In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale land, sea and air invasion of Ukraine. As of August 2022, the fighting has caused the internal migration of more than 6.6 million Ukrainians. Military losses are extreme on both sides, with an estimated 9,000 Ukrainians dead and 45,200 Russians either wounded or killed, NPR reported in August 2022.
A Restricted Response
Due to Russia’s economic, social and military power, it is extremely difficult for other nations to assist Ukraine. Slovakia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece, Belgium, Netherlands and Latvia all heavily depend on Russian oil. These countries are virtually unable to assist Ukraine, as this factor has caused inflation and threatens economic collapse.
Larger, less dependent countries, such as the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom, are also restricted due to the veto power of the United Nations. Because of Russia’s veto power — determined by the outcome of World War II — the United Nations as a whole has no capability of placing any restrictions or punishments on Russia for the country’s actions. However, despite these challenges, countries worldwide are still attempting to use their power to assist Ukraine.
Aid That is Helping Ukraine
In the United States, Ukrainians have risen to the top of the immigration list. As of June 2022, the U.S. has accepted more than 20,000 Ukrainian refugees and has provided them with food, clothing, technology, housing and education upon their arrival. The U.S. also placed several sanctions on Russia and has invested $19.3 billion in security defense for Ukraine since January 2021. This includes $18.3 billion since “Russia’s launched its premeditated, unprovoked, and brutal war against Ukraine on February 24, [2022].” Along with the U.S., Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands and the United Kingdom have also sent military aid to Ukraine.
Countries located closer to Ukraine – Poland, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary – are helping Ukraine by accepting and providing for millions of displaced Ukrainians. Over the past year, several nonprofit organizations have also joined in helping Ukraine, such as United24, Razom for Ukraine, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, International Medical Corps, Voices of the Children and more.
The current aid that various organizations are offering Ukraine varies from health care to psychological support. Voices of the Children, for example, is a charitable foundation in Ukraine, that aims to provide psychological and psychosocial support for children who experience war, while Save the Children helps deliver lifesaving aid to vulnerable children in Ukraine. UNICEF, similar to other major organizations, supports the sanitation and protection of the Ukrainian people by providing a variety of aid and an immense amount of assistance from volunteers.
Looking Ahead
As the Ukrainian War trudges on, these efforts are becoming vital to the country’s survival and its people. Through these efforts, the Ukrainian people may be able to focus more on themselves and their families, rather than the stress of survival.
– Sania Patel
Photo: Flickr
How Fiscal Policy can Reduce Poverty
In developing nations, as well as nations recovering from a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, fiscal policy is an instrumental tool in revitalizing the economy and alleviating poverty levels. The policies are more than simply “good” or “bad” economics as they are key indicators of a nation’s true political priorities.
In low and middle-income nations, foreign aid and debt relief are invaluable in uplifting their economies. On the other hand, the contributions cannot be fully effective without an effective fiscal system. According to the United Nations, a good fiscal policy centered around poverty reduction, reconstruction and growth will focus on raising the growth rate and fostering lasting economic stability.
Rising Growth Rate
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) emphasizes that “economic growth is the single most important factor influencing poverty, citing a recent study of 80 countries that revealed that the income of the bottom one-fifth of the population increased in exact proportion with the overall growth of the economy as measured by per capita GDP. In countries recovering from crises, a rising growth rate is one of the most effective ways for an economy to bounce back.
Key Fiscal Policies that Can Promote Economic Growth
Economic Stability
Prioritizing spending with long-term impacts is vital in creating a self-sustaining economy that alleviates poverty. Good policies will vary in different country contexts while acting with the future in mind even in crises, despite the fact that the benefits will come to fruition later. Below are some fiscal concepts to stabilize a nation after a crisis and to better prepare for any future challenges.
Looking Ahead
Fiscal policy shaped around economic growth and the reduction of inequality has the potential to make great strides toward minimizing poverty. There are limits to the types and degrees of these policies in each country. Therefore, other national policy reforms implemented in tandem with economic policies lead to the best outcome in stimulating growth. Regardless of fiscal policy, foreign aid and international cooperation are invaluable in reducing poverty levels in low-income nations and around the globe.
– Carly Ryan Brister
Photo: Flickr
5 Facts About Syria’s Fight Against Cholera
Syria is in the midst of a cholera outbreak that has resulted in more than 75 deaths as of October 2022. Infecting more than 20,000 people, the current outbreak is spreading throughout Syria’s 14 governorates and bordering countries. Fortunately, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other U.N. agencies are currently mitigating the issue by creating treatment centers, providing chlorine dosages, and raising awareness about sanitation practices. To better understand the crisis, here are five facts about Syria’s fight against cholera.
5 Facts About Syria’s Fight Against Cholera
Looking Ahead
Although Syria and Lebanon continue to experience thousands of new cases daily, health ministries, WHO and non-governmental agencies are facilitating Syria’s fight against cholera. As more organizations partner to combat cholera, there is hope that the outbreak will begin to slow down.
– Emma He
Photo: Unsplash
Political Instability in Burkina Faso Jeopardizes Aid
After the Burkina Faso September military coup, United States President Joe Biden cut Burkina Faso from The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The political instability in Burkina Faso that prompted the AGOA removal designates Burkina Faso as a blacklisted, non-democratic nation. The recent political instability in Burkina Faso led to the loss of U.S. trade, economic aid and military support.
AGOA is U.S. legislation approved in May 2000, to support sub-Saharan African economies and improve economic relations between those countries and the U.S. The AGOA provides sub-Saharan African nations with U.S. duty-free access to more than 1,800 products. That allowance is beyond the more than 5,000 duty-free products under the Generalized System of Preferences program.
Background of Political Instability
Political instability and limitations in both trade and humanitarian aid are not new issues in Burkina Faso. In fact, the September coup was the second one in 2021. Army captain Ibrahim Traore seized power from military leader President Paul-Henri Damiba in September, citing “his inability to deal with an armed uprising in the country that has worsened in the past nine months.” However, Burkina Faso was already experiencing effects from the first coup, in which Damiba orchestrated an uprising against President Roch Marc Christian Kabore in January. At that time, the U.S. paused a $450 million aid effort.
The political instability in Burkina Faso could exacerbate already desperate conditions. During seven years of radicalized military terror with connections to ISIL and al-Qaeda, the hunger crisis intensified. In fact, the United Nations has even reported that “the humanitarian situation in Burkina Faso has become so dire that some women and children have eaten only leaves and salt for weeks.” U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martha Griffiths claimed that “Growing insecurity and blockades in many areas have left communities cut off from the rest of the country and facing growing hunger. Aid workers are struggling to reach these people who need assistance.”
Economic and Military Impact of Political Instability in Burkina Faso
The removal of Burkina Faso from the AGOA is particularly relevant for those concerned with U.S. legislative foreign aid decisions because legally if the U.S. State Department determines a democratically-elected government experienced an unconstitutional removal, the U.S. must suspend all non-humanitarian aid. Importantly, the U.S. is Burkina Faso’s largest international donor.
Burkina Faso also lost access to the markets of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) markets. ECOWAS is the trade union of West African states and it strongly condemned the coup and pushed for elections as quickly as possible. It claimed that Burkina Faso was close to restoring constitutional order so the coup was incredibly “inopportune.” Journalist Sam Mednick claimed, “If Traore is not going to be able to show tangible progress quickly, people say he’s going to be ousted just like his predecessor.”
Militarily, the U.S. also provides surveillance, intelligence, air support to the French who intervened against militants in the Sahel. The U.S. also provides intermittent training to Burkina Faso’s security forces. Elizabeth Shackelford, a senior foreign policy fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs suggested that because military support has not proved productive, the U.S. and its partners should put funding and effort into supporting democracy-fostering institutions.
Positives
Luckily, the European Union (EU) is still earmarking funds for aid in Burkina Faso. Specifically, the EU has set aside 52.4 million euros to address food insecurity, malnutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, education and disaster preparedness. International non-governmental organizations will also still be able to provide aid. For example, Save the Children focus on Burkina Faso education, public health and protection. Specifically, for public health, Save the Children advocates for “universal access to health care and an increase in the health budget.” In regard to nutrition, it supports food assistance programs. For malnutrition, it provides screening and long-term care for affected children and families.
Outlook for the Future
Political instability in Burkina Faso is jeopardizing specialized aid to fight jihadism. Burkina Faso’s recent unconstitutional coups resulted in the cessation of all non-humanitarian aid in compliance with U.S. law. Fortunately, the EU and international non-governmental organizations continue their support for Burkina Faso’s citizens plagued by political instability and its effects. Hunger, education and public health are often the primary focuses of many of these organizations, and if these programs remain operational, perhaps Burkina Faso can persevere until the political instability subsides.
– Braden Hampton
Photo: Flickr
How Countries are Helping Ukraine
In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale land, sea and air invasion of Ukraine. As of August 2022, the fighting has caused the internal migration of more than 6.6 million Ukrainians. Military losses are extreme on both sides, with an estimated 9,000 Ukrainians dead and 45,200 Russians either wounded or killed, NPR reported in August 2022.
A Restricted Response
Due to Russia’s economic, social and military power, it is extremely difficult for other nations to assist Ukraine. Slovakia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece, Belgium, Netherlands and Latvia all heavily depend on Russian oil. These countries are virtually unable to assist Ukraine, as this factor has caused inflation and threatens economic collapse.
Larger, less dependent countries, such as the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom, are also restricted due to the veto power of the United Nations. Because of Russia’s veto power — determined by the outcome of World War II — the United Nations as a whole has no capability of placing any restrictions or punishments on Russia for the country’s actions. However, despite these challenges, countries worldwide are still attempting to use their power to assist Ukraine.
Aid That is Helping Ukraine
In the United States, Ukrainians have risen to the top of the immigration list. As of June 2022, the U.S. has accepted more than 20,000 Ukrainian refugees and has provided them with food, clothing, technology, housing and education upon their arrival. The U.S. also placed several sanctions on Russia and has invested $19.3 billion in security defense for Ukraine since January 2021. This includes $18.3 billion since “Russia’s launched its premeditated, unprovoked, and brutal war against Ukraine on February 24, [2022].” Along with the U.S., Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Netherlands and the United Kingdom have also sent military aid to Ukraine.
Countries located closer to Ukraine – Poland, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary – are helping Ukraine by accepting and providing for millions of displaced Ukrainians. Over the past year, several nonprofit organizations have also joined in helping Ukraine, such as United24, Razom for Ukraine, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, International Medical Corps, Voices of the Children and more.
The current aid that various organizations are offering Ukraine varies from health care to psychological support. Voices of the Children, for example, is a charitable foundation in Ukraine, that aims to provide psychological and psychosocial support for children who experience war, while Save the Children helps deliver lifesaving aid to vulnerable children in Ukraine. UNICEF, similar to other major organizations, supports the sanitation and protection of the Ukrainian people by providing a variety of aid and an immense amount of assistance from volunteers.
Looking Ahead
As the Ukrainian War trudges on, these efforts are becoming vital to the country’s survival and its people. Through these efforts, the Ukrainian people may be able to focus more on themselves and their families, rather than the stress of survival.
– Sania Patel
Photo: Flickr
How EU candidate status can help Bosnia and Herzegovina
On October 12, 2022, the European Commission recommended official European Union (EU) candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Considered a potential candidate since 2003, the country only formally applied for EU candidate status in 2016. The recommendation of the Commission does not mean that Bosnia and Herzegovina will be granted candidate status very soon. Nevertheless, it is sending a positive message to the country, signaling EU candidate status in the future if it implements more reforms.
The EU Candidate Status: A Tool for the Country’s Development
Obtaining EU candidate status to bolster development drives many countries to apply to the European Union. However, in order to obtain candidate status, countries must pass specific legal and political reforms. For instance, the EU may ask countries to work on reducing corruption, poverty and social inequality.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Pathway
On December 2019, the Council of the European Union endorsed 14 key priorities for Bosnia and Herzegovina to obtain candidate status. These 14 priorities are a roadmap for the country in its path to implement strategic reforms to achieve candidate status. Political priorities include aligning its constitutional framework to European standards and improving its judiciary. Economic priorities include improvements in educational quality and energy infrastructure.
Furthermore, the EU has a special process for Western Balkans countries, called the “stabilization and association process.” This process has three aims: political stability and a quick transition to a market economy, regional cooperation and eventual EU membership. The Western Balkans process provides Bosnia and Herzegovina with financial assistance, trade concessions and assistance for stabilization and reconstruction needed due to the war in the 1990s.
The Progress and Obstacles
The European Commission’s 2022 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina outlined some progress on the 14 key priorities. The country made some progress in addressing environmental challenges and sustainable connectivity. It also made progress in its migration policies.
When it comes to the economic criteria, the country is slowly establishing a market economy. However, its economic performance is still below its potential. Its Economic Reform Programme does not include enough measures to tackle economic challenges on a national scale, such as the informal economy and unemployment, per the report.
The report also outlined little or no progress in the political sector. A key obstacle is that the country remains politically unstable. Indeed, the political entity representing the Bosnian Serbs, the Republika Srpska is trying to “unilaterally take over state competencies” and is threatening to secede from Bosnia and Herzegovina due to potential accession to the EU. The European Commission also noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina did not make a lot of progress when it comes to tackling corruption and organized crime.
The Path Forward
Bosnia and Herzegovina has been seeking to join the EU for almost two decades. To reach the EU candidate status that will foster its development, the country needs to build upon its improvements on the 14 key priorities. It also needs to step up efforts to overcome the obstacles blocking any progress. If Bosnia and Herzegovina uses the support it has gained through the special Western Balkan process, the next report on its progress should be more positive. Perhaps the European Commission’s recommendation is the encouragement that Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to improve its EU candidacy potential.
– Evan Da Costa Marques
Photo: Flickr
EU Action to Address Energy Poverty in Europe
On October 4, 2022, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) issued a report entitled “Tackling energy poverty and the EU’s resilience: challenges from an economic and social perspective.” Indeed, within the European Union, there is a need to tackle the issue of energy poverty as winter approaches. With energy inflation reaching 40% due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, many EU households may not be able to heat their residences this winter due to increasing rates of energy poverty in Europe. The European Commission estimated in September 2022 that roughly 34 million individuals in the EU are enduring “energy poverty to varying degrees.”
EU Measures to Tackle Energy Poverty
The European Union has already adopted a few policies to fight energy poverty in Europe in the last few years. With the 2019 “clean energy for all Europeans package,” the EU is establishing key measures to counter energy poverty in Europe. The package aims to increase energy security by protecting vulnerable consumers from steep energy prices and a lack of energy resources. To achieve this, the EU aims to rely less on external energy supplies by diversifying its sources of energy supplies and increasing its investment in renewable energy sources within the EU.
When it comes to monitoring energy poverty, the EU receives reports from EU Member States on the number of people suffering from energy poverty. These reports are mandatory since the implementation of the “directive on common rules for the internal market for electricity” in 2019 and enable the EU to allocate more or less support according to the numbers.
The Energy Efficiency Directive (implemented in 2012 but amended in 2018) directs Member States to implement “a share of energy efficiency measures… as a priority in households affected by energy poverty or in social housing.” With such measures, those households would consume less energy and would pay lower energy bills.
The Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union stresses the obligation of EU Member States to each establish their own “national indicative objective” to reduce the number of households suffering from energy poverty. Then, each country must update the EU regarding progress toward this goal. In addition, Member States have to provide information on the measures and policies already implemented and future measures to address energy poverty.
Other Actions
Other than the directives and policies, the EU has other tools to help Member States fight energy poverty. The Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) is the main EU initiative addressing energy poverty through a “collaborative network of stakeholders,” the EU website says. The EPAH builds on the energy poverty reduction work conducted by the Energy Poverty Observatory. The EPAH distributes resources to stakeholders to guide them in taking action to reduce energy poverty. This includes online courses, reports, guidebooks and technical assistance. The EPAH will run from 2021 to 2024.
Energy inflation due to the Russia-Ukraine war has increased the number of households living in energy poverty across Europe. Considering this situation, it is essential for the EU to prioritize fighting energy poverty, with a special focus on disadvantaged households. The EU is committed to energy sustainability and is taking action to achieve this.
– Evan Da Costa Marques
Photo: Flickr
Agricultural Investments in Vietnam
Agriculture, forestry and fishery have been at the root of the Vietnamese economy for thousands of years. Recently, a trend of borrowing from banks like LienVietPostBank, AgriBank and BIDV by struggling farmers has allowed them to escape the poverty caused by the scars of war and colonial oppression.
These loans enable farmers to purchase reliable equipment and materials to grow their crops and yield a wider profit margin, hire more workers and cycle more capital to create stable income and community. The World Bank reported a drop in poverty from 16.8% to just 5% from 2010 to 2020.
Now the force of this agriculture boom is proving to be a vital element in the propulsion of the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, a whopping 1,640 new agriculture businesses emerged. This is largely due to the agricultural investments in Vietnam.
Why the Buzz?
As a country with a long history of food shortage due to war, Vietnam is especially wary of movements in the food supply. As the COVID-19 pandemic hurt business and now the threat of the Russian-Ukraine war shocks economies globally, agriculture is emerging as the key economic pillar of society. In 2020, the country ranked among the top five exporters of aquatic products, rice, coffee, tea, cashews and cassava.
When the pandemic started to affect other sectors such as service, construction and industry, many in the southern provinces returned to work in agriculture and that industry flourished. The pandemic stunted poverty reduction but did not set it back. Most of the growth has come from the establishment of small-scale farms that maintain themselves by becoming food secure and self-sufficient. Most of the new farms are less than 1 hectare and provide ample sustenance for the families who work them.
According to the International Fund for Agriculture Development, economic growth in small-scale agriculture is two to three times more effective at reducing poverty than in other sectors. Agro-focused banks keep close contact with their loan recipients, monitoring income and circumstances that might affect the crop, as well as consumer trends. This has created a community atmosphere where people are working alongside agricultural investors in Vietnam, effectively lifting many out of poverty.
The Effects of Agricultural Investments in Vietnam
Vietnam News reported that Vietnam’s agriculture industry comprises more than 14,000 businesses, 78 unions, 19,100 cooperatives, more than 30,000 production groups and 19,600 farms. The success of poverty reduction and business growth in agriculture is due to many factors such as increased governance capacity, capital investment, socio-economic planning policies and other public services. The recent investment and the government’s sustained efforts to keep the agriculture business in good standing have played great roles in this reduction. Moreover, the multi-industrial approach has provided basic health care and early education through new government policies. There has been a remarkable decline in those living on less than $1.25 per day from 63.7% in 1993 to 16.9% in 2008.
This massive shrinking of the poor is a great stride. While there is still a rocky road ahead for the growing country, the uptick in food security due to agricultural investments in Vietnam is a promising guidepost for increasing the quality of life in the country.
– Shane Chase
Photo: Flickr
Rwanda’s Capital is On the Path to Green Urban Growth
Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is on the cutting edge of African development. In May 2022, the Rwandan government launched the second phase of the environmentally friendly, $175 million Rwandan Urban Development Project. The project consists of reinforcing nature-based infrastructure and protecting the city against extreme weather conditions. A hub of architects and entrepreneurs is working out of the newly built MASS Design Group’s largest office in Kigali. The recent increase in investment in the once war-stricken city aims to set Rwanda on the path to green urban growth.
A Critical Eye
President Paul Kagame received many criticisms for taking the position of an authoritarian strongman. While Rwanda appears to be a safe space for foreigners, Lewis Mudge, the Central Africa Director at Human Rights Watch recently told CNN, “Rwanda is a safe country for Rwandans if you keep your head down and don’t ask any questions or challenge anything. The moment you step up and start to question something or have an independent opinion and express it, Rwanda becomes a very difficult country to live in.” It is impossible to ignore the claims of citizens and spokespeople in the region. For Western and Asian allies, however, Kagame remains a “liberator” with intentions of expanding economic prosperity in the region.
Sustainability and Reframing
The Rwanda Urban Development Project focuses on developing the natural infrastructure of Kigali and surrounding cities. A green micro-mobility company called Guraride, which began a bike share scheme in Kigali in 2021 is just one of many firms setting up in the city. Guararide CEO, Tony Adesina, explained, “We’re looking at a situation where Kigali becomes the Silicon Valley of Africa.” President Kagame has made aspirational claims of making Rwanda a middle-income country by 2035.
In the decades since the atrocious 1994 genocide, the government has brought the country out of the ruins by taking several measures. For one, Rwanda now has close financial ties to China; in 2008, the country outlawed the use of non-biodegradable plastics a notable step towards its desire to be a green country. Moreover, it has closed gender gaps with 61% of its parliamentary seats, which women hold. The World Bank continues to report “strong economic growth” in the region, and a poverty decline from 77% in 2001 to 55% by 2017. With the decline in poverty and awareness of the need for renewable energy, Rwanda is a beacon of hope for the naysays of energy reform and a model country on the path to green urban growth.
Eco-Development
A coalition of architects, engineers, city planners, researchers, designers, construction and film industry has come to the MASS Design Group’s central hub. Entrepreneurs like Tony Adesina are attracted to the area because of the government’s inclination towards allowing tech-based and eco-friendly development. As increasingly severe weather conditions erupt around the world, Rwanda is taking the initiative to develop green solutions to the unique problems weather causes. Launched in 2017, The Green City Project in Kigali is an example of this initiative. It aims to be a green community in the Kinyinya Hill area of Kigali; allowing developers to use innovative climate-responsive building techniques and collect rainwater, as well as increase vegetation, tree cover and renewable energy sources. This facility is a harbinger for more green projects to come around the world, as the move to green urban growth becomes evermore important.
The region of Kigali represents hope for war-stricken countries. Often through struggle and war, many creative solutions emerge out of necessity. Western counterparts regularly overlook developing communities in Africa and view them as “reporters” of what is happening, rather than true artists and creators themselves. Though others should not ignore the iron fist of the Rwandan government, an encouraging move toward sustainability that the nation has taken is the bottom-line approach necessary to tackle environmental and economic issues.
– Shane Chase
Photo: Flickr
How African Governments Are Combating HIV/AIDS
The threat of the COVID-19 pandemic is still a major problem today. A variety of problems continue to affect the globe, such as poverty and HIV/AIDS, the latter of which has severely affected Africa for years. Globally, estimates indicated that HIV infected 33.9 to 43.8 million people by the end of 2021 and nearly two-thirds of those infected were Africans. However, the situation is far from hopeless as African governments are combating HIV/AIDS and some progress is occurring on that front.
The Current Situation in Africa
According to reports by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), new HIV infections have declined by 14% between 2010 and 2015 in Eastern and Southern Africa. Similarly, there was an 8% decline in West and Central Africa. Despite the small percentages, progress is obvious. In 2000, only 11,000 people were getting antiretroviral treatment (ARV) for HIV. Now, more than 12 million people today are receiving the treatment. African governments that are combating HIV/AIDS have also expanded prevention methods to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. Some of the prevention methods are voluntary medical male circumcision and tests for pregnant women to see if they are HIV positive. Those who are positive receive medicine in order to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS to their unborn babies. Hence, there has been a decrease in infections throughout the region.
Despite the progress, the epidemic still severely affects African countries. Poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic only further exacerbate this issue. HIV/AIDS affects the region socially and economically. There are still a large number of people who are not receiving the treatment they need and the cure has yet to emerge. Sub-Saharan Africa suffers the most as it is the world’s epicenter of HIV/AIDS, accounting for two-thirds of the global total of new HIV infections. Progress continues to be slow and multiple challenges remain.
Response and Progress to End HIV/AIDS
Currently, African governments are aiming to put an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic worldwide by 2030. They have partnered with multiple organizations such as UNAIDS, PEPFAR and other global health organizations to realize this goal. Together, they are working tirelessly to respond and accelerate progress in the continent. Access to condoms and lubricants for men is increasing, programs encouraging changes to sexual behavior are undergoing implementation and affordable methods to prevent infections are spreading.
The United States Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Health Diplomacy, Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong launched “Reimagining PEPFAR’s Strategic Direction, Fulfilling America’s Promise to End the HIV/AIDS Pandemic by 2030.” According to UNAIDS, it focuses on key priority areas that include addressing health equity for children, adolescent girls, young women and other key populations. It also focuses on maintaining long-term sustainability, enhancing global health security, nurturing transformative partnerships and leading with science. UNAIDS has reported considerable success in many sub-Saharan African countries. The number of deaths that HIV/AIDS has caused in Sub-Saharan Africa has declined by 35% in recent years.
The Global Mission to End HIV/AIDS
Global efforts addressing the epidemic have shown promising signs. People in resource-poor countries like Africa that are receiving HIV treatment have increased dramatically over the past decade. PEPFAR has provided HIV testing services for more than 50 million people as of 2021. Additionally, 2.8 million babies were born HIV-free from parents living with it. The battle continues as African governments combating HIV/AIDS continue to work around the clock. They are strengthening public health systems and local capacity for preparedness and response to other diseases. Progress may be slow but efforts put forth by various organizations continue to provide promising results. Research is also progressing as many around the globe work to prevent further HIV infection and find a cure someday. So long as Africa and its people continue to fight the good fight, the goal to end the pandemic by 2030 may just be achievable.
– Aaron Luangkham
Photo: Flickr
Charities Operating in Argentina
Argentina is one of the southernmost countries in South America. Though it boasts a 98% literacy rate, a solid public healthcare system and one of the most robust economies in all of South America, it suffers from a high national poverty rate and concerns in the healthcare and education sectors. Both the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must work to improve the living conditions for Argentinian citizens. Here is an overview of the country’s poverty situation and a few impressive charities operating in Argentina.
Argentina’s Poverty Situation
In 2011, the population in urban centers had an estimated poverty rate of 12.2% (earning less than $5.50 per day). However, a national economic recession in 2018 combined with the financial toll of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the sharpest increase in poverty in Argentina in recent decades. Approximately 41% of the urban population now falls below the national poverty line.
Beyond high poverty, Argentina struggles with inequalities in key sectors including education and health care. Though Argentina has a relatively strong education system, there is a trend of high dropout rates and low college attendance as well as a steep inequality in education quality between urban and rural areas. Similarly, though Argentina has universal health care, it is decentralized, creating a large discrepancy in the quality of care. In particular, healthcare access is either poor or absent in more rural, remote areas of the country. These issues call for help from a variety of charities operating in Argentina.
4 Helpful NGOs Operating in Argentina
These charities operating in Argentina fight poverty reduction by giving citizens skills, opportunities and services essential for success in life.
– Xander Heiple
Photo: Flickr