Archive for category: Global Health

Information and stories about global health.

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Food Security After the Ukraine War

Farmer harvesting wheat in a vast field under a clear sky. Food Security After the Ukraine WarMillions of households across developing countries continue to struggle with rising food costs despite improvements in global commodity markets. Food security after the Ukraine war will remain a major concern for governments, humanitarian organizations and vulnerable communities as food inflation limits access to basic necessities. Although international grain prices have fallen from their 2022 peak, many countries still experience elevated food prices that contribute to hunger, malnutrition and poverty.

Russia and Ukraine play a crucial role in global food production. Before the war, the two countries accounted for nearly 30% of global wheat exports, around 20% of maize exports and more than 50% of sunflower oil exports. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, disruptions to Black Sea shipping routes immediately affected global food supplies and international markets. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that its Food Price Index reached an all-time high of 159.7 points in March 2022, largely driven by soaring cereal and vegetable oil prices.

Why Food Prices Have Not Fully Stabilized

Although commodity markets have become less volatile since 2022, food security continues to face several challenges. Transportation and shipping costs remain higher than before the conflict in many regions, while global supply chains are still recovering from initial wartime disruptions. Several countries also introduced export restrictions to protect domestic food supplies. For example, India restricted wheat exports in 2022, while countries including Kazakhstan and Serbia implemented temporary controls on grain exports. Although intended to stabilize domestic markets, these measures reduced food available on international markets and increased prices for import-dependent countries. According to the World Bank, food price inflation remains above 5% in many low- and middle-income economies, while several countries continue to experience food inflation exceeding 20%.

Changing Climate and Food Prices

Climate-related disasters have added another layer of pressure to global food systems. Droughts, floods and extreme heat have reduced agricultural production across several regions, making food markets more difficult to stabilize. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), conflict, the changing climate and economic instability now intersect to create one of the world’s largest food security crises. In countries already dependent on imported food, failed harvests and extreme weather events often lead to even higher prices and reduced food availability. As a result, global food security today is shaped not only by geopolitical conflict but also by climate-related disruptions affecting agricultural production worldwide.

The impact of high food prices extends far beyond grocery bills. According to the World Bank, food inflation continues to place enormous pressure on low-income households that already spend a significant portion of their income on food. The World Bank estimates that around 700 million people worldwide live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $2.15 per day. Even modest increases in food prices can force families to skip meals, reduce dietary quality or withdraw children from school to afford basic necessities. Countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, West Asia and South Asia remain especially vulnerable because many rely heavily on imported food. Rising prices have increased food insecurity, malnutrition and financial hardship for millions of households already living near or below the poverty line.

How International Organizations Are Responding

Despite ongoing challenges, international organizations continue to strengthen global food security through emergency assistance and long-term agricultural investments. Founded in 1961, WFP operates in more than 120 countries and territories, providing emergency food assistance, school meals and nutrition programs. In 2024, the organization assisted more than 150 million people, helping communities affected by conflict, climate disasters and economic crises. The FAO, established in 1945, supports more than 130 countries by strengthening agricultural production, improving farming techniques and helping governments build resilient food systems that can better withstand future shocks. Meanwhile, the World Bank has committed more than $45 billion toward food and nutrition security initiatives since 2022. These investments support farmers, improve irrigation systems, strengthen agricultural supply chains and increase access to affordable food in vulnerable countries. Together, these organizations are helping countries move beyond emergency relief by investing in long-term food resilience, agricultural productivity and sustainable development.

Food Security After the Ukraine War

Although international commodity markets have improved since the height of the crisis, food affordability remains a significant global challenge. Ongoing geopolitical tensions, climate-related disasters and fragile supply chains continue to affect food access for millions of people. However, there are encouraging signs of progress. Investments in climate-resilient agriculture, stronger food systems and expanded humanitarian assistance are helping vulnerable communities recover. Programs led by the WFP, FAO and World Bank continue to improve agricultural resilience, support farmers and expand access to nutritious food. Continued international cooperation, targeted investments and sustainable agricultural development will be essential to reducing poverty and ensuring that future global shocks do not leave millions of people vulnerable to hunger. By strengthening food systems today, governments and humanitarian organizations can build a more secure and resilient future for communities around the world.

– Srinidhi Madhavan

Srinidhi is based in Leeds, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Improving Health Access: Motorcycle Ambulances in Zambia

Motorcycle Ambulances in ZambiaFor many families living in rural Zambia, reaching a health facility can be one of the biggest challenges during a medical emergency. According to the World Bank, more than three in four rural households live below the poverty line, with 80% of the country’s poor residing in rural areas. Poor roads, long travel distances and limited transportation often delay treatment, especially for pregnant women and young children, making it even harder for low-income families to access timely medical care. Across rural Zambia, motorcycles are being used in different ways to improve access to health care. Motorcycle ambulances in Zambia transport patients during emergencies, while motorcycles and bicycles enable health workers to deliver vaccines, monitor pregnant women and reach remote communities. Research published by the World Health Organization highlights that timely access to emergency care depends on strong referral and transport systems, particularly in low-resource settings.

Motorcycle Ambulances

In many rural areas, conventional ambulances cannot easily travel on rough or narrow roads. Research funded by the United Kingdom (U.K.) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 2020 found that motorcycle ambulances provide a practical and lower-cost alternative for transporting patients in remote communities. The study reported that motorcycle ambulances reduced delays in reaching health facilities, particularly for women experiencing obstetric emergencies, making them an effective option where standard ambulances are difficult to operate. Faster transportation can help patients receive treatment earlier, potentially reducing the need for more expensive medical interventions.

Riders for Health

Founded in 1989, Riders for Health supported Zambia’s health system between 2009 and 2016 by working in the Eastern and Southern provinces. Rather than simply providing motorcycles, the organization supplied motorcycle management, rider training and preventive maintenance systems that helped community health workers travel safely and reliably to rural communities. The program ended in 2016 because the Zambian government was unable to cover the core operating costs needed to sustain it in the long term. A field trial published in the American Journal of Public Health found that Riders for Health’s motorcycle management system improved vehicle reliability and supported more consistent health outreach services. The study highlighted how preventive maintenance and rider training reduced breakdowns, helping health workers reach remote communities more efficiently and reliably.

World Bicycle Relief

Motorcycle transport is only one part of improving access to health care. World Bicycle Relief has spent more than a decade expanding mobility in Zambia by providing Buffalo Bicycles to community health workers, students and entrepreneurs. The organization reports that it has distributed more than 340,000 bicycles across the country since beginning its work there. World Bicycle Relief explains that bicycles help community health workers spend less time traveling and more time caring for patients. Its health impact data shows that, in Zambia, community health workers using Buffalo Bicycles served 63% more households than those without bicycles during one of the country’s worst droughts. A case study from the Palabana Health Clinic also found that bicycles reduced travel time for health workers from four hours to about one hour, allowing them to visit more patients each day.

Government and UNICEF Initiatives

The Government of Zambia has also partnered with organizations such as United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to strengthen vaccine delivery in remote communities. UNICEF reports that the DRIVE Initiative uses specially equipped motorcycles operated by trained community members to deliver vaccines safely to remote health facilities. The initiative supports 1,273 health facilities across 41 districts, covering areas where most of Zambia’s zero-dose children live. UNICEF also estimates that the program will save health workers about 600 hours of service delivery each month, allowing them to spend more time caring for patients while helping reduce vaccine shortages and strengthen routine immunization. These efforts show that improving transportation can strengthen the entire health system, from emergency referrals to preventive care.

Improving transportation is helping address one of the major barriers to health care access in rural Zambia. Motorcycle ambulances in Zambia, motorcycles for health workers and bicycles for community outreach are helping connect remote communities with essential services. Through programs supported by organizations such as Riders for Health, World Bicycle Relief and UNICEF, transportation is becoming an important part of strengthening rural health systems. Continued investment in these solutions can help more families access timely medical care while reducing the challenges caused by distance, limited mobility and poverty.

– Abisola Oladipupo

Abisola is based in Hatfield, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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The Last Mile of Care: Community Health Workers in Lesotho

Community health workers in LesothoFor residents of Lesotho’s mountain districts, reaching a clinic means a walk of several hours across some parts of southern Africa’s highest terrain. This distance determines who receives treatment just as much as a shortage of treatment. Yet a growing network of community health workers in Lesotho is narrowing that gap, carrying Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV) treatment support, maternal care and disease monitoring directly into villages that the formal health system has struggled to reach.

A Health System Under Strain

Lesotho carries one of the heaviest HIV burdens in the world. An estimated 18.5% of adults ages 15 to 49 were living with HIV in 2023, and roughly 236,000 people 15 and older were on antiretroviral therapy that year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Tuberculosis compounds the crisis: an estimated 664 cases occurred per 100,000 people in 2023, and half of all Tuberculosis (TB) cases involved HIV coinfection, making continuous, coordinated care essential rather than optional.

That disease burden overlaps heavily with poverty, and the overlap is sharpest outside Lesotho’s towns. An estimated 27.6% of the rural population lived in multidimensional poverty in 2018, compared with 5.6% in urban areas, according to an analysis by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative using Lesotho’s Demographic and Health Survey data. Rural residents make up 63.7% of Lesotho’s population, meaning the country’s poverty is concentrated in precisely the districts where distance from a clinic is greatest. This compounds the barriers households already face in reaching care. It also underscores why community health workers in Lesotho are being asked to close a gap that health facilities alone cannot.

Before Lesotho had a national health reform in 2014, primary care clinics were characterized by insufficient staffing, inadequate space and a lack of supplies, according to a peer-reviewed study published in PLOS Global Public Health. The country’s earlier village health worker program existed outside of the formal health system, staffed by undercompensated volunteers who had little supervision or support.

Rebuilding the Village Health Worker Model

The 2014 reform, carried out by the government of Lesotho with support from the nonprofit Partners In Health, restructured how community health workers in Lesotho are recruited, trained and paid. A 2025 study in BMC Health Services Research found the reform introduced a formal reselection process to replace inactive workers, assigned two health workers to each village instead of one and created specialized roles, with one worker focused on tuberculosis and HIV and another on maternal and child health. New supervisor and coordinator positions were added to oversee reporting, and monthly stipends rose from 300 to 400 South African rand, paid electronically rather than in cash.

By 2017, the reform had trained and deployed 5,359 village health workers using a standardized curriculum, extending coverage across more than 70 primary care clinics in four districts, representing close to 40% of Lesotho’s population, according to the PLOS Global Public Health study.

Measurable Gains in Rural Care

The same study found that facility-based deliveries rose from 2% to 33% of births in reform districts between 2013 and 2017, with the share of health centers adequately equipped for childbirth rising from 3% to 95%. Quarterly antenatal care visits increased from an average of 1,877 to 2,729, the number of children fully immunized by age one nearly tripled, from 191 to 294, and quarterly HIV testing volume more than doubled, from 5,163 to 12,210.

Partners In Health has since expanded a Rural Health Initiative built on the same community health worker model, operating seven clinics in Lesotho’s mountain districts. These serve more than 90,000 people in areas that would otherwise have limited access to physicians. The organization also runs the country’s first treatment program for multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, based at Botšabelo Hospital in Maseru and supported by community-based follow-up. The program reports a cure rate of 77% for a form of the disease that patients often abandon treatment for midway through its long course.

The Work Still Ahead

Community health workers in Lesotho are, by design, a cost-effective way to extend a limited health budget further: workers are drawn from the villages they serve, trained on core protocols and paid a fraction of a clinician’s salary while reaching people a clinic alone would not. The open question is scale. The 2014 reform covered four of Lesotho’s 10 districts, and expanding the same structured, supervised model nationwide will require sustained funding and continued training capacity.

Even so, the shift already underway marks a break from the informal volunteer system that preceded it. Where a village once relied on a single undercompensated worker with little support, many now have two trained, paid health workers connected to a functioning referral system. For a country where the nearest doctor can still be hours away, that change in structure, more than any single new clinic, is what is making rural care measurably more reachable.

– Saakshi Bhat

Saakshi is based in San Marcos, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Community Health Workers in Rwanda Are Improving Rural Health

Community Health Workers in RwandaFor many people living in rural communities, distance, poverty and limited medical resources can make it difficult to access health care. Although Rwanda has made significant progress in reducing poverty over the past two decades, many rural families still face financial and geographic barriers to receiving timely medical care. Community health workers in Rwanda are helping bridge that gap by bringing essential health services directly to underserved communities. Through basic medical care, health education and referrals, these trained volunteers have become a cornerstone of Rwanda’s health system while improving health outcomes for some of the country’s most vulnerable populations.

Bringing Health Care to Rural Communities

Rwanda’s Community Health Worker Program was established in 1995 following the 1994 genocide and has expanded steadily under the country’s Ministry of Health. Today, approximately 58,000 community health workers serve communities across Rwanda. The program is supported by partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Health Builders, which help provide training, supervision and technical support. Community health workers receive training to monitor pregnancies, identify illnesses, promote vaccinations and connect patients with health facilities when additional care is needed. Because they live in the communities they serve, they can identify health concerns early, educate families and encourage people to seek treatment before illnesses become more serious. This approach has helped reduce barriers to health care for low-income families who may otherwise struggle with transportation costs or long travel distances to clinics.

According to the WHO, Rwanda has made remarkable progress in maternal and child health over the past two decades. Maternal mortality declined from more than 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to approximately 203 in 2020. During the same period, under-five mortality also declined significantly, reflecting major improvements in community-based health services and access to primary care.

Improving Maternal and Child Health

One of the program’s greatest successes has been improving maternal and child health. Community health workers track pregnancies, encourage prenatal checkups and identify warning signs that require medical attention. They also educate parents about nutrition, breastfeeding and childhood illnesses while helping children receive routine vaccinations.

According to UNICEF, Rwanda has achieved consistently high childhood vaccination coverage while significantly reducing under-five mortality during the past two decades. Researchers have also found that community health workers have contributed to reductions in maternal mortality by connecting pregnant women with health facilities, encouraging skilled birth attendance and ensuring timely referrals when complications arise. These services are especially important for families living in poverty, where delayed treatment or limited access to medical care can have life-threatening consequences. By delivering preventive care directly within communities, community health workers help reduce health inequalities and improve access to essential services for thousands of Rwandan families.

A Model Recognized Around the World

The success of community health workers in Rwanda has gained international recognition. The World Bank reports that Rwanda has met or exceeded many global health targets by emphasizing preventive care, community participation and strong primary health care systems. Technology has also strengthened the program. Rwanda introduced RapidSMS, a mobile phone reporting system that allows community health workers to register pregnancies, monitor expectant mothers and quickly report high-risk cases to nearby health facilities.

The system has improved communication between villages and health centers, helping mothers and newborns receive care more quickly when complications arise. As countries continue searching for ways to improve access to health care, community health workers in Rwanda demonstrate how investing in community-based medicine can improve health outcomes while reducing the barriers created by poverty. By bringing essential services directly into underserved communities, Rwanda has created a sustainable model that continues to save lives and offers valuable lessons for other developing countries seeking to strengthen their health systems.

– Masa Qasim

Masa is based in Toronto, Canada and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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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 globally 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