Archive for category: Global Health

Information and stories about global health.

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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

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Project Waterfall and Clean Water in Ethiopia

Clean Water in EthiopiaAccess to clean water continues to improve in Ethiopia as organizations and local communities invest in sustainable water solutions that strengthen health, education and economic opportunity. Roughly 62 million people in Ethiopia do not have access to clean water, while waterborne diseases remain a leading cause of death among children under 5. These public health challenges adversely affect educational opportunities, reduce economic productivity and contribute to long-term poverty, particularly in rural communities. However, for more than a decade, Project Waterfall, an international nonprofit, has partnered with coffee-growing communities in Ethiopia to expand access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Changes in Climate Threaten Clean Water

The changing climate, prolonged droughts, shifting rainfall patterns and seasonal flooding continue to strain Ethiopia’s water resources, placing increasing pressure on rivers, groundwater supplies and aging water infrastructure. Many rural families travel long distances to collect unsafe drinking water, increasing their risk of diarrhea and other waterborne diseases. According to the World Bank, 38.6% of Ethiopians live below the international poverty line of $4 per day (2021 purchasing power parity, or PPP), making it especially difficult for low-income households to afford medical treatment for waterborne illnesses. Children, particularly girls, often miss school because they spend hours fetching water or attend schools without safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities. These conditions reduce household productivity, limit educational opportunities and make it more difficult for families to escape poverty.

Despite recording a historic $3 billion in coffee exports this year, coffee-growing communities face unique challenges. Ethiopia is Africa’s largest coffee producer and the world’s fifth-largest coffee exporter, with approximately 15 million people depending on coffee production for their livelihoods. Yet many of the same communities that produce one of the country’s most valuable exports still struggle to access safe water and sanitation services.

Project Waterfall Invests in Sustainable Clean Water

Founded in 2011, Project Waterfall unites the global coffee industry to fund sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects in coffee-growing regions worldwide. Rather than providing temporary relief, the organization works with experienced delivery partners, including Splash and WaterAid, to build systems that communities can maintain long after construction ends. Today, Project Waterfall has funded 34 projects, reached more than 80,000 people across seven countries and continues expanding its work where water insecurity remains most severe.

Project Waterfall began working in Ethiopia in 2014, investing in projects that install clean water systems, improve sanitation facilities, provide hygiene education and train local leaders to maintain water infrastructure. The organization also partners with schools to establish WASH clubs to teach students healthy hygiene practices while helping protect new facilities for future generations.

Clean Water Creates Better Health and Better Schools

One of Project Waterfall’s newest initiatives, Project WISE (WASH in Schools for Everyone), demonstrates how clean water can transform everyday life for students. Working with Splash, the program aims to bring safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene education to every public school in Addis Ababa, serving nearly 1 million children. According to Splash, the program reached 94% of government schools in Addis Ababa while securing $11.4 million in co-investment from the Ethiopian government.

The impact extends beyond access to drinking water, with schools receiving child-friendly water stations, improved toilets, menstrual health education and behavior-change programs that encourage lifelong hygiene habits. According to Splash, WASH service improvements have contributed to a 17% reduction in respiratory illness among students, while menstrual hygiene facilities are helping girls attend school more consistently. In addition to Project Waterfall’s work, the World Bank reports that Ethiopia’s national One WASH Program, spearheaded by the World Bank and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has constructed or rehabilitated more than 10,000 WASH facilities in schools, including 575 schools that now have improved water supplies and 428 schools with menstrual hygiene management facilities, increasing regular attendance and reducing dropout rates among girls. By the end of 2024, Project WISE had upgraded two schools in Addis Ababa, directly benefiting roughly 1,200 daytime students, 1,000 evening students and 170 staff members.

Building a More Resilient Future

Project Waterfall’s partnerships with local governments and organizations demonstrate how community-led solutions can produce lasting results rather than temporary fixes. As these programs expand to additional schools and drought-affected communities, more Ethiopians will gain opportunities to pursue education, improve their livelihoods and build healthier futures. Continued investment in clean water infrastructure will not only strengthen communities today but also help create lasting pathways out of poverty for future generations.

– Ashley Belling

Ashley is based in Chicago, IL, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Clooney Foundation: Waging Justice for Women

Waging Justice for WomenWomen’s access to fundamental rights to free speech, health care and education are goals that Amal and George Clooney are actively working toward in more than 40 countries around the world. Their foundation’s stated aim is to defend free speech and women’s rights, focusing on freeing women from discrimination, child marriage and violence.

Waging Justice for Women

In their program, Waging Justice for Women, launched in 2022, the foundation aims to:

  • Challenge unjust laws before national, regional and international bodies and represent the women affected.
  • Establish mobile legal aid clinics to empower women to advance their rights.
  • Fund and mentor the next generation of African gender justice champions through the annual Waging Justice for Women fellowship.

Global Variations in Women’s Rights

Government action on women’s rights varies across the world. Norway and Sweden grant parents 13 months of paid parental leave, whilst in the United States, paid maternity leave is not federally mandated. Access to fundamental rights, whether parental leave or protections against violence, varies tremendously depending on where a woman lives.

Challenges Facing Young Girls

More than 12 million young girls worldwide find themselves in situations of abuse, discrimination, economic disparity and child marriage, according to Time magazine. Many women face these situations due to economic, educational and cultural systems that limit their choices and opportunities. The Clooney Foundation has teamed up with the Gates Foundation and Michelle and Barack Obama to help end child marriage and secure fundamental rights for women, with education access as its primary course of action. Research shows that access to education significantly increases women’s odds of avoiding child marriage, poverty, unintended pregnancies and early death.

Nicholas Burnett makes a similar case in his study, writing that education gives people the knowledge and tools needed to break the cycle of poverty. He notes that one in five adults globally, some 781 million people, cannot read a simple sentence with understanding, and that two-thirds of these illiterate adults are women, with illiteracy concentrated in low-income countries where severe poverty is widespread.

Impact of the Clooney Foundation

The Clooney Foundation has already changed the lives of many. It represents survivors and victims of rape and gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has initiated a judicial investigation against the group that committed these crimes, holding those responsible accountable and granting thousands of women greater safety and protection in their homeland.

The foundation has also worked with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Obamas to help lower the child marriage rate in Malawi by 20%. While there is still much progress to be made, this work with the Malawian government has improved quality of life and expanded access to rights for young girls in the country.

Broader Impacts of Women’s Rights

Access to women’s rights positively impacts not only the woman herself but also the community around her. Rhonda E. Howard-Hassmann discusses how the more autonomy women gain, the more they devote themselves to their families and communities. Howard-Hassmann also cites a study from the Ivory Coast and Indonesia that found positive patterns of social connection, responsibility and trust within communities after women gained greater autonomy and rights.

The Clooney Foundation has made several important changes in the lives of countless women in over 40 countries, and it plans to continue this work for years to come.

– Sadie Lopez

Sadie is based in Seattle, USA and focuses on Good News, Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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A Deep Dive Into the Cholera Outbreak in Angola

Cholera Outbreak in AngolaThe nation of Angola is located in southwestern Africa. Since early 2025, a formidable cholera outbreak in Angola has yielded more than 3,000 cases of the infection. The outbreak is primarily impacting the provinces of Luanda and Bengo and has continued to worsen into 2026.

How Cholera Spreads

Cholera is an infection that can cause moderate illness, severe diarrhea and vomiting, and even death if left untreated. People contract this infection by ingesting food or beverages contaminated with the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. After consuming contaminated food or drink, the infection can take 12 to 120 hours to incubate. Many individuals carry the infection without manifesting symptoms, though they can still unknowingly spread it to others for up to 10 days.

Cholera thrives in environments with poor sanitation and limited clean water for drinking and hygiene. The risk of an outbreak increases during humanitarian crises, natural disasters or any situation that hinders the effective functioning of water infrastructure and sanitation systems. These factors often lead large populations to converge into overcrowded areas, increasing the risk of contaminating shared water sources.

Cholera and poverty form a vicious cycle. The poor infrastructure, overcrowding and water scarcity that characterize impoverished communities are highly conducive to cholera outbreaks. Outbreaks, in turn, worsen living conditions for impoverished individuals, since treatment can be costly and local health care systems are often strained and unable to provide sufficient care.

The Outbreak in Angola

Since the 1970s, Angola has periodically faced cholera outbreaks. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that many of these outbreaks are linked to cholera outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola’s northeastern neighbor, which is currently experiencing one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world.

The most recent outbreak began on Jan. 7, 2025. In May 2026, 3,596 new cases of cholera were reported worldwide, and 2,120 of those cases came from Angola, meaning approximately 59% of new global cholera cases that month came from the country alone. The rate of new cholera cases in Angola was five times higher than the 413 cases reported in Mozambique, the country with the second-highest total.

According to the most recent survey, conducted in 2018, approximately 53% of Angola’s population lives in poverty. The outbreak, therefore, poses a significant threat to large portions of the population, especially in the heavily impacted provinces of Luanda and Bengo. Still, the outbreak can be addressed: common measures to control cholera include oral vaccinations, case management and surveillance, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions.

Efforts to Alleviate the Outbreak

Organizations, including the WHO and Angola’s Ministry of Health, have begun important work to address the Cholera outbreak in Angola. The Ministry of Health, with support from WHO, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Bank and other organizations, has implemented a vaccination campaign. In January 2025 alone, the ministry vaccinated more than 900,000 people, and a month later it distributed a further 700,000 doses of oral cholera vaccine. These groups, along with other local and international organizations, are leading efforts to end the outbreak.

WHO is combating the outbreak by training health care workers to detect and report new cases, conducting infection surveys, processing data and mobilizing communities to implement prevention measures. WHO is also supporting cholera treatment centers in Bengo and Luanda provinces, which provide emergency treatment for infected patients in need of medical care.

UNICEF has expanded its WASH initiatives in Angola since the outbreak began. These initiatives have proven a vital tool in the fight against waterborne diseases like cholera. In support of this work, UNICEF has distributed essential hygiene and sanitation supplies to more than 64,500 children in Angola since the outbreak started. The organization is also installing water tanks in heavily affected areas to help reduce transmission and is supporting the Angolan government in training volunteers and mobilizing communities to prevent the spread of the disease.

Looking Ahead

Though the cholera outbreak in Angola remains a difficult situation, the WHO, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health continue working to bring it to an end.

– Melody Hubbard

Melody is based in Knoxville, TN, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Tafenoquine Malaria Treatment in Brazil

Malaria Treatment in BrazilAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were an estimated 282 million cases of malaria with 610,000 deaths in 80 countries worldwide in 2024. Malaria remains a life-threatening disease affecting mostly countries with tropical climates. Among low- and middle-income countries, nearly half of households spend more than 40% on health care. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stated that 1.9 billion people who live in areas with malaria face the threat of being pushed into poverty.

Malaria in Brazil

In Brazil, malaria has a disproportionate impact on the poorest and most vulnerable communities, predominantly concentrated in the Amazon regions. When malaria is contracted, symptoms can be overbearing, affecting the person’s ability to work. As these regions are relatively remote, accessing health care requires time and travel costs, further adding to the economic burden.

Between 2016 and 2022, large-scale deforestation from illegal mining worsened the situation. Miners who come to these regions are potential parasite carriers and may increase transmission. Mining, which involves deforestation and river dredging, also creates breeding grounds for mosquito species that carry malaria. Researchers have described communities in Brazil’s Amazon regions as trapped in a cycle in which deforestation drives poverty, and poverty in turn drives further deforestation.

In 2023, Brazil declared malaria a public health emergency in the Yanomami Indigenous Territory in the Amazon rainforest bordering Venezuela. Nearly every person tested by a team of doctors sent to the region had malaria.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Early diagnosis and treatment are key to successful recovery and reducing disease transmission. Some people have higher risks of developing and experiencing severe symptoms, including infants and children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and individuals with immunocompromised conditions.

Common treatment involves oral medication, though some cases may require injections. Standard therapies include a combination drug regimen based on artemisinin, considered the most effective option against the P. falciparum parasite; chloroquine, used against the P. vivax parasite in regions where it remains effective; and primaquine, often added to prevent relapses caused by the P. vivax and P. ovale parasites.

A Single-Dose Treatment Emerges

The challenge with these treatments is poor patient adherence. They involve multiple stages, and the full treatment course takes 14 days. Many people must travel far and miss work just to access treatment, and when a course goes uncompleted, the risk of relapse and continued spread of malaria increases.

To address this issue, Brazil started a rollout of pediatric tafenoquine, a single-dose treatment that has proven effective against relapsing malaria. Tafenoquine kills P. vivax parasites, which often hide and remain dormant in the body for years before symptoms appear.

P. vivax has the widest geographical reach of any malaria species and predominates across Latin America. While most malaria deaths in Africa are caused by P. falciparum, tafenoquine is a promising treatment and a potential path toward eliminating malaria in regions where P. vivax is dominant.

Thailand recently became the second country to adopt this single-dose treatment, approving pediatric tafenoquine in a step toward its own malaria elimination goals.

Since its first rollout, Brazil has also adopted tafenoquine for adults within its health system. More than 7,000 adults across different municipalities were treated between June 2024 and April 2025, and the country reported a 26.8% drop in malaria cases by the first quarter of 2025.

Global Efforts and Research

Eliminating malaria is a collective effort. In the United Kingdom, reports show that investment in treatment research boosts the country’s economy and creates jobs while saving lives. Brazil is still a long way from its goal of eliminating malaria by 2035, but continuous research, treatment and testing of tafenoquine represent a step closer to that goal, and to strengthening global health security overall.

– Marine Baume

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

Photo: Unsplash

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5 Things You Need to Know About Diabetes in the Philippines

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

What is Diabetes?

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

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

Culture and Diabetes in the Philippines

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

Treatment Access

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

Organizations Helping to Address Diabetes in the Philippines

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

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

Looking Ahead

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

– Lily Alexander

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

Photo: Flickr

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Universal Health Care in Mexico: A Fresh Start for Mexican Citizens

Universal Healthcare in MexicoMexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has recently announced a positive health reform aimed at granting universal health care coverage starting in January 2027. Describing this as a “historic step” towards free and equitable health services to all citizens of Mexico. Here is more information about the move toward universal health care in Mexico.

The Current Situation

Mexico, the 13th largest country in the world, with a population of more than 100 million people, is a culturally, socially and economically diverse nation. Although it earns a medium-high income, it still has suffered from inequality, poverty, economic insecurity and mental health disorders.

The current health system in Mexico is divided into three types of services: 

  • Social Security: Only the formal, salaried members of the economy, about 47% of the population, receives this.
  • Those Not Covered by Social Security: The poorest members of Mexican society, about 45% of its population, do not receive social security.
  • Private Providers: Private providers attend to non-insured families who can afford them. This accounts for 4% of the population.

The current health care situation in Mexico is dire. Director of the Mexican Ministry of Health, Mariana Barraza-Lloréns explains that half of Mexico’s population is uninsured and incapable of accessing health care due to financial disparity. Barraza-Lloréns also focuses on the Indigenous communities that the current health care system impacts and marginalizes. These communities have infant mortality rates that are 58% higher and a life expectancy that is five years lower than national averages. Barraza-Lloréns argues that universal health care is a need.

What To Expect

This new health care system will be carried out in several phases, beginning with initial registration for this health care system starting with Mexicans aged 85 and older. Sign-ups will continue throughout the year, organized by age group and an official identification card will be given to each citizen to grant them access to services starting January 2027. By prioritizing emergency care, continuity of treatment across institutions and access to services regardless of insurance affiliation. In this first phase this universal health care in Mexico will mainly cover emergency services, high-risk pregnancies, heart attacks, strokes and cancer diagnosis. By the end of 2027 and starting 2028, Mexico plans to roll out its next phases and extend its promise for health care for all.

Why Is Universal Health Care in Mexico Important?

A WHO study in 2020 offered insights into Mexico’s overall health index. While life expectancy has increased from an initial 34 years in 1930 to 75 years in 2017, there has still been a significant delay with these improvements. With mortality rates in cases such as heart disease and diabetes ranging anywhere from 70-80 deaths per thousand, there is evidence to suggest lack of access to proper health services. Sheinbaum’s new health reform aims to provide care to all citizens regardless of insurance status. With 46% of its citizens under the poverty line, universal health care would provide life-changing services to many. 

Countries such as Sweden, which access universal health care, offer some of the highest life expectancy rates in the world, averaging about 81 years. Sweden has seen drastic improvements in overall public health in the last several decades with these universal health reforms. With decreases in mortality, work-related injuries, and mental health, Sweden’s public access to health care has served many.

Universal health care is an object of political, economic and social discussion in many countries across the world. As seen in countries such as Sweden and many others, free public access to health care has proven to be a guarantee for life expectancy and quality of living. Time will tell how Mexico’s health reforms will positively impact the citizens of the country.

– Sadie Lopez

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

Photo: Wikimedia Commons