will also work with Angola’s state-owned transportation company, UNICARGAS, which controls Angola’s most thriving port, the Port of Luanda. The Port of Luanda navigates more than 70% of Angola’s imports and 80% of its non-oil exports.
Developing and Modernizing Infrastructure
According to reports, the strategic partnership between the Angolan government and Abu Dhabi Ports will focus on developing and modernizing Angola’s logistics infrastructure. The agreement also includes a Maritime Academy in Angola. The construction and operation of new logistics facilities and ports in Angola could help improve the country’s connectivity and competition with global trade, thereby resulting in economic growth.
Looking Ahead
The partnership between Abu Dhabi Ports and Angola holds great promise for economic growth and development in the region. By leveraging Abu Dhabi Ports’ expertise in port operations and logistics, Angola can enhance its maritime industry and improve trade connectivity. The planned development of infrastructure and logistics facilities, along with the establishment of a Maritime Academy, could contribute to Angola’s economic diversification and attract foreign investment. This partnership marks a positive step towards fostering stronger trade relations and driving sustainable growth in Angola.
– Aemal Nafis
Photo: Flickr
Addressing Income Inequality in Uganda
Economic Growth in Uganda
Since 2002, Uganda’s economy has been expanding by a minimum of 6% yearly and real GDP per capita has tripled since 1990. In 1992, almost 56% of the population lived below the poverty line set by the nation. However, by 2014, it had decreased to 19.7%. Despite this, the disparity between the affluent and the impoverished has grown significantly since the 1990s. Uganda has experienced “growth with exclusion,” where only a small group of people have gained from the economic expansion.
Income Inequality in Uganda
The wealthiest 10% of the population receives 35.7% of the national income; the poorest 10% earns a meager 2.5% and the poorest 20% just 5.8%. Income inequality in Uganda is not only a problem for the present but also affects future generations. Wealthy families have access to better opportunities, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. Rural areas are worse off, with poverty rates nearly three times higher than urban areas. Poverty is higher in the northern and northeastern regions that have suffered from civil conflicts.
Reasons for the Income Inequality in Uganda
According to the International Trade Administration, agriculture is the mainstay of the Ugandan economy, accounting for a quarter of GDP in FY 2021/22 and 33% of export earnings. About 70% of Uganda’s labor force population is employed in agriculture, however, most farmers are smallholders who own five acres of land or fewer and women often do not have rights to this land. Although women account for more than 70% of the agricultural workforce, they only own about 7% of the land, Oxfam highlights.
The quality of education in Uganda is also a notable reason. While some urban schools boast state-of-the-art facilities, rural schools lack basic infrastructure and teachers are often absent. The poor quality of public schools means that education can no longer be a means of escaping poverty and many young people struggle to find work.
According to Oxfam, “Uganda’s tax system is exploitative and unfair.” Foreign investors receive preferential treatment while local manufacturers do not get tax breaks. The tax system imposes an 18% flat rate for VAT, which disproportionately affects those living in poverty. The government’s high level of domestic borrowing has also created a considerable fiscal deficit, leading to higher interest rates and inflation.
Hope for Reducing Income Inequality in Uganda
Uganda has in place a strategy to meet Sustainable Development Goal 10 of eliminating inequality. Uganda’s Vision 2040 strategy places at its core “balanced development through ensuring that all regions of the country benefit from the growth of the national economy.” The 2020 Voluntary National Review is Uganda’s Second report to the High-Level Political Forum and highlights the country’s progress in meeting the SDGs through frameworks and strategies. In the report, in order to progress on SDG 10, the Government of Uganda highlights an interest to institute initiatives that “support social protection” and looks to make investments in “regional development to accelerate equitable, regional economic growth and development.”
The Ugandan Government also expresses an intention to pass legislation that “supports women’s ownership of critical production factors such as land and also access to technologies that improve agricultural productivity and reduce labor-intensive work.” Furthermore, the government shall “focus on policies that promote inclusive growth and create jobs for the lower segments of society,” the report indicates. By prioritizing policies and programs that promote economic growth and reduce inequality, Uganda has the potential to create a more just and equitable society for all its citizens.
– Amber Kim
Photo: Flickr
Celebrating Smallpox Eradication Day
History of Smallpox
The declaration marked the end of a battle against the disease that lasted more than 3,000 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) traces the earliest known cases of smallpox back to ancient Egypt, with remnants of smallpox pustules found on mummies from the third century BCE. As the ancient world became more interconnected, smallpox rapidly spread, with the first written documentation of the disease originating in fourth-century CE China.
Over the next 1500 years, smallpox continued to spread. Advancements in international trade and travel facilitated the global reach of the disease. European colonization introduced smallpox to previously unexposed communities in the Americas and Australia, leading to the tragic loss of millions of indigenous lives. The expanding world brought with it the expanding reach of smallpox.
Early Methods of Control
Before the invention of a vaccine, approximately three out of 10 people infected with smallpox died. To fight the disease, smallpox patients practiced a preventative measure called variolation. According to the CDC, variolation is “a process of grinding up dried smallpox scabs from a smallpox patient and inhaling them or scratching them into an arm of an uninfected person.” The practice originated in 16th century CE Asia and became global commonplace by the turn of the 18th century.
In 1796, an English doctor named Edward Jenner began work on the first vaccine. After witnessing an increase in smallpox immunity in those who had successfully battled cowpox, another virus that produces pustules and sores, Jenner experimented with the variolation of cowpox into a healthy immune system as a preventative measure against smallpox. Jenner’s 1801 publication, “On the Origin of the Vaccine Inoculation,” introduced the world to vaccines and thus began the eradication of smallpox.
Global Vaccination Efforts
With the practice of variolation replaced with vaccination, the world slowly began to snuff out smallpox. In 1813, the United States Congress passed legislation to make the smallpox vaccine widely available and by the end of the 19th century, wealthier parts of the world began to only suffer the occasional outbreak. These improvements in wealthier nations began the process of eradication, but Vox explains that in poorer countries, where vaccines were far less available, smallpox was still killing tens of millions.
Global cooperation was necessary to end smallpox for everyone. An underfunded 1959 WHO effort to eradicate the disease was unsuccessful, but the 1967 Intensified Smallpox Eradication Program ultimately ended smallpox outbreaks globally. The CDC explains the program aided, “Laboratories in many countries where smallpox occurred regularly to produce more, higher-quality freeze-dried vaccines.”
Successful Eradication and Global Solidarity
Due to the diligent work of WHO and other global healthcare organizations, smallpox was officially eradicated globally in 15 years, beginning with the North American eradication in 1952 and ending in 1977 with African elimination. WHO attributes the elimination of smallpox, “to an incredible demonstration of global solidarity and because it had a safe and effective vaccine.”
The global elimination of smallpox was no small feat. The disease claimed more than 300 million lives in the 20th century before its eradication. In the years since the global victory over smallpox, UNICEF and the WHO partnered to create the Expanded Programme on Immunization, which has vaccinated 85% of children globally. The Expanded Programme on Immunization was launched in 1974 and initially focused on six childhood diseases that are preventable by vaccines. As the WHO program has grown, it “has increased the breadth of protection provided by immunization, to include vaccinations for protection of older children, adolescents and adults.”
Looking Ahead
The eradication of smallpox stands as a remarkable testament to the power of global cooperation and effective vaccination programs. Also, this victory serves as a beacon of hope in the face of current health challenges. The lessons learned from the eradication of smallpox continue to guide efforts to combat other diseases and promote immunization, ensuring a healthier and more resilient global community.
– Annika Nelson
Photo: Flickr
The Opioid Trade in Afghanistan
The Taliban’s Ban on Drugs
Once processed, opium poppies from Afghanistan sell as opium, morphine and a range of grades of heroin in every region of the world, with the exception of Latin America. The production and sale of drugs constitute a significant portion of the country’s GDP each year.
When the Taliban assumed power in Afghanistan in August 2021, it vowed to end the production and trade of drugs in the country. The group, however, faced a production system on an upward trend. In 2020, Afghanistan saw a 37% increase in the area of land used to grow opium poppies compared to the year before. In that same year, Afghanistan produced 85% of the opium consumed across the world.
The History of the Opioid Trade in Afghanistan
Afghanistan has been producing opium poppies in large numbers since the mid-1950s. Fraught with political and economic inconsistency for decades, the history of efforts to reduce the opioid trade in Afghanistan is complex. In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. The war that followed created economic devastation that left many in Afghanistan with no reliable source of income aside from trading narcotics. The Taliban, established in 1994, made significant steps towards banning the trade, halving the land used for growing poppies in the regions of Afghanistan it controlled at the time.
When the Taliban gained power in Afghanistan in 1996, however, it had already relaxed its approach to the drug trade. Instead of clamping down on production, the Taliban began to tax opioid farms and labs and even sought to expand the trade by providing farmers with official government licenses to grow opium poppies. The group declared an outright ban on poppy cultivation in 1999, but by September 2001, it had reversed this decision, and the practice was thriving again.
Under the Afghan government from 2002 to 2021, following U.S. intervention in 2001, drug production and trafficking in Afghanistan soared. International aid funded the majority of counter-narcotic efforts over these two decades. The United States spent more than $8 billion over a 15-year period in attempts to reduce the trade of opioids in Afghanistan.
The Opioid Trade in the New Taliban Regime
In April 2022, the Taliban issued a decree prohibiting all poppy cultivation and narcotics trade, representing a new wave of counter-narcotic efforts in Afghanistan. However, the timing alone of this decree caused many to question the motives of the Taliban, as it came shortly after the largest annual harvest of opium poppies. High-ranking Taliban officials claim that drug production and trafficking are over, but the evidence suggests that the trade is still thriving and may have increased since the regime change.
The gap between the Taliban’s stated intention to rid Afghanistan of drugs and its lack of action is likely due to the fact that it is not currently in its interests, economically or tactically, to crack down on the opioid trade in Afghanistan. Since its formation in 1994, estimates suggest that the opioid trade has accounted for more than half of the Taliban’s revenues, according to Colin Mathers. The Taliban have for many years collected a tax on all opium poppies grown in Afghanistan, all laboratory-based processing of opioids and all trading of these drugs. From 2018 to 2019 alone, the Taliban received more than $400 million from narcotics.
The Economic Impact
To survive as a regime, the Taliban need enough income to be able to keep factions, soldiers and civilians on its side. In the Taliban’s first year in power, Afghanistan’s GDP dropped from $20.15 billion to $14.79 billion due to economic sanctions and the removal of foreign aid. This marked the country’s lowest GDP since the 2008 global financial crisis.
With the country deprived of billions of dollars from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and bilateral aid, reports suggest that the income from opium poppies is more critical than ever to both the security of the Taliban and the stability of the country, according to Brookings. In 2022, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimated that since the regime change, the number of Afghans living in poverty had doubled to nearly 34 million, representing 85% of the country’s population. The removal of the opioid trade would further cripple the Afghan economy and hundreds of thousands of citizens would fall into extreme poverty, creating a serious risk of domestic unrest.
The Future of the Opioid Trade in Afghanistan
For these reasons, the reward remains higher than the risk for those involved in the opioid trade in Afghanistan, which encourages its continuation and expansion, according to UNODC. Forecasts suggest that there is no end in sight for global sanctions and the Afghan economy seems unlikely to grow significantly in the short term. Therefore, the tactical and financial incentives remain for the Taliban to support this industry and Afghans have few viable alternatives to growing opium poppies, according to VOA News.
Nonprofit organizations like Afghanaid have been working closely with those crippled financially by the Taliban takeover. Since August 2021, Afghanaid has provided around 1.8 million men, women and children with emergency aid. The NGO runs schemes across impoverished areas of Afghanistan that could be vital in creating reliable alternative sources of income for those who may otherwise rely on opium poppy cultivation.
For example, Afghanaid supports farmers and village communities in the Badakhshan Province to replant and irrigate their forests. This scheme has led to the employment of members of more than 130 households across the region. And as a result, some families have been able to send their children to school. Schemes such as this support the development of reliable alternative sources of income for impoverished families in Afghanistan. The goal is to minimize or end the country’s reliance on the opioid trade.
Looking Ahead
The opioid trade in Afghanistan is thriving in the current financial crisis, as the trade provides stability for both impoverished citizens and the new Taliban regime. One of the ways to end the opioid trade involves providing viable alternative sources of income for those that rely on the consistency of producing and selling opioid products. In this way, NGOs like Afghanaid could be central in reducing the growth of a trade that has negative impacts worldwide.
– Polly Walton
Photo: Pixabay
The “Game-Changing” New Meningitis Vaccine in Africa
What Is Meningitis?
Several different viruses and bacteria can cause Meningitis, a condition that inflames the protective membranes of the brain and spinal cord. While viral meningitis is more common and less serious than bacterial meningitis, it can still cause long-term problems and even be deadly in countries where populations do not have immediate access to treatment.
The U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) estimates that one out of 10 cases of bacterial meningitis is lethal. Globally, about a quarter million people die from meningitis infections each year. Alarmingly, around 60% of meningitis-related deaths occur along the African meningitis belt, a region that runs from Gambia and Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in easternmost Africa. Furthermore, some 33% to 50% of survivors of bacterial meningitis face at least one permanent health problem. These include seizures, vision and hearing loss, limb loss and cognitive impairment.
Meningitis’ inordinate impact across sub-Saharan Africa is partly due to a lack of access to proper health care, which leads to late diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that bacterial meningitis, which is highly prevalent in the meningitis belt, can kill within as little as 24 hours.
NmCV-5 to the Rescue
The prevalence of five different strains of meningococcal bacteria across the meningitis belt has, until now, hindered efforts to eradicate the disease. That NmCV-5 proved effective in protecting against all five strains marks an unprecedented development in the field of meningitis vaccines in Africa.
The Serum Institute of India developed NmCV-5 in partnership with the global health organization PATH. Since its founding in 1966, the Serum Institute of India’s goal has been to make vaccines high-quality, affordable vaccines available to those around the world who need them most. To date, the company has reached more than 140 countries and supplied vaccines that have helped an estimated 65% of children globally. Significantly, the Serum Institute of India also collaborated with PATH and WHO to develop the Meningococcal A vaccine MenAfriVac, which has “virtually eliminated” this strain of the bacteria in the countries where it has been distributed.
Still, much work remains to reach the WHO’s Defeating Meningitis by 2030 goals, which include reducing meningitis infections by 50% and meningitis deaths by 70%. Fortunately, PATH, a global nonprofit dedicated to “improving public health” around the world, is working to bring vaccines and other forms of vital health care to those most in need. For instance, its “Zero-dose children” campaign centers on closing the vaccination gap for the world’s estimated 17 million unvaccinated children by addressing the socio-cultural and economic inequities that hinder access to immunizations.
Hope for a Meningitis-Free Future
NmCV-5 promises great hope for eradicating meningitis in Africa. Apart from NmCV-5 being effective against the newest emerging X strain of meningococcus bacteria, it also aims to be inexpensive and widely available in sub-Saharan Africa. This is a critical step toward a meningitis-free future, as other vaccines either provide immunity against fewer strains or have remained too costly to have widespread reach.
As Ed Clarke, one of the study’s co-authors, summarized, “We are excited about the results. We expect NmCV-5 to provide children and young adults with reliable protection against meningitis caused by the meningococcal bacteria in Africa.” He anticipates that the vaccine will be “game-changing for epidemic meningitis control in the ‘meningitis belt,’” stating, “We look forward to seeing the vaccine rolled out in the region as soon as possible.”
– Tiffany Chan
Photo: Flickr