William Russell, an international health insurance company, ranks Sweden as the best country in the world in terms of mental health care. Green spaces, work-life balance and generous government spending on mental health are just some of the contributing factors. Yet, a study by Kinza Degerlund Maldi and others, published in 2019, reveals a socioeconomic divide in the distribution of mental illness. Both educational and income disparities had an impact on mental health, but low income posed a higher risk for susceptibility to mental illness, especially among women. Another study by S Fritzell and others underlines job status, economic strain and enduring harassment as risk factors. Socioeconomic status has the most significant impact on mental health inequality in Sweden, more so than “demographic factors and psychosocial factors.”
Unemployment and Mental Health
The Centre for Global Mental Health highlights that there are links between mental health and poverty. Unemployment contributes significantly to economic vulnerability. In particular, psychological distress is common among those without stable employment, more so than for those with secure jobs, and this is consistent regardless of gender and age bracket. Women are most impacted by economic disparities, suggesting that focusing on the gender wage gap and equal employment opportunities could help Sweden progress toward easing inequality.
The Impact of Education
The Public Health Agency of Sweden says that a “positive learning environment in school” is possibly the most important way to ensure good mental health among young people. Studies demonstrate this, with positive relationship building and maintenance in school and holistic care within these institutions shown to be integral to students’ well-being.
While education can positively benefit mental health, poverty still plays a role in educational outcomes and future prospects. Swedish children living in poverty generally have lower academic achievements in comparison to their wealthier peers and are more likely to drop out of school. This leads to reduced opportunities for employment and further education, meaning that the cycle of poverty and mental health inequities can continue in a generational capacity.
It is integral for the government to provide additional support to young people who are living in poverty and ensure children are in positive school environments to prevent further mental health inequality in Sweden. This is especially crucial considering that the suicide rate in Sweden for those aged 15–29 has shown no significant decline in 23 years, averaging between 8–14 suicides per 100,000 young people.
Migrant Vulnerabilities
Some regions are more prone to wealth inequities and mental health inequality and it is not coincidental that these regions are often densely populated by migrants. One example is Malmö, a city in Southern Sweden where around a third of children live in poverty.
Here, increased rates of poverty among migrant families have led to vulnerabilities in various aspects of life, including well-being. Migrants are more likely to suffer from both mental and physical illness due to increased difficulties securing financial independence, employment and satisfactory work, educational stability and positive social conditions. Analysis of the specifics of this inequality reveals that lack of access to social activities and support makes the largest contribution to the mental health discrepancies between natives and migrants. However, unemployment and money troubles also significantly impact the well-being of migrants living in Sweden.
Targeted Support
The 2019 Poverty Report Sweden highlights the fact that asylum seekers only have the right to emergency health services, which does not include mental health care. The institutional prioritization of mental health equality in Sweden, specifically targeting vulnerable regional areas, migrants, adolescents and low-income families, must materialize in the form of holistic structural support changes. Rather than attributing poverty and inequality to lifestyle choices, the government can look to understand the cycles of inequality that those in disadvantaged communities face.
Additionally, on an individual basis, the value of specifically targeted support is demonstrated by research on community health worker-led programs offered to migrants. Sweden’s ‘Hälsostöd’ (Health Support) program used data gathered from questionnaires to measure psychological distress. Results showed that migrants participating in health promotion programs experienced positive mental health impacts.
On the Right Path
The Swedish government took positive action in 2020 by commissioning the Swedish National Agency for Medical and Social Evaluation to assess efforts to address mental health well-being and reduce suicide among young people. This report was scheduled for completion in October 2022.
Sweden’s leaders are prioritizing young people and established five focal areas to center mental health strategies around, one of these priorities being a “focus on vulnerable groups.”
Over time, the Swedish mental health system has considerably improved and this is visible in numerous areas, including the decrease in suicide rates from 1997 to 2020. This reduction is visible among the majority of age groups, except those aged 15–29. For example, suicide rates among people 85 and older have reduced from 29 per 100,000 in 2000 to 18 in 2020.
Sweden’s government and public health agencies show commitment to improving mental health. Further focus on the mental health of those from disadvantaged backgrounds will reduce mental health inequality in Sweden.
– Lydia Tyler
Photo: Unsplash
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
Japan’s Support to Ukraine During Invasion
Poverty Increase in Ukraine
The humanitarian situation in Ukraine has worsened significantly since the start of the conflict. Approximately 34% of households reported having no income or relying on assistance as of April 2022. The country’s unemployment rate has drastically increased to 34% in 2022, according to the National Bank of Ukraine. However, the actual rate is likely more severe as “so many people in Ukraine had undeclared jobs before the invasion,” NPR says. This is a stark increase from the 8.9% unemployment rate recorded in 2021, according to World Bank data.
This increase corresponds to a third of the population suffering from food insecurity. Food insecurity affects some oblasts (provinces) more severely than others, with provinces in the east and south reporting food insecurity rates of 50%. Luhansk notes the highest food insecurity rates across all oblasts. Further, the Ukrainian economy is projected to contract by close to 32% by the end of 2022.
The easternmost oblasts of Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhansk are disproportionately affected by the conflict. A greater presence of landmine contamination, continued damage to infrastructure and a generally higher risk of Russian targeting makes these areas less accessible for aid and commerce.
JICA Support
Japan’s support of Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict has three focal points:
The first measure the JICA took to help Ukraine in March 2022 came in the form of “a needs assessment survey team for humanitarian and medical assistance,” the JICA website says. The JICA dispatched this medical team to Moldova to assist with the influx of Ukrainian refugees. The team collaborated with the World Health Organization and the Moldovan Health Ministry to help strengthen already existing systems and also provide advice on resource allocation and data management as the crisis continues to unfold.
ODA Loans
Additionally, on May 16, 2022, the JICA signed an Official Development Assistance (ODA) contract, giving a 13 billion Japanese yen loan to support Ukrainian economic stability. However, this amount was not adjusted in light of the scope of the war, and so, on June 17, Japan modified the original ODA to give an additional 65 billion yen to Ukraine. This combined total is equivalent to a 78 billion yen loan. As stated on the JICA website, the loan’s goals include “fostering de-monopolization and anticorruption institutions, strengthening land and credit markets and bolstering the social safety net… by offering financial assistance to Ukraine, which is facing an economic crisis due to the impact of a military invasion.”
Lastly, in late June 2022, the JICA gave its first of “a series of online seminars” designed to help advise Ukrainian officials in waste and debris management amid the war. Oblasts that are particular targets of the Russian military have experienced a high level of infrastructural damage, contributing to transportation and waste management issues. Considering Japan’s experience with these matters, the JICA hopes to share its expertise and contribute to Ukraine’s stability and crisis recovery.
Looking Forward
For Ukraine to endure during these times while safeguarding the well-being of citizens, it is essential to sustain support efforts like those demonstrated by the JICA. It is likely that Japan’s support to Ukraine will continue to play a critical role as the war unfolds.
– Xander Heiple
Photo: Flickr
Poverty Reduction in South Sudan
South Sudan is considered the youngest nation in the world, officially gaining independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011, after a vote for independence was passed via referendum in January of that year. Data from the World Bank shows that the poverty rate in South Sudan was 82.3% as of 2016 – the highest poverty rate in the world. The World Bank also outlined some of the other issues South Sudan faces including severe flooding, food shortages a humanitarian crisis coupled with a vulnerable government built upon a shaky peace treaty. These issues make it extremely difficult for South Sudan to address the poverty crisis.
The Difficulty of Addressing Poverty Reduction in South Sudan
The most significant of the issues South Sudan faces is the state of its government. In 2013, a violent conflict broke out leading to atrocities committed against civilians. All sides in the conflict signed a peace deal in 2015 for a unity government but the deal collapsed in 2016, leading to more conflict. In 2018, that deal became revitalized when President Salva Kiir and the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA/IO), Riek Machar, came to an agreement. Machar became vice president under the new government and the agreement was set to expire in February 2023. However, the parties who signed the peace agreement agreed to extend it to February 2025 in order to address peace reforms.
That front requires more work due to the injustices committed against South Sudan’s people by the military and rebel forces. For example, a U.N. peacekeeping mission in 2021 documented the killings of 440 civilians and the rapes of 64 women and girls in Tombuura by the SPLA/IO. None of the perpetrators were held accountable.
U.N. Special Representative for South Sudan Nicholas Haysom expressed the need for South Sudan’s government to address violence and uphold justice. In a speech to the U.N. Security Council, Haysom addressed the extension to the peace agreement and stated that it is a roadmap that should serve as a waypoint, not an endpoint. The reforms that the South Sudanese government makes should serve as a means to generate long-lasting stability. They should not serve as a means to an end. It requires measures to prevent setbacks or gains from reservation. Haysom also reaffirmed the importance of international assistance, which will lead to poverty reduction and governmental stability in South Sudan.
Addressing Poverty
While the outlook for South Sudan may seem grim, there are solutions to poverty that various charities are implementing through foreign aid. The World Food Programme (WFP) is one example of an organization working to bring peace to feuding groups in South Sudan by addressing food insecurity. In an article about the Malual Mok and Thony communities, the WFP demonstrates its poverty reduction and peacekeeping efforts. Both the Malual Mok and Thony live in an agricultural area called Majak-Kot. The communities previously considered each other enemies, but a series of agricultural projects from the WFP helped to foster a sense of community between them. Instead of fighting over the land and competing to grow food, both communities peacefully coexist and grow food together for mutual benefit.
Moreover, nonprofit charities are also working towards poverty reduction in South Sudan. Many South Sudanese refugees founded charities dedicated to poverty reduction in South Sudan. One example is Helping Hands for South Sudan. Gabriel Akim Nyok, one of the “Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan,” a group of thousands of orphaned children who became refugees to escape from the civil war, founded this charity. After staying in the U.S. for five years, Nyok returned to Sudan in 2011 to visit the South Sudanese refugee camps. In doing so, he became determined to give the children the same opportunity for education that he received. Nyok and his charity have helped put South Sudanese refugee children through school each year. Helping Hands uses donations to put children through school and pay for their education and works directly with South Sudanese communities to improve schools and education.
– Matthew Wikfors
Photo: Flickr
5 Charities Operating in Bolivia
Bolivia’s Progress
Bolivia has made significant progress in reducing poverty. In 2009, about 40% of Bolivians lived in conditions of extreme poverty. More than 10 years later, in 2020, that percentage decreased to 4.4% (based on the 2011 Purchasing Power Parity of $1.90 a day).
Much of the credit belongs to Bolivia’s former president Evo Morales. He used income from nationalized industries and “the commodities boom,” during which the international prices of Bolivia’s key exports grew 800% between 2000 and 2014, to fund schools, hospitals and other infrastructure. Morales also raised the minimum wage multiple times and set up social programs to support vulnerable groups, such as senior citizens and pregnant women.
Current Issues
Even with all of Bolivia’s success, issues persist. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), about 16% of Bolivian children face stunting due to malnutrition. Furthermore, anemia affects almost 54% of children younger than 5. Marginalized groups, such as people with disabilities, struggle to find work or attend school. Fortunately, these 5 charities operating in Bolivia are addressing these issues.
5 Charities Operating in Bolivia
Even with economic success, NGOs like these 5 charities operating in Bolivia are needed to educate and lift people out of poverty. In time, the knowledge gained from these NGOs will spread and Bolivia will be a better place for it.
– James Harrington
Photo: Flickr
Addressing Mental Health Inequality in Sweden
Unemployment and Mental Health
The Centre for Global Mental Health highlights that there are links between mental health and poverty. Unemployment contributes significantly to economic vulnerability. In particular, psychological distress is common among those without stable employment, more so than for those with secure jobs, and this is consistent regardless of gender and age bracket. Women are most impacted by economic disparities, suggesting that focusing on the gender wage gap and equal employment opportunities could help Sweden progress toward easing inequality.
The Impact of Education
The Public Health Agency of Sweden says that a “positive learning environment in school” is possibly the most important way to ensure good mental health among young people. Studies demonstrate this, with positive relationship building and maintenance in school and holistic care within these institutions shown to be integral to students’ well-being.
While education can positively benefit mental health, poverty still plays a role in educational outcomes and future prospects. Swedish children living in poverty generally have lower academic achievements in comparison to their wealthier peers and are more likely to drop out of school. This leads to reduced opportunities for employment and further education, meaning that the cycle of poverty and mental health inequities can continue in a generational capacity.
It is integral for the government to provide additional support to young people who are living in poverty and ensure children are in positive school environments to prevent further mental health inequality in Sweden. This is especially crucial considering that the suicide rate in Sweden for those aged 15–29 has shown no significant decline in 23 years, averaging between 8–14 suicides per 100,000 young people.
Migrant Vulnerabilities
Some regions are more prone to wealth inequities and mental health inequality and it is not coincidental that these regions are often densely populated by migrants. One example is Malmö, a city in Southern Sweden where around a third of children live in poverty.
Here, increased rates of poverty among migrant families have led to vulnerabilities in various aspects of life, including well-being. Migrants are more likely to suffer from both mental and physical illness due to increased difficulties securing financial independence, employment and satisfactory work, educational stability and positive social conditions. Analysis of the specifics of this inequality reveals that lack of access to social activities and support makes the largest contribution to the mental health discrepancies between natives and migrants. However, unemployment and money troubles also significantly impact the well-being of migrants living in Sweden.
Targeted Support
The 2019 Poverty Report Sweden highlights the fact that asylum seekers only have the right to emergency health services, which does not include mental health care. The institutional prioritization of mental health equality in Sweden, specifically targeting vulnerable regional areas, migrants, adolescents and low-income families, must materialize in the form of holistic structural support changes. Rather than attributing poverty and inequality to lifestyle choices, the government can look to understand the cycles of inequality that those in disadvantaged communities face.
Additionally, on an individual basis, the value of specifically targeted support is demonstrated by research on community health worker-led programs offered to migrants. Sweden’s ‘Hälsostöd’ (Health Support) program used data gathered from questionnaires to measure psychological distress. Results showed that migrants participating in health promotion programs experienced positive mental health impacts.
On the Right Path
The Swedish government took positive action in 2020 by commissioning the Swedish National Agency for Medical and Social Evaluation to assess efforts to address mental health well-being and reduce suicide among young people. This report was scheduled for completion in October 2022.
Sweden’s leaders are prioritizing young people and established five focal areas to center mental health strategies around, one of these priorities being a “focus on vulnerable groups.”
Over time, the Swedish mental health system has considerably improved and this is visible in numerous areas, including the decrease in suicide rates from 1997 to 2020. This reduction is visible among the majority of age groups, except those aged 15–29. For example, suicide rates among people 85 and older have reduced from 29 per 100,000 in 2000 to 18 in 2020.
Sweden’s government and public health agencies show commitment to improving mental health. Further focus on the mental health of those from disadvantaged backgrounds will reduce mental health inequality in Sweden.
– Lydia Tyler
Photo: Unsplash
UNICEF’S Life-Saving Delivery of Cold Chain Equipment in Peru
The Pandemic’s Impact on Peru
According to UNICEF, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated poverty levels and exposed the gravity of inequality in Peru. In 2020, Peru faced a -11.1% decrease in GDP and a “10.5% reduction in household income,” resulting in many Peruvian households, primarily those residing in rural regions, suffering economically, UNICEF reports. Furthermore, according to statistics, Peru experienced 1.5 million job losses while “1.2 million children fell into poverty” and close to 90 million Peruvian children missed out on a formal education during the height of the pandemic.
The informal economy and overcrowded housing in Peru are two factors that exacerbate the COVID-19 pandemic’s ramifications in the nation. According to the BBC, 70% of Peru’s working people are employed in the informal sector, which means that many Peruvians faced unemployment, could not earn an income or faced wage cuts due to a lack of job security. Furthermore, Peru’s overcrowded housing allows the COVID-19 virus to spread rapidly due to a lack of social distancing. In addition, Peru’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout has moved slowly.
The Importance of Cold Chain Equipment
In order to help accelerate the vaccine rollout in Peru, proper refrigeration is crucial to “protect the potency” of the COVID-19 vaccine. Thus, vaccination programs use cold chain equipment to store and transport doses across Peru, particularly in rural areas where vaccination distribution is difficult. Electric and solar-powered refrigerators store vaccines in a “2°C to 8°C temperature range,” allowing vaccines to be housed in optimal conditions when traveling through regions that lack access to electricity.
UNICEF’s Vaccination Rollout Strategies in Peru
In light of the adversities impacting Peru, in November 2021, UNICEF’s Supply Division procured 1,100 solar-powered freezers for Peru. UNICEF distributed 57 of these freezers to “Huancavelica, in the Andean region, and Loreto and Ucayali in the Amazon regions,” which are isolated, rural areas with Indigenous people, the UNICEF website says.
Shipping these units from Luxembourg, UNICEF worked with Peru’s Ministry of Health to inspect the freezers and help distribute vaccines across remote communities that have limited electricity.
Furthermore, in early 2021, UNICEF helped Peru’s Ministry of Health procure an additional 10,339 pieces of refrigeration equipment through “an international procurement process.” UNICEF oversaw delivery times, the quality of equipment and the negotiation of prices to ensure transparency in the competitive procurement process. UNICEF’s delivery of cold chain equipment in Peru, through both direct and intermediary means, ultimately ensured that the ministry could efficiently distribute COVID-19 vaccines across the nation.
Peru’s Rising Vaccination Rates
UNICEF’s delivery of cold chain equipment in Peru helped to significantly increase Peru’s vaccination rates. By October 2022, Peru had administered more than 84 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Although Peru is still grappling with the pandemic’s implications, the nation’s steady increase in vaccination rates is indicative of Peru’s bright and promising future.
– Emma He
Photo: Flickr
Improving Access To Sex Education in Malaysia
According to the 2022 United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects report, Malaysia is listed as an upper-middle-income developing country. However, a large proportion of the country’s population is still struggling with not only absolute poverty but also relative poverty as well as increasing inequalities. Those with low socioeconomic status (SES) have less access to healthcare, which increases their vulnerability to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and other diseases. Although subjective, factors like income, financial security and educational attainment can determine SES. Economic inequality can impact STI preventative information, infection rates and treatment accessibility. This is where sex education in Malaysia can play an important role in preventing STIs and other reproductive health issues.
The Importance of Sex Education
Between April and May 2022, Durex Malaysia conducted a nationwide Sexual Health and Intimate Wellness Survey online to study Malaysian youths’ knowledge of sexual health. This study surveyed more than 1,000 Malaysians between 18 and 30 years old. The survey found that Malaysian youths are engaging in more sexual relations at 35%. This is an increase from the last 2016 Durex survey which indicated 18.8%. The findings highlighted gaps and misconceptions in their understanding of STIs and women’s reproductive health. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) defines comprehensive sex education as a “rights-based and gender transformative approach” that is taught inside and outside schools. Educators teach it over several years by taking into account age-appropriate information for young people. UNFPA notes that sex education should discuss culture, gender roles, relationships, family life, human rights as well as bodily autonomy and threats such as sexual abuse and discrimination.
Engaging young people in exploratory discussions helps them to understand and develop positive values about their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Organizations like UNFPA work with governments to apply sex education through community training and outreach. It also advocates for policies and investments for internationally standardized programs. In 2018, the agency published “International technical guidance on sexuality education: an evidence-informed approach.” It acts as a tool for curriculum developers to create comprehensive sexual education curricula as UNFPA described. Schools do not have a comprehensive sexual education curriculum in Malaysia.
Sex Education in Malaysia
There was a 2011 study that analyzed schools’ coverage of sex education in Malaysia. Respondents of the study stated that the effectiveness of instruction depended on the teachers themselves. Ninety-five percent of the respondents expressed vague teaching processes regarding sex education. This is due to incomplete coverage of topics or ineffective teaching methods. Sexual education in Malaysia is most commonly delivered through biology and Islamic study classes. These classes cover physical adolescent development, reproductive development and sex in an Islamic context. Most of the criticisms regarding sex education as taught in Malaysia’s schools stemmed from the lack of a comprehensive syllabus. STIs and HIV/AIDS continue to affect many people in Malaysia.
STIs and Efforts to End HIV/AIDS
A Malaysian medical lifestyle application named Cleadoc reported that the top three common STIs in Malaysia are syphilis, gonorrhea and HIV. There were approximately 82,000 adults and children living with HIV in Malaysia as per the statistics provided by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). In 2017, UNAIDS set up “90-90-90”, an ambitious treatment target to help end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2020. UNAIDS document mentioned achievable targets stating that 90% of people living with HIV would be aware of their HIV status by 2020. Another 90% of patients with a diagnosed HIV infection would have received sustained antiretroviral therapy by 2020. It also stated that 90% of those who were receiving antiretroviral therapy would have their viral load suppressed by 2020.
As reported in the 2021 Global AIDS Monitoring Report that the Ministry of Health Malaysia’s HIV/STI/Hepatitis C Section produced, there were more than 153,000 reported cases of HIV/AIDS in 2020. The cumulative number of deaths related to HIV/AIDS was 45,450. Malaysia’s progress toward the 90-90-90 treatment target was 87-58-85 respectively. However, organizations in Malaysia have been actively advocating to improve access to sex education.
Advocating For Access to Sex Education
UNFPA works with the Federation of Reproductive Health Associations of Malaysia (FRHAM), one of the country’s three main sexual and reproductive health (SRH) program implementation partners. This partnership focuses on hard-to-reach populations with the help of health screenings, tests, contraceptive access services and general sexual/reproductive advisement. The service-based nonprofit, FRHAM is the leading non-governmental organization (NGO) in Malaysia that also advocates for SRH. It promotes access to information and services on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). FRHAM also conducts workshops, training and exhibitions to engage with specific target groups to help develop knowledge and skills as “peer educators.” Organizations have been teaming up to improve false perceptions of SRH in Malaysia.
Steps to Improve Sex Education in Malaysia
After Durex conducted its first survey, it teamed up with the Women’s Aid Organization (WAO), FRHAM and AISEC Malaysia to help correct the false perceptions regarding SRH among young Malaysians. Alongside Durex, the government launched an awareness and education campaign in 2013 called Choose2Protect. It was the first program of its kind for youths to educate one another. They receive training on issues concerning reproductive health, including the dangers of STIs. They also receive soft skills training that allows them to share knowledge in culturally and religiously sensitive contexts. The program emphasizes the importance of remaining non-discriminatory and non-judgemental.
The results of the 2022 Sexual Health and Intimate Wellness Survey were revealed with a #COMETOGETHER campaign which promoted open conversations on sex amongst the Malaysian public. The goal was to inform the public with accurate information and help them make informed decisions. This occurred through question-and-answer social media posts, workshops at higher-educational institutions and an “A-Z Pleasure Guide” that influencers and health experts developed. Some are taking steps to address the lack of comprehensive sex education in Malaysia. Organizations like UNFPA, FRHAM, WOA, Durex and the government are working together to close the gaps.
– Aishah French
Photo: Flickr