Archive for category: Global Health

Information and stories about global health.

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Tackling Superbugs: Nanotechnology in India and Brazil

Nanotechnology in India and BrazilAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a real threat to vulnerable groups in developing countries. Low-income groups and populations living below the poverty line are disproportionately affected. Global research published in The Lancet expects AMR to cause 39 million deaths annually between 2025 and 2050.

The economic effects may cause significant losses globally. As the World Bank reported, by 2050 AMR is expected to lower the global gross domestic product (GDP) by around 3.8% annually, with 28 million people potentially slipping into poverty.

In biotechnology, nanotechnology promises new avenues for tackling superbugs in high-risk countries such as Brazil and India. By specifically targeting infections, nanoparticles can bypass resistance. This approach can reduce medication costs for low-income populations, positively affecting economic development.

Health Crisis in India and Brazil

India and Brazil are among the G20 countries with the highest proportion of people living below the extreme poverty line. Antibiotic resistance is disproportionately high among these populations. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, antibiotic resistance in India has caused 300,000 deaths annually since 1990, placing the country among those with the highest numbers.

In Brazil, approximately 32,000 deaths each year are attributed to antibiotic resistance, the highest rate among Latin American countries. The situation in both countries places enormous strain on their health care systems. Experts believe antibiotic resistance could trigger a serious health crisis, accompanied by rising public costs and a decline in GDP. For Brazil, the World Bank estimated a loss of 4.4% to 5.1%.

Poor hygiene standards, high settlement density, particularly in slums, contaminated water, and a lack of access to adequate medical care and infrastructure put people living in poverty at a higher risk of developing antibiotic resistance than those with higher incomes.

The situation worsens with the misuse of antibiotics. Individuals from low-income groups often take underdosed medications due to financial difficulties. Additionally, they share drugs with family or neighbors, resulting in insufficient doses. This allows stronger bacteria to survive and multiply with more resistance.

Furthermore, regulations in many regions encourage the misuse of antibiotics. Vendors often sell these medications over the counter as substandard or counterfeit products. This market promotes the growth of resistant bacteria and accelerates their spread.

Nanotechnology in India and Brazil

To counter the threat of antibiotic resistance in Brazil and India, cost-effective nanoparticles may provide promising solutions. Materials are used on a very small scale, allowing them to develop unique properties. Nanotechnology is used either as an antibiotic itself or as a carrier for antimicrobial agents to combat infections more effectively.

Nanoparticles, classified into metallic, organic, carbon-based, and hybrid systems, can bypass mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Their mode of action resembles a Trojan horse: transporting and protecting the antibiotic, they smuggle the active ingredient into the infected cell. Additionally, they can destroy biofilms, slime layers formed by resistant bacteria, penetrating the pathogen and damaging its proteins, enzymes and DNA.

Although India and Brazil lead in nanoparticle research, they face challenges in implementing nanotechnology to tackle superbugs in their health care systems. Besides concerns about environmental and biological risks, which require further research, developing countries face financial hurdles. Insufficient production capacity, supply chain difficulties and regulatory barriers hinder the fight against antibiotic resistance, trapping people below the poverty line in a cycle of illness and financial hardship.

Research and Development of Nanotechnology

Nonprofit organizations such as the India AMR Innovation Hub (IAIH) aim to tackle superbugs by providing financial support to biotech startups and fostering scientific collaboration. For example, the startup Module Innovations developed an ultra-fast diagnostic method using “Size Dependent Signal Amplification of Nanoparticles” (SDSAN). This method can detect urinary tract infections within 15 minutes. Over the next five years, the India AMR Innovation Hub plans to move 10 to 15 biotechnology projects, including nanotechnology initiatives, from the laboratory stage to the development phase.

The Brazilian National Nanotechnology Laboratory (LNNano) provides facilities and technical and scientific support for research into the effects of nanomaterials on biological systems and the environment. The development of nano-based drug delivery systems and nanoparticles with modified surfaces makes the fight against drug-resistant bacteria 10 times more effective.

Looking Ahead

To reduce the negative global impacts of antibiotic resistance in heavily affected countries such as India and Brazil, international development aid and policy initiatives are crucial for improving the health of people living in extreme poverty. By promoting the development of appropriate infrastructure for production and distribution and supporting governments in establishing regulatory frameworks, nanotechnologies in India’s and Brazil’s health care systems could create millions of jobs worldwide and boost global GDP. Moreover, millions of lives can be saved.

– Oliwia Kowalak

Oliwia is based in Berlin, Germany and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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How a Twice-Yearly Shot Is Transforming HIV Prevention in Kenya

HIV prevention in KenyaIn February 2026, Kenya received its first shipment of 21,000 doses of lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable requiring only two shots a year, marking a major step forward in HIV prevention in Kenya. The drug recorded more than 96% effectiveness at preventing HIV in clinical trials, one of the most significant advances in global health since daily oral medication became the standard prevention tool.

HIV and Poverty in Kenya

Nearly 45.5% of Kenyans live below the international poverty line of $3 a day, according to the World Bank. For low-income communities, HIV carries consequences that extend well beyond health. At the household level, the cost of care depletes savings, reduces economic productivity and can trap families in cycles of intergenerational poverty. Preventing new infections is therefore not only a public health priority, it is an economic one.

Why a Twice-Yearly Shot Matters

For years, the primary tool for preventing HIV in people at high risk had been oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, a pill that must be taken every day. Consistent use is a genuine challenge for many people, particularly in communities where irregular health care access and demanding daily routines make routine medication difficult to maintain. In many communities, carrying daily HIV medication can lead others to assume a person is HIV-positive, a stigma that drives some people to stop taking the pill altogether.

Lenacapavir addresses this challenge directly. A single injection provides six months of protection, removing the need for daily pills. The World Health Organization endorsed the drug in July 2025, making it the first twice-yearly injectable PrEP option to be officially recommended for global use.

Kenya’s Rollout: Fast and Phased

Kenya’s Pharmacy and Poisons Board completed its regulatory review and registered lenacapavir for national use in January 2026. The first consignment of 21,000 doses arrived in Nairobi on Feb. 17, 2026, delivered through a partnership between the Ministry of Health and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Global Fund coordinated procurement and negotiated access pricing, while the Ministry of Health managed regulatory approval and national distribution strategy. An additional 12,000 doses followed in April, and the U.S. government pledged a further 25,000 to support early implementation.

The Ministry of Health launched Phase 1 in March 2026, targeting 152 health facilities across 15 high-burden counties, with an estimated 58,000 individuals expected to receive the injection in the first phase alone. Two additional phases are planned, with the aim of reaching nationwide coverage by 2027. Health officials say this milestone reflects the country’s readiness to integrate modern prevention tools through its Universal Health Coverage framework.

Making It Affordable

Cost has historically been one of the biggest barriers to equitable HIV prevention in Kenya and across sub-Saharan Africa. Lenacapavir carries a global list price exceeding $42,000 per patient per year, but the Ministry of Health is offering it free of charge at selected public health facilities. For the health system, the estimated annual cost is approximately $60 per patient. This dramatic price reduction was made possible through licensing agreements and Global Fund procurement support.

Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund, described the moment as one requiring urgency and ambition. “Long-acting lenacapavir could reshape HIV prevention by overcoming the structural challenges that have long constrained uptake,” Sands said. He added that the task is now to translate scientific progress into rapid, broad and equitable access.

The Road Ahead

Kenya has approximately 1.4 million people living with HIV. The national rollout directly supports prevention of mother-to-child transmission, a stated priority of the Ministry of Health, with the overarching goal of ensuring every child born in Kenya is HIV-free.

Generic versions of lenacapavir are expected to reach markets by 2027 at an estimated yearly cost of $40 per person. This development could open access far beyond Kenya’s borders. The phased, data-driven structure of Kenya’s rollout has positioned the country as a model for how HIV prevention can evolve to be accessible and equitable and for how protecting public health and reducing poverty can go hand in hand.

– Gonzalo Rodriguez Da Fonte Martins

Gonzalo is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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K-Pop Fandoms in Southeast Asia and Public Health

K-Pop Fandoms in Southeast AsiaAcross the globe, youth voter turnout has been steadily declining in comparison to previous generations, but not because Gen Z has grown apathetic. Researchers increasingly argue that younger generations are not disengaging from politics so much as rerouting collective energy away from traditional channels and into alternative forms of advocacy.

K-Pop Fandoms in Southeast Asia

Nowhere has this shift been more visible than in the recent mobilization efforts of certain K-pop fandoms in Southeast Asia. BTS, a South Korean boy group whose global rise effectively ignited the modern K-pop fandom era, commands one of the most organizationally sophisticated fan bases worldwide. In Indonesia alone, the group amasses roughly 6 million self-identified ARMYs.

Since BTS’ meteoric surge in 2013, their fan communities have been labeled online as commercially manufactured obsessions, dismissed for their association with a toxic, image-policing idol culture. As idols struggled publicly with their mental health, these fandoms began recognizing that their substantial organizational power could help mobilize resources for change without requiring institutional leeway. Their initiatives increasingly support low-income communities across the region, where poverty and limited access to mental health services often reinforce one another. In Indonesia and the Philippines, where millions still live below national poverty lines, fan-led initiatives have evolved into grassroots forms of both public health advocacy and poverty alleviation.

From Fandom to First Responders

When the Kanjuruhan Stadium tragedy killed at least 125 people in Malang, East Java, in October 2022, fans mobilized faster than most formal relief structures. Using the Kita Bisa crowdfunding platform, Indonesian ARMY raised more than Rp 447 million, approximately $29,000, in just over a day, surpassing their initial fundraising goal of Rp 75 million nearly six times over. Funds were then directed to victims’ families as business capital for those who lost their household providers and as educational support for children left behind.

The initiative directly assisted low-income households suddenly deprived of income earners and helped reduce the risk of families falling deeper into poverty. It was not the first mobilization of this kind. Indonesian ARMY had previously organized food aid for motorcycle taxi drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, many of whom experienced severe financial hardship due to lockdown measures and reduced demand for work.

Fandom for Change

In the Philippines, K-pop fandom philanthropy has moved beyond spontaneous fundraising into something more institutional. World Vision Philippines, the Philippine branch of the international humanitarian organization established in 1957 and operating in nearly 100 countries, launched Fandom for Change, a platform that enables fans to donate directly in the name of their favorite artists, channeling enthusiasm into support for children’s education, health, nutrition, clean water access and disaster relief.

BTS ARMY Philippines has been among its most active participants. Following Typhoon Rolly in 2020, Filipino ARMYs organized relief efforts for affected communities and later launched a fundraising campaign tied to BTS’s ninth anniversary in partnership with World Vision. A separate fandom alliance donating in actor Ji Chang Wook’s name contributed half a million pesos, equivalent to approximately $28,500, toward FAITH Garden Kits for pandemic-affected families. The kits provided low-income households with vegetable seedlings and resources to supplement food supplies and generate additional income. The platform simply formalized what fans were already doing organically, giving a structured, measurable outlet to their collective energy.

These efforts demonstrate how such fan communities are increasingly also functioning as grassroots anti-poverty actors, directing resources toward vulnerable communities through highly responsive networks.

The Ripple Effect Across the Region

At the root of much of this fandom-driven public health action is BTS’s own decade-long engagement with mental health advocacy. In November 2017, BTS launched the Love Myself campaign in partnership with UNICEF, built around the principle that self-love is the foundation of well-being. Since then, the campaign has raised nearly $3 million globally for UNICEF’s child protection and mental health programs, generating almost 5 million tweets and more than 50 million social media engagements worldwide.

In April 2024, marking the campaign’s sixth anniversary, UNICEF renewed its collaboration with BTS to support the #OnMyMind initiative, focused specifically on the mental health of children and young people. Across Southeast Asia, where fan communities first witnessed their idols openly discuss burnout from industry pressure, that messaging translated into fan-led awareness campaigns extending well beyond streaming charts.

A New Model of Grassroots Health Advocacy

Popular culture has always shaped how societies talk about what matters, but rarely has it moved people to act at this scale. What K-pop fandoms demonstrate is that personal attachment to a figure generates a quality of motivation that policy campaigns and public health messaging rarely achieve on their own.

This matters enormously in a region where, according to ASEAN Magazine, nearly 90% of people living with mental health conditions receive no formal care. Mental health stigma remains highly prevalent due to cultural norms that discourage discussing psychological distress and seeking professional help. The consequences are particularly severe for low-income populations, who often face additional financial and geographic barriers to accessing care.

The positive trickle-down effect of idol-driven mental health advocacy is quietly normalizing help-seeking among teenagers for whom these topics have long been taboo, reshaping norms at a societal level. In doing so, these K-Pop fandoms in Southeast Asia illustrate how digital fan communities can evolve into unexpected engines of both public health advocacy and poverty reduction.

– Estelle Aubry

Estelle is based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and focuses on Global Health, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Addressing the HIV Epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

HIV Epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central AsiaThe United Nations (U.N.) is an international, intergovernmental organization comprising 193 member states. The U.N. General Assembly meets every five years to discuss the Global AIDS Strategy. The U.N. designed this guide to outline the strategies each member state will employ to combat the global health threat and highlight inequalities that are preventing progress in the global response to the HIV crisis. Governments in Eastern Europe and Central Asia are approaching the crisis via the criminal justice system rather than treating HIV as a public health issue. However, the HIV epidemic in these regions continues to grow significantly, with approximately 2.1 million people living with the virus.

HIV and AIDS at a Glance

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the body’s immune system, and patients often experience flu-like symptoms before the virus progresses to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This is the most severe stage of the disease, and once diagnosed, patients with AIDS often survive around three years.

The virus is transmitted through bodily fluids, such as blood and semen, meaning contracting the disease can be prevented by exercising careful protection strategies, such as wearing condoms during intercourse and only using clean needles and syringes.

Health care workers combating the HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia face a critical dispute between what is medically proven to help patients with HIV and what doctors are legally permitted to use. There is a ban on opioid agonist therapy (OAT), which is illegal in Russia, Turkmenistan and other countries in these regions, despite being a recognized tool used to prevent the spread of HIV among drug users.

Another example is the life-saving pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pill that scientists manufactured to prevent the acquisition of HIV, which is largely unavailable in many Central Asian countries, where the pill is considered unaffordable or completely missing from state funding budgets.

The 95-95-95 Target

The UNAIDS 95-95-95 target originates from the 2021-2026 strategy and is yet to be achieved by all member states, continuing in the 2026-2031 strategy. The goal is for 95% of those with HIV to receive a diagnosis, 95% of those diagnosed to be on antiviral therapy, and 95% of people undergoing treatment to achieve “viral suppression,” meaning they can no longer transmit the disease to others.

Promoting Harm Reduction Programs

Harm reduction programs, such as the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA), are promoted by the U.N. to help combat HIV transmissions directly related to needle use.

EHRA’s “Sustainability of Services for Key Populations in the EECA Region” is one of the biggest projects combating the HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The project aims to reduce criminalization and promote harm reduction for drug users by advocating for the dissolution of certain drug policies, which prevent people from accessing HIV prevention strategies and seeking HIV treatment and care.

Programs like EHRA advocate against the use of drug registries and similar methods of drug-use restriction. In its Position Paper on Drug Policy, EHRA argued that “drug dependence should no longer be an aggravation but should be considered as a basis for social and medical care provision,” explaining that by criminalizing drug users, governments induce a fear of the legal system that directly prevents drug users from both achieving safe needle and syringe usage to prevent HIV transmission and seeking help when they contract the disease.

Integrating HIV Screening Into Primary Care

The HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is predominantly driven by relations between heterosexual partners, people who partake in drug use, and sex workers. The transmission of HIV to thousands of people each year could be prevented if local health care clinics implemented regular testing policies.

In addition to the 95-95-95 targets, UNAIDS has also committed to a 30-80-60 plan, which requires communities to deliver 30% of testing and treatment services and 80% of prevention programs.

Despite the introduction of new policies, such as the European Standards of HIV Prevention and Care policy, developed in 2025 to raise expectations for the implementation of these obligations, progress has temporarily stalled. A UNAIDS report released following the Geneva Convention in June 2026 revealed that extreme funding cuts have led to a reduction in HIV testing, with programs falling by 22% between 2024 and 2025 and funding for condoms being cut by more than 90% in some areas. Officials, however, remain hopeful that stricter enforcement of the European Standards of HIV Prevention and Care policy will cause HIV prevalence to decline.

– Ruby Fraser

Ruby is based in Cannes, France and focuses on Global Health, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Telehealth in Uganda: Redefining Health Services

Telehealth in UgandaRural Uganda is home to nearly 68% of the country’s population, leaving many communities without nearby health care facilities. Although Uganda’s Ministry of Health has expanded the number of centers, a significant divide between the amount of care in urban and rural settings remains. Rural Uganda is home to communities where telehealth is driving improvements in medical services for people living in the country’s more vulnerable environments.

About 20% of the country’s citizens live in poverty. Children make up roughly half of Uganda’s population, meaning many of those living in poverty are minors. Seven out of 10 households rely on agriculture for income, while one in three depend on their own production for food. With rising inflation, food insecurity has increased, while the affordability of health care has not changed. As many villages are far from facilities, many communities opt for more holistic medicinal approaches.

The Rise of Telehealth

Telehealth is the use of technology in health care that allows for care delivery, information and education to be completed remotely. Advances in telecommunication health applications have expanded access to health care for people living in rural and underserved areas, creating better quality and reach of care.

Like many other countries, Uganda adopted telehealth during COVID-19 to educate health care workers and communities on prevention, symptom identification and treatment. These digital platforms provided Community Health Workers (CHW) support in diagnosing patients, while also supplying medicine and other necessary materials needed during the pandemic.

The Importance of Kaaro Health

As telehealth reaches more parts of Uganda, Kaaro Health has been financing health care groups by providing infrastructure changes and medical equipment. According to Kaaro Health, “[They] are committed to ensuring that regardless of whether people live in rural or urban areas, they should be able to access high-quality secondary and tertiary medical care.”

Kaaro Health uses “simple mobile technologies” to combat the challenges of limited access to electricity. The organization has funded and engineered renewable energy solutions like solar-powered lights, generators and incinerators. These resources have allowed Kaaro Health to deploy telehealth clinics to rural and peri-urban villages. Many of these communities are located more than 25 kilometers from medical sites.

To continue its support for sustainable medical care, Kaaro Health has collaborated with local groups to identify those most in need of services, while also working with international partners like GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) to improve quality within the country. Although the organization has driven expansion, it attributes much of its success to the communities and workers who have started and operated Kaaro’s services.

By 2020, Kaaro Health had trained 200 rural nurses and health care workers in mental health services to address challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has established 71 clinics, decreasing the distance these communities have to travel to their nearest medical center.

The Future of Telehealth in Uganda

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies three objectives for advancing online health: providing digital solutions and standards, enhancing medical knowledge, and supplying countries with solutions specific to their needs. WHO has said, “Digital health can help make health systems more efficient and sustainable, enabling them to deliver good quality, affordable and equitable care.”

As Uganda continues to expand online health care, telehealth providers are funding new technologies that will improve health care and create better efficiency to serve larger numbers of patients. Telehealth in Uganda is an emerging field, and with continued investments, expansion throughout the country will increase affordability and availability of online consultations.

– Jacquelyn Orr

Jacquelyn is based in Philadelphia, PA, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Trachoma Elimination in Guatemala is Changing Lives

Man and child eating watermelon in Sololá, Guatemala, benefiting from trachoma elimination efforts.“Today I feel very grateful, satisfied, and happy. Now I can do my daily tasks. I used to feel a lot of discomfort and pain,” Manuela Suy Yac told PAHO, a 66-year-old resident of Guineales, a rural community in Guatemala’s Sololá department.

Yac received eyelid surgery as part of a trachoma elimination campaign supported by Guatemala’s Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), and the Government of Canada. After the procedure, she said she no longer feels the constant discomfort that once kept her from her daily tasks.

Yac’s experience reflects Guatemala’s broader efforts to eliminate trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. The country is using surveillance initiatives, health worker training, and regional partnerships to identify remaining cases and prevent future outbreaks in vulnerable communities. Recent efforts, supported by PAHO, Tropical Data, and international partners, focus on strengthening disease monitoring through training and enhanced surveys.

Understanding the Impact of Trachoma in Guatemala

Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease caused by repeated infection with certain strains of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. If left untreated, the disease can lead to serious scarring of the eyelids over time. In severe cases, the eyelashes turn inward and rub against the surface of the eye, which can result in permanent vision loss. Trachoma occurs most often in communities affected by poverty, where access to clean water and sanitation is limited.

Although trachoma has been eliminated as a public health problem in some countries in the Americas, Guatemala still requires active surveillance to track the disease’s prevalence and identify vulnerable populations. Researchers identified 69 municipalities in Guatemala as very high priority for trachoma surveillance, highlighting where continued monitoring is most needed.

Guatemala Strengthens Trachoma Surveillance

Since 2011, Guatemala’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with PAHO and the Government of Canada, has implemented the SAFE strategy to eliminate trachoma in affected areas (p. 2). These efforts have included antibiotic treatment for more than 75,000 people across 95 communities in Sololá, as well as surgical interventions for more than 100 people between 2019 and 2022 to treat advanced trachoma-related eye damage.

As part of these elimination efforts, the country hosted a regional Training of Trainers workshop in February 2025 focused on expanding surveillance capabilities across regions. Organized by PAHO with support from Tropical Data and funding from the Government of Canada, the workshop trained health professionals to conduct enhanced trachoma surveys and collect additional data to help identify remaining cases. These efforts are designed to improve the quality of surveillance and provide public health officials with better information to guide elimination strategies.

Unlike standard trachoma surveys, the enhanced “plus” surveys include conjunctival swabs and dried blood spot samples, which provide additional information about transmission and exposure. According to Tropical Data, these methods support more integrated disease surveillance by allowing health officials to screen for multiple diseases with a single sample and detect disease patterns across communities. As Guatemala moves toward trachoma elimination, these tools support a more multi-disease surveillance approach to public health monitoring.

Regional Partnerships Expand Elimination Efforts

Regional partnerships have played an important role in supporting trachoma elimination in Guatemala. As reported by Tropical Data, the 2025 training workshop brought together 14 delegates from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Participants received training they can share with health professionals in their home countries, helping to strengthen surveillance capacity and standardize methods across the region.

Beyond trachoma, these collaborative efforts support broader disease surveillance and elimination goals across the Americas. Tropical Data notes that integrated approaches to disease monitoring improve both the efficiency and the reach of public health surveillance. By strengthening partnerships and sharing expertise across borders, countries can build more sustainable public health systems while working toward the elimination of neglected tropical diseases.

Improving Lives Across Guatemala

The benefits of this work extend beyond improved health outcomes. According to PAHO, restoring eye health allows people to resume daily, economic, and family activities that were limited by the disease. As communities gain greater access to treatment and prevention, trachoma elimination can reduce the burden of preventable vision loss in vulnerable populations.

The progress made so far shows how investments in public health can create lasting benefits for communities. Through continued surveillance, training, and collaboration with regional and international partners, the country is eliminating a disease that has long affected some of its most vulnerable residents. While challenges remain, these efforts are helping move Guatemala closer to a future free from trachoma-related blindness.

For patients like Yac, this work is more than a public health achievement. It represents a personal transformation. Reflecting on the impact of her surgery, she put it simply: “I am free of trachoma.” As Guatemala continues its elimination efforts, stories like hers highlight the life-changing potential of accessible health care and disease prevention.

– Lily Hoch

Lily is based in Midway, PA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixnio

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How Auto-Disable Syringes Make Immunization Safer

Auto-Disable SyringesOver the last century, the development of vaccines has greatly reduced the transmission, severity, and fatality of many diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, and influenza. Global immunization efforts have been so effective that in 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared smallpox, which contributed to millions of deaths for thousands of years, to be the first infectious disease to be eradicated. However, this innovation brought a new complication, especially for low-income regions. Due to a lack of funding, many low-income countries struggle with low supplies of needles and syringes, leading to increased unsafe injection practices, such as reusing needles. In 1999, it was estimated that about 30% of immunization injections were unsafe, putting both patients and health care providers at risk of contracting blood-borne illnesses such as Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS.

Blood-Borne Illnesses in the Eastern Mediterranean

Although cases of HIV in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have been deemed low for many years, a 2025 scientific review suggests that it is one of the few regions in the world where the prevalence of HIV is rising. In 2025, Saadia Alsomali and colleagues examined several studies on the prevalence of HIV and other blood-borne diseases in Eastern Mediterranean countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Iraq, Pakistan, and Palestine. The results suggest that between 530,000 and 610,000 people in the EMR were reported to have HIV, and cases of new infections have almost doubled within the last decade.

The prevalence of HIV varies across countries and demographics; however, there are some notable trends. Pakistan has the highest prevalence of HIV in the EMR at 33%, while most other countries in the EMR have a prevalence of less than 10%, below the average of other global regions. The fact that Pakistan is the most populous country in the EMR likely contributes to the high prevalence of HIV. Additionally, marginalized groups such as female sex workers, intravenous drug users, and non-heterosexual men are disproportionately affected by HIV, contributing to 97% of HIV cases in the EMR. Their marginalized status and the lack of accurate information about HIV may contribute to less than 10% of people from these populations being tested for HIV, meaning the true prevalence may be higher. Intravenous drug users are at particular risk of contracting HIV, as only nine out of 22 EMR countries have needle and syringe programs.

How Auto-Disable Syringes Help

Auto-disable needles prevent the transmission of blood-borne diseases via a safety mechanism that locks the plunger of the syringe after one use, preventing reuse and decreasing the risk of accidental needle sticks. These syringes have been a staple of many global immunization efforts because they allow health care workers to immunize large volumes of people safely and reduce the transmission of serious diseases. Also, since many low-income regions lack resources and health care services, auto-disable syringes ensure people living in any region, regardless of socioeconomic status, can be immunized safely.

That is why more nonprofit organizations, such as UNICEF, are incorporating auto-disable syringes into their immunization campaigns. In 1999, UNICEF, as well as WHO and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), released a joint statement affirming their dedication to making immunization efforts safer. Since then, UNICEF has become one of the largest buyers of auto-disable syringes, purchasing about 40% of the global supply. It delivers these syringes to immunization programs in over 90 countries, providing about 800 million childhood vaccinations every year.

Looking Ahead

Auto-disable syringes are an important innovation used in global immunization campaigns. By preventing reuse, these syringes make immunization safer by reducing the risk of transmitting blood-borne diseases such as HIV. Since the risk of contracting blood-borne diseases is especially high in low-income regions and marginalized populations, widespread use of auto-disable syringes can improve health equity around the world.

– Lily Alexander

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

Photo: Rawpixel

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Alleviating Poverty: Water Kiosks in Cambodia

Woman carrying water buckets, walking through a rural area. Water Kiosks in CambodiaAccording to United Nations (U.N.) reports, 70% of rural Cambodian households lack access to a clean water supply. Thousands of households use dirty surface water, undermining the nation’s economic growth and public safety. This lack of clean water directly exacerbates poverty, as families must spend limited income on fuel to boil water or on medical care for waterborne illnesses, which prevents adults from working and children from attending school. Facing this dangerous situation as communities fall ill, local organizations create unique and sustainable solutions to help rural households. They implement water kiosks. These stations provide clean water to underserved, remote regions.

Community members partner with businesses to maintain these stations, using low-cost innovative designs built from easily attainable parts. Recognizing this important need, Teuk Saat 1001, a nongovernmental organization (NGO), teaches rural Cambodians to operate water kiosks, protecting their health and economic opportunities. This organization seeks to help rural citizens find viable employment, participate in local markets and amplify their voices through sustainable entrepreneurship.

Protecting Communities

The water kiosk model uses simple technologies that match a rural community’s resources. Helping small, impoverished villages, Teuk Saat 1001 teaches interested citizens to refine water and manage these facilities. The program not only helps communities secure clean water, but it also instills essential fiscal and business skills to uplift local economies. Trainees become proficient in technical, maintenance and business practices. Nearly 1,000 Cambodian entrepreneurs and delivery staff participate in the program, and 343 operational water kiosks spread across rural villages. It is important to note that these stations also receive foundational grants to help get started, which push economic momentum to launch the small businesses.

Teuk Saat 1001 invites all community members to participate, from advanced operators to beginners, no matter their age. These scalable platforms target regions with limited infrastructure, where less than a third of the population has access to a safely managed water supply. Serving as a small-scale alternative to large-scale infrastructure, these operators learn, bond and grow as empowered leaders. They personally understand the unique challenges facing their own homes.

Preserving Resources

Deploying water kiosks in Cambodia helps provide developing countries with low-cost initiatives. They avoid any additional expensive infrastructure costs while simultaneously bringing clean water to those who need it. Beyond Cambodia, water kiosks are a popular sustainable development technique for other countries struggling with water scarcity. Community operators pass down technical techniques, formulating unique distribution pathways based on regional location and community need. Kiosks provide both economic growth and water cleanliness, eliminating harmful bacteria and waterborne pathogens to create high-quality drinking water that protects the health of rural communities.

Teuk Saat 1001 preserves key communal health in the process. According to the U.N., surface water or other attempts at purification face the risk of severe contamination due to a lack of filtration infrastructure. Rapidly changing climate patterns and pollution from farm pesticides also play a role in contamination. Teuk Saat 1001 empowers these communities to commercialize their water products.

Helping Cambodia

Teuk Saat 1001’s program transforms a basic daily necessity into a powerful monetary asset, tackling systemic poverty in an innovative way. Together, these compact stations produce more than 877,000 liters of safe drinking water every day, providing affordable access to more than 800,000 people. Because communities pass down unique forms of operational knowledge from operator to operator, teaching young generations these sustainable practices allows rural households to secure independent incomes while keeping local villages healthy. With the continued deployment of water kiosks, rural families learn key skills and receive essential monetary support to combat local poverty, moving communities closer to true economic gain, stability and a brighter future for all.

– Maya Tung

Maya is based in the United States and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Safe Houses Amid Growing Sexual Violence in Haiti

Sexual Violence in HaitiAnnounced on June 12, 2026, the first safe house supported by the state opened for survivors of sexual violence in Haiti. A 163% increase in verified cases of sexual violence amid rampant gang violence and internal displacement highlights the urgent need for this step from the state, as poverty becomes further entrenched.

The Situation in Haiti

Around 300 paramilitary gangs have dominated the void left by the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, imposing violent rule. Haiti is in crisis, with only 20% of the capital city not under complete gang control. This has resulted in record levels of internal displacement, with over 1.4 million forced from their homes by the violence, pushing many into displacement sites and leaving women and girls even more vulnerable to sexual violence.

Gangs have weaponized sexual violence in Haiti, with a recorded 1,000% increase in sexual violence against children from 2023 to 2024. The drive to displacement sites has also pushed many women and families into poverty, with more than 80% of women living in these sites now unemployed. That trend is reflected in national poverty figures: 86% of the population lives on less than $6.85 a day, and 36.4% falls within the extreme poverty threshold, on less than $2 a day.

The national effect is compounded by the fact that most women were previously the primary income generators in their households. As a result, around 1 million female-dependent households are experiencing acute food insecurity. Sexual violence continues to impact women and girls disproportionately in Haiti, pushing families further into poverty. However, the opening of safe houses for survivors, along with efforts from the Pan-American Health Organization, an international health agency for the Americas, points to a more hopeful direction in the response.

The First State-Supported Safe Houses

Alongside U.N. Women, Haiti’s Ministry of Women’s Welfare and Women’s Rights led a significant step in addressing sexual violence in Haiti by opening the country’s first state-supported safe houses. These houses are set to provide survivors with a space to receive protection and support as they rebuild their lives and recover from the trauma of escalating gang violence. While this is a new initiative with no outcome metrics yet published, the concept aims to help victims regain their autonomy and safety by prioritizing survivors amid their vulnerability to political violence.

By focusing on women and girls, the initiative could also help address poverty by supporting the rebuilding of family incomes, as these havens aim to provide the assistance survivors need for recovery. The program is intended to offer immediate shelter from further gang violence, providing an escape from the gender-based violence that U.N. Women found was reported in all 22 displacement sites surveyed, underscoring the scale of the crisis.

Efforts from the PAHO/WHO

Alongside this state-led effort, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), is providing psychosocial and health care support to combat sexual violence in Haiti. PAHO, made up of 35 member states, works across its regional offices to improve health, fight disease and provide emergency response. For decades, it has supported Haiti by promoting healthy lives through more effective health services and by prioritizing risk reduction.

To support displaced survivors of sexual violence, funding has allowed PAHO/WHO to improve psychosocial services at displacement sites, deploying 11 psychologists and 11 social workers to provide professional assistance. The organizations have also equipped nine health facilities with specialized tools to treat survivors, including rape care kits, and trained 50 health professionals to provide more sensitive, high-quality care.

Combined with the opening of state-supported safe houses, these efforts represent important steps toward helping survivors return to stable lives and providing an opportunity to escape poverty.

Looking Ahead

The crisis of sexual violence in Haiti demands continued attention, as more victims fall into poverty. Still, the opening of safe houses marks a milestone in the response, establishing new protection and recovery pathways for women and children.

– Amy Carpenter

Amy is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Refugee Art Initiatives Creating Change Across Borders

Group of people viewing vibrant mural; part of refugee art initiatives.Refugee art initiatives act as a creative outlet that transcends language barriers and social structures, giving refugees opportunities to heal and rebuild their lives. Through art-based education and community initiatives, displaced people express themselves, strengthen identity and promote intercultural understanding. These programs demonstrate how art creates change across borders by supporting resilience, emotional recovery and community cohesion.

Art and Identity in Long-Term Exile

With the average refugee exile lasting around 20 years, creating environments that encourage creativity, expression and education is essential. Refugee art initiatives help ensure that the 6.6 million people living in refugee camps not only survive but also develop socially and emotionally.

Placing art at the center of therapeutic support helps refugees understand their feelings, thoughts and actions. Art allows displaced people to access activism, gain autonomy and influence the world around them, even after their lives have been drastically disrupted. For many refugees, artistic expression becomes a way to reclaim agency in environments where personal choice is often restricted.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), art-based interventions now serve as psychosocial services that improve mental well-being, reduce stress and support emotional stability among displaced populations. These initiatives show how art strengthens identity and improves mental health outcomes among refugees.

Fabric of Women’s Resilience

Through collaboration between Artolution, the United Nations (U.N.) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bangladeshi, Greek, Jordanian and Ugandan refugee women created the Fabric of Women’s Resilience mural. This project stands as a clear example of refugee art initiatives that unite communities through shared experiences. The mural highlights how women use creativity to challenge social norms, advocate for rights and share stories that are often overlooked in humanitarian narratives.

Each group contributed artwork to express their experiences as displaced women and to advocate for equality. The key themes throughout the mural include promoting maternal health care in Bangladesh, challenging gender stereotypes in Jordan, sharing personal experiences in Greece and highlighting connections to communities in Uganda.

Created by 12 refugee women, the mural is a clear example of how art unites and connects communities through shared experiences. It amplifies women’s voices and demonstrates the impact these projects can have on community cohesion. By showcasing diverse cultural perspectives, the mural encourages viewers to recognize the shared humanity within refugee experiences.

Out of Place: Testimony From Refugee Camps

The Out of Place exhibition documents life in 18 of the world’s largest refugee camps through photography, video, installations and research. Featuring the work of 264 artists, the project shows how refugee experiences defy borders and challenges the tendency for displaced people to be forgotten.

The exhibition humanizes the people within the camps who often risk being forgotten. Displaced persons gain the opportunity to express themselves and provide detailed, intimate accounts of their experiences. Humanitarian groups use art to tell refugees’ stories in a way that empowers them and gives them autonomy.

With a population of 220,000 people, Dadaab is Kenya’s largest refugee camp. Ten artists from Dadaab contributed to the exhibition, but their initial shipment of artwork arrived blank, likely due to damage during transit. Determined to share their stories, the artists recreated their pieces to ensure their message reached international audiences. Their persistence shows how these projects empower refugees to reclaim their narratives.

Exile Voices: Photography as Education

Art is increasingly encouraged in refugee camps, particularly through photography. In December 2013, photographer Reza Deghati launched a photography training program for children ages 11 to 15 in a camp in Iraqi Kurdistan. The initiative was successful and led to the creation of the Exile Voices project.

In collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Exile Voices has operated for more than five years, providing art-based education to refugee youth across multiple camps. Photography workshops equip children with practical skills, confidence and creative expression, giving them tools that can support their futures. With 43.3 million displaced children worldwide, access to education through creative programs offers young people a way to build skills despite the disruption of exile.

The Future of Art Initiatives in Refugee Camps

Investment and focus on art-based education and therapeutic programs is increasing. These initiatives have gained recognition as essential tools to help support displaced persons. With new attention placed on using art as a therapeutic tool, these programs are essential to supporting students and youth through life in refugee camps. As they expand, they will continue strengthening resilience among refugees and connecting communities across borders.

These programs not only foster healing and identity but also ensure that displaced people’s stories gain attention.

– Flora De Leeuw

Flora is based in Bath, UK and focuses on Good News, Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr