Archive for category: Disease

Information and news about disease category

, ,

The Fight Against Tuberculosis in Timor-Leste

Tuberculosis in Timor-Leste
To much of the developed world, tuberculosis may seem like a distant threat. In 2024, however, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 10.7 million people developed TB worldwide and 1.23 million died from the disease. The WHO South-East Asia Region accounted for 34% of global TB cases, making it central to efforts to reduce the disease burden. Recently, efforts have increased to combat tuberculosis worldwide.

Why Tuberculosis in Timor-Leste is So Prevalent

The circumstances facing this small Southeast Asian nation demonstrate the challenges surrounding tuberculosis in Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste is a small, ethnically diverse country on the Malay Archipelago, about 400 kilometers north of Australia. Following the 1999 referendum that began its transition from Indonesian rule, Timor-Leste has struggled with extreme poverty, with an estimated 44% of the population living on less than three dollars a day.

When a person becomes seriously ill in Timor-Leste, location and income limit options. About 70% of the population lives in rural areas. That means in order to get to a hospital, a would-be patient must make a journey of several hours, most likely on foot. With a lack of paved roads and a steep, mountainous environment, travel can be taxing. Accounting for the intense heat of the dry season and the flash floods of the rainy season, the trip becomes almost impossible for an ill person to endure. For many Timor-Leste citizens, reaching a hospital when illness strikes is not a realistic option. These barriers help explain why access to tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment remains challenging in Timor-Leste.

Efforts to Address Health Care Access in Timor-Leste

Since the pandemic, a time when many nations became attuned to the state of their health care systems, some organizations implemented efforts to fix this issue in Timor-Leste. In 2020, for example, the IOM—a branch of the UN’s migration offices—developed a program to train health care workers in Timor-Leste to use new diagnostic technologies. The program aimed to strengthen tuberculosis diagnosis and build the skills of health care workers in Timor-Leste. In 2024, IOM reported its successes: they had trained six radiographers, 60 medical doctors, and three laboratory technicians to detect tuberculosis with sophisticated new technologies, as well as educating 700 health care workers on tuberculosis diagnostic guidelines, according to an article on their website. These figures represent improvement, but the fight will not end without help from allies abroad.

International Efforts Against Tuberculosis

Combatting tuberculosis in Timor-Leste requires support. By providing the resources necessary to make health care accessible, hundreds of lives can be saved every year. With this in mind, on June 11, 2026, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire) and Todd Young (Indiana) officially reintroduced the End Tuberculosis Now Act. The bipartisan bill would make tuberculosis elimination a U.S. foreign-assistance priority and strengthen coordination around research, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Senator Young stated: “Tuberculosis is preventable, treatable and curable, yet it continues to claim far too many lives around the world. The End Tuberculosis Now Act will strengthen efforts to expand access to diagnosis and treatment, support the development of new tools and vaccines and improve our ability to detect and respond to future infectious disease threats. By helping countries combat tuberculosis before it spreads further, we can save lives, strengthen global health security and better protect Americans from emerging infectious diseases.”

It remains to be seen whether Congress will pass the bill. The legislation is one example of international policy efforts aimed at reducing the global burden of tuberculosis.

– Madison Hoar

Madison is based in Birmingham, AL, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Fish Could Help Reduce Schistosomiasis in Senegal

Schistosomiasis in SenegalIn a study with implications that could change the fight against poverty in rural Senegal, researchers working along the northern Senegal River basin found an unexpected solution to schistosomiasis in Senegal. The parasite, which disproportionately affects those facing extreme poverty, may be reduced through native fish.

Schistosomiasis, a snail-borne disease, spreads when parasite larvae released by freshwater snails penetrate the skin during contact with infested water. The resulting symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, liver enlargement and kidney damage. In children, schistosomiasis can cause anemia and affect health and school attendance. An affordable solution to schistosomiasis in Senegal was found close to home, or more accurately, in rice fields. This shows researchers that when examining causes and effects of global poverty, they may not need to look far for a solution.

Neglected Tropical Disease in Senegal

Schistosomiasis is a type of neglected tropical disease, or NTD. More well-known NTDs include leprosy and rabies, but these diseases share one important fact: they disproportionately affect those in poverty. It is estimated that NTDs affect more than a billion people, with schistosomiasis prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas.

Those more likely to be infected include children who swim or play in infested water and farmers and fishers whose work brings them into regular contact with freshwater. Control of schistosomiasis relies on prevention and treatment, including preventive chemotherapy, access to safe water, improved sanitation, behavior change and snail control.

Solution of Native Fish

Researchers working along the northern Senegal River basin studied how releasing native freshwater fish in rice paddy fields could reduce the risk of schistosomiasis. The two fish, African bonytongue and Nile tilapia, thrived in the fields, even without researchers actively feeding them. Eating infected snails and competing with them for resources naturally decreased the snail population. After the release of native fish, researchers observed that paddy fields with fish carried fewer parasite-hosting snails. This could reduce the risk of infection for farmers and their families.

The effects of African bonytongue and Nile tilapia are threefold: reducing the risk of infection; improving soil nutrients and increasing rice yields by more than 25 percent; and providing farmers with an additional potential source of income through fishing.

Final Thoughts

The causes and effects of poverty are often cyclical. A health condition can create financial pressure that contributes to poverty, while poverty can increase vulnerability to health conditions. Addressing multiple elements of global poverty is necessary to find a solution. A cost-effective approach such as releasing native fish into rice paddy fields could have wide-reaching, multidimensional effects. While it does not replace serious funding, treatment and infrastructure changes, finding simple, affordable and effective solutions can make a difference.

Researchers are now exploring how rice-fish farming can be expanded across more farms in Senegal.

– Madalyn Youngbauer

Madalyn is based in Worcester, MA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

, , ,

How Telemedicine Expands Healthcare in Rural Pakistan

Healthcare in Rural PakistanFor a patient living in a remote Pakistani community, seeing a doctor can require more than making an appointment. Long distances, transportation costs and limited access to specialists can make healthcare difficult to reach, especially for lower-income families. Telemedicine in Pakistan offers one solution by connecting patients with healthcare professionals through digital platforms and remote consultations.

Pakistan has begun moving telemedicine beyond individual online consultations and into local health facilities. Recent government initiatives show how digital health can connect rural communities with doctors while allowing nurses and other health workers to provide support on the ground. Here is more information about how telemedicine is expanding healthcare access in rural Pakistan.

Why Rural Communities Need Better Healthcare Access

Healthcare access in rural Pakistan is challenging due to significant barriers. The World Bank estimates that about 60.5% of Pakistan’s population lived in rural areas in 2025. Rural communities also experience higher poverty rates than urban communities, which makes the cost and accessibility of health services especially important.

For some rural patients, reaching a hospital or specialist requires a long journey. Transportation costs can add another burden for families with limited incomes. For people living in poverty, the cost of traveling to a distant hospital can also mean sacrificing money needed for food or other household necessities. Workers who depend on daily wages may also lose income when they have to spend a day traveling for medical care. These barriers can discourage people from seeking care or cause them to delay treatment.

Healthcare costs can create an additional burden for low-income families. According to the World Bank, poverty remains significantly higher in rural areas than in urban areas of Pakistan. Improving access to healthcare is therefore important not only for people’s health but also for protecting vulnerable families from additional financial pressure.

Telemedicine can address part of this problem. A 2024 study in “Frontiers in Public Health” found that telehealth can reduce travel-related costs and time while improving access to healthcare for people in rural and isolated areas.

How Telemedicine Brings Doctors Closer

Telemedicine allows patients to communicate with doctors without traveling to a distant hospital for every consultation. Depending on the service, patients can discuss symptoms, receive medical advice and access follow-up care through video calls or other digital platforms.

Sehat Kahani, a Pakistani digital health organization, uses a nurse-assisted e-clinic model to connect patients in underserved communities with doctors remotely. Nurses can assist patients at local clinics while doctors provide consultations through digital platforms.

The model also creates opportunities for doctors to serve patients from a distance. Sehat Kahani’s network includes thousands of doctors and its digital platform has delivered about 1 million consultations, according to 100X Impact Accelerator. The organization reports that women make up a majority of its trained doctors, including women who have returned to medical practice through flexible telehealth work.

This approach can address two problems at once: communities gain access to doctors while qualified medical professionals can provide care without working from a traditional hospital or clinic.

Pakistan Expands Digital Healthcare

Pakistan’s government has recently taken steps to integrate telemedicine into primary healthcare.

On Jan. 6, 2026, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination worked with Sehat Kahani to launch a paperless, telemedicine-enabled Basic Health Unit in Gokina, Islamabad. The center uses secure video consultations, electronic medical records, digital prescriptions and pharmacy management systems. Nurses at the facility help patients through consultations and follow-up care.

The government expanded this effort on Jan. 14, 2026, when the Federal Health Minister inaugurated another digitalized telemedicine center at Bhambar Tarar near Islamabad. The Ministry of Health reported that the area had a Basic Health Unit but lacked a posted doctor. Residents previously needed more than an hour to reach major hospitals in Islamabad.

The new center allows residents to receive medical consultations locally. Health workers can also refer patients who need more advanced treatment to tertiary hospitals.

The government also announced an agreement with Sehat Kahani under which 5,000 online doctors will provide remote consultations. The government has described telemedicine as a permanent part of Pakistan’s national healthcare system and plans to establish 10 telemedicine centers.

A Solution With Room To Grow

Telemedicine cannot replace every form of medical care. Doctors still need to examine some patients in person and communities need reliable internet access, digital devices and trained health workers to use telemedicine effectively.

However, Pakistan’s recent initiatives show how the country can combine digital services with local health facilities. Instead of requiring every patient to travel to a major city, a local health center can connect patients with doctors elsewhere while nurses provide in-person support.

Telemedicine in Pakistan can also help reduce some of the financial burden associated with traveling long distances for healthcare. For low-income families, avoiding unnecessary transportation expenses and reducing time away from work can make medical consultations more accessible.

Sehat Kahani’s experience also shows that telemedicine can operate at scale. Its platform has already delivered about 1 million consultations while its network of doctors continues to connect patients with medical professionals across Pakistan.

Looking Ahead

As Pakistan expands its digital health infrastructure, telemedicine in Pakistan can help reduce some of the geographic and financial barriers that affect underserved communities. By bringing qualified doctors closer to patients through technology, Pakistan can move toward a healthcare system where access depends less on a person’s location or ability to travel and improve healthcare access in rural Pakistan.

– Afia Atif

Afia is based in Chenab Nagar, Pakistan and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

, ,

Malaria Vaccination Program in Rwanda Helps Families in Poverty 

Malaria Vaccination Program in RwandaThe consequences of malaria have recently continued to affect the lives of families across Rwanda. According to the World Food Programme (WFP) poverty affects 27.4% of Rwanda’s population. Being sick with this life-threatening disease can result in lost income due to absence from work, which is detrimental, as Rwandan’s household savings are essential to spend on treatment from clinics. The lack of the benefit of earning a household income has led to financial strain on Rwandan families and pushed them into extreme poverty. Nevertheless, the new malaria vaccination program in Rwanda has helped families out of poverty. Organizations such as GAVI and UNICEF fund this free rollout, which can secure domestic incomes and give families an opportunity for financial security.

Malaria’s Impact on Household Incomes

 Malaria has imposed an economic burden on Rwanda. The Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) has reported an increase in malaria prevalence in Rwanda, with the disease affecting 76 people per 1,000 population—equivalent to 7.6%—in the 2024/2025 period, up from 4.5% recorded in 2023/2024. This has reduced the country’s economic growth, as families struggle with higher costs for essential goods and services and lack basic needs, which will inevitably push them into deeper poverty. As seen in high-deprivation regions, the price of food, transportation and school equipment amplifies the strain on low household incomes. This situation forces families to choose between medical care and necessities. This situation can decrease Rwanda’s economy and lead to a lack of internal wealth that affects trade, infrastructure and levels of employability.

Government-Led Immunization Strategy

 Nevertheless, Rwanda’s Ministry of Health began its malaria vaccine program in 2024. RBC figures show that in 2025/2026, malaria cases stood at 928,616, down from 1,131,314 in 2024/2025, indicating a recent decline after the previous surge. Thus, the Ministry of Health integrated the vaccine into childhood immunization to ensure households can access jabs at local Rwandan clinics without transportation costs.

 Experts say this will help reduce malaria cases in Rwanda, with improvements reported in mid-2026. In Rwanda, national childhood vaccination coverage is at 95%, yet gaps persist in reaching last-mile and hard-to-reach populations. Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a critical role in promoting and delivering vaccination services at the community level. This majority of vaccinated children reduces emergency appointments at clinics and financial strain on households.

GAVI and UNICEF’S Role

Since 2024, Gavi has played a significant role in the new malaria vaccination program in Rwanda. Gavi introduced the malaria vaccines RTS,S and R21/Matrix-M through procurement deals that enabled Rwanda to access affordable malaria vaccines while reducing hospitalizations. Gavi’s website stated that “[a]ccording to WHO estimates, the vaccine saves 1 life for every 200 children vaccinated.” Here, Gavi partnered with UNICEF to subsidize the entire cost, making the malaria vaccine free to every Rwandan child. Gavi financing the vaccine and UNICEF procuring it, with the Rwandan Ministry of Health delivering it through immunization, benefits every Rwandan citizen by protecting them from financial strain.

Vaccination Produces Widespread Economic Benefits

Recent results from the new malaria vaccination program in Rwanda show that it has directly reduced poverty across the country. The Rwandan government’s relationship with the organization Gavi has helped communities access life-changing protection that keeps children and adults safe while preventing families from extreme medical costs. This organization shows how international interventions can lift deprived countries out of poverty while strengthening national economic development.

– Alexandra Eaton

Alexandra is based in Birmingham, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

,

From Polio to Lassa Fever in Nigeria

Lassa Fever in NigeriaIn August 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Nigeria free of wild polio. The virus was responsible for hundreds of deaths each year. Nigeria eradicated the disease through the implementation of public health systems and educational programs. Health experts tracked the disease by developing organized health systems and data trackers, and by testing wastewater for contaminants to catch outbreaks early. Mobile vaccine clinics also helped mobilize thousands of young children, and educational programs taught communities how to avoid the virus through sanitization. The fight against polio expanded the capacity of Nigeria’s healthcare systems and taught health experts essential methods for fighting disease. Not only was polio eradicated, but Nigeria gained a skill set to protect its population from future diseases.

Lassa Fever in Nigeria

Lassa fever was first recognized in 1969 in Lassa, Nigeria. In 15% of extreme cases, victims develop severe symptoms such as bleeding from mucus membranes and accumulation of fluid in the lungs. This leads to a 15-25% mortality rate. The multimammate rat, one of the most common rodents in the region, carries the disease and contaminates all who come into close contact with it or its secretions. Contaminated individuals can then transmit Lassa fever through feces, urine, blood and saliva. This makes the disease highly contagious, particularly in rodent reservoirs or communities with large rodent populations.

The Deadly Consequences of Poverty

Most causes of Lassa fever can be traced to poor sanitation practices and poor infrastructure that allow for close habitation with rodent populations. This means that Lassa fever primarily affects Nigerians in poverty. In Nigeria, 122 million people live in poverty. Further, 57 million people lack access to safe water, and 130 million lack adequate sanitation. Despite these high numbers, only 3.5% of the national budget goes toward public health. This allows diseases like Lassa fever to predominantly affect the most vulnerable or those in poverty. Impoverished communities are far more susceptible to the spread of the disease, and educational and resource barriers make the consequences of contamination catastrophic.

Lassa Fever Today

Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1,000 confirmed Lassa fever cases and 237 deaths as of late July 2026. That marks a case fatality rate of 23.7%, well above the 18.8% recorded during the same period in 2025. The outbreak has spread across 23 states, though roughly 86% of confirmed cases remain concentrated in five states: Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo and Benue. The situation continues to evolve week by week.

Despite the gravity of the outbreak, Nigeria is better prepared thanks to lessons learned in combating wild polio. Humanitarian funding sponsored health care systems support and vaccination efforts during the polio fight, and a similar pattern is now emerging in the response to Lassa fever.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a partnership between aid groups such as WHO, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the CDC, has transitioned its services toward helping with Lassa fever outbreaks in Nigeria. The initiative developed surveillance systems to track polio, vaccine distribution methods to help eradicate the disease, and integration systems to inform communities about the importance and safety of vaccinations. GPEI now uses these same methods and systems to efficiently fight Lassa fever. Knowledge gained from the polio fight has helped organizations like GPEI and the Nigerian government track the disease’s progress through data systems and wastewater testing, identify at-risk communities, and educate people on health care and sanitization. These methods cannot ensure the immediate eradication of Lassa fever, but Nigeria’s experience fighting disease allows for more efficient solutions than those used during prior epidemics.

Other Humanitarian Aid Groups

The Sanitas Health and Development Foundation has committed more than $860,000 to provide structural support to health care organizations, help strategically plan the public health sector, and organize technological health systems to improve outcomes. These donations will enable better systems to track and defeat Lassa fever. The Hope Compassion and Mercy Foundation has separately committed $280,000 toward the cause. Its funding will go toward training health care workers, funding mobile clinics and rehabilitating or constructing permanent health care clinics for lasting impact.

Aid’s Impact

The fight against deadly viruses in Nigeria is becoming more manageable as vaccinations become more universal and experience in fighting diseases grows. More Nigerians trust routine medical work, and more vaccine clinics have emerged in remote regions. These clinics offer wider access to treatments for ailments such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), in addition to vaccinations against diseases such as polio, measles, Ebola and Lassa fever.

Nigeria has faced a long history of deadly diseases, with those in poverty the most vulnerable. That history is tragic, but it also offers hope for a future where deadly viruses can be defeated. Lessons from the fight against polio have made the response to Lassa fever more efficient and effective, and the international humanitarian community continues to show dedicated efforts to aid the response.

– Aubrey Wallen

Aubrey is based in Alexandria, VA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Diseases Impacting Venezuela

Diseases Impacting VenezuelaOutbreaks of infectious diseases are the primary health challenges impacting the population and shelter infrastructure in Venezuela. A June 24, 2026, 7.2 magnitude earthquake along Venezuela’s northern coast affected people significantly, along with a subsequent 7.5 magnitude earthquake that killed 32 people, injured 700 people and devastated areas as distant as La Guaira state 160 km east. The earthquakes impacted 1.7 million buildings resulting in widespread power outages across several states.

Of Venezuela’s 31.7 million population, 20 million (63.1%) already lived in poverty, population susceptibility to contracting infectious diseases was high due to no government epidemiological bulletin publications since 2016 and early economic loss predictions outlines costs of 7% of Venezuela’s $111 billion GDP. Structural losses immediately exacerbated the issue of infectious diseases impacting Venezuelan earthquake victims through eliminating their access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, healthcare workers, hospitals, adequate medical care and nutritious food. Increasing earthquake victims’ susceptibility to infectious diseases such as measles, dengue and yellow fever, malaria, diarrhea and skin infections.

Concerns

  • Infectious Disease Treatment Challenges: Medical care services have been sparse due to the impact of the earthquakes on regional healthcare facilities and the fact that they were already 37% short of essential medicines following years of poor economic investment. A Pan-American Healthcare Association (PAHO) analysis showed that more than 50 hospitals in seven states are still functioning but that many facilities experienced critical structural damage. Additionally, the earthquakes resulted in the evacuation of three hospitals, the damaging of 20 primary care units and overcrowding in healthcare facilities. Corpse remains have also led to disease outbreaks and contamination risks.
  • Rising Fatality and Victim Rates: The Los Angeles (LA) Times reported that Venezuela’s health system, which was already weakened by an eight-year economic depression leading to the departure of more than half of the nation’s doctors and other skilled health professionals, had, by July 11, 2026, helped elevate the earthquake’s death toll to 3,800, with 16,700 people injured.
  • Infrastructure Damage: The earthquake destruction zone now presents economic challenges at an estimated $37 billion in losses, including $24 billion in housing and healthcare damage, $13 billion worth of mostly road and energy generation infrastructure damage, meaning 650,000 people will need humanitarian assistance with approximately 17,000 left homeless. Economic disruption means costs will rise further and shelter and healthcare reconstruction efforts become heavily constrained by a pre-existing weak economy.

Solutions

  • Imminent Infectious Disease Treatment: UN subsidiaries have sent 68 tonnes of medical, WASH and household supplies, alongside contributing primary healthcare services through distributing hygiene kits and further sanitation infrastructure fueled by $306 million worth of funding from The Humanitarian Response Plan for Venezuela and private-sector donations.
  • Managing Fatality and Victim Rates: PAHO has presently recovered 6,400 people by concentrating on early recovery, mobilizing emergency specialist expertise, providing health services such as sanitary post-mortem care, diagnostic imaging and immunizations, alongside pleas for a $24 million emergency fund to enable epidemiological surveillance in the earthquake destruction zone.
  • Remedying Regional Infrastructure Damage: La Guaira state sport complexes are providing their facilities as temporary logistics hubs for the storing of health, water and food aid. Their athletic facilities also offer shelter for thousands of displaced people. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is trying to sustain infrastructure advancements, “seeking $14.85 million to support up to 30, 000 people with shelter and essential aid over the next six months.”

Looking Ahead

June 2026 publications painted a grave picture of what presently, and in the future lay ahead for Venezuela, its pre-earthquake impoverished population of 20 million and its healthcare services. Earthquake destruction zone infectious disease challenges clearly reside, yet by both national and international aid recognizing this issue, prompt economic, shelter and medical relief has advanced future stability against the multitude of current factors that encourage the problem of infectious diseases impacting Venezuela. 

– Oliver Jones

Oliver is based in Cheshire, UK and focuses on Business and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

3 Organizations Fighting Heart Disease in the Philippines

Heart Disease in the PhilippinesOne of the Philippines’ most common crises includes heart diseases like heart failure, hypertensive heart disease and ischemic heart disease. Cardiovascular disease causes one-third of deaths in the Philippines. An example of its impact is during a 6-month period from January to July in 2023, where doctors recorded more than 65,000 ischemic heart disease cases, accounting for 19% of all deaths. This has weakened many Filipinos’ immune systems, making them highly vulnerable. While this remains a severe challenge in the Philippines, three organizations have stepped up to the cause and started fighting heart disease in the country.

The Connection Between Poverty and Heart Disease

The link between poverty and heart disease is striking. As of 2023, 15.5% of the Filipino population lives below the national poverty line. The causes of cardiovascular disease include the inability to afford proper living conditions, limited access to food and dirty water — all challenges that low-income Filipinos face daily. They also confront another difficult sacrifice: a normal heart failure hospitalization in a private hospital costs about ₱42,000, which exceeds 10% of the average Filipino’s annual salary. The nation covers only some of this cost, forcing Filipinos to choose between survival and a long treatment. Research from the University of the Philippines highlights a shortage of doctors relative to the population, and too many cardiovascular disease patients receive diagnoses far too late for quality treatment. Here is information about three organizations fighting heart disease in the Philippines.

1. Children’s Heart Foundation

The Children’s Heart Foundation stands among several organizations working to change the lives of people with heart disease. It works to address heart problems so that future generations experience fewer cardiovascular diseases, improving global health. Volunteers founded it in 2000 and launched it with a fundraiser for a single cardiovascular patient. Since then, it has evolved into a nonprofit organization that serves low-income Filipinos tirelessly. It provides quality medical care for free, stopping many heart diseases before they turn fatal. Partnering with the Philippines Heart Center, the foundation delivers financial aid to those who need it most. It also builds a network connecting young and old patients, creating valuable social opportunities.

2. Gift of Life International

Gift of Life International provides care to children suffering from heart disease in the Philippines. This international organization receives requests to aid certain countries, with the greatest need coming from Manila. It has built strong partnerships with local groups and have saved more than 7,000 Filipino children. Gift of Life International pursues four main goals: securing donations, helping people with cardiovascular disease across multiple nations, handling incoming requests and managing volunteer involvement in ongoing efforts. This organization sets a strong example for others on how to improve healthcare access in the Philippines.

3. The Philips Foundation

The Philips Foundation also tackles the challenge of diagnosing cardiovascular heart disease early so that patients avoid fatal consequences. It raises awareness about global health across communities in the Philippines. Its plan involves training 200 teachers to identify students with cardiovascular diseases, a strategy that could save many lives by allowing teachers to spot warning signs early and enable sooner treatment. Using techniques like handheld ultrasound screeners, the program reaches areas where no nearby medical facilities exist. In the future, this project could expand across the entire Philippines, inspiring further change in the fight against heart disease.

Looking Ahead

Certain organizations are driving real progress against heart disease in the Philippines. Through financial assistance, lifesaving surgery and innovative early detection tools, organizations like the Children’s Heart Foundation, Gift of Life International and the Philips Foundation are changing the numbers for heart disease patients in the Philippines. These efforts create safer and more equitable conditions for Filipinos and their future generations, proving that the fight against heart disease in the Philippines moves in the right direction.

– Brijesh Mohan

Brijesh is based in Kendall Park, NJ, USA and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

5 Things You Need to Know About Diabetes in the Philippines

Diabetes in the PhilippinesWith more people living sedentary lifestyles, having less healthy diets and obesity becoming more prevalent around the world, the threat of diabetes is more apparent than ever. This chronic disease affects millions of people globally, and those in low-income countries are especially vulnerable to its effects. The Philippines, in particular, has seen an increasing number of diabetes cases, with recent estimates reaching almost 5 million Filipino adults. Here are five crucial things to know about diabetes in the Philippines.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is a chronic illness that affects the body’s ability to produce or effectively use insulin, a hormone that breaks down sugar in the blood so that the body can use it for energy. Without insulin, sugar cannot be broken down, leading to a buildup in the blood. Over time, elevated blood sugar levels can lead to serious and potentially fatal complications such as kidney failure, cardiac arrest, stroke, blindness and limb amputation.

In 2024, approximately 4.7 million adults in the Philippines were reported to have diabetes, increasing from 4.2 million in 2011. Almost 30,000 people have Type 1 diabetes, a third of whom are children. Concern over the prevalence of diabetes in the Philippines continues to grow as the number of adults with diabetes is expected to nearly double by 2050. In 2024 alone, diabetes contributed to the deaths of nearly 44,000 Filipinos, making it one of the top five causes of death in the country.

Culture and Diabetes in the Philippines

Food is an important aspect of Filipino culture, with many social events and celebrations centered around eating. However, certain eating habits common in the Philippines can increase the risk of diabetes. Many popular Filipino foods, such as adobo and lechon, tend to be high in refined carbohydrates, sodium, saturated fats, cholesterol and added sugar. Overconsumption of these types of food can increase the risk of developing diabetes by contributing to obesity, making the body more resistant to insulin and increasing blood sugar levels. Other factors such as a lack of physical activity, smoking, drinking alcohol and barriers to accessing medical care also contribute to the risk of diabetes in the Philippines.

Treatment Access

The ongoing treatment of diabetes and related health complications is expensive. On average, it costs the Philippines about $2 billion annually to address diabetes-related health concerns. With about 15.5%, or 17.5 million people in the Philippines living below the national poverty line, many cannot afford critical medical interventions such as glucose monitors and insulin injections. These financial barriers not only prevent people from treating their diabetes, but they also prevent people from getting diagnosed. In the Philippines, it is estimated that more than half of people with diabetes have not been diagnosed. Without a diagnosis, people living with diabetes cannot begin the process of getting life-saving treatment.

Organizations Helping to Address Diabetes in the Philippines

In response to the growing global concern about diabetes, several health initiatives have been created to provide treatment to those living with diabetes, including people in the Philippines. For example, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Diabetes Compact was launched in 2021 to ensure that people with diabetes are diagnosed, have good control of their blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and receive affordable, quality treatment.

WHO has also collaborated with local community resources in the Philippines to help address diabetes-related issues in a few regions. The Healthy Hearts Programme helps people living with diabetes in the Philippines manage their illness by teaching them and their families about diabetes and providing medical treatment such as insulin and blood pressure monitors. The program has helped people such as 13-year-old Brielle Paulino manage his diabetes. Paulino lives with Type 1 diabetes and, thanks to the Healthy Hearts Programme, he is able to give himself insulin injections and monitor his blood sugar so that he can one day fulfill his dream of becoming a chef.

Looking Ahead

The increasing prevalence of diabetes in the Philippines raises concerns over the health and well-being of millions of people. With more people adopting sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets, it is crucial to bring awareness to this disease and how it can not only be treated but also prevented. Thanks to global initiatives, people in low-income countries living with diabetes have a better chance at living long, fulfilling lives.

– Lily Alexander

Lily is based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, , ,

Outbreak of Ebola in the DRC Poses Major Health Risk

Ebola in the DRCA recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), concentrated in two of the region’s major provinces, poses a major health risk for citizens and aid workers who are striving to contain the virus and combat the spread of the disease. The outbreak threatens to become one of the worst the country has seen, as limited resources, a lack of funding, community resistance and food crises hamper treatment efforts.

What Have Ebola Outbreaks Looked Like for the DRC in the Past?

Ebola was first recognized in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976 after an outbreak in the Équateur province– 318 cases were reported, with the majority occurring within 70 km of Yambuku village. The DRC has experienced numerous, periodic outbreaks of the different strains of the Ebola virus. Some strains have a fatality rate of 90%. The current outbreak is the 16th that has plagued the country since it initially arose. The absence of approved medical countermeasures, international aid and lack of robust social services and health care exacerbate the outbreaks.

The outbreak comes as the country faces a humanitarian crisis as 26.5 million people nationwide experience food insecurity, which internal conflict and displacement mainly drive. Indeed, data that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) collected shows that the country holds the most individuals facing food insecurity– malnutrition and food gaps run rampant, and the issue is worsened with economic insecurity, conflict and internal displacement. Flooding and the impacts of lean season (September to November) and reduced international aid push vulnerable populations to higher stages of risk. Populations in the country are far more susceptible to contracting the disease in malnourished states.

How Did the Outbreak Start?

The Congolese Health Ministry declared an outbreak of the disease on May 15, and within just under a month, the number of those infected rivals that of some of the largest Ebola outbreaks in the country’s history. The Health Ministry has confirmed more than 1,200 cases. The current death toll stands at 360.

Experts believe that the outbreak started in Mongbwalu, which is a small mining town in the Ituri province. This is due to the high presence of fruit bats, a natural carrier of the disease. Health officials on the ground warn that without urgent intervention, the virus may become the worst outbreak the country has seen.

What Does Treatment on the Ground Look Like?

Individuals in the DRC who suspect they have the virus must wait days for test results to come back from the regional capital, Bunia, as kits are difficult to come by. Many symptoms match those of other more common diseases such as malaria and typhoid, which has been further exacerbating the issue. Hospitals are underprepared to deal with the outbreak at the rate it’s been spreading. Despite warnings and knowledge of the severity of the virus and its contagiousness, caring relatives, neighbors and friends, who are striving to support and save their loved ones, frequent hospitals.

Temporary shelters and structures have emerged in North Kivu and Ituri, the two northeastern provinces where the outbreak has been most concentrated. Despite the fact that the DRC has seen an abundance of Ebola outbreaks in its history, the nature of this particular strain has made the virus extremely difficult to identify and combat. Many locals are infuriated with the way the DRC has handled treatment and have been pushing officials and hospital personnel to act faster and do more to stave off the effects of the illness.

What Has Been the International Response?

Multiple countries and world organizations, such as the United States, South Africa and the European Union Commission, have pledged millions of dollars to work to support the DRC and stop the outbreak, sending equipment, supplies, doctors and health experts. After the initial outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) delivered more than 11 tons of medical supplies and equipment to the country. Meanwhile, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) established an air bridge to send supplies from the capital Bunia to the Ituri province.

This Bundibugyo strain of Ebola does not have a cure or vaccine. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the risk of the virus spreading to the United States as low at this time. However, multiple countries have established a travel ban to the region. The United States has heavily urged individuals to stop travel to the DRC and neighboring Uganda and South Sudan, with Canada enforcing a 90 day ban.

– Ella Goulet

Ella is based in Seattle, WA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

, ,

3 Diseases Impacting Costa Rica: Ways To Prevent & Treat Them

Diseases Impacting Costa RicaCosta Rica is a country in Central America, located between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, neighboring Panama and Nicaragua. It has a population of around 5,174,564 people, out of all the other Central American countries, many regard Costa Rica’s government as the most stable and democratic and has a beautiful landscape and scenery. It has also been home to quite deadly and common diseases with terrifying effects and symptoms.

These diseases seriously disrupt people’s everyday lives and are dangerous if left untreated. Each one of these viruses is preventable and has treatments that ensure lives are saved, but because the country struggles with poverty, many of its people are unable to safely access medical care and treatment. Here is information about three diseases impacting Costa Rica and the efforts that are addressing them.

1. Hantavirus

Hantavirus is a group of zoonotic viruses that rodents carry and transmit to humans through direct contact with infected rodents or their bodily fluids. Areas at high risk of disease are barns, storage rooms, rustic cabins and poorly ventilated rural buildings due to high rodent activity.

The illness can be quite severe and deadly to people, but it varies depending on the specific type of hantavirus, which includes hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) and haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). It also depends on the geographical location and climate. Now, Costa Rica has not seen a large hantavirus outbreak, unlike their South American neighbors, but the threat is still there and people must be careful. Hantavirus transmits through contact with infected rodents or their droppings.

In humans, the symptoms may vary depending on the type of hantavirus; for example, HCPS causes rapid coughing, shortness of breath, accumulation of fluid in the lungs and shock. Meanwhile, for HFRS, the symptoms are low blood pressure, bleeding disorders and kidney failure.

Diagnosing the illness can be tricky due to it sharing common symptoms with other illnesses like influenza and COVID-19, meaning that extra attention is necessary when symptoms do arise and people must seek medical care as soon as possible. As of now, there are no current specific vaccines available for the disease, but medical care at its early stages can improve the outcomes. To prevent the disease, reducing contact with rodents is a good start. Some effective measures include keeping homes and workplaces clean, sealing any openings that allow rodents to enter buildings, storing food securely and dampening contaminated areas before cleaning,

2. Dengue

Dengue is a viral infection that transmits through mosquito bites, which transfers the virus to a person’s bloodstream. It is common in tropical and subtropical areas where the buzzing critters inhabit. Costa Rica has a history of dengue cases, with it reporting more than 27,000 cases by October 2024 and a decline in cases in 2025 with only 1,802 reported. This reduction in cases is likely due to the increase in vector-control throughout the country. In 2026, dengue remains a common disease, even if it’s on a lower scale than the previous surge, people must still be cautious and aware of this illness.

Symptoms may include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea and vomiting, swollen glands and rashes. However, in the case a person gets infected with dengue a second time, the illness becomes more severe with symptoms of severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums or nose, fatigue and restlessness, blood in vomit or stool, extreme thirst, pale and cold skin and feelings of weakness. People experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.

There is a single vaccine available, QDenga, which is only recommended for people aged 6–16 years. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), several more vaccines are in the development stage, with a few under evaluation for this disease. It is also highly important to avoid bites from mosquitoes in general with the use of mosquito nets at night, along with mosquito repellent and wearing protective clothing. If a person gets dengue, they must rest, drink plenty of liquids, take paracetamol for the pain, but avoid anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen and aspirin and be aware if they have any severe symptoms and see a doctor if that’s the case.

3. Chikungunya

Chikungunya is yet another mosquito-related viral disease, particularly the Aedes mosquito. The disease results from the chikungunya virus and passes through mosquito bites into the blood vessels. The name comes from the Kimakonde language of southern Tanzania, meaning “that which bends up,” which describes the severe joint pain those infected with the disease experience.

Its symptoms are sudden fever, muscle pain, severe joint pain, joint swelling, rashes, headache and fatigue. These symptoms can often be mistaken for other illnesses due to overlapping; for example, Zika and dengue have similar symptoms, and as a result, misdiagnosis becomes a large possibility, especially if the joint pain aspect is missing, as it could leave the infection undetected, thus leading to worse conditions.

Not all is hopeless, as blood samples collected in the first week of the illness can easily help detect chikungunya. Treatment includes the use of antipyretics and optimal analgesics for the fever and joint pains, as well as rest and drinking plenty of liquids. As of now, there are two chikungunya vaccines available in several countries, but not yet worldwide. WHO and external expert advisors are currently reviewing the research and progress of more chikungunya vaccines.

The Effects of Poverty on Healthcare Access & NGO Aid

There still remains the issue of poverty as it effects how much access the people of Costa Rica have to all these healthcare options. According to recent statistics, around 24–25% households are below the poverty line, with a large portion of the population struggling to get access to basic necessities, such as healthcare. As a result, many in rural areas are not able to easily receive these treatments against the diseases impacting Costa Rica, leaving them incredibly vulnerable to potential dangers.

A number of organizations and NGOs are trying to help these households. A specific NGO, called Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation (CRHF), aims to help Costa Rican citizens in these issues. From its founding in 1997, the organization focuses on developing creative and economical solutions for the country’s major challenges. With volunteers from all over the world and donors, it set out to achieve a positive impact in Costa Rica. A few of its achievements include providing urgent medical care and general well-being checks for more than 500 patients in 2025 and supporting more than 800 children and adolescents in the CRHF’s learning centers the same year.

Looking Ahead

These three diseases impacting Costa Rica correlate with the constraints of poverty and a difficult economic situation, which can prevent people from accessing vital medical treatments. Fortunately, NGOS like CRHF are making a difference, helping even those with lower incomes access medical care.

– Michalitsa Kontogianni

Michalitsa is based in Washington, DC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash