As China’s population growth rate continues to stabilize after a 2.7% peak in 1966, low birth and death rates indicate increased access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities. Stabilized population growth initiates a transition toward cardiovascular diseases like coronary heart disease (CHD). Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide; coronary heart disease in China remains the country’s second leading cause of cardiovascular death.
Risk Factors in China
CHD often leads to cardiac arrest and occurs as a result of cholesterol buildup in the coronary arteries. Out of the 290 million patients who suffer from cardiovascular disease in China, CHD accounted for approximately 11 million cases in 2018.
Risk reduction occurs through lifestyle modifications that promote physical activity and a healthy diet. Risk factors include:
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- High-sodium diet
- Alcohol consumption
- Exposure to air pollution
- Smoking
China faces greater vulnerability to CHD due to common lifestyle choices, occurring as a result of the country’s economic growth and development. For instance, residents experiencing urbanization in low- and middle-income communities often utilize efficient transportation methods like trains or buses rather than physical activities such as biking, running or walking. Chinese dietary patterns also reveal the popularity of processed foods consumption. These processed foods are made with significant amounts of sodium and relatively low amounts of essential nutrients like potassium, vitamin C and calcium.
Dr. Cemal Ozemek, clinical assistant professor and cardiac rehabilitation director at the University of Illinois at Chicago, told The Borgen Project that developing countries experiencing economic growth “may have increased access to calorie- and sodium-dense foods,” as well as “decreases in daily life physical activity….and transition to sedentary jobs.”
In terms of tobacco use, China is the leading consumer and producer of tobacco products worldwide with nearly 300 million users. Since one-third of the global smoking population resides in China, smokers and non-smokers alike experience frequent exposure through direct and secondhand consumption. Tobacco alters blood chemistry and produces plaque buildup in the coronary arteries, further increasing the risk of CHD in China.
The Intersection of Poverty and Industrialization
Over 80% of global CHD deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. As the average Chinese life expectancy continues to rise, rapid industrialization, population aging and dietary changes are leading to an overall increase in the prevalence of CHD. Like many other countries, however, the impoverished population of China is disproportionately affected by CHD due to the following risk factors:
- Decreased resources allocated to cardiovascular disease prevention
- Lack of access to healthcare
- Increased exposure to indoor air pollution
- Inability to afford nutritious food
Impoverished people affected by China’s rising industrialization are at greater risk for cardiovascular diseases like CHD due to inaccessible healthy lifestyle modifications. Additional deficits like lack of environment walkability, little access to health education and high prevalence of food deserts affect CHD incidence rates among impoverished Chinese communities.
Improving Access to Healthcare in China
The Basic Public Health Services (BPHS) program was implemented in 2009 to provide free primary health services to Chinese residents. BPHS includes the establishment of medical records for Chinese residents, as well as health management and education programs. Another initiative, the Medical Financial Assistance (MFA) program, ensures healthcare access by providing financial assistance to low- and middle-income households. In 2012, the MFA assisted over 58 million individuals in primary health insurance enrollment.
Improving access to healthcare reduces the risk of CHD in China by providing residents with free recommended health consultations and check-ups. As a result, CHD patients experience increased life expectancy through early diagnosis and treatment initiatives. Financial assistance is crucial in extending healthcare access to impoverished communities because it assists low-income households with treatment costs.
According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases like CHD often reinforce cyclical poverty due to “catastrophic health spending” and “high out-of-pocket expenditure.” In addition to improving access to healthcare, nationwide interventions such as tobacco-free policies, taxation on high-sodium foods and health education systems help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in China.
– Madeline Zuzevich
Photo: Flickr
7 Ways 5G Internet Could Reduce Poverty
With the “fourth industrial revolution” underway as technology rapidly advances and changes the global outlook, fifth-generation (5G) internet has proved to be a breakthrough that could potentially pull millions out of poverty. One can characterize 5G internet by its high speed, high capacity and low latency with a bandwidth almost 10 times more than fourth-generation (4G) internet. Peak download speeds for 5G internet are around 20 gigabits per second, allowing users to download full movies, videos, advanced Internet of Things (IoT) software or artificial intelligence (AI) in minutes. 5G internet could reduce poverty significantly if countries implement the correct infrastructure for it.
Many countries have already begun building 5G networks. According to a report by Cisco, at the end of 2019, 26 countries were commercially selling 5G programs, 14 of which were developing countries. Countries with high rates of poverty could especially benefit from 5G internet as it would provide a stable internet connection and allow them to access a wealth of online resources. Below are seven ways 5G internet could reduce poverty.
7 Ways 5G Internet Could Reduce Poverty
Currently, 5G internet is accessible mostly in urban areas due to population density, but rural areas will not lag far behind if areas put the right infrastructure in place. South African cities and Cape Town were the first in Africa to see 5G due to the growth of Rain, a South African company. These seven facts about how 5G internet could reduce poverty show that it holds a bright future for many of the developing countries and will be a key player in the coming years.
– Nitya Marimuthu
Photo: Flickr
Greta Thunberg Launches New Humanitarian Campaign
Everyone knows Greta Thunberg as the young Swedish environmental activist. Thunberg started her work of raising awareness about the effects of climate change when she was 15 years old, and she has now become the face of the environmental movement. However, Greta Thunberg recently started a humanitarian campaign. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Thunberg partnered with the Danish nonprofit, Human Act, to support the United Nations’ Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This nonprofit works to provide protection for vulnerable children.
COVID-19 is a deadly disease that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. It is widely believed that elderly populations are the most at-risk for COVID-19, as the elderly are more likely to have weakened immune systems and underlying health conditions. However, Greta Thunberg argues that the coronavirus is a “children’s rights crisis” as children can also contract and spread the disease, and they will continue to experience the effects of the pandemic long into their futures. Therefore, UNICEF is focusing its relief efforts on children impacted by COVID-19, specifically impoverished and underprivileged children who lack adequate opportunities and resources to survive the pandemic.
Greta Thunberg donated $100,000 to a new humanitarian campaign created by UNICEF called “Let’s move humanity for children in the fight against coronavirus.” On April 22, the Danish nonprofit Human Act awarded Greta Thunberg with $100,000 for her climate activism efforts; however, the donation was redirected to help launch the campaign. It will focus on supporting at-risk children in all 190 countries that UNICEF works in.
5 Ways the UNICEF Campaign is Supporting Children
Greta Thunberg is using her platform as a world-famous environmentalist to spread awareness about children’s plight and stand in solidarity with impoverished children during this desperate time. By taking advantage of her large following, Thunberg has been able to communicate the important message that the virus will continue to impact our children long into their futures, so it is imperative to start supporting them today. Additionally, Thunberg’s leadership efforts inspire children around the world to take a stand and advocate for policies that support them. Thunberg, Human Act and UNICEF encourage everyone who has the protection and resources to safely continue their lives during the pandemic and to donate to the campaign to help protect children who do not have the same chance of survival.
– Ashley Bond
Photo: Flickr
The Causes of Poverty in Kiribati
Kiribati is an archipelago comprising 32 coral atolls and one raised coral island located along the equator in the Pacific Ocean. The total landmass of the islands is slightly greater than New York City, but the islands stretch out across an area almost as large as the country of India with a population of approximately 112,000. The main island of South Tarawa accounts for roughly half the nation’s population, with a population density similar to that of Hong Kong and Tokyo. English is the country’s official language, but the popular dialect of I-Kiribati (a.k.a. Gilbertese) is commonly spoken. As of 1999, Kiribati is a member of the U.N. Today, poverty in Kiribati is prevalent, although unlike many other nations, the causes of poverty in Kiribati are slightly harder to define.
Subsistence Living
Many I-Kiribati lack access to fundamental services like water, sanitation, quality housing and other basic needs. The World Bank classifies Kiribati as “extremely deprived” although exact poverty estimates are hard to calculate because a significant portion (likely the majority) of the islanders practice a subsistence lifestyle, foregoing a role in the formal economy. This is especially true in the outer islands where people rely on fishing and agriculture to ensure their survival. The situation is precarious; however, as there is a widespread lack of arable land, droughts are common. Also, commercial overfishing has greatly reduced the bounty of fish Kiribati has been blessed with. Still, the people of the Kiribati islands find a way to overcome the mounting challenges confronting their lifestyle.
Underdeveloped Formal Economy
When it comes to the formal wage economy (which employs less than one-fifth of all potential workers), the densely packed island of South Tarawa is the home for over half of all jobs. A staggering amount of Kiribati’s income comes from fishing licenses sold to foreign vessels who want to fish tuna in Kiribati’s waters, but this income is highly unstable. A limited number of flights and poor national infrastructure inhibit its small tourism industry. The private sector economy lags far behind its public counterpart. Lack of a diversified economy is one of the causes of poverty in Kiribati.
Reliance on Imports
Most of the food and fuel consumed in Kiribati are imported from overseas. In 2004, a container vessel missed its scheduled food delivery date which caused a major food shortage on the islands. In past decades the population, especially younger people, is increasingly relying on cheaper imports of unhealthy and heavily processed foods. This has led to a rise in diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Kiribati has no domestic source of oil and thus relies on the international market. Direct foreign investment in Kiribati is very low, and in total, Kiribati’s imports are more than double the value of its exports. The causes of poverty in Kiribati can in large part be traced back to low food security and reliance on imports.
Education
The government of Kiribati provides free and compulsory primary education for students ages six to 13. Families living in rural areas incur travel expenses and all schoolchildren are subject to fees related to school uniforms and supplies. While this free education is certainly a positive, there is room for improvement in teacher training, curriculum and school facilities. Kiribati offers an additional five years of secondary education to students who place highly on national entrance exams. These schools are not free. Those who do not win access to these competitive schools receive the chance to continue with free secondary education for three more years. Nearly all secondary education schools are located on South Tarawa which requires prospective outer island students to move from their families and absorb a sizable financial hit. Around 80 percent of students do not continue on to secondary education after primary school.
Organizations Working for Change
Multiple organizations are working to help uplift locals and alleviate the causes of poverty in Kiribati. GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations) has been working in Kiribati for over a decade. It supplies vaccines to the islands and help local medical clinics administer these vaccines to the population. GAVI has committed more than $660,000. As of 2018, 95 percent of the islands have received coverage for critically important DTP3 vaccines (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis)
Teachers are also working to improve the islands’ education system with the Kiribati Union of Teachers (KUT) performing outreach on three major islands. The KUT provides workshops for teachers, has set up a credit union and is attempting to provide social security to its members.
Lastly, the Kiribati branch of the Foundation for the South Pacific is working to address the most pressing concerns of food and water security. Working in partnership with The Outer Island Food and Water Project, it teaches local women and young people gardening techniques and cooking lessons. It also establishes local water points which greatly enhance water security. Thanks to this work, many villagers no longer have to travel long distances for fresh water and one local community has been able to sell extra vegetables for a profit.
Light at the End of the Tunnel
An underdeveloped economy, low food and water security, a developing health care system and an education system with much potential to be improved are among the causes of poverty in Kiribati. Despite these challenges, islanders continue to survive off their land and lead family and community-oriented lives. Organizations like GAVI, the KUT and the Foundation for the South Pacific have recognized the enormous opportunities in Kiribati and are contributing to positive change focused on improving the lives of the remarkable I-Kiribati.
– Spencer Jacobs
Photo: Pixabay
Women’s Healthcare in Syria
The Syrian war has been declared by the UN as the biggest humanitarian crisis of the twenty-first century. It is estimated that approximately 5.6 million Syrians have fled the country as refugees and 6.1 million have been internally displaced. The ongoing violence and political unrest have had detrimental effects on the country’s healthcare systems, educational systems and economy. These barriers have made it difficult to access preventative and emergency healthcare. Furthermore, these effects have devastating effects on the country’s most vulnerable demographic: women and girls. Here are five important things to know about women’s healthcare in Syria.
Lack of Access
Many women affected by the conflict are likely to have poor sexual and reproductive health. These problems are the leading causes of death, disease and disability among refugee women in Syria. Limited finances, lack of reliable transportation and a weakened health system have contributed to the degradation of women’s healthcare in Syria.
Lack of Awareness and Overwhelming Fear
The lack of reproductive awareness and education is a major issue in many Middle Eastern countries. Because the majority of reproductive health information is taught through a religious and cultural lens, there is often less of a scientific basis for treatment. This is particularly dangerous if a woman is facing a medical issue that needs urgent attention.
Some women face an overwhelming fear of judgment or shame that stops them from reaching out for professional healthcare. Women, particularly those who are victims of sexual assault, may not seek help for fear of being judged. Individuals may also be reluctant to acknowledge and seek help for any mental issues that they suffer from. In both cases, there is fear that needing help will inflict shame upon their family.
Married Too Young
The vast majority of Syrian refugees are adolescent women and girls who are of reproductive age. However, the rate of early and forced marriages is growing among young Syrian girls. Many refugee families marry off their young daughters with the hope that it will provide them with protection and alleviate them from poverty.
Unfortunately, forced marriages at young ages put girls at a higher rate of conceiving at an age that is too young to handle the stresses of childbirth. Girls under the age of 18 are more likely to experience complications during their pregnancy and while in labor. This can result in maternal mortality, stillbirths and gender-based violence.
Syrian women often do not get the prenatal care that they need. For example, antenatal care (ANC) visits are instrumental in reducing the chances of stillborn and maternal mortality. The WHO recommends a minimum of four visits but encourages women to attend eight if possible. In comparison to four visits, eight sessions can reduce perinatal deaths by eight per 1,000 births.
In 2009, UNICEF reported that approximately 64% of expecting Syrian women attended at least four ANC visits. By contrast, it was discovered in 2017 that only 14% achieved four visits. Despite a high birth rate, surveyed Syrian women have reported that they do not attend ANC visits due to lack of reliable transportation, lack of knowledge and high out-of-pocket costs associated with the services.
Sexual Gender-Based Violence
The displacement of Syrian women has left refugees desperate for shelter and safety. In 2013, the WHO reported that approximately 37% of women in the Eastern Mediterranean region suffered from intimate partner violence. Syria’s internal conflict has exacerbated this problem both in the country and in places of refuge.
The risk of gender-based violence such as assault, rape or coercion is particularly high in refugee camps where the majority of the inhabitants are women and children. Women are often forced to have sex for survival.
Sexual violence is a multi-pronged problem. It can put the victim at a higher risk of contracting an STD or STI which can lead to unwanted pregnancy and could lead to forced marriage or sexual slavery.
What’s Being Done
Years of conflict have weakened Syria’s healthcare system and have left many citizens in a state of vulnerability. WHO has been working within Syria to support the country through innovation, donations and training for years.
One of the biggest barriers to obtaining healthcare in Syria is the lack of safe and reliable transportation. In 2018, WHO donated eight mobile clinics, 36 ambulances and 75 mobile teams to reach the most vulnerable citizens. They also trained 30,865 people on a broad range of health issues to address the critical shortage of healthcare professionals.
In the fight for improving living conditions for women all around the world, WHO is working to strengthen the healthcare system’s responses to violence against women. They are supporting healthcare professionals through training workshops to equip them with the skills they need to address not only the physical harm of the but the victim’s mental health as well.
WHO has done a lot to support Syria’s healthcare system. While there’s more work to be done, it’s a big step in the right direction to improve women’s healthcare in Syria.
–Jasmine Daniel
Photo: Flickr
How TikTok is Educating Millions of Indian Users
What Is EduTok?
Users of EduTok include the hashtag #EduTok in any educational, motivational or career-related content in order to spread intellectual information throughout the Indian community. The hashtag has shared over 10 million videos since its genesis in October 2019, receiving more than 48 billion views.
Developing Partnerships with TikTok
Many educational technology companies including Made Easy, Toppr and GradeUp have acknowledged the influence of #EduTok and have collaborated with TikTok to promote their content. These partnerships deliver subject-focused information via entertaining videos, centralizing users’ interests and encouraging them to explore specific career paths.
TikTok also established an #Edutok Mentorship Program with Josh Talks and The/Nudge Foundation, two Indian nonprofit organizations. Josh Talks is an Indian media platform that highlights educational and motivational speakers to encourage India’s youth to form connections and pursue their interests; The/Nudge Foundation focuses on improving poverty, unemployment and education in India. The #EduTok Mentorship Program provides specialized educational content to first-time internet users to improve their transition to the digital world. The program will accomplish this mission by hosting 25 workshops to provide users with hands-on learning experiences from popular #EduTok creators. With just 5,000 users invited to attend each workshop, this experience will be uniquely personalized and participatory, including tailored content like skill development, career planning and identity building. By personalizing content and providing in-depth, hands-on experiences, young Indians have a unique opportunity to advance their knowledge and explore various career fields.
Inspiring A Wide Impact
#EduTok is a multifaceted integrated campaign. Although the campaign has only been launched in India so far, cities in India have interpreted and utilized the campaign differently to create a diverse platform. For instance, users in Bhopal primarily watch motivational videos; users in Armistrar concentrate on language learning; users in Delhi focus on technology hacks. By allowing each community to cater content to its unique needs, the #Edutok campaign provides a sense of adaptability that has enabled its immense success.
#EduTok is not the only rising TikTok initiative. The company recently collaborated with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to promote the #Skills4All campaign, a program that provides Indian youth with vocational training and skill development opportunities. These two campaigns both work to support education initiatives and encourage creativity with the common goal of boosting India’s economy through its youth.
In the midst of COVID-19 and other global challenges, TikTok is educating millions of Indian users by exploiting its influence to do good. By providing free and entertaining educational resources to billions of Indian youth through #EduTok, the company is ushering in a new-age approach to learning that will help to democratize education. Because of the #EduTok and #Skills4All campaigns, TikTok transformed from a popular social media platform to a service with real social value.
– Ashley Bond
Photo: Pixabay
The Rising Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in China
Risk Factors in China
CHD often leads to cardiac arrest and occurs as a result of cholesterol buildup in the coronary arteries. Out of the 290 million patients who suffer from cardiovascular disease in China, CHD accounted for approximately 11 million cases in 2018.
Risk reduction occurs through lifestyle modifications that promote physical activity and a healthy diet. Risk factors include:
China faces greater vulnerability to CHD due to common lifestyle choices, occurring as a result of the country’s economic growth and development. For instance, residents experiencing urbanization in low- and middle-income communities often utilize efficient transportation methods like trains or buses rather than physical activities such as biking, running or walking. Chinese dietary patterns also reveal the popularity of processed foods consumption. These processed foods are made with significant amounts of sodium and relatively low amounts of essential nutrients like potassium, vitamin C and calcium.
Dr. Cemal Ozemek, clinical assistant professor and cardiac rehabilitation director at the University of Illinois at Chicago, told The Borgen Project that developing countries experiencing economic growth “may have increased access to calorie- and sodium-dense foods,” as well as “decreases in daily life physical activity….and transition to sedentary jobs.”
In terms of tobacco use, China is the leading consumer and producer of tobacco products worldwide with nearly 300 million users. Since one-third of the global smoking population resides in China, smokers and non-smokers alike experience frequent exposure through direct and secondhand consumption. Tobacco alters blood chemistry and produces plaque buildup in the coronary arteries, further increasing the risk of CHD in China.
The Intersection of Poverty and Industrialization
Over 80% of global CHD deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. As the average Chinese life expectancy continues to rise, rapid industrialization, population aging and dietary changes are leading to an overall increase in the prevalence of CHD. Like many other countries, however, the impoverished population of China is disproportionately affected by CHD due to the following risk factors:
Impoverished people affected by China’s rising industrialization are at greater risk for cardiovascular diseases like CHD due to inaccessible healthy lifestyle modifications. Additional deficits like lack of environment walkability, little access to health education and high prevalence of food deserts affect CHD incidence rates among impoverished Chinese communities.
Improving Access to Healthcare in China
The Basic Public Health Services (BPHS) program was implemented in 2009 to provide free primary health services to Chinese residents. BPHS includes the establishment of medical records for Chinese residents, as well as health management and education programs. Another initiative, the Medical Financial Assistance (MFA) program, ensures healthcare access by providing financial assistance to low- and middle-income households. In 2012, the MFA assisted over 58 million individuals in primary health insurance enrollment.
Improving access to healthcare reduces the risk of CHD in China by providing residents with free recommended health consultations and check-ups. As a result, CHD patients experience increased life expectancy through early diagnosis and treatment initiatives. Financial assistance is crucial in extending healthcare access to impoverished communities because it assists low-income households with treatment costs.
According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases like CHD often reinforce cyclical poverty due to “catastrophic health spending” and “high out-of-pocket expenditure.” In addition to improving access to healthcare, nationwide interventions such as tobacco-free policies, taxation on high-sodium foods and health education systems help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in China.
– Madeline Zuzevich
Photo: Flickr
Higher Education to Occupation Disparity in South Korea
South Korea has some of the highest education rates out of all the nations in the developed world; however, the distortion in their public higher education system has created a massive trap in unemployment for many young South Koreans straight out of college. Over the past three years, the South Korean government has made vital reforms to extend and deepen its teachings in higher education. This way, university students can reap all the benefits of their education, attaining financial and mental stability.
The Moon Administration
South Korea’s occupational and economic market is ruled with an iron fist by families and partners of chaebol — gigantic oliguric companies and corporations who use complete nepotistic bias when employing young South Koreans, holding grotesque control over both financial and political sectors of their society. In May of 2017, President Moon Jae-in was elected into power. He promised South Koreans that the corruption the chaebol had caused in their society was to be renounced, diminished and abandoned, leading the way for South Korea to be more equal and equitable in employment and social politics.
Moon knew the most effective way to bring a major change in the job market was to make adjustments to the higher education system to decrease favoritism and competition between universities and employers. One form of action Moon pushed was “blind hiring,” or limiting the amount of information employers could request concerning an individual’s university ranking and GPA in their initial application. This would decrease the amount of profiling and preference which has been rooted in the South Korean occupational world.
SKY Universities
More than 80% of higher education institutions in South Korea are privately owned and have rigorous admissions, requiring students to pass a test that most individuals can pass only with a professional tutor or prior private specialty science and mathematics schooling. The three most prestigious universities in South Korea, known as SKY, are Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University. These schools are the only noted educational institutions for chaebol employers. This makes it extremely difficult for individuals from low-income homes to ever attain such professions because they don’t have the funds for a private tutor or prior elite schooling to be admitted to a SKY university.
In attempts to have a more socioeconomic diverse population of students at SKY universities, in 2018, the Moon administration ordered the SKY universities to make their admissions testing far less extensive and detailed to increase the number of applicants who would be able to pass the entry exam. The current government administration also put limitations on the number of students the SKY universities could accept so that more public universities in South Korea could build their reputations on the job market. Both of the SKY initiatives placed by Moon were very innovative in disassembling the distorted educational promises of South Korean society.
Elimination of Elite Education
The Moon administration has aimed to eliminate all elite high schools to equalize the kind of education that young South Koreans are receiving, creating a more fair college admissions process by 2025. Thirteen universities in Seoul that had more than 25% of students from elite secondary schools were evaluated to examine their admissions systems level of integrity by being impartial when admitting students.
How Education Will Repair the Job Market
President Moon has made a tremendous effort by being the first political leader to go against the ancient, corrupt societal standards in employment and hiring practices. By placing more regulations on the educational private sector, both the political and social sectors will begin to be dismantled as well, creating even more building blocks for young South Koreans to move up the socioeconomic ladder. With the inequality of private educational institutions becoming more publicized through governmental action, a more secure and bright future is developing for the classist poverty trap of South Korea.
– Nicolettea Rose Daskaloudi
Photo: Flickr
5 Reasons for Poverty in Dominica
Dominica is a small island nation located in the Caribbean. With 29% of Dominica’s population below the poverty line, poverty rates have slowly decreased since the early 2000s. Nevertheless, the country continuously faces setbacks that perpetuate the cycle of poverty for its people. Here are the top five reasons why poverty in Dominica has persisted.
5 Reasons Why Poverty in Dominica Has Persisted
In 2019, the government of Dominica established specific investment incentives for businesses to relocate to Dominica. The investments encourage both domestic and foreign shareholders, hoping to boost the economy and help lower the rates of poverty in Dominica.
– Kacie Frederick
Photo: Flickr
An Overview of Healthcare in Poland
Poland is an eastern European country between Belarus and Ukraine. As a member of the European Union, Poland enjoys many benefits and privileges. Many consider the eastern European country’s economy one of the most developed in Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, its Human Development Index (HDI) score is around .872, which is very high. Additionally, Poland has a successful universal healthcare system, although it has experienced challenges. Here is some information about healthcare in Poland.
Universal Healthcare
Nearly all European countries have free and universal healthcare, and Poland is no exception. The country offers a free public healthcare system in which every Polish and E.U. resident has the right to accessible healthcare, supported by the National Health Fund. The organization’s funding consists of a mandatory contribution from every Polish citizen: an 8.5% deduction from individual income. These deductions are the main source of funding for public and free health insurance. However, Poland does offer private health insurance as well. As of 2017, 91% of Poland’s population has insurance.
Flaws in Polish Healthcare
Although Poland’s healthcare coverage is impressive, organizational problems, politics, underfunding and outdated technology still plague the system. The percentage of the population that has insurance is high, at 91%, but this is still lower than in many other European countries. Poland’s organizational structure is also incredibly understaffed in physicians, and especially specialists. Under the current Polish government, funding for the National Health Fund is also converting into a federal budget funding system, further complicating the bureaucracy of Polish healthcare.
Income Inequality and Health
Another problem that plagues healthcare in Poland is the disparity of health between high income- and low-income groups. According to Poland’s 2017 health profile, 71% of high-income citizens report that they are in good health while only 53% of low-income citizens state the same. This 18 point difference is sizeable, considering Poland’s population. Poland’s life expectancy rate is also lower than most European countries, ranking 24th in the E.U. at around 77.5 years. With the improvement of its healthcare system, Poland has the potential to increase its life expectancy and decrease the health gap.
Poland’s healthcare system is effective in providing basic primary care to its residents. One can attribute this to both the improved treatment for cardiovascular disease– the leading cause of death in Poland–and the centralization of Poland’s healthcare system since 1999. However, the nation must prioritize the improvement of its organizational structure and funding system to continue to benefit its citizens.
Poland’s healthcare system is keeping most citizens healthy, but there are further improvements necessary in order for the current system to increase efficiency and reach beyond-average higher standards of health. Healthcare in Poland may not currently live up to the standards of other western European countries, but it has the potential to improve its healthcare structure to compete with and possibly surpass them in the future, considering its relative economic stability. In pursuit of this goal, Poland is taking steps to improve its healthcare system. The Polish Ministry of Health has begun using electronic prescriptions and other e-health technologies to improve coordination between hospitals, physicians and patients. The Ministry is also working on plans to further increase the number of physicians and specialists available in the public sector. Such reforms are essential to remaining competitive with other European countries.
– Sadat Tashin
Photo: Flickr
Homelessness in North Korea
What little we know about the true conditions of poverty in North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is shocking. We hear stories of famine, starvation and an abundance of human rights violations. The true number of those who are homeless is currently unknown due to the secretiveness of the state. However, stories from defectors have researched international ears. High levels of tuberculosis and typhoid are rampant and due to restrictions of food into northern provinces, the situation there is more extreme. However, there are organizations fighting to reach those experiencing homelessness in North Korea and lift them out of poverty.
How North Korea Works
North Korea is known to be a hollow country. The capital city of Pyongyang shows lavish skyscrapers and hotels which are all empty. They are merely a front and not representational of the poverty in the interior. The communist party holds such a grip on the population that there is no freedom for the individual, not even the freedom of your own thought. Thus, those who defy this notion are punished severely. This makes North Korea considered to be one of the biggest human rights abusers on our planet.
Poverty and Homelessness in North Korea
Despite the lack of poverty seen from the surface, go further to the interior and poverty starts to become apparent. The country has suffered for decades from food shortages and famine. In recent years, the sanctions on North Korea are impacting individual households. More people are forced to abandon their elderly or young family members because they have no means to support them. In recent years, the number of homeless people has been decreasing due to the government rounding up these individuals. Where they are sent to is unknown.
Kot-jebi
Homelessness in North Korea affects children as well. The word “Kot-jebi” is Korean for “flowering sparrow” which refers to homeless child beggars who wander the streets outside the capital city of Pyongyang. The reason for their life on the streets varies from the death of the family to the inability for their parents or guardians to care for them and are thus abandoned. Many of them succumb to preventable deaths such as hunger, tuberculosis or typhoid. Usually, you need approval from the government to travel throughout the country, but these children do so at their own leisure, alleviating them from the usual conformity of the North Korean society. These children often steal their own food, skip school and suffer various types of abuses. North Korea offers no national averages on these homeless children and often denies their existence.
Elderly Beggars
In recent years, a new phenomenon of elderly beggars has started popping up. These are elderly individuals who are abandoned by their families or have no children to rely upon and are left homeless. Often times, they are seen as an extra mouth to feed much like the children and are cast out. However, these individuals are usually able to find some work as house servants.
Hope for the Health of Homeless Individuals
Non-governmental organizations (NGO) and institutions desiring to enter North Korea have a difficult time penetrating the government’s watchful eye. The Korean International Foundation for Health and Development has partnered with North Korea to give humanitarian aid to impoverished individuals. Although NGOs have struggled to gain access to the ground in North Korea, the Korean International Foundation for Health and Development was able to work with the North Korean government to deliver relief supplies. This institution specializes in maternal and reproductive health as well as child health in developing countries, primarily North Korea. While the government continues to deny issues surrounding homelessness in North Korea, the existence of those experiencing homelessness and living in poverty cannot be denied. We must continue to support institutions and NGOs such as the Korean International Foundation for Health and Development to deliver aid and relief to those in need in North Korea.
– Kassi Bourne
Photo: Flickr