Archive for category: Global Health

Information and stories about global health.

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Spanish Town Hospital and Prostate Cancer in Jamaica

Prostate Cancer in JamaicaSpanish Town Hospital’s urology department recently celebrated its fifth anniversary on June 28, 2026, with new equipment. This equipment will help serve the severe need for health infrastructure to support patients with prostate cancer in Jamaica.

A Generous Anniversary

Spanish Town Hospital is located in St. Catherine, Jamaica’s fastest-growing parish. It serves patients from Kingston and St. Andrew, as well as parts of Clarendon, St. Mary and St. Ann. It is one of 24 public hospitals on the island.

In celebration of its anniversary, the urology department received equipment for detecting and treating prostate cancer. The Jamaican National Health Fund and private companies generously supported the department and paid for the lifesaving equipment. Donors gave Spanish Town Hospital new equipment, including an advanced ultrasound machine, prostate biopsy machine and prostate biopsy gun.

This equipment is critical for Jamaicans given the high rate of prostate cancer on the island. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Jamaican men, accounting for 38.5% of new cancer cases among men in 2024. Prostate cancer is also the leading cause of cancer deaths among Jamaican men. In 2024 alone, Jamaica recorded 1,394 new cases of prostate cancer and 809 deaths.

Cost

Screening for prostate cancer and catching the disease in its earliest stages is one of the easiest ways to prevent cancer deaths. However, researchers most often cite socioeconomic factors as the reason many Jamaicans do not get screened for prostate cancer. As socioeconomic status rises, so does screening for prostate cancer. Early detection of prostate cancer is also positively correlated with socioeconomic status. This means those in poverty face the highest risk of late detection, and therefore death.

Furthering the disparity, Jamaica splits its health care system into private and public services. Generally, private hospitals have shorter waiting times, more resources and better-qualified personnel. As socioeconomic status increases, so does use of private health care systems. Private hospitals, and therefore the best screening for prostate cancer in Jamaica, are too expensive for those in poverty to access.

World Bank data from 2021 lists 16.7% of the population as below the Jamaican national poverty line. That represents more than a sixth of the population unable to access the lifesaving technology found in private hospitals. These Jamaicans also cannot get preventative testing for deadly prostate cancer.

Good News

Spanish Town is a public hospital that now has the capabilities to help those in poverty receive screening and treatment for prostate cancer.

Dr. Elon Thompson, the leader of the urology department, told the Jamaica Gleaner the new equipment fills “one of the key missing components” in treating patients. He added that it will help the department diagnose prostate cancer earlier.

This equipment upgrade is part of an effort to turn the 70-year-old hospital into a modern center of health care. Officials estimate the renovations will cost 5.5 billion Jamaican dollars, or about $347.8 million. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is financially supporting the government of Jamaica to cover the cost. The IDB funds development throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, and it receives a large share of its own operating budget from the United States.

– Isabella Law

Isabella is based in Pilesgrove, NJ, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Menstrual Product Vending Machines in Bangladesh

Menstrual product vending machines in BangladeshGlobally, period poverty remains a widespread problem. The World Bank estimates that 500 million people who menstruate worldwide lack access to menstrual products and the facilities needed to manage their periods. In developing nations, such as Bangladesh, the lack of supplies poses threats to women’s health, education and environmental safety. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) National Hygiene Survey reported sanitary pad usage among women and girls at roughly 17% to 29%. Lacking clean, sustainable supplies, many resort to old clothes or dirty cloths, missing school and work every month. With no easy way of disseminating products due to social taboos and costs, period poverty limits schoolgirls’ chance to learn simply because of their gender.

Bangladesh, where period poverty remains widespread, is working to change this reality. Protecting both the environment and women’s health, the nation has introduced menstrual product vending machines, and reusable cloth pads are reshaping menstrual health management. Two organizations helping to fight period poverty are Freedom Sanitary Napkin and Fresh Anonna. Freedom has installed more than 100 vending machines across universities, colleges and public spaces, and Fresh Anonna has brought machines to schools and madrasahs, alongside education programs that challenge social taboos and expand access.

Instant Access and Stigma Reduction via Vending Machines

Periods are a monthly bodily occurrence and one that is often stigmatized, especially in rural Bangladeshi communities. According to the World Bank, more than 70% of Bangladeshi youth believe menstruating girls should avoid activities such as going out, cooking or eating certain foods. Placing menstrual product vending machines in schools helps normalize the bodily function. Dhaka University and Eden Women’s College are among the institutions installing automated dispensers, which provide low-cost products to students who need them.

Access is not the only benefit; these dispensers are also cost-effective. Pads cost around 10 Bangladeshi taka (about $0.08), eliminating the need to buy expensive packs. The dispensers also avoid the social taboo of purchasing products in busy marketplaces or from male shopkeepers, offering a discreet method of access. Placing the machines inside restrooms, away from public view, also helps lower period-related absenteeism.

Long-Term Affordability through Reusable Pads

Menstrual product vending machines address emergency needs but pose a risk to the environment. Standard single-use pads generate large amounts of plastic waste. A plastic pad can take 500 to 800 years to decompose in a landfill, while one person can use up to 16,000 disposable products in their lifetime. Sustainable, reusable pads help reduce lifetime waste, and continuously purchasing single-use items is financially out of reach for many households.

Organizations such as EcoVation Bangladesh, through initiatives like “Project MyPad,” transform textile waste into washable cloth pads that can be used multiple times. In rural communities, workshops teach women how to make their own products; sewing together multi-layered products that can be washed and reused. The financial relief is immediate. A single set of reusable pads lasts up to three years, replacing hundreds of disposable items and drastically lowering household expenses. Women also learn imperative information about the menstrual process and key ways to handle their time of the month. These programs protect both physical health and monthly budgets.

A Dual Strategy for Gender Equality

Women lift economies; addressing their needs and struggles remains imperative in the fight for poverty reduction. Focusing on both women’s health and sustainability, Bangladesh prioritizes eco-friendly solutions, accessible through a widespread network that uplifts girls across regions. Scaling up menstrual product vending machines in Bangladesh provides high-tech, immediate relief in urban schools and factories, while reusable pads deliver an economical alternative tailored for rural communities.

– Maya Tung

Maya is based in Summit, NJ, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Reducing Child Mortality In Asia

Reducing Child Mortality in AsiaIn 2024, approximately 4.9 million children worldwide died before their fifth birthday, with 2.3 million of these deaths being newborns. Around 25% of all under-five deaths occur in South Asia, with complications during the first month of life, such as preterm delivery, often being the cause. However, in recent years, Asian countries have made major progress in reducing child mortality rates, a longstanding issue on the continent. Since 2000, China and India have reduced child mortality rates by more than 50%, with seven other countries in Asia also achieving record lows. Reduced child mortality in Asia has been aided by a strong focus on reducing poverty through services like health care.

Improved Health Care

Over the past 20 years, China has placed a large focus on socioeconomic development, particularly in the nation’s health care system, with basic medical insurance achieving more than 95% of population coverage. Maternal health care has seen steady investment, with a particular focus on improving support accessibility for those in rural areas. The government provided subsidies to women who delivered babies in hospitals, resulting in a 99% institutional delivery rate.

A mother in 2016 told the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) how this change in the way women seek health care impacted her personally. Just one antenatal checkup and a home birth, due to fears of hospital costs, meant she lost her first baby. However, due to government subsidies that covered expenses, she was able to deliver a healthy second child at the county hospital.

Strong governance in India has also improved quality of life and outcomes for both newborns and child health. As part of India’s National Health Mission, the government has implemented progressive programs to provide “equitable access” for mothers. The Janani Suraksha Yojana initiative was launched in 2005 to provide financial support for poor mothers, helping them safely deliver their babies. In 2024, 95% of mothers received medical attention during live birth in either public or private hospitals, up from 83% in 2019.

A Focus on Poverty

There has been a strong focus from Asian countries on poverty reduction, with China reducing the number of people living in poverty by 800 million in just four decades, accounting for close to three-quarters of extreme poverty reduction worldwide. China achieved this by developing economic opportunities, improving incomes and channeling support to specific areas of the country, like rural households. An example of this was a series of targeted poverty alleviation programs that identified counties and districts of China in critical need of assistance. In 2021, President Xi Jinping claimed 100 million poor rural people had been “lifted out of poverty” over the previous eight years.

India has also reduced extreme poverty to 2.3% over the last decade, lifting 171 million people above the poverty line. The Arogya Lakshmi scheme is an example of how a strong focus on nutrition has contributed to this reduction. This welfare program in the Indian state of Telangana provides “one nutritious meal” per day to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, as well as children below the age of six. Since being launched in 2015, more than 1.89 million breastfeeding mothers and 518,216 infants have been covered by the scheme.

Aid From Organizations

UNICEF has been helping to provide aid in Asia for more than 78 years, working with governments to improve primary health care systems through tools such as telehealth. UNICEF’s work in the Philippines, which saw seven million children vaccinated in six weeks thanks to a real-time vaccination monitoring system, is evidence of these digital tools’ effectiveness. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a partnership with the World Health Organization, has also helped to provide educational support to mothers through the program’s “10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.”

Save the Children helped improve the lives of more than 310,000 children in 2025 and has worked in the region for more than 70 years. The organization’s Comprehensive Safe Schools Approach, which partnered with the China Society of Education, helped to reach more than 120 million students. In Afghanistan, a Save the Children free-to-use clinic helped rescue a child from severe acute malnutrition. A successful nutrition treatment program saw the child’s health improve, with her mother describing her as able now to “move and smile,” despite initially being unable to due to her malnourishment.

Lessons to Be Learned

The progress made in reducing child mortality in Asia has provided a model to other countries, particularly in the African region. Cooperation between China and African nations, such as the $60 billion funding pledged by China in 2016, will help advocate for and improve maternal and child health outcomes, further reducing global child mortality rates. Through a focus on maternal health care, financial support for rural areas and a greater investment in reducing poverty, many other mothers can have successful pregnancies and many more children can live to see their fifth birthday.

– William Snow

William is based in Chepstow, Wales and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Restoring Dignity: Eliminating Obstetric Fistula in Sierra Leone

Obstetric Fistula in Sierra LeoneIn a small, rural community in the interior lowlands of Sierra Leone, a young woman experienced days of obstructed labor, which unfortunately resulted in the loss of her child. While she survived, severe complications from her perilous delivery caused heavy urinary and fecal leakage, leading to extreme postpartum depression and isolation from the community due to stigma. For years, this has been the story for thousands of women from this geographically diverse country.

Located in West Africa and bordering the Atlantic Ocean, many know Sierra Leone for its stunning white sand beaches and rich diamond and mineral wealth. However, despite its natural beauty and opulence, the nation has faced a severe issue of obstetric fistulas due to poor health care infrastructure. The condition occurs due to a tear between the birth canal and bladder and/or rectum, primarily caused by prolonged, obstructed labor without efficient access to adequate medical treatment. Side effects include continuous leakage of urine and/or feces, infections and extremely irritated skin. Due to the additional mental health consequences, many affected women cannot work outside their home or farm, deepening poverty levels.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around one to two million women are afflicted by this condition, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. However, it is incredibly preventable with access to adequate obstetric care and emergency cesarean sections.

Why Sierra Leone Faces This Issue

There are many reasons why obstetric fistula is a grave issue in Sierra Leone. The root cause is prolonged and obstructed labor due to a lack of proper access to obstetric care. This is mainly related to transportation difficulties, costly obstetric services and a lack of trained professionals in many areas across the country. Ultimately, these problems are rooted in the high rates of poverty in the nation.

A 2018 community-based survey found a maternal mortality ratio of around 516 deaths per every 100,000 live births — though more recent United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) data shows the country has since made significant progress, reducing its maternal mortality ratio to 354 per 100,000 by 2023, a 79% decline since 2000. Even with this improvement, Sierra Leone remains among the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Recognizing obstetric fistula as a major remaining issue, Sierra Leone has shifted toward a nationwide systemic strategy to address the problem.

The National Strategy to End Obstetric Fistula in Sierra Leone

Launched by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in May 2023, this strategy represents the nation’s first comprehensive and official plan to eliminate obstetric fistula as a nationwide public health crisis. The government primarily funds the strategy along with UNFPA and shifts the focus from occasional surgical interventions to overall long-term prevention and rehabilitation. The ultimate goal detailed by the framework is to eliminate cases by 2027. It also details five main objectives: prevent obstetric fistula, improve care for women currently afflicted, strengthen governmental programs and management, improve resources and finances and strengthen long-term research and monitoring.

  • Prevent Obstetric Fistula. The strategy aims to improve access to adequate sexual and reproductive care across all life stages for women, including pregnancy and labor. This will involve investing in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and education, especially for adolescents, to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
  • Improve Care for Women Currently Afflicted. This objective involves strengthening the identification and mobilization of women with fistula, providing treatment and care for them, and increasing the number of fistula repair personnel. This includes training midwives and health care workers in identification and treatment, establishing toll-free hotlines and improving SRH education for affected patients.
  • Strengthen Governmental Programs and Management. This step commits to eliminating obstetric fistula through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), establishing formal partnerships with non-governmental and community-based organizations, and strengthening management to institutionalize fistula repair. The strategy outlines developing legislation to promote SRH education and awareness through the MoHS and creating platforms for advocacy and lobbying.
  • Improve Resources and Finances. The nation will implement financial protection for those affected by the condition and enhance resources for fistula programs. This involves improving free health care initiatives and encouraging local governments and hospitals to include a budget line for obstetric fistula survivors.
  • Strengthen Long-Term Research and Monitoring. This last step focuses on institutionalizing the inclusion of fistula-related data in periodic evaluations, capacity-building for fistula data management and the spread of research report findings to improve fistula care in the future.

Successes

In 2024 alone, more than 700 women and girls were screened, with 200 receiving surgical repairs. Around 400,000 were reached with awareness campaigns on SRH and fistula prevention, and the training of around 642 health care workers enhanced facilities for fistula prevention.

For thousands of women across Sierra Leone, treating obstetric fistula means more than repairing a simple tear in their bodies — it means restoring dignity and livelihood to lives deeply affected by the effects of poverty. Through continuous investment in awareness, prevention and rehabilitation of the condition, the country is transforming stories of agony into ones of recovery.

– Tanish Peddi

Tanish is based in Westford, MA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Shielding Mothers and Children From Malnutrition in Pakistan

Malnutrition in PakistanPakistan’s Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) announced a three-year extension of the Benazir Nashonuma Programme on July 9, 2026. The extension, backed by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), will protect an additional 3.3 million children and women from malnutrition. Combined with prior enrollment, the program’s total reach will grow to 8 million people since its 2020 launch.

What the Program Does

The Nashonuma Programme delivers nutrition and health services to pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 2. It operates through 578 facilitation centers and 224 nutrition stabilization centers across Pakistan. Rather than standing alone, the program is built directly into BISP, Pakistan’s national social protection system.

Pakistan faces a steep malnutrition burden: four in every 10 children under 5 suffer from stunting, amounting to 10 million children nationwide. Wasting affects 17.7% of children under 5, or 5 million children, and contributes to an estimated $17 billion in annual economic losses. The Nashonuma Programme targets these numbers directly by treating nutrition as a core function of the social safety net rather than a separate emergency response.

The Results So Far

Children enrolled in the program were 22% less likely to be stunted by 6 months of age, a result officials describe as among the strongest ever recorded for a nutrition program globally. The program also improved maternal nutrition, increased antenatal care visits and led to healthier pregnancy weight gain and birth outcomes.

The program also carries a track record of sustained government investment. A prior extension agreement, running from September 2024 through June 2026, represented a $194 million contribution from the Government of Pakistan to WFP, bringing total government investment to nearly $500 million since 2020. Officials have described it as the largest government-funded program in WFP’s global history.

In Their Words

“The Government of Pakistan is proud to strengthen this vital partnership,” said Sen. Rubina Khalid, BISP chairperson. She described the program as a foundation for a brighter, more prosperous future for Pakistani children.

WFP Representative and Country Director in Pakistan Anita Hirsch said the program’s results are “extremely promising” for preventing child malnutrition and that the extension will let WFP keep expanding access to nutrition services alongside the government.

UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Pernille Ironside praised the government’s leadership and framed the program as a long-term investment, describing spending on nutrition as ultimately an investment in Pakistan’s future.

Luo Dapeng, WHO Representative in Pakistan, called the whole-of-government model the program’s central strength, spanning sectors including health, nutrition, social protection, water and sanitation, food systems and education. He said WHO remains ready to help Pakistan extend that model to every mother and child, “regardless of economic and social status.”

A Systemic Approach

The program’s design reflects a broader shift in how Pakistan approaches malnutrition. Nashonuma integrates prevention into existing family income support infrastructure, rather than treating hunger and stunting as one-off crises to manage. This allows the program to reach mothers and children early, before malnutrition takes hold.

The three-year extension positions Nashonuma to keep building on its early success. With the program’s reach nearly doubling from 4.7 million to 8 million people, it will protect a larger share of Pakistan’s next generation from the long-term health effects of childhood malnutrition. By pairing UN agencies’ technical resources and funding with government infrastructure already in place, Pakistan has built a program that is easier to implement and faster to scale than either side could manage alone. Other countries facing similar malnutrition burdens may look to replicate that partnership. Above all, the program treats malnutrition as something to prevent, not just something to treat after it takes hold.

– Gonzalo Rodriguez Da Fonte Martins

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

Photo: Flickr

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Dementia’s Impact on Poor Communities

Dementia's Impact on Poor CommunitiesDementia is a general term for many kinds of cognitive illnesses that cause memory loss and personality changes, among other symptoms. There are many causes of dementia, including genetic factors, environmental influences and economic standards of living.

Lack of Studies in Poor Communities

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact number of those who suffer from dementia. The lack of identification, education and methods of counting all contribute to the lack of information. Researchers were able to obtain information from only a few countries; half of the published studies were from Nigeria. They estimate that only 10% of dementia patients are formally or medically diagnosed in sub-Saharan Africa. Of those diagnosed, the majority either cannot afford medications or lack access to proper facilities in poorer areas.

Accurate numbers and the impact of dementia in poverty-stricken areas are challenging to determine because dementia is often attributed to supernatural causes. The lack of understanding of dementia as a medical condition is influenced by beliefs. Many see dementia as the result of bewitching or evil spirits. Stigmas against dementia make it harder to conduct proper studies to assess the illness’s impact on communities.

The higher prevalence of dementia in poor communities is due to factors such as lack of education, poorer health and unemployment. The misunderstanding of the condition as a medical illness versus a supernatural one complicates studies on the connection between dementia and poverty. These challenges make it difficult to implement long-term interventions and educational programs.

Caregiving

Dementia’s impact on poor communities differs among countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The economic strain of caregiving in these communities complicates basic life necessities due to the time and emotional strain required for care. For example, in Uganda, the responsibility of care falls on the family, while in South Africa, there is a culture of rotating care within the community. The care of dementia patients is emotionally draining, with 60% of survey respondents indicating that caregivers suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. However, cultural understanding and perspectives allow many to remain resilient in their situations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that dementia is a worldwide health priority. In 2015, scientists and researchers in Finland published the results of the FINGER method. The official name is the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER). The method includes five focuses: physical activity, healthy eating, mental stimulation, social activities and cardiovascular health.

Taking Action

The Brain and Mind Institute at Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya, in collaboration with the FINGERS Brain Health Institute, started Africa-FINGERS to create culturally specific lifestyles and interventions to reduce dementia. Africa-FINGERS is currently in Kenya and Nigeria, with participating countries including South Africa, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Mauritius.

One study that began in late October 2025 compares the lifestyles of two areas in Kenya: the urban city of Nairobi and a rural area in the county of Kilifi. Researchers are examining modern life in Nairobi, where residents have less social support, eat more processed foods, are less physically active and face other modern stresses, compared to rural life, which includes more social support, more physical activity and less processed food.

Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya have models that combine primary care professionals, community and family support along with modern technologies. These programs have shown greater patient and caregiver well-being compared with traditional models. They are cost-effective and will be integrated into their health systems.

South Africa has created the “Memory Teams” model. This model uses dementia-trained health workers to assess and manage health care for rural groups, even engaging with communities that have no care. It has also implemented mobile health interventions that help with self-efficacy improvement and medication adherence.

Positive Work

Dementia’s impact on poor communities ranges from the stresses of a lack of information, to depression among family members and communities, to an economic burden from caring for elderly family members. Many economic, social and religious barriers make studying dementia’s impact on poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa very challenging. Yet, despite these challenges, governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) like Africa-FINGERS are studying the reasons behind the rise in dementia, along with lifestyle and policy factors, to mitigate dementia’s impact on poor communities. More information about this little-understood disease will help alleviate the emotional and economic drain on national and local levels. Researchers remain optimistic about the participation and progress yet to come.

– Jonathan Snowiss

Jonathan is based in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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John Green Fights Tuberculosis In Lesotho With Coffee

Tuberculosis In LesothoJohn Green—writer, creator, educator and tuberculosis fighter—started The Good Store with his brother and fellow creator Hank Green. The store began with the Awesome Socks Club, a subscription-based sock company that donates 100% of its profits to Partners in Health and their maternal health unit in Sierra Leone. Alongside the Awesome Socks Club, Green fights tuberculosis in Lesotho with Keats and Co., which sells coffee to sponsor Partners in Health and their tuberculosis care project. The Good Store exemplifies celebrities using their platforms to make a difference.

What Is The Good Store?

The Good Store sells everyday products such as socks and underwear, coffee and tea, soap and cleaning supplies, donating 100% of the profits to various charities. It was built on two principles: the Green brothers’ desire to use their respective platforms for social justice advocacy and the belief that it should be easy for people to fight injustice. The organizations under The Good Store have donated a total of more than $13 million as of 2026. Green fights tuberculosis in Lesotho and sponsors the Maternal Center of Excellence in Sierra Leone and the Maui Watershed Restoration Project. The store assures customers that buying everyday, ethically produced products makes a difference in the world.

How Is It Fighting Tuberculosis?

Green fights tuberculosis in Lesotho with the profits from Keats & Co., which sponsors Partners in Health in Lesotho. Partners in Health sets a higher standard of care, working alongside patients, scientists and policymakers to provide accessible and affordable care for all, particularly those facing poverty and economic insecurity. Tuberculosis is an entirely curable disease but still claims a life every 20 seconds, killing an estimated 1.5 million people each year. Countries like Lesotho, which are high-burden tuberculosis countries, face multi-drug resistance, underfunded health care systems and inaccessible care.

Poverty rates are the highest in rural Lesotho, where 15% of citizens face acute food insecurity and livestock disease, and elevated temperatures are expected to worsen conditions. Around 41% of the population of Lesotho lives on less than $3 per day, and nearly 50% live below the national poverty line. Conditions of poverty, including overcrowding, unstable living conditions, and lack of access to clean water create an environment where tuberculosis thrives. Because access to nutritious foods and healthcare are also factors that contribute to high tuberculosis burdens, Lesotho faces a high number of cases.

Partners in Health uses innovative solutions like mobile care clinics to treat the disease, reaching those in rural or remote areas and creating more treatment options. Because of Partners in Health’s work in Lesotho, there is now a 77% cure rate for multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, and their efforts now focus on extensively-drug-resistant tuberculosis, an even harder-to-cure strain.

Using a Platform to Make a Difference

In 2025, John Green published Everything Is Tuberculosis, a project started six years prior after Green’s visit to the Lanka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone. At the hospital, he met Henry, a teen suffering from tuberculosis. Despite being 16 years old, Henry was so emaciated due to his disease and his family’s struggles that Green first thought he was a nine-year-old. After meeting Henry and learning more about the realities of tuberculosis, the author became an advocate for patients, using his platform and prominence from his young adult books and YouTube channel to influence change. Everything Is Tuberculosis outlines the history of the disease, the social stigma surrounding it, and tells the story of Henry, who has since become a healthy adult but has seen family and friends die of tuberculosis over the years.

By using his platform to educate others and fight for foreign aid for high-burden tuberculosis countries, as well as advertising the Good Store and Keats and Co., Green fights tuberculosis in Lesotho and makes a difference in the lives of those who suffer. His activism work has both shown how celebrities are able to use their platform and what an advocate looks like.

– Madalyn Youngbauer

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

Photo: Flickr

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Poverty and the Rising Drug Use in Pakistan

drug use in PakistanLost and alone, many fall into a spiral of drug abuse in which recovery seems impossible. The Pakistani government, in tandem with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), is working to ensure that citizens have the support needed to combat their addictions.

From Despair to Hope

Pakistan faces one of the most severe and widespread drug crises in the world today. Roughly 7 million individuals experience drug-related dependencies. Economic inequality, poor education initiatives and lack of border regulation all contribute significantly to the issue. The government is collaborating with professionals and international outlets to address the problem with varying degrees of success.

Pakistan has seen a rise in poverty over the past six years. Nearly 30% of citizens live below the poverty line, with most households in rural areas. This increase is attributed to national and global emergencies, such as economic effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, growing inflation and prolonged macroeconomic adjustment. Rising poverty has led to increased levels of depression and poorer mental health, fueling drug use as a coping mechanism.

Reports

A drug use report launched by the United Nations (U.N.) in 2022 found that 9% of the adult male population and 2.9% of the adult female population had used a substance other than tobacco and alcohol in the previous year — together equivalent to about 6.7 million people, or roughly 6% of the population overall. The survey notes changing drug patterns in the region; methamphetamines and heroin have become more popular and accessible, and the illegal drug trade in Pakistan is estimated to generate roughly $2 billion a year. The report, launched jointly by the Ministry of Narcotics Control, the government of Pakistan, the United States (U.S.) Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the UNODC, aims to establish effective prevention, treatment and rehab programs through information generated from household surveys and high-risk drug studies.

The drug market in Pakistan is readily available to youth, filled with cheap, accessible and potent drugs. The country borders Afghanistan, the world’s largest producer of opium, responsible for 75% of the world’s heroin. The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has seen little regulation and poor law enforcement, allowing for an established drug market. Educational efforts regarding the negative impacts of drugs have not been successfully implemented in schools or universities, as drug addiction, poverty and mental health issues are heavily stigmatized.

Government and International Response

Pakistan has instituted several enforcement protocols and regulations to control the growing crisis. The Anti-Narcotics Force, established in 1995 and formalized under the Anti-Narcotics Force Act of 1997, is a government agency and paramilitary organization founded to investigate crimes involving narcotics, control borders and manage regulation and arrests. Since its inception, the government has worked to increase its effectiveness and further challenge the drug market. The policy focuses on supply and demand reduction by curbing inflow and establishing treatment and rehab facilities. It also stresses international cooperation with U.N. multilateral conventions and resolutions.

Internationally, the U.S. INL works closely with the Pakistani government and other international organizations to establish drug prevention and awareness programming. Aspects of the project include strengthening community resilience, generating education efforts, promoting awareness and utilizing research to combat addiction more effectively.

– Ella Goulet

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

Photo: Pixabay

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$25 Million PAHO Health Initiative in Latin America

PAHO Health Initiative in Latin AmericaOn June 25, 2026, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) launched a $25 million health initiative in five Latin American countries. The project will directly benefit more than 1.1 million people in Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras, and indirectly reach close to 900,000 more. It aims to expand access to essential health care in communities facing some of the region’s most severe humanitarian pressures. In these nations, poverty and poor health access often reinforce each other.

Why Now

The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs manages the Regional Humanitarian Pooled Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean (RHPF LAC), which was established in 2024. The fund delivers faster, more flexible funding to one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions. Latin America and the Caribbean face mounting humanitarian pressure: food insecurity and violence have reached record levels, with 27.3 million people in need of assistance in 2025.

In Colombia, armed conflict, extreme weather and migration pressures continue to drive urgent health needs, particularly in areas where non-state armed groups restrict access to essential services. Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador face their own overlapping challenges. These include population displacement, cholera, drought, food insecurity and vector-borne disease outbreaks. PAHO selected the five countries because their health systems face some of the region’s steepest strains, making them priorities for a coordinated response.

Country-by-Country Snapshot

Haiti will receive the largest share of the funding, reflecting the severity of a humanitarian crisis marked by widespread displacement and cholera outbreaks. Poverty compounds the crisis. The World Bank’s most recent national survey from 2012, found 88% of Haitians live below the national poverty line. Given the survey’s age, that figure likely understates current conditions after more than a decade of continued political and economic instability. In Haiti, the initiative aims to maintain access to emergency and essential health care for more than 524,000 people in highly vulnerable situations. This includes support for the cholera response, maternal and neonatal care, mental health services and vaccination campaigns against measles and diphtheria.

In Colombia, where an estimated 37% of the population lives below $8.30 a day, funding will expand health services for communities affected by conflict, violence and climate-related displacement, with a specific focus on hard-to-reach rural and tropical areas. Planned actions include primary care, disease surveillance, nutrition support, mental health services and improved access to safe drinking water.

In Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, where implementation began in early June, PAHO is working to restore and strengthen essential health services disrupted by climate shocks, food insecurity and disease outbreaks. Around 50% of Hondurans and 47% of Guatemalans live below $8.30 a day, while roughly 30% of Salvadorans live below their country’s national poverty line. These figures underscore why sustained health investment in these communities matters. Response efforts include mobile health brigades, vaccination campaigns, rehabilitation of health facilities and improvements to water and sanitation systems, alongside targeted disease prevention work. In Guatemala, the project will prioritize communities affected by drought and crop losses, while in El Salvador, funding will concentrate on vector-borne diseases and climate-related emergencies.

The Capacity-Building Angle

PAHO structured the health initiative in Latin America to build lasting capacity, not just deliver short-term relief. Alongside emergency response, its projects include strengthening epidemiological surveillance, expanding maternal, child and mental health services, also improving water, sanitation and hygiene systems in all five countries. These investments will help local health systems detect and respond to future outbreaks and climate emergencies on their own, reducing long-term dependence on humanitarian aid. The initiative pairs immediate care with system-level improvements. This approach aims to leave communities more resilient and better equipped to protect their own health and economic stability long after the current funding cycle ends, offering a model for how emergency response and lasting development can work together.

– Gonzalo Rodriguez

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

Photo: Flickr

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Digitizing Antenatal Care in Sierra Leone

Digitizing Antenatal Care in Sierra LeoneIn June 2026, Sierra Leone’s minister of health, Dr. Austin Demby, announced a 31% drop in maternal mortality following the first 100 days of the government’s 300 Days of Activism campaign. It marks the latest effort to improve health care for pregnant women and newborns in the country, which has consistently reported the highest rates of maternal mortality worldwide. In 2000, there were 1,682 deaths per 100,000 live births. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported this figure declining significantly in the years since. Digitizing antenatal care in Sierra Leone is a significant factor in this national success story.

Maternal Mortality in Sierra Leone

Maternal mortality in Sierra Leone is primarily caused by hemorrhaging, hypertension, obstructed labor and sepsis, conditions that can be prevented if caught early enough. Around 79% of maternal deaths in 2017 occurred within a health care facility.

Efforts by the Sierra Leone government to address antenatal care have significantly reduced deaths during pregnancy or childbirth. In 2010, it provided free health care to pregnant women and children to improve access to medical attention. In March 2025, it increased the number of skilled medical professionals and improved the availability of medication and treatment.

Paper-based systems previously made it difficult to track high-risk pregnancies and allow health care professionals to intervene before situations became critical. The World Health Organization recommends pregnant women attend eight antenatal contacts. In 2019, two-thirds of expectant mothers attended only four.

Rural areas experience a disproportionate lack of access to medical resources compared to their urban counterparts. In 2017, researchers reported that 90% of pregnant women in rural areas did not receive health care due to costs or distance to facilities. This compared to 59% of women living in urban centers. This highlights the urgency of digitizing antenatal care in Sierra Leone.

Digitizing Antenatal Care in Sierra Leone

In 2024, UNICEF collaborated with Sierra Leone’s Ministry for Health and Ministry for Communication, Technology and Innovation to adopt the World Health Organization’s SMART Guidelines for antenatal care. This is part of the Digital Adoption Kit process, which aims to create a digital medical system to address national health priorities. Creating a uniform, digitized administration network allows medical personnel and patients to stay informed, communicate effectively and receive care when needed.

The government launched the Pregnancy Registration and Service Tracking Application, known as PReSTrack, in July 2024. This allows expectant mothers to log their pregnancy on a centralized system and provides up-to-date tracking and monitoring of conditions that may arise. The system can partially function offline, and GPS technology enables health care providers to reach the entire country, even remote areas. PReSTrack, also referred to as the Kombra App, represents a historic development in improving access to health care for pregnant women and newborns. Digitizing antenatal care in Sierra Leone has educated women and girls on warning signs, enabling medical professionals to respond quickly to emergencies. Above all, preventable deaths are being avoided.

The 2025 Code4Health Hackathon

The work did not stop there. In 2025, the Code4Health Hackathon launched as part of digitizing antenatal care in Sierra Leone. Funded by the German Digital Innovation Pandemic Control project and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, it tasked 22 young engineers with developing online applications to reduce maternal mortality. The project lasted nine months and culminated with the top teams receiving guidance to develop their applications and integrate fully with PReSTrack.

  • Team Geneline-X created an all-in-one platform that connects patients, doctors and administrators to improve care coordination.
  • Team MediLink developed the Healthy Mother App, which provides weekly health tips, emergency support and features that allow pregnant women to report symptoms and issues.
  • Team Medikated focused on access to pharmacies, creating a system for online consultations and e-prescriptions.
  • Team Peer Pay used Digital Health ID to build a centralized system that would enable seamless referrals, patient tracking and one-tap ambulance dispatch for emergencies.
  • Team Next Wave Innovators constructed Mama Care, which also seeks to reduce maternal mortality through up-to-date monitoring, centralized records and emergency call support.

Key themes of these tools are centralized systems, better information for pregnant women, the ability to track symptoms and accessibility to health care in emergencies. These features will monitor vulnerable pregnancies and react to issues quickly, helping to reduce the number of deaths from preventable causes, such as hemorrhaging.

Looking Ahead

Digitizing antenatal care in Sierra Leone still has challenges to overcome. Accessing rural areas and addressing workforce shortages remain considerable obstacles. Recent cuts in global funding have also hindered improvement. Despite being renewed in 2023, the United Kingdom government has reduced the Saving Lives in Sierra Leone program from £35 million to £1 million. The United States historically provided 14% of the funding for Sierra Leone’s reproductive health, but this has been eliminated as part of the stop-work order that significantly reduced United States Agency for International Development (USAID) projects.

Despite this, the government aims to integrate recent developments in the Electronic Medical Record rollout planned for 2026. Further steps to digitize antenatal care in Sierra Leone will help work toward reducing preventable maternal and child deaths, part of a broader national push, including the Digital Adoption Kit’s planned expansion to other national health issues, such as immunization and combating Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), while strengthening infrastructure to ensure these initiatives are long-term.

– Louise Nethercott

Louise is based in Derby, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr