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How the Global Oxygen Alliance Continues a Crucial Mission

Global Oxygen Alliance
On May 24, Unitaid, a global health agency that fundraises to support novel treatments for major diseases in the developing world, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria both published press releases officially announcing the commencement of the Global Oxygen Alliance (GO2AL). 

Additionally, backed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, GO2AL was first established in April as an initiative that seeks to bridge the gaps in medical oxygen access that continue to exist in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, GO2AL aims to ensure that advancements made in oxygen supply and distribution during the height of the virus are maintained and expanded to even more regions, as medical oxygen is a key treatment tool that health care workers use in hospitals worldwide.

Building Blocks

Although the WHO refers to oxygen as an “essential medicine,” necessary for almost all aspects of many standard hospital procedures, rarely do people consider the supply of medical oxygen when identifying indicators to help analyze the performance of countries’ health systems. 

A scarcity of medical oxygen in the vast majority of LMICs (Lower or Middle-Income Countries), then, has gone overlooked for years, only gaining relevance in the face of devastating shortages during the pandemic. On top of often lacking an oxygen source, many hospitals in LMICs also lack pulse oximeters, a piece of medical equipment that measures the amount of oxygen in a person’s red blood cells and is therefore crucial in the proper administration of oxygen to patients suffering from hypoxemia, or a low level of arterial oxygen. 

February of 2021 saw the creation of the Oxygen Emergency Taskforce of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A), a multilateral coalition founded to respond to these shortages. ACT-A was able to achieve a number of successes in expanding access to medical oxygen in LMICs, raising $1 billion to increase oxygen production and reduce its cost, distributing equipment like pulse oximeters to hospitals in need and providing support to governments in the implementation of improved oxygen systems. 

The Global Oxygen Alliance aims to be a successor of ACT-A, hoping to maintain the advancements that have occurred and extend them ever further, especially as oxygen shortages have faded out of public perception after the pandemic. Furthermore, GO2AL is also partnering with the Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security, formed in September of last year, to address data gaps in the supply of oxygen in LMICs and utilize that new research to find solutions to the oxygen insecurity that still exists in many health systems across the globe. 

Preventable Deaths

The work of GO2AL is critical since medical oxygen is also frequently used in the treatment of the elderly, infants and pregnant women, all of whom are vulnerable populations. Developing countries have long struggled to acquire enough medical oxygen for their needs; before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, 90% of hospitals in LMICs did not have access to sufficient amounts of oxygen for their patients, which led to a preventable death toll of 800,000 annually. 

Though COVID-19 may no longer officially be a global emergency, the havoc it wreaked on health systems around the world was a wake-up call for more investment to be directed towards future pandemic preparedness. One year into the pandemic, 60% of hospitals in LMICs did not have a sufficient supply of medical oxygen. Should there be another virus similar to COVID-19, every country will need the resources to adequately care for any and all patients who may need oxygen during their treatment. 

There are also plenty of non-COVID-19 patients who suffer from the lack of access to medical oxygen, with diseases common in LMICs like pneumonia, malaria and meningitis causing hypoxemia and requiring immediate care. The Clinton Health Access Initiative estimates that more than 15% of children under 5 admitted into hospitals suffer from hypoxemia, in addition to 20% of all admitted infants. 

An inadequate supply of oxygen affects pneumonia patients in particular, as 7.2 million children with the condition end up in hospitals every year. Without access to oxygen therapy, around 148,000 annual child pneumonia cases are preventable. Research suggests that installing and upgrading oxygen systems in pediatric wards can lower the number of deaths due to child pneumonia by 46%, in addition to lowering all deaths in children under 5 by 40%. GO2AL’s stated commitment to increasing medical oxygen access, then, is one that is sure to save millions of lives in years to come. 

Hope for the Future

ACT-A successfully brought medical oxygen to LMICs desperately in need of it and worked through logistical obstacles to make sure these countries have the infrastructure to continue accessing the oxygen they require. On the part of those organizations that were a part of ACT-A and are now supporting the Global Oxygen Alliance, they are offering an extremely important example of what dedication to bettering the lives of those who are less fortunate should look like. Not only will GO2AL continue filling the oxygen gap that exists in many LMICs, but it will also fill the data gap that made the lack of medical oxygen in many developing countries a sorely underappreciated issue before the pandemic.

– Sofia Oliver
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

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Poverty in the Caribbean: The Challenges

Poverty in the CaribbeanCaribbean countries have always struggled with poverty as a result of factors such as low educational achievement and low worker productivity, and following the infamous COVID-19 global pandemic that began nearly four years ago, they have been struggling with the rise of their inflation, which has resulted in limited access to both goods and labor markets, leaving the most vulnerable people in these places in poverty-stricken situations. The following is an overview of the challenges that relate to poverty in the Caribbean.

Low Education Levels

Poor people who have jobs within the Caribbean reportedly have lower levels of education. In the past, a significant portion of the working population in Caribbean countries like Jamaica and Dominica only managed to complete primary-level education. For instance, Jamaica had about 83% of its population in this category, while Dominica had approximately 79%. Additionally, a relatively small percentage, ranging from 2% to 8%, had attained tertiary-level education.

The Pandemic Made It Harder to Transport Food

The aftermath of the pandemic has posed challenges to transporting food within Caribbean countries, leading to an increase in poverty levels. New strategies, including financial aid and private transfers of money, were implemented to assist during the pandemic. However, these measures have had unintended consequences, resulting in reduced access to goods and labor markets, particularly in urban areas. This has caused a decline in the income of impoverished households, contributing to increased instability in women’s employment within these regions.

Working Poor have Fewer Income Opportunities

Records suggest that, in the past, a small number of residents within the Caribbean countries of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Dominica get 50 or more hours of work a week compared to those who are not within the same countries.

Additionally, reports suggest that the proportions of the working poor from these countries who work 32 or fewer hours a week are greater than those who are not poor and reside within the same countries. In addition, it was stated that the jobs in these countries included construction in the Bahamas, community and social services in Trinidad and Tobago, agriculture in Jamaica and Dominica and wholesale/retail sales in Barbados.

Learning Poverty among Children

Due to the global pandemic, learning difficulties have worsened, particularly in the Caribbean. The World Bank estimated that, even before the pandemic, 51% of Caribbean children couldn’t read or understand simple text by age 10, compared to a global average of 48%. However, learning poverty rates vary across countries, ranging from 21% in Trinidad and Tobago to 81% in the Dominican Republic.

These rates may continue to rise due to prolonged school closures and increased dropout rates resulting from the pandemic. Across the region, 23 countries and 12 independent states closed their schools for an average of 168 days between the start of the pandemic in 2020 and February 2022.

This is equivalent to nearly an entire academic year. In countries like Guatemala, 13.3% of children are not engaging in educational activities. In Honduras, this number is 17% and in Bolivia, it’s as high as 22.6%. These learning losses in Caribbean countries contribute to increased variability in student skills and present challenges for teachers. One factor is the practice of automatic promotion within schools.

The Caribbean is Struggling to Get its People Out of Poverty

The poverty rate within the Caribbean increased for the first time in years during the 2019–2021 period, following the pandemic. During the period between 1999 and 2019, its poverty rate of 53% dropped to 28% as a result of labor income being the primary driver during this era, but currently, following the complications of the pandemic, its poverty rate has increased to 30%. In addition to this, although labor income was a success for the Caribbean in the past, its people have yet to return to this path of poverty reduction for further success in the future.

Looking Ahead

Although quick and determined action is needed to address poverty in the Caribbean, the situation has become more complex. Many countries in the region have made significant efforts to combat poverty in the past, demonstrating their capacity to do so once again. Furthermore, the World Bank is actively supporting countries in the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Haiti, the Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana and Eastern Caribbean states like Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Turks and Caicos. The World Bank is implementing plans and projects aimed at reducing inequality and enhancing overall resilience.

For example, the World Bank has achieved significant milestones, such as completing six water supply systems in Haitian communities after the devastating earthquake in 2010. In 2019, the bank also played a crucial role in reducing cholera cases in Haiti, collaborating with communities, implementing disease surveillance and mobilizing rapid response teams.

The World Bank remains committed to mobilizing both public and private resources to reduce extreme poverty, promote prosperity and foster inclusive growth in the Caribbean. This involves bringing together diverse expertise and financial support from various Caribbean countries.

– Deon Roberts
Photo: Unsplash

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Solutions to Child Poverty in Saint Lucia After COVID-19

Child Poverty in Saint Lucia
When the COVID-19 virus spread out into the world in 2020, it caused hardships for all countries. People feared contracting the virus but were also impacted by entire countries shutting down, putting citizens indefinitely out of work. Saint Lucia was one small Caribbean island whose children felt the burden of their parents’ lack of income. Child poverty in Saint Lucia, a country with a population of 180,000, rose to 34.5% in 2021.

In 2020, the economic and social impact on households was directly related to the closing of schools, businesses and the border itself. This led to a reduction in income due to job loss and restriction of hours. In addition, many citizens were unable to work due to their health. The biggest impact lies in the hotel and tourism sectors, with 33,000 people impacted by the shutting down of hotels, restaurants and retail stores, according to a United Nations presentation of the Saint Lucia Economic Stimulus, Recovery and Resilience Strategy. In a survey of citizens, “30% of households ran out of food once or more during the 30 days prior to the survey.” For poor households, “nearly 50% experience[ed] a time when they ran out of food.”

Effects of the COVID-19 Virus on Child Labor

The accumulation of this loss of income has increased child poverty in Saint Lucia. Many children had to take jobs such as street vending to provide for their families. However, it also led to more dangerous options, such as drug and sex trafficking. In 2020, the government began a revision of the Labor Act to address issues that did not meet the Labor Department’s mandates. It also approved the Counter-Trafficking Amendment Act, which protects victims of trafficking regardless of citizenship.

Saint Lucia took several other steps to eliminate child poverty and child labor. Its efforts included increased labor inspectors, updated standard operating procedures and a minimum age for work of 15. This allowed children to stay in school until legally able to work. It also passed a prohibition on forced labor and child trafficking. Labor enforcement funding has also risen from $392,313 in 2020 to $496,296 in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. St. Lucia also employed twice the number of inspectors in 2021 who were being trained before going out into the field and offered refresher courses for them. 

Organizations Assisting Relief Efforts in Saint Lucia

On December 16, 2021, the Saint Lucia Ministry of Equity, UNICEF and the UN met for a development session on the impact and effects of the COVID-19 virus. They conferred together about the different measures that can be taken to learn from this pandemic. They also explored the extent of aid from social assistance responses. The World Food Programme (WFP) also stepped up in favor of the Income Support Program, which provided $1,500 each to more than 4,800 people unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, UNICEF donated up to $400 from July to September 2020 to children in foster care and $300 to the Child Disability Grant. The Public Assistance Program was able to accommodate an additional 1,000 households from November 2020 to April 2021, thanks to funding from the World Food Programme ($229,610) and the India UN ($500,000). 

However, citizens did not sit around waiting for assistance to find them. Despite the decrease in crucial tourist revenue, 16 hotels prepared and distributed meals to those impacted by the economic shutdown. In two months, they served 19,131 meals to those affected. 

The COVID-19 pandemic affected all families, but work is occurring to pull children off this path and into a promising future. “The highest poverty reduction effect overall would be achieved by supporting a large number of households (bottom 40%), followed by a universal child grant,” said the United Nations. “Support to all children would also achieve the highest reduction in the child poverty rate.” A better future for children means a better future for their country. 

– Jennifer Arias
Photo: Pixabay

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Hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean Drops To Pre-Pandemic Levels

Hunger in Latin America
The current rate of hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is at 6.5%. This is a significant decrease of 2.4 million people compared to the previous year. The last time hunger levels fell this low was pre-COVID-19. Comparatively, the rate of hunger in these regions is lower than the rates in Africa, Asia and Oceania. 

In addition to lowered hunger levels, undernourishment is slightly down, at 6.5% — lower than 2021’s rate of 7%, but still only level with that of 2020. Lastly, moderate and severe food insecurity also dropped in 2021. Severe food insecurity dropped from 13.9% to 12.6%, while moderate food insecurity dropped from 26.4% to 24.9%.

Progress Despite Hard Times

It is clear that hunger in Latin America has dropped, along with undernourishment and food insecurity, though several factors have slowed progress:

  • COVID-19
  • Ukraine/Russia War
  • Extreme Weather

The COVID-19 pandemic particularly hit those with low income, as they did not have adequate resources to protect themselves. The urban areas of LAC are where the pandemic impacted the most vulnerable people.

In LAC, there were reportedly 65.4 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1.65 million deaths by March 2022. While LAC holds 8% of the world population, the region represents about 15% of COVID-19 cases and 28% of worldwide reported deaths.

Details About the LAC’s Challenges

In 2019, the GDP growth in Latin America and the Caribbean was at 0.7%, it then dropped to -6.5% in 2020 (during the pandemic) before rising to 6.7% in 2021. GDP growth is essential to financing important infrastructure and helping the region and its people to recover from the pandemic. 

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has had a catastrophic effect on the world, including an increase in the prices of fertilizers By September 2022, the price of fertilizer was triple what the rate was in early 2020. Low-income farmers across LAC had to reduce their plantings to avoid paying extremely high production costs. Once again, low-income farmers in LAC had their total income affected by global prices. 

Finally, extreme weather has destroyed countless infrastructures across Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2022, 78 meteorological, hydrological and climate-related hazards occurred in the LAC region; 86% of these were both storm and flood-related. 

Estimates have indicated that there were reports of $9 billion worth of damages to the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT), primarily due to droughts (40%) and storms (32%). The actual figures for the impacts of extreme events are likely worse due to a lack of reporting.

Looking Ahead

Hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean has seen a decrease despite many obstructions on the road to improvement. The combination of the pandemic, extreme weather and war has meant that production has not been as high as it could have been. Therefore, these challenges have affected hunger levels, malnutrition, food insecurity and the economy significantly. Despite all this, LAC has still been able to decrease levels of hunger, undernourishment and food insecurity. As the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, perhaps, poverty, hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity will continue to decrease for the people of LAC.

– Lewis Butcher
Photo: Pexels

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5 Facts About Being Poor in Spain

Being Poor in SpainAs the largest country on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain has a rich history and a thriving culture. The Romans and the Muslims from North Africa influenced its origins, and this is quite visible in the nation’s architecture. Today, travelers often visit Spain for the diverse array of tapas, or small snack-like foods. However, after the country experienced a financial crisis in 2008, many families experienced economic hardship, which the COVID-19 pandemic later exacerbated in 2020. Below are five facts about how families continue to struggle with being poor in Spain today.

5 Facts About Being Poor in Spain

  1. Poverty and Unemployment Pre-COVID-19: In 2018, two years prior to the pandemic, 26.1% of people in Spain faced the possible risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to a report from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner. Additionally, the unemployment rate (13.78%) was more than double the average rate for the EU as a whole, with those under the age of 25 suffering the highest rate of unemployment.
  2. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A 2022 Human Rights Watch report detailed that the economic hardships stemming from COVID-19 disproportionately affected families with children, older people, migrants, asylum-seekers and people working in informal work sectors. Additionally, the difficulties of being poor in Spain had an increased impact on single parents, who reported that they often skipped meals to feed their children during the pandemic.
  3. Price inflation: Between August 2021 and August 2022, price inflation in Spain skyrocketed by 10.5%, which is the highest level that records have indicated since official measurements started in 1994. Reports indicated that some foods have had between a 25% and 40% price increase.
  4. Homelessness on the Rise: Approximately 28,500 people experienced homelessness in Spain in 2022, a 25% increase from 2012. The average age of a person experiencing homelessness in Spain is 42.7 years old. These numbers follow a similar trend across Europe, where there has been a 70% increase in the last 10 years.
  5. Rising Energy Prices: Since the start of the war in Ukraine, energy prices across Spain have risen exponentially. This has caused nearly 4% of middle-class households to spend “more than half of their income on energy,” according to an article that Reuters published.

Minimum Wage Increases Sow Hope for Future Economic Improvements

In February 2023, the Spanish government approved an 8% increase to the nation’s minimum wage, bringing the total increase since 2018 to 47%. Despite the findings of a recent study commissioned by Spain’s Ministry of Labor that found that minimum wage increases caused the loss of 28,000 jobs, it determined that overall wage inequality was reduced and 1.5 million workers had improved living conditions.

In addition, Spain’s economy grew 5.5% in 2022 and the country created nearly 500,000 jobs last year. These promising statistics have given government officials hope that the Spanish economy is headed in the right direction.

– Tristan Weisenbach
Photo: Flickr

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“The Big Catch-up” to Immunity for Children

"The Big Catch-up" to Immunity for ChildrenCOVID-19 has impacted the world in several dire ways, but one that calls for immediate attention is the impact of immunization vaccinations. In light of this, “The Big Catch-Up” to immunity for children is making efforts through initiatives to inspire change.

The Importance of Vaccines

The development of vaccines is, what the president of Global Development at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Chris Elias, describes, as “a public health triumph.” Due to vaccines, the world has near eradicated once-fatal diseases such as poliovirus, measles, diphtheria and yellow fever. For instance, poliovirus in particular has seen a 99% decrease in cases since 1988, dropping from 350,000 a year to a record 30. The World Health Organization (WHO) has forecasted that by the year 2030, vaccines could save 50 million lives.

Beyond immunity and personal health, the importance of vaccines extends to communal and financial benefits. There is a domino effect when children who do not receive vaccines become ill. These children miss out on education, while the caregivers experience a loss of income and productivity as they stay home to provide care. A recent study that examined 94 low to middle-income countries reported a $20 return on every $1 “invested in immunization between 2021 and 2030,” according to the U.N. Foundation. That profit is the result of good health enhancing productivity, education and ability.

The Impact of COVID-19

Before COVID-19, the rate of children receiving immunization vaccinations across the globe was at 86%. According to the U.N. Foundation, this percentage dropped to 81% in 2021, representing approximately 67 million children in more than 100 countries with vulnerability to preventable fatal diseases, with reports of increasing outbreaks. In Africa alone, 8.4 million children go without essential vaccines in 2021.

The reasons for this setback all link to COVID-19. Overburdened health workers, decreased access to clinics, diverted resources, attention and supplies, reduced travel, school closures and increased vaccine misinformation all contributed to the lag in immunization vaccinations across the globe. Fortunately, several health organizations are banding together to catch up to the initial progress in immunity.

The Big Catch-Up Plan

Organizations including WHO, UNICEF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation formed “The Big Catch-up,” in response to COVID-19’s impact on immunization vaccinations. Its mission is to, quite literally, catch up to the immunity progress made pre-pandemic and continue to push beyond that. In addition, there are efforts to introduce the HPV vaccine in low to middle-income countries where the risk is highest, according to the WHO.

The plan particularly focuses on providing vaccines to the 20 countries that saw the most decrease in immunity vaccines for children. These countries include Afghanistan, Angola, Brazil, Cameroon, Chad, DPRK, DRC, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Tanzania and Vietnam.

“The Big Catch-up” aims to restore immunization levels by:

  • Improving health care workforce
  • Projecting accurate information and enhancing trust around vaccines
  • Strengthening health service delivery
  • Addressing obstacles and gaps to restoring immunization

“Catching up is a top priority. No child should die of a vaccine-preventable disease.” – WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Doing Important Work

“The Big Catch-up” to immunity for children is crucial to avoiding another pandemic – this time vaccine-preventable diseases that the world had almost eradicated completely. In fact, measles outbreaks are already being reported across the globe, and just a “small pocket…can be enough to fuel pandemics,” according to News Medical. Part of The Big Catch-up’s plan includes integrating immunization into primary health care, so the disruptions to vaccines experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic are never seen again.

“The longer we wait to reach and vaccinate these children, the more vulnerable they become and the greater the risk of more deadly disease outbreaks. Countries, global partners and local communities must come together to strengthen services, build trust and save lives,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

– Jenny Boxall
Photo: Flickr

Community Organization Helps Stateless Children in Malaysia

Stateless Children in MalaysiaThe Bajau Laut are a historically nomadic, maritime group who have become sedentary, primarily in Eastern Sabah, Malaysia. The group is also present in Indonesia and the Philippines. Its members live on the “edge of a fluid archipelago” between Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. The state often views mobile groups living in periphery regions as a threat, due to their supposed ability to evade state control more than sedentary groups. Moreover, the Bajau Laut’s independence from the land through their reliance on the sea for their livelihoods also made them “ungovernable.” The Bajau Laut have thus been described as “people caught in the marine interstices of the nation-state system… treated as ‘foreigners’ everywhere, as nationals nowhere.” The Bajau Laut are largely undocumented and at risk of statelessness. Unfortunately, the most vulnerable demographic is stateless children in Malaysia.

Challenges for the Bajau Laut

Due to their remote location and lack of awareness, children’s births are often not registered. In addition, due to their lack of identity documents, they are deprived of basic rights, including education and health care. They also have limited freedom of movement. The local authorities have continuously refrained from providing any form of assistance to the community. Since they are not being reached by humanitarian actors, their vulnerability is further increased. Furthermore, they are among the most discriminated-against groups in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. They are at risk of involuntary deportation to their supposed country of origin which is the Philippines.

The Bajau Laut people also live within an area of high conservation and tourism value. As a result, they have had various restrictions imposed on them by tourism and conservation authorities. This further affects stateless children’s access to education. Iskul Sama DiLaut Omadal (Iskul), a community organization, was formed in 2015 to provide children with education, mainly surrounding literacy, hygiene practices and learning the Bahasa Malaysia language. The school also provides free meals for up to 30 Bajau Laut children per class. Women on the islands are able to earn an income by preparing these meals.

The Effect of COVID-19 on Malaysian Children

During the COVID-19 pandemic, stateless children in Malaysia could not attend face-to-face classes and also lacked online access to lessons. Additionally, awareness regarding COVID-19 was low. Iskul addressed this by producing songs and videos about COVID-19 prevention measures and vaccination. The organization encouraged students to sing together and show the videos to their friends. Once in-person classes resumed, the teachers conducted hygiene workshops, encouraging the children to develop good habits such as brushing their teeth every morning. They also appointed student ambassadors to educate family members. This was alongside developing a shadow play theatre production, called ‘Omadal Fights Corona’, to raise awareness around COVID-19. The production was performed for both community members and visitors in the native language. Moreover, the community organization taught pregnant women and new mothers how to manage their health. It also provided this group of women with health supplements.

Furthermore, the strict movement control order implemented by the Malaysian Government to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus adversely affected families and stateless children in Malaysia. This significantly affected fishing, their main source of livelihood. Families suffered two-fold from this, as both their income and their source of food were impacted. Following an announcement by the Sabah government that everyone would be included in food ration distribution, regardless of nationality, and a statement by the Defense Minister to decentralize distribution, Iskul worked with the authorities to expedite and facilitate the food distribution to families on the islands. In order to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the organization ensured that food basket delivery was contingent upon families taking a COVID-19 test. In addition, the community organization also distributed food and vitamin C.

Looking Ahead

These innovative activities undertaken by a small, underfunded school in a remote location highlight the impact of funding community-based organizations, which have the trust of the community. Through these efforts, families on the islands have been able to access lifesaving assistance. This has also enabled stateless children in Malaysia to access education.

– Ottoline Spearman
Photo: Flickr

10 Facts About Poverty in Costa Rica

Facts About Poverty in Costa RicaCosta Rica is a country in Central America with lots of wildlife and citizens that cherish living peacefully. Unfortunately, similar to many other countries, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted poverty in Costa Rica. The following are 10 more facts about poverty in Costa Rica.

10 Facts About the Poverty in Costa Rica

  1. Poverty rates in Costa Rica increased by about 6% between 2019 and 2020.
  2. Costa Rica has the lowest poverty rate in Central America.
  3. Costa Rica’s unemployment rate is between about 7% and 8%.
  4. The current percentage of those in poverty is about 20%.
  5. In June 2020, 419,783 homes were in poverty.
  6. In October 2021, about 23% of Costa Ricans were in poverty.
  7. The two regions in Costa Rica with the highest rates of poverty are the Brunca region and the Huetar Caribe region.
  8. COVID-19 pushed Costa Rica into a recession, resulting in an increase in poverty. Unemployment rates also increased, leaving about 15,500 Costa Ricans looking for jobs.
  9. The following factors are what have been impacting the poverty rates in Costa Rica: a growing population, declining income opportunities for less-educated workers and gender inequality, with only a small percentage of women in the workforce.
  10. In 2020, poverty rates were worse in urban areas compared to rural areas. This was due to the fact that many Costa Ricans in rural areas are farmers. Therefore, those in rural areas have more access to food.

Making Improvements

On the bright side, Costa Rica was able to reduce its poverty rates. In 2022, the poverty rate in Costa Rica was about 3.3%, and the World Bank estimates it could be at 2.7% by 2023. The World Bank and the Costa Rican government partnered up to create the Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs) in order to strengthen Costa Rica’s fiscal sustainability and make its fiscal management more efficient.  Additionally, the organization has also stated that there are projects the Costa Rican government agreed with back in March 2020. Costa Rica has received help in terms of health, fiscal sustainability and policy responses through these projects.

One of these projects is the Sustainable Fisheries Development Project. The purpose of this project is to improve the management of fisheries resources in Costa Rica and invest in Costa Rica’s sustainable fisheries value chain. The project also aims to improve social and environmental sustainability in Costa Rica and improve the monitoring, communications and management of the Costa Rican Institute for Fisheries and Aquaculture. Through such initiatives, the Costa Rican government was able to increase seafood products and, ultimately, increase food security and job opportunities in 2021.

Fiscal Management Improvement Project is another project that the World Bank has mentioned. It aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Costa Rica’s taxes and trading, as well as improve its management. In 2021, Costa Rica’s productivity improved by about 5%.

The Future

In an interview with CCTV, the current Costa Rican president, Rodrigo Chaves Robles stated his plans for helping Costa Rica improve its poverty rates. He hopes to increase Costa Rica’s productivity by creating “more and better-paying jobs.”

Moreover, according to the United Nations (U.N.), the Costa Rican government has been investing in the education of all children, hoping that more women can be integrated into labor markets. Societies in Costa Rica have also become more “prosperous” and health has improved due to these investments.

Overall, despite its increased poverty rates in 2020, poverty in Costa Rica has been able to improve since then due to ongoing initiatives, partnerships with the World Bank and U.N. and action plans taken by the past two Costa Rican presidents.

– Merlis Burgos-Ramos
Photo: Flickr

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COVID-19’s Impact on Poverty in Estonia

COVID-19’s Impact on Poverty in EstoniaThe COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on countries worldwide, with Estonia being no exception. The country, like many others, experienced a range of harsh effects stemming from the pandemic, including a significant rise in poverty rates. COVID-19’s impact on poverty in Estonia involved economic issues such as labor shortages and increasing inflation rates.

Poverty Before and After COVID-19

In 2018, before the pandemic, Estonia’s poverty rate was at its lowest, with only 20% of the country’s population living in poverty. When the pandemic hit in 2019, this number rose to about 60%.

Although Estonia initially had a strong COVID-19 rebound, it eventually encountered a quick and rapid decline in monetary aspects. It experienced a decline in the labor market, which contributed to an increase in poverty. The labor shortage issues have been causing steady price inflation since 2021.

Approximately 75% of Estonians aged 65 or older live in relative poverty, while the poverty rate for women has surged by around 10%. In 2021, 22.8% of Estonians were at risk of poverty. And the number of individuals who were already living in poverty escalated by approximately 2.2% after 2020.

The absolute poverty rate in Estonia is up to 5% as of 2021. The majority of those in absolute poverty are between the age range of 18 to 24 years old.

The heightened poverty rates in Estonia stem directly from the rise in unemployment rates. In 2020, job availability declined, causing many Estonians to lose their employment. Furthermore, certain industries, including social affairs, health care and education, faced difficulty in hiring qualified personnel to fill open positions.

Recovery Efforts

One positive aspect of Estonia’s situation is its existing digital infrastructure, which allowed the country to adapt more seamlessly to the rapid shift toward technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. The country’s advanced technological landscape has facilitated significant improvements in the areas of health and education.

By virtue of digital advancements, Estonia’s public services were able to continue operating without significant disruption during the pandemic. The country launched its e-Cabinet initiative in 2000, transitioning decision-making processes from paper-based documents to digital systems. This initiative was further strengthened in 2020, with minimal negative effects on Estonians, who were already familiar with these technological innovations.

Additionally, Estonia improved its healthcare system by utilizing its expertise in technological innovations. The country developed apps like the ViVeo Health app, which allowed Estonians to connect with health care professionals through video calls.

Measures that Aided Estonians During COVID-19

Between March 2020 and December 2021, the European Commission approved millions of euros on multiple occasions toward schemes that aim to help Estonia recover from the impact of the pandemic.

In addition to the European Commission’s donations, the Estonian government authorized a budget support package that was applied across several agencies and sectors. This support budget resulted in a 9% boost to the gross domestic product from 2018.

Estonia also preordered vaccines from various suppliers to ensure securing enough for its entire population.

Looking Ahead

Overall, COVID-19’s impact on poverty in Estonia has been far-reaching. COVID-19 caused an increase in unemployment and a decrease in job availability, ultimately leading to a rise in poverty rates. However, despite these negative impacts, Estonia continues to make progress in recovering from COVID-19. The country is benefitting from aid from the European Commission, improved fiscal support systems and strong digital advancements.

– Merlis Burgos-Ramos
Photo: Flickr

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Unemployment Inequality in Belize

Unemployment Inequality in Belize

In 2019, over 60,000 people in Belize had employment in the country’s tourism industry. The country’s relatively small economy is primarily dependent on tourism, which accounts for 40% of the country’s GDP and 70% of export proceeds. When the COVID-19 pandemic crossed borders into Central America, unemployment levels rose dramatically with the swift restrictions that were placed on international travel and other major industries. This growth in unemployment was coupled with a simultaneous growth in unemployment inequality in Belize, as the women of Belize found themselves more at risk of unemployment than men.

Unemployment on the Rise

Toward the end of 2019, unemployment began to rise in Belize. Reports indicated a jump from 7.7% to 10.4% in the last quarter. Some suggested that this increase in the unemployment rate was due to an unprecedented growth of the labor force and an insufficient job market. Specifically, women found themselves out of employment more than their male counterparts. Figures indicated that an increase in women entering the workforce effectively flooded the labor market, where there were not enough available jobs.

In all the districts of Belize, unemployment rose significantly in 2019. Research indicates that around 6,200 people found themselves unemployed from April 2019 to September of the same year alone. A staggering three-quarters of this demographic were women.

As COVID-19 crept into the country the following year, it became apparent this pattern was set to continue. COVID-19 created the biggest contraction within Belize’s economy to date, which was already in a precarious way prior to the pandemic. ‘Substantial declines’ in vital industries such as tourism, led to a further increase in unemployment inequality in Belize, which continued from 2020 to 2021.

Impacts of Unemployment

Food Insecurity: The rising unemployment rate in Belize had many profound impacts on affected households. Notably, COVID-19 and unemployment directly correlated with an increase in food insecurity and hunger for Belizeans. 25% of households reported that they were skipping meals as a result of economic struggles from the pandemic, and many children who had main meals at school found their access to food restricted as school closures were imposed across the country.

Gender Inequality: The intersection of gender and unemployment in Belize resulted in a widening gap in unemployment inequality. Micro and small enterprises were hit particularly hard by the pandemic, resulting in many closing down and workers finding themselves unemployed. The majority of business owners within these micro and small enterprises were women, making them particularly vulnerable to unemployment.

On job recovery since COVID-19, this pattern of unemployment inequality continued. 21% of jobs held by men were not recovered after the pandemic, yet 38% of jobs held by women were not recovered. This has led to an increase in unemployment inequality in Belize as more women are finding themselves unemployed than men.

The Solution

However, despite this staggering widening of unemployment inequality in Belize, the government has implemented measures which are proving to be relatively effective so far. Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena for the Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean (ECLAC) has identified that in order to reduce the prevalent poverty and hunger rates in Belize, employment policy must be at the center of government policy making. In response, the government has built on the Horizon 2030 Vision Project, which has been running since 2010 to support long term development in Belize.

The Horizon 2030 Vision is focusing on increasing employment opportunities in the Northern Triangle and Southern Region of Belize, for all Belizeans, including women and indigenous people. These two priority areas are seeing investment and protection of small and medium enterprises, and an increase in trade agreements such as the Belize-Guatemala border, in the aim of job creation.

Results

Since Belize implemented this in 2021, a steady decrease in unemployment has been seen as the country begins to reverse the negative impacts of COVID-19. Between 2021 and 2022, unemployment decreased by over half from 10.2% to 5%. This was coupled with a significant increase in the country’s GDP as economic performance and productivity was boosted, which is expected to continue.

To tackle the inequality amongst unemployed persons in Belize, the government increased funding for targeted social spending, such as BOOST, a cash transfer program designed to support families in sending their children to school. This program has been successful in increasing enrolment figures which has directly resulted in increasing the female labor force participation in Belize. As of October 2022, female participation in the labor market stands at 44%. This is a positive result which is indicative of a continuing trend of tackling unemployment inequality in Belize.

– Ariana Mortazavi
Photo: Flickr