With the ongoing ramifications of the pandemic that began in 2020, the world recognizes how much life has become integrated with digital technology. Some regions, like South Africa, have turned that growing dependency to their advantage. South Africa carries a large population, more than 30 million of whom live in poverty, according to a study finished in 2015. However, with technologies more readily available, health care in South Africa is changing for the better.
Digitization has impacted business, trade, learning, recreation and a whole slew of social aspects. In many ways, bringing a community up-to-date with 21st-century technology correlates with benefits. According to the World Bank, which actively promotes affordable broadband Internet access, the web is a tool that can help in “the delivery of essential services such as education and health care, offers increased opportunities for women’s empowerment and environmental sustainability and contributes to enhanced government transparency and accountability.”
A Continent’s Digital Coming-of-Age
Unfortunately, not every country in the world enjoys easy wi-fi access. According to statistics from 2017, a mere 22% of the whole African continent had access to the internet. Global organizations have implemented various programs over the years to offer more stable and effective wi-fi to Africa. The African Union, partnering with the World Bank Group, hopes to grant access to everyone on the continent by 2030.
Over the past two years, South Africa showed determination (and profits) in building up its digital proficiency. In 2020, South Africa witnessed an influx in online presence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a response, in April 2020, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa gave 4G and 5G frequencies to operators to meet the increased demands.
In 2021, the e-commerce market in South Africa increased, garnering a total of $5 billion, and putting the nation’s e-commerce income above that of Iraq. Furthermore, South Africa sported a robust 68.2% of its population as internet users at the onset of 2022, having increased somewhat from a year prior. Digital updates and more wi-fi usage are even multiplying real health benefits.
Health Care in South Africa
South Africa takes the lead when it comes to the region’s medical advancements. It has the best hospitals in the southern part of the continent, yet there are still many barriers within the health care system.
According to 2019 statistics from the World Bank, there are 0.8 physicians for every 1,000 people in South Africa. In rural areas, access to health care remains inadequate. Lured by the appeal of private practice, many physicians abandon public practice. The public system relies on government subsidies and suffers from underfunding and a shortage of resources. Meanwhile, a stronger although more selective group of private physicians cater to middle- and upper-class people and are able to acquire better supplies. About 80% of doctors operate in this private sector, which means they only offer care to approximately 20% of the country’s populace.
Depending on one’s income, the fees and health care coverage vary. However, some 3,500 health institutions offer cost-free care for expectant mothers and children younger than 6. Alternative or traditional medicine is widely practiced with more than 90% of rural South Africans utilizing these services to some extent.
South Africa’s government aims to develop a national health insurance program in order to improve national health, offer more affordable health care and eliminate inequalities regarding patient treatment.
Digitizing the Health Care System
Some of the steps taken to improve health care in South Africa have less to do directly with policy and more to do with integrating up-to-date technology. Both are necessary, but new technologies will particularly focus on streamlining the health care process.
Pharmacies seek to incorporate e-commerce models. Luis Monzon, of IT News Africa, said that “These systems of quick and convenient dispensation of medicines are a boon for individuals who require chronic medicines but struggle with travel.” Thus, digitization in this sector helps those least able to help themselves.
“We’re seeing a range of innovations in areas such as medical practice management, patient health care records, telehealth and remote health care, as well as low cost but high functioning medical devices,” says Sheraan Amod, CEO of RecoMed, a South African online marketplace specializing in health care. “The future looks incredibly bright for African healthtech innovation,” Amod said to IT News Africa.
Telehealth provider Udok, which emerged in 2018, aims to “facilitate the delivery of online doctor consultations” by “providing remote consultations directly to patients and via pharmacy clinics.” The Udok platform allows health care practitioners to consult via videoconferencing while recording a patient’s medical information in order to diagnose a patient remotely in real-time. Udok has partnered with one of South Africa’s major pharmacies, Clicks, and will be available in about 200 Clicks pharmacies across the country. Udok-based virtual consultations are also cost-effective, which increases the accessibility of health care services.
Looking Ahead
In a country where differing medical protocols and lack of physician availability upset the system, the digital era, which is steadily on the rise in South Africa, offers increased access to necessary medicines, information on symptoms and other perks. Platforms like Udok help transform the health care landscape for the better. With the prioritization of policies on the one hand and digital transformation on the other, the bright future for health care in South Africa appears to be quickly approaching.
– John Tuttle
Photo: Flickr
COVID’s Impact on The Mental Health of the Homeless Population
In times of emergency, people do not always think about how it will impact an under-served and underprivileged population. The global homeless population’s mental health has suffered tremendously throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which one cannot see to the naked eye. Mental health often goes unnoticed during these times of intense stress. One should not forget how the global homeless population’s mental health needs continual assistance, especially during a global pandemic, where fear and misinformation can fly rampant. The closure of everyday activities or assistance can be startling for a homeless population, possibly pushing them into harm’s way in the forms of substance abuse or violence. The global homeless population’s mental health relies on an everyday schedule and/or assistance programs to survive and when a global pandemic threatens it, living can become challenging.
COVID-19’s Impact on Homeless People
The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected the global homeless population. According to a study published in Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), “Infectious disease epidemics and pandemics have a disproportionate impact on people experiencing poverty, marginalization, stigmatization and discrimination.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, a disparity is evident in people experiencing homelessness. Homeless shelters are a perfect environment for the spreading of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) due to shared, crowded, living spaces, which make it difficult to physically distance and a high population turnover. Homeless people have a greater chance of chronic health conditions that increase poorer outcomes if they develop COVID-19. The global homeless population’s mental health can also create a barrier to trust in following pandemic protocols.
Global Mental Health
The abrupt closure of assistance programs, resources, counseling and health services can cause the global homeless population’s mental health to decline. The disruption in social engagement and supportive relationships can be detrimental to mental health. According to a CMAJ study, the added stress of businesses closing could drive homeless people to seek out alcohol or drugs, which can negatively affect the homeless population’s mental health.
Homeless people during the pandemic have limited access to job opportunities which can further displace them, creating financial problems as well as mental health issues. With nowhere to go and nowhere to work, the COVID-19 pandemic has isolated the homeless population and negatively affected the global homeless population’s mental health.
According to a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, in France, during the spring of 2020, homeless shelter residents showed “high rates of depression, with 30% presenting moderate-severe symptoms.” The same study proved moderate to severe depression was noted in approximately one-third of homeless persons interviewed. Women, younger populations, single people and chronically sick or food insecure people were at the greatest risk of experiencing depression.
Since the beginning of the lockdown in France, increased loneliness was at 37% of the homeless people that the study interviewed. Also, higher levels of worry involving isolation were present amongst depressed participants.
A Solution to the Problem of Isolation
A study that Cambridge University Press published has offered multiple ideas to mitigate isolation and the negative effects caused by the pandemic on the global homeless populations’ mental health. To monitor the collective health and emotional function of the global homeless populations’ mental health, the physical, mental and spiritual health, integrated support in pandemic health care should regulate it. Community members must seek to provide basic care to underprivileged people in their communities if they want to take their mental health seriously. The same study also offers the solution of “counseling session, spiritual direction and mental health support to nourish the spiritual and psychological wellbeing of the homeless population.”
All institutions should join together in fighting against the pandemic’s negative effects on the global homeless population’s mental health. During this time, people should lift one another up, serving the communities that COVID-19 affected the most.
– Kaley Anderson
Photo: Flickr
How Starlink can Alleviate Poverty in Nigeria and Mozambique
Elon Musk proudly shares his work with SpaceX spacecraft, Tesla’s electric cars and Neuralink’s brain-machine. However, this week he changed headlines with a way to reduce poverty in Nigeria and Mozambique. Poverty in Nigeria and Mozambique both have strong ties in rural areas with less connection to neighboring areas. Currently, 83 million people in Nigeria live in extreme poverty, with 53% in rural areas. In Mozambique, 77% of their 18 million residents living in extreme poverty live in rural areas as well.
Starlink
On May 27th, 2022, SpaceEx creator Elon Musk announced over Twitter that his satellite internet system Starlink gained approval for use in Mozambique and Nigeria. Starlink is a set of satellites in constellation form that SpaceX created to provide internet in rural areas, including schools without internet. In the series of tweets, Musk added that one Starlink unit could supply internet to hundreds of students in a single school.
While the United States turned to online learning during the pandemic, developing countries like Nigeria and Mozambique did not have the same tools to keep their children in school.
Internet in Mozambique and Africa
Poverty impacts families in a variety of ways including hunger, lack of education for children and poor health care. The Internet provides a way for children to prevent life-long poverty. Educational programs on the internet can teach children new farming or fishing techniques. They can connect with teachers in other countries and educational videos from around the world. In developing countries, 65% of people do not have access to the internet.
Schools will have access to the internet using Starlink and this could help fight poverty in Nigeria and Mozambique. Currently, only 16% of people in Mozambique use the internet. Along with giving more people access to the internet, Starlink provides a faster connection to those who have it. In Nigeria, the current download speed is 9 megabits per second (Mbps), while Starlink runs at nearly 100 Mbps.
How Starlink Can Help Poverty
Starlink first launched its satellites into space on May 23, 2019, sending 60 into low Earth orbit. Information sent through space moves 47% faster than fiber optic cables. As of January 2022, Starlink consisted of 1,900 satellites sending information around the globe.
Starlink provides high-speed internet to rural areas with previously no connection or slow speeds. Through Starlink, users can “gain access to education, health services and even communication support during natural disasters.” Those who purchase Starlink receive a satellite dish, wifi router and power supply.
Impact on Education
In Nigeria, approximately 10.5 million children do not attend school although its services are free. In some states, such as Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, many schools are not open or have experienced damage and destruction.
Mozambique continues to improve its education system with free textbooks, but “quality and improvement in learning have lagged behind.” In Mozambique, only 1% of teachers have “the minimum expected knowledge.” Providing one teacher with two-day, high-quality training costs $116.
One Starlink unit costs $599 for installation and $110 each month. This investment would offer schools the opportunity to use remote learning through video calls with teachers, online classrooms and other online materials. Over time, Starlink will help provide a higher quality of education to children in Nigeria and Mozambique.
Future of Starlink in Nigeria and Mozambique
In the United States, Elon Musk has a reputation across the internet for Tesla’s electric cars, trying to buy Twitter and giving his child an unconventional name. But in developing countries, people know him as the man that provides internet to people who never had it before or had unreliable internet in the past.
His constellation of satellites provides internet to 32 countries with more than 2,200 satellites in orbit. In the future, he hopes to launch up to 42,000 satellites so anyone around the world can use Starlink’s internet.
Starlink’s connection proved to be resilient after the invasion of Ukraine. Starlink donated receivers to schools, hospitals and local governments and it worked remarkably during the crisis. Those who faced a lack of internet received connection in a war zone and will continue to work in new areas facing extreme poverty in Nigeria and Mozambique.
– Sara Sweitzer
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Inflation in Germany
The month of April ended with one of the highest levels of inflation in Germany, with the inflation rate reaching 7.4%. and estimated to increase even more in May, potentially attaining 7.9% or the highest rate in 50 years. The numbers can quickly become worrying, given that the purchasing power of the German people is decreasing, which puts additional pressure on the government along with the European Union to find solutions and get out of this crisis. Inflation in Germany is due to many external factors, not only affecting the country but the whole world. As always in times of crisis, the poorest are the most affected by the situation, waiting for their government to come up with solutions for relief.
Causes of the Inflation Increase
Among the most common causes of the increase in inflation rate around the world are the Coronavirus outbreak and the disruption in the supply chains it led to. Increasing the prices of goods, making them unaffordable for many people. More recently, the Russian-Ukrainian war had an important impact on the economy of European countries and especially Germany. In fact, Germany used to import 55% of its gas from Russia last year, which is not possible anymore given the sanctions the European Union placed on Moscow. This sudden cut in gas supplies became very problematic, leading to skyrocketing prices of oil, petrol and other energy products necessary for many aspects of people’s life. Similar to many other countries, the inflation in Germany is the result of consecutive crises creating disequilibrium in the economy of the country. However, Germany is more affected than others given its dependence on Russian oil and gas.
Effect of Inflation on the Poorest
While inflation in Germany is affecting everyone, the poorest, as often in times of crisis are those who struggle the most. The supermarkets must increase the prices of basic products such as meats or diaries, the increase generally ranges between 20% to 50%, making it impossible for people already in a delicate financial situation to keep the same living standards. Keeping the living standards has been harder since the increase in prices of food has accompanied skyrocketing prices of energy products. For example, in March the price of heating oil increased by 99.8% compared to last year. This drastic augmentation in prices of household necessities makes it more and more difficult for the lower income as well as the middle-income class to make ends meet.
With the timid increase in salaries barely keeping up with the increase in the living cost, one of 10 Germans are now using their savings and sometimes taking loans to be able to survive through this crisis according to a survey from April 2022.
Solutions
To get through the inflation in Germany, the state is coming up with different solutions to support its people. The lower house of parliament took some relief measures such as one-time payments to the poorest, a child supplement and reductions in electricity costs. The government also lowered taxes on fuel, making it cheaper for customers. The rise in energy prices would have potentially led to a cut in the investment of German companies, leading to closing businesses and increasing the unemployment rate. However, the actions the government took were enough to bring back the trust. Despite the crisis, the government expects the unemployment rate to decrease in 2022 going from 5.7% to 5% in one year, according to Reuters, which shows the strength of the German economy.
A Look Ahead
Hence, all the crises the world is going through, have an important impact on the inflation in Germany. However, the German economy showed once again its resilience while the German government took and is ready to take more measures to support its population during difficult times. This difficult period will also allow the country to start building its independence from foreign suppliers of basic needs.
– Youssef Yazbek
Photo: Unsplash
Neglected Tropical Diseases in Urban Settings
Globally, urbanization is on the rise. In 2007, for the first time, the number of people living in urban areas exceeded the number of people living in rural areas. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), in 2014, “Continuing population growth and urbanization are projected to add 2.5 billion people to the world’s urban population by 2050, with nearly 90 per cent of the increase concentrated in Asia and Africa.” The increase in urban populations introduces a set of new challenges including the elimination of neglected tropical diseases in urban settings.
Neglected tropical diseases are a group of infectious diseases that often occur among those in poverty and shared geographic locations. NTDs are primarily concentrated in Asia, Africa and Latin America while also the places with heightened urbanization. One common way of addressing NTDs is through mass drug administration (MDA). However, most knowledge about the effectiveness of MDAs is regarding rural areas.
Challenges
Some challenges of neglected tropical diseases in urban settings include complex governance, population heterogeneity and mobility. First, the government structure can influence the effectiveness of NTD programs significantly. Coordinating between different agencies, services and government positions can be confusing and hinder the NTD program. Different government alliances and rules of jurisdictions will change how the government will support NTD-specific MDAs. Furthermore, the lack of governance or rule and order will also hamper the delivery of MDA. Some slum settlements have high criminal activity, which poses a security threat for MDA workers and cultivates distrust of outsiders.
Urban areas tend to have high social and economic diversity leading to cultural divides. Those living in informal settlements, with poor access to clean water and other services are most at risk of NTD exposure. Conversely, high-income people are also hard to reach with MDA measures. In Ghana, many drug administrators did not feel comfortable working in high-income areas. Also, due to low perceived risk and higher perceived access to health care, high-income groups prove to be not compliant with NTD preventative measures.
Increased mobility among those who live in cities also poses a problem to MDA efforts. People in urban settings change addresses, address daily activities and leave town more often than those in rural settings. Drug administrators are less likely to find an individual at home during the day. Especially when the drug may require multiple rounds of administration, efforts to ensure coverage over those rounds becomes more difficult.
Strategies
To address the challenges above, some strategies to battle neglected tropical diseases have proven helpful in urban settings. One strategy is to determine if an MDA campaign is necessary. Sometimes dividing the city into smaller areas and identifying groups of the city that do and do not need treatment can allow for more focused use of resources in a strategy called micro-targeting.
Other strategies are effective campaigning and identifying suitable distribution platforms. Depending on the population, the MDA campaign will have to look different. Identifying the different populations within the city is crucial to determining how each can be reached. MDAs are typically delivered through schools, door-to-door service or fixed posts. In urban settings, fixed posts tend to be the most appropriate. Flexible hours for these posts are also helpful to accommodate different schedules.
There are many other strategies including utilizing different communication channels, hiring of diverse backgrounds and addressing possible concerns effectively.
Conclusion
Urbanization is a growing reality for areas containing neglected tropical diseases. Adjusting the approaches to combat these diseases will determine the future of disease prevention. Current and future research into this issue will only deliver more insight and increase the effectiveness of MDAs in urban settings.
– Rachael So
Photo: Flickr
Digitization Reinvigorates Health Care in South Africa
With the ongoing ramifications of the pandemic that began in 2020, the world recognizes how much life has become integrated with digital technology. Some regions, like South Africa, have turned that growing dependency to their advantage. South Africa carries a large population, more than 30 million of whom live in poverty, according to a study finished in 2015. However, with technologies more readily available, health care in South Africa is changing for the better.
Digitization has impacted business, trade, learning, recreation and a whole slew of social aspects. In many ways, bringing a community up-to-date with 21st-century technology correlates with benefits. According to the World Bank, which actively promotes affordable broadband Internet access, the web is a tool that can help in “the delivery of essential services such as education and health care, offers increased opportunities for women’s empowerment and environmental sustainability and contributes to enhanced government transparency and accountability.”
A Continent’s Digital Coming-of-Age
Unfortunately, not every country in the world enjoys easy wi-fi access. According to statistics from 2017, a mere 22% of the whole African continent had access to the internet. Global organizations have implemented various programs over the years to offer more stable and effective wi-fi to Africa. The African Union, partnering with the World Bank Group, hopes to grant access to everyone on the continent by 2030.
Over the past two years, South Africa showed determination (and profits) in building up its digital proficiency. In 2020, South Africa witnessed an influx in online presence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a response, in April 2020, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa gave 4G and 5G frequencies to operators to meet the increased demands.
In 2021, the e-commerce market in South Africa increased, garnering a total of $5 billion, and putting the nation’s e-commerce income above that of Iraq. Furthermore, South Africa sported a robust 68.2% of its population as internet users at the onset of 2022, having increased somewhat from a year prior. Digital updates and more wi-fi usage are even multiplying real health benefits.
Health Care in South Africa
South Africa takes the lead when it comes to the region’s medical advancements. It has the best hospitals in the southern part of the continent, yet there are still many barriers within the health care system.
According to 2019 statistics from the World Bank, there are 0.8 physicians for every 1,000 people in South Africa. In rural areas, access to health care remains inadequate. Lured by the appeal of private practice, many physicians abandon public practice. The public system relies on government subsidies and suffers from underfunding and a shortage of resources. Meanwhile, a stronger although more selective group of private physicians cater to middle- and upper-class people and are able to acquire better supplies. About 80% of doctors operate in this private sector, which means they only offer care to approximately 20% of the country’s populace.
Depending on one’s income, the fees and health care coverage vary. However, some 3,500 health institutions offer cost-free care for expectant mothers and children younger than 6. Alternative or traditional medicine is widely practiced with more than 90% of rural South Africans utilizing these services to some extent.
South Africa’s government aims to develop a national health insurance program in order to improve national health, offer more affordable health care and eliminate inequalities regarding patient treatment.
Digitizing the Health Care System
Some of the steps taken to improve health care in South Africa have less to do directly with policy and more to do with integrating up-to-date technology. Both are necessary, but new technologies will particularly focus on streamlining the health care process.
Pharmacies seek to incorporate e-commerce models. Luis Monzon, of IT News Africa, said that “These systems of quick and convenient dispensation of medicines are a boon for individuals who require chronic medicines but struggle with travel.” Thus, digitization in this sector helps those least able to help themselves.
“We’re seeing a range of innovations in areas such as medical practice management, patient health care records, telehealth and remote health care, as well as low cost but high functioning medical devices,” says Sheraan Amod, CEO of RecoMed, a South African online marketplace specializing in health care. “The future looks incredibly bright for African healthtech innovation,” Amod said to IT News Africa.
Telehealth provider Udok, which emerged in 2018, aims to “facilitate the delivery of online doctor consultations” by “providing remote consultations directly to patients and via pharmacy clinics.” The Udok platform allows health care practitioners to consult via videoconferencing while recording a patient’s medical information in order to diagnose a patient remotely in real-time. Udok has partnered with one of South Africa’s major pharmacies, Clicks, and will be available in about 200 Clicks pharmacies across the country. Udok-based virtual consultations are also cost-effective, which increases the accessibility of health care services.
Looking Ahead
In a country where differing medical protocols and lack of physician availability upset the system, the digital era, which is steadily on the rise in South Africa, offers increased access to necessary medicines, information on symptoms and other perks. Platforms like Udok help transform the health care landscape for the better. With the prioritization of policies on the one hand and digital transformation on the other, the bright future for health care in South Africa appears to be quickly approaching.
– John Tuttle
Photo: Flickr
RideTandem and Transport Poverty in the UK
RideTandem’s Commuting Solution
Shapland-Howes described his motivations for starting the app in an interview with BBC, stating “I’ve met cleaners who are taking taxis to work every single day, using their whole first hour’s wage just to get to work because there’s literally no other option. I’ve met other people, Dads who are turning down jobs because they literally have no way to get there because the bus route got cut a few years ago.”
RideTandem has both economic and environmental benefits. The service has an average passenger load of 20 people compared to taxis and commuter cars which carry 1.16 passengers on average. RideTandem also assists employers who are struggling to recruit workers by offering their shuttle services, which then benefits the various local transport services that work through the app.
Transport Poverty in the UK
RideTandem’s mission is to breach the barriers and gaps that transport poverty causes for people with low incomes. Transport poverty is a term used to describe individuals with low access to personal or public transportation. Three main factors influencing transport poverty are “the way people are distributed, the way opportunities are distributed and how accessible the transport system is.”
Socio-economic barriers are a primary cause of transport inequalities. In 2019, NatCen Social Research and the U.K. Department of Transport reported that “the impacts of transport poverty are worst for poorer people in rural areas.” The relatively lower population density of rural areas makes transportation costs higher and less accessible, considering that job opportunities and other services are more spread out.
In the U.K., the distribution of large cities reveals a divide between its north and south regions; a divide that generates transport inequality. The northern U.K. largely consists of farmland in contrast to the south which has more population and is more industrialized. Similarly, the north and south U.K. labor markets indicate the regional divide. The Office for National Statistics reported that the region with the lowest employment rate was the North-East (70.9%) and the region with the highest rate was the South-West (79.1%) between January and March 2022.
People in the south “can access up to seven times as many jobs” by public transport. The northern region is less populated than the south, explaining the reduced number of opportunities for workers. Nonetheless, improvements are necessary to serve the many citizens who travel 45 minutes on average to get to work.
Most developments in transportation across the U.K. are only visible in its southern regions and its larger cities. For example, the U.K. is undergoing the construction of an integrated train system called the High Speed 2 (HS2) with railways leading north from London through the eastern midlands where it reaches U.K. cities like Birmingham, Crewe and Manchester. One proposed extension of the railway was to lead it further north toward cities like Leeds, but the plan has since been scrapped for the time being. Northern critics of the HS2 believe the extension to be unnecessary and expensive. Supporters highlight the value of high-speed travel, fueling pressure to expand the line to towns like Leigh, where HS2 users will have to travel 35 minutes to the nearest bus station in Wigan, once the railway opens.
The Solution
RideTandem takes advantage of the lack of accessible travel options in the northern U.K. to generate support for its service. RideTandem grants employers the ability to widen their workforce and the company provides performance statistics to gauge staffing numbers. The app benefits potential workers who might otherwise be unable to afford transportation to jobs. Additionally, RideTandem’s services extend to providing better access to education by arranging similar routes to universities.
RideTandem’s execution has been successful at alleviating transport poverty in the U.K. in the two years it has been active. The startup’s revenue grew 10-fold each year since the project’s inception and in 2022, it raised £1.75 million in seed funding from investment companies like 1818 Venture Capital, Conduit Connect and the Low Carbon Innovation Fund. By practicing sustainable transportation, the company has offset 556 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions since 2021. RideTandem has effectively generated more than £10 million for its passengers who might otherwise be unable to find work due to transport poverty in the U.K.
Photo: Flickr
Female Genital Mutilation in Ghana
Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves any procedure that removes or causes injury to the external female genitalia and is most frequently performed on young girls in rural, traditional communities. In terms of female genital mutilation in Ghana specifically, the Upper East and Upper West regions note the highest rates of FGM, at 13% and 32.5% respectively for females between 15 and 49, according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2017/18.
FGM and its Consequences
The World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes FGM into four distinct types, all of which entail unnecessary harm to the female genitalia.
In addition to being incredibly painful and medically unnecessary, FGM has many severe side effects and outcomes. According to a study led by Evelyn Sakeah that BCM Women’s Health published in 2018, short-term effects include bleeding, shock and increased risk of contracting HIV from dirty knives and razor blades used to carry out the procedure. Long-term effects include infections such as urinary and reproductive tract infections, lasting pain during urination and intercourse, menstrual difficulties, keloids, pregnancy complications and ongoing psychological distress.
Despite all of these significant complications, including many others not listed above, and the lack of medical necessity of the procedures, FGM still occurs in these communities.
Obstacles to Ending FGM
Although 94.4% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 believe female genital mutilation in Ghana should end, the brutal practice still continues. Unfortunately, FGM has significant ties to culture and tradition within these rural Ghanaian communities, which makes the procedure difficult to stop outright.
Within these communities, locals view FGM as a critical aspect of teen pregnancy prevention and marriageability. Community members see the removal of external female reproductive organs as a means to reduce sexual activity among girls and prevent premarital sex as communities consider premarital sex extremely taboo. Communities believe that the removal of the clitoris, in particular, decreases sexual sensitivity and arousal, and therefore, decreases the likelihood of sexual engagement, which in turn, prevents teen pregnancy.
Additionally, these communities see FGM as a means of feminization. Society considers the clitoris the feminine equivalent of a penis; communities believe it produces masculine personality traits, such as aggressiveness and anger. As a result of this, the removal of the clitoris is viewed as pivotal to introducing desired feminine traits, such as obedience, to ensure suitors and greater society deem a girl marriageable.
The Good News
Despite the seemingly never-ending battle to end female genital mutilation in Ghana, the country is making significant progress. Between 2011 and 2018, the prevalence of FGM in women aged 15-49 decreased almost twofold to only 2.4%. When breaking down the information further, it became evident that FGM among the youngest age group studied, women aged 15-19, dropped down to only 0.6%.
In 2007, Ghana made an amendment to the Criminal and Other Offenses Act of 1960 to prohibit ‘female genital mutilation’ specifically and increase the severity of penalties. Strong governmental support to end FGM manifests in agencies specifically devoted to ending the practice, such as the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. This agency organizes events involving local governments and groups that raise awareness about violations of women’s rights and the health implications of FGM. Many other organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, also aim to fight against FGM through tactics ranging from legal action to community education.
Organizations Ending FGM
Two NGOs, 28 Too Many and Orchid Project, combined their unique experiences and expertise in April 2022 to present a more comprehensive, unified front against FGM.
28 Too Many is an England and Wales-based charity that Dr. Ann-Marie Wilson founded in 2010. For more than a decade, Wilson has undertaken extensive research and provided community members and activists with the tools and information to end FGM.
In addition to collecting and interpreting research and data, 28 Too Many also adopts both a top-down and bottom-up approach to ending FGM: engaging with influencers as a means to advocate for change and spread information about FGM and developing advocacy materials and tools that local organizations can easily implement. This two-pronged approach of action and education allows for 28 Too Many to achieve the greatest impact possible.
The Orchid Project is another U.K.-based NGO that Julia Lalla-Maharajh OBE founded in 2011. Lalla-Maharajh OBE built her charity on the premise of partnering, sharing and advocacy. The Orchid Project primarily partners with grassroots organizations around the world, giving them the materials and support necessary to make a larger impact. The NGO shares key knowledge and the practical tools needed to accelerate change while also advocating among governments and global leaders to prioritize the ending of FGM.
Through research, communication and discussion with members of these rural Ghanaian communities, activists are able to glean key information as to why FGM is still occurring, allowing them to better target key community members in a culturally sensitive way and provide better, safer alternative options to prevent teen pregnancy.
– Bryn Westby
Photo: Flickr
How ECHORN is Supporting the Caribbean
The Caribbean has long been a source of tropical weather including disastrous hurricanes, which can sweep some of the developing Caribbean countries to their feet. With high wind speeds and paths that often hit kilometers wide, hurricanes can be very dangerous to land and its ecosystems and to people and their economies. Before a hurricane ever hits the Caribbean there is already a financial disparity, causing rebuilding to be more difficult for lower-income areas. As a result, supporting the Caribbean is incredibly important.
Homes in lower-income areas usually comprise less expensive materials that cannot withstand a hurricane. Lower-income areas may also not have access to technology for updates on the weather, where to receive assistance in times of a weather crisis and a lack of general communication between family and friends. This can be a huge stressor for those living in low-income areas that experience hurricanes. In Puerto Rico, the poverty rate in 2021 was 43.4%.
A study from Geroge Washington University reported on Hurricane Maria that “mortality that resulted not just from direct impact from the storm but from things like failure to get to a hospital because of impassable roads or insufficient or expired medicine for people with heart ailments or chronic illnesses.” Hurricanes in the Caribbean can exacerbate homeless and further displacement. For this reason, it is necessary that organizations including ECHORN are supporting the Caribbean after hurricanes.
Notable Hurricanes in the Caribbean Between 1979-1994
According to a 2019 St. Lucia Loop News article, the following hurricanes discussed are the deadliest hurricanes to hit the Caribbean thus far. The fourth deadliest hurricane to hit the Caribbean was Hurricane Gordon occurring from November 8 to 21, 1994. Hurricane Gordon made impacts on Jamaica, the Bahamas, Cuba and Turks and Caicos. Windspeeds were up to 85 mph and although it was only a category 1 hurricane, it caused $594.1 million in damage and took 1,152 lives.
The third deadliest hurricane to hit the Caribbean was Hurricane David which hit between August 25 to September 8, 1979. Hurricane David made a major impact on the Dominican Republic, specifically on August 29, 1979. Windspeeds for Hurricane David reached 175 mph causing $1.54 billion in damages. On August 30, 1979, Hurricane David turned into a category 5 hurricane, producing waves of 20-30 feet and mudslides which killed 1, 200 people out of a total of 2,068 deaths.
Notable Hurricanes in the Caribbean Between 2004-2019
The second deadliest hurricane to affect the Caribbean was Hurricane Jeane, which hit Puerto Rica and lasted from September 13-28, 2004. Windspeeds for Hurricane Jeane reached 120 mph and left damages in its wake costing $7.94 billion, according to Loop St. Lucia News.
The deadliest hurricane to occur in the Caribbean from 1979 to 2019 was Hurricane Maria, totaling 3,059 deaths. Hurricane Maria occurred from September 16 to October 2, 2017, and hit Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Anguilla, The British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. Hurricane Maria hit the Dominican Republic with winds up to 175 mph in affected areas, causing $96.1 billion in damages, Loop St. Lucia News reports. The hurricane left some areas without food, clean water and electricity for several months.
One can only imagine the devastation that many Caribbean people and islands have endured over the years. Hurricanes can be a deadly part of life for many living in the Caribbean. This is why it is imperative that teams are working remotely and on the ground to aid survivors and rebuild communities of those impacted by Caribbean hurricanes.
ECHORN: Supporting Caribbean Communities After Hurricanes
The Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network is a team of individuals located in various parts of the Caribbean as well as the United States. Dr. Marcella Nunez Smith started ECHORN in 2017 after Hurricane Irma and Maria, “which devastated the Caribbean islands of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin/St. Maarten, Barbuda, Dominica and many others.” ECHORN is working to alleviate disease in the Caribbean through action-oriented research.
Most of its work pertains to disease research but it also has a Caribbean Hurricane Relief Fund that supports the Caribbean people, land and economy. ECHORN’s reason for helping Caribbean communities after a disaster is because “Climate change causes more severe storms and hurricanes that threaten island communities. The Caribbean is already under serious economic strain from the ongoing pandemic. Decreases in tourism, dependency on food imports and stagnant economic growth have complicated plans for disaster preparedness and recovery.” The ECHORN Hurricane Relief Fund is supporting the Caribbean nonprofits that aid in community health and well-being after natural disasters, such as hurricanes. ECHORN has a committment to providing long-term support to the Caribbean islands. Its goal in supporting Caribbean communities is to rebuild and restore crucial health and social services for the well-being of all who live there.
ECHORN’s Accomplishments in Supporting the Caribbean
ECHORN hurricane relief funds have gone towards rebuilding communities and establishing positive impacts on Caribbean communities. At the Caño Martín Peña ENLACE Project of San Juan, Puerto Rico, ECHORN’s hurricane relief funds were able to help rebuild a community garden, which not only feeds the community but provides safety and community involvement. Additionally, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands was able to purchase a community-sized refrigerator to hold more food to provide for people in the community.
Hand2Earth of St. Vincent & the Grenadines used ECHORN’s hurricane relief funds to support vetiver projects in the Dominican Republic. “Planting the vetiver grass restores and stabilizes eroded landscapes. When harvested, the grass also provides a renewable resource for a craft industry that supports at-risk populations.” Because of ECHORN’s dedication to supporting the Caribbean, efforts have occurred to rebuild and improve Caribbean communities after disaster strikes.
– Kaley Anderson
Photo: Flickr
Water Struggles in England and Wales
On May 12, 2022, the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) of England and Wales, responsible for the economic regulation of water, released a report indicating that many people are struggling to afford their water bills. In addition to water bills, many are also struggling to pay for their heat and fuel. England and Wales already face an issue with poverty and the water struggles in England and Wales amplify this situation further. Water is an essential resource that all people require for survival, but for those living in poverty, access to sufficient water becomes a luxury that many cannot afford.
New Helpful Guidelines
Ofwat is attempting to offset these struggles by producing a set of guidelines for water companies. This new set of guidelines aims to help alleviate the ongoing water struggles in England and Wales. These individuals can request assistance in paying water bills or even in repaying their debt, which makes the situation more manageable. Out of 10 households with children, seven households anticipate facing difficulties paying a utility bill over the course of 2022.
Cost of Goods Soars
Water struggles in England and Wales are becoming a severe concern that many are attempting to resolve. Anti-poverty campaigns note surging prices of many goods, including water, with disproportionate impacts on Britain’s most impoverished citizens. The prices of the cheapest goods that those living in poverty are usually consumers of are rising drastically. These cheaper products are already a cause of concern as these products are “calorie-dense” and lacking in nutrients. People living in poverty, according to research, are at risk of premature mortality due to the consumption of low-quality food and subpar standards of air quality in residences. These avoidable health issues add to the financial burden that those in poverty face on a daily basis.
Payment Solutions
Ofwat is urging water companies across the area to use their customer-based data to identify and contact households struggling to afford their water bills right now. This will better allow companies to understand the nature of support necessary and help identify who needs assistance the most. The guidelines direct companies to offer flexible payment plans and work to resolve repayment issues without resorting to legal action. A water affordability review in 2021 found that across England and Wales, 1.5 million households are living in water poverty. In addition, the review noted that another 3 million households were at risk of living in water poverty.
Aid is on the Way
These ongoing water struggles in England and Wales are taking a toll on millions of citizens struggling in poverty. However, water companies, such as “Severn Trent launched a £30 million financial support package” intended to help 100,000 of its current customers who are struggling to pay their water bills as the prices of all goods continue to soar. In addition to Severn Trent, on May 26, 2022, Britain’s government also announced that it will pay £15 billion worth of grants to households struggling to pay their bills in addition to the £22 billion it gave in support earlier this year.
These resolutions help alleviate major issues for those in poverty and aid people in their most urgent needs.
– Christina Papas
Photo: Flickr
Empowering Women in STEM
The Society of Women Engineers details a GenderInSITE (Gender in Science, Innovation, Technology and Engineering) study in collaboration with the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) and the International Science Council (ISC), which was published in September 2021. The study explains that “women comprise the majority of the governing body of the Royal Society of Canada. However, women still represent less than half of the governing in most other countries, including Australia, Brazil, Malaysia, Mexico and the United Kingdom.” While improvements are visible in terms of efforts to ensure equal access to education and careers in STEM, women still struggle to represent themselves in the STEM field. A World Economic Forum article, which published in 2020, even states that women in STEM publish less and are paid less. This article will discuss the reason for the international gender divide in STEM and how organizations are empowering women in STEM.
Global Statistics for Women in STEM
According to UNESCO data from 2015, women made up almost 50% of the global population but only 30% of female researchers in science, technology and innovation. Furthermore, in the region of Asia, just three out of 18 nations “had an equal or above proportion” of female STEM researchers. The Philippines noted 52% while Thailand recorded 51% and Kazakhstan noted 50%.
The latest estimates of world poverty by U.N. Women, UNDP and the Pardee Center for International Futures project that, “globally, 388 million women and girls will be living in extreme poverty in 2022 (compared to 372 million men and boys).” For this reason, empowering women in STEM is crucial as global poverty disproportionately impacts females.
Bias and Gender Stereotypes in STEM
Deeply rooted bias and gender stereotypes run rampant in the STEM field, causing many women to shy away from their careers. Empowering women in STEM by giving girls an opportunity to participate in STEM-related fields allows the gender gap and gender pay gap to decrease, leveling the playing field for all people. Empowering women in STEM to participate in STEM-related activities also increases women’s economic stability, ensuring a diverse STEM workplace and preventing future biases from forming based on the new prevalence of female role models in STEM. Some factors that affect the gender STEM gaps are gender stereotypes, a male-dominated STEM culture, few female role models in STEM and academic pressure on girls.
Self Confidence Begins in Early Childhood
If one presumes that female disengagement in STEM begins in their early years, encouragement of the eradication of bias and gender stereotypes in STEM needs to occur as early as possible. In fact, “a study by Archer et al. (2010) suggested that although young children do not have profound knowledge about science subjects, they attribute masculine traits to science early.” Research has consistently proven that students mostly perceive science subjects (math, physics and chemistry) as a male domain. Later in life, as confidence develops in these young women, this self-assurance will play a crucial role in entering the STEM field as a woman. Yet again, research suggests that empowering women in STEM plays a vital role in early childhood confidence.
AAUW: Closing the STEM Gap and Empowering Women
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has put forth active solutions to empowering women in STEM since 1888. The AAUW funds graduate education and invests in women who will save the world through STEM. AAUW offers fellowships and grants to fit one’s academic and professional goals. For the year 2021-2022, the AAUW awarded more than 260 fellowships and grants to women and community projects, equating to more than $5 million.
A Look at AAUW International Opportunities
The AAUW offers International Fellowships and International Project Grants. Women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents can apply for an International Fellowship, which awards full-time study or research in the United States. U.S. institutions support graduate and postgraduate studies. AAUW’s dedication to empowering females in their native countries goes beyond an International Fellowship. In order to generate enduring support globally, AAUW awards alumnae who return to their home countries after their AAUW-funded studies an opportunity to apply for a grant allowing alumnae to further their academic achievements and execute community-based plans, enhancing the lives of all females.
Organizations like AAUW do life-changing work in terms of helping to advance gender equality. By empowering women in STEM through opportunities and funding, the AAUW helps to improve women’s economic and career prospects, which contributes to reducing global poverty overall.
– Kaley Anderson
Photo: Flickr