Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Combating the Most Common Diseases in Thailand

Common Diseases in ThailandWith places like Bangkok and Khao Yai National Park, Thailand has become a very popular tourist country. In 2016 alone, the country with a population of more than 68 million people hosted close to 33 million visitors. Alongside its many attractions are some issues, including that diseases in Thailand are a persistent problem. Here are three common diseases in Thailand.

3 Most Common Diseases in Thailand

  1. Dengue: Dengue is a viral disease that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmit. Once someone is infected, they become a carrier. There are four strains of the virus. Dengue mostly impacts people in tropical climates. Symptoms include high fever and pain in joints, in muscles and behind the eyes.There is currently no cure. It is recommended to seek professional medical care when experiencing symptoms.According to the World Health Organization, “the America, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions are the most seriously affected” by dengue. The WHO reports 50 to 100 million dengue cases annually. There is now a vaccination for the disease.
  2. HIV/AIDS: HIV is a sexually transmitted infection that weakens the immune system by destroying helper T cells. According to UNAIDS estimates, 440,000 Thai people were living with HIV in 2015.While there is no cure for HIV, there is a treatment known as antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART helps those infected and can even prevent the development of AIDS, which is the last stage of the infection. With the approval of the National AIDS Committee, Thailand is following a plan aimed at eliminating HIV/AIDS in the country by 2030.
  3. Zika Virus: As with dengue, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes spread the Zika virus. It can also be sexually transmitted. According to Reuters, Thailand had around 200 Zika cases from January to September 2016, from January to September. Zika virus is known to cause deformations in newborn babies. For this reason, it is suggested that pregnant women stay away from places where it is prevalent, including Thailand.The people of Thailand are doing what they can to fight Zika virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention trained laboratory workers on how to detect it. There are also surveillance systems that monitor diseases in Thailand, including the Zika virus. There is currently no cure for the Zika virus, but there are tests on a vaccine underway.

These are all presently common diseases in Thailand, but there is significant research being conducted to reduce and eliminate their impact. For now, doctors will continue to assist those affected until their cures are found.

– Raven A. Rentas

Photo: Flickr

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4 Common Diseases in Laos


Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia. The Mekong River runs through the mountainous terrain of the county and provides food, a means of transportation and hydroelectric power. Many areas of the country have poor sanitation and lack accessible healthcare. Four common diseases in Laos are Dengue Fever, respiratory infections, ischemic heart disease and diarrheal diseases.

4 Common Diseases in Laos

  1. Dengue Fever: Dengue fever is a mosquito-transmitted virus. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito transmits the disease and breeds in stagnant water, often in man-made containers. Symptoms of dengue fever are a high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain and eye pain. Around two percent of cases advance to dengue hemorrhagic fever which can be fatal. The number of dengue fever cases and deaths is increasing as a result of urbanization and lack of adequate sanitation. Dengue is the fourth leading cause of death in Laos. The government has run many campaigns to encourage people to remove standing water from their land. This eliminates the breeding areas of mosquitoes that spread the disease.
  2. Respiratory Infections: Lower respiratory infections are also very common in Laos. Influenza and pneumonia cause 13 percent of deaths in Laos. These diseases are most prevalent in June and July because of the rainy season and subtropical climate. Many people in rural Laos do not have access to vaccines. Pregnant women and children have a higher risk of dying from these illnesses. Household pollution contributes to the prevalence of these diseases in Laos. Alternative stoves and heating appliances could help reduce pollution in the home and prevalence of respiratory infections.
  3. Ischemic Heart Disease: Also known as coronary heart disease, ischemic heart disease is another of the most common diseases in Laos. The primary causes of this disease in Laos is dietary risks, high blood pressure, smoking and household air pollution. The number of ischemic heart disease cases is increasing as a result of increasingly poor diets in urban areas. The incidence of heart disease has increased by 33 percent from 1990 to 2010. There is high mortality for this disease in Laos because people do not recognize warning sign of danger or seek necessary medical care. In order to decrease the mortality of the disease, Laos needs to first increase education so that people know when to seek help. Then Laos needs more small health clinics which people can access easily when they feel symptoms.
  4. Diarrheal Diseases: A variety of diarrheal diseases is also very common in Laos. Diarrhea is most deadly in children under five and can be fatal because it causes extreme dehydration. Children can face impaired physical and cognitive development if they survive. Ingesting contaminated food or water causes children to contract this disease. Risk factors for these diseases in Laos are air pollution in the house, being underweight as a child and suboptimal breastfeeding. Research recommends education campaigns in elementary level schools; these will reach a large number of children and these kids can share what they learned with their families. In addition, mothers should breastfeed their children up to two years to improve their children’s nutrition.

The common diseases in Laos are caused by some overlapping features. Laos’ health infrastructure is very small. During the rainy season, roads become inaccessible and people become isolated in their villages without any medical attention. In addition, household pollution contributes to both respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases. Finally, education campaigns focused on transmission and early warning signs are very important.

– Sarah Denning

Photo: Flickr

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10 Facts About Tuvalu Refugees


Tuvalu refugees represent some of the first waves of climate refugees. Huge numbers of Tuvaluans have been displaced after watching their island home between Hawaii and Australia be eroded by rising sea levels, intensifying natural disasters and soil degradation from contaminated groundwater. With no official recognition of climate refugees, Tuvaluans are increasingly threatened by the loss of their homes and hung out to dry by wealthy neighboring countries unwilling to accept their refugee status. Here are ten facts about Tuvalu refugees.

10 Facts About Tuvalu Refugees

  1. The island nation of Tuvalu has its highest elevations at just 15 feet above sea level. Experts predict that if sea levels were to rise by just three feet, many of the most populated areas of Tuvalu would be severely damaged, if not completely destroyed.
  2. Funafuti, the most populous island of Tuvalu, has suffered from severe droughts, water shortages and contaminated groundwater due to rising sea levels in recent years. The effects of these conditions on agriculture have translated to widespread malnourishment and displacement.
  3. Climate change experts predict that Tuvalu might become completely submerged underwater between 30-50 years from now if current trends continue. There is a general consensus that Tuvalu and similar nations will no longer exist by the end of the century.
  4. Already, one-fifth of Tuvalu’s population of 12,000 have left their homes to relocate to larger islands, where croplands are still fertile, or to neighboring New Zealand. As a result, the Tuvaluan community in New Zealand has nearly tripled since 1996.
  5. Life is difficult for Tuvalu refugees who have legally immigrated to New Zealand, with just more than half of Tuvaluan adults employed. Those who have immigrated illegally face even more economic and social hardships. Tuvaluan immigrants also worry about losing their cultural identity, as their children are born in highly developed host countries.
  6. Reports on climate trends have predicted 200 million “environmental refugees” by 2050, essentially one out of every 34 people on earth. Other estimates of future climate change migrants range from tens of thousands to one billion in the next 50 years.
  7. Climate refugees are not yet considered refugees under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. Consequently, there are “no current provisions for their protection and assistance” according to the U.N. Refugee Agency.
  8. A landmark 2014 ruling by New Zealand’s Refugee Court granted legal residency to Tuvaluan Sigeo Alesana and his family after they appealed for asylum, citing climate change and overpopulation among the reasons that made life “untenable” on their native island. The court acknowledged the presence of climate change as a factor in the case, other factors affecting the family, such as an elderly mother who needed care, would have been enough to grant them asylum regardless. As a result, this case won’t open the doors for other climate change refugees from island nations. New Zealand has allocated Tuvalu only 75 annual slots in its visa program for Pacific workers.
  9. As the intensity of natural disasters and storms in the region increase, experts worry that if a natural disaster similar to Hurricane Katrina were to hit Tuvalu, it would cause irreversible damage. Tuvalu has few exportable natural resources and a GDP that relies heavily on the sale of collectible stamps and its internet domain suffix, .tv, nothing that could help its rebuild after large-scale damage.
  10. The Tuvaluan government has considered using its $100 million in reserves to purchase a new homeland for the small population, but legal and political obstacles threaten this plan. Moving could affect Tuvalu’s right to sovereignty as a nation, its fishing rights and the government’s ability to continue providing public services after financing such a move.

Based on these 10 facts about Tuvalu refugees, there are many hurdles for Tuvalu to cross both short term and long term. In the short run, Tuvalu should continue investing their reserves heavily in renewable freshwater storage systems and ongoing soil rehabilitation and protection programs. They should enlist foreign aid to help build one-time purchases, such as stabilizing bulwarks that prevent coastal erosion.

In the long run, Tuvalu should look to neighboring nations such as Kiribati who have established forward-thinking programs, such as their “Migration With Dignity” program, which involves training citizens as highly skilled workers who will then be welcomed into other countries because of their human capital when they are eventually forced to relocate. Tuvalu would do well to begin such programs as soon as possible, as the threats of climate change are more pressing and real for them than foreign leaders care to believe.

– Saru Duckworth

Photo: Flickr

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8 Facts About Water Quality in Morocco

8 Facts About Water Supply in MoroccoIn Morocco, water supply and quality can be the deciding factor in the survival of a community. Today, 83 percent of Moroccans have access to improved drinking water, and 72 percent have access to improved sanitation. However, in a steadily growing population, the percentage of Moroccans lacking such access are faced with many challenges. Here are eight facts about water quality in Morocco.

8 Facts About Water Quality in Morocco

  1. In just half a century, Morocco’s population has more than tripled from 10 million to 32 million. Mass migrations have brought more than half the population to cities, giving rise to “tin cities,” or slums. These communities are located on the outskirts of urban areas, where access to clean water, electricity and sanitation services does not exist.
  2. The one-third of Moroccans without access to proper sanitation services are at high risk of waterborne diseases such as gastrointestinal infections, malaria and typhoid.
  3. Agriculture is responsible for 19 percent of Morocco’s GDP, but only 15 percent of agricultural land has access to irrigation. Due to a lack of sanitation services and inadequate wastewater treatment, the already scarce water resources for irrigation are often contaminated.
  4. Due to climate change, rainfall in Morocco is predicted to decline by as much as 50 percent by the year 2050, increasing the risk of droughts.
  5. Between 2004 and 2011, Morocco’s own Cities Without Slums urban development campaign created 100,000 new housing units in different parts of the country, providing 1.5 million people with access to water, power and sanitation.
  6. In 2016, USAID provided 336 Moroccan families with information on the best sanitation and hygiene practices. It also rehabilitated the retaining walls of a community’s water reservoir to prevent contamination.
  7. The same year, Moroccan farmers received irrigation advice for their crops from USAID through an SMS service, helping the country’s agrarian society achieve the greatest potential from limited resources.
  8. Also in 2016, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization teamed up with USAID to create a regional drought monitoring system that serves to maximize early warnings for droughts in North Africa and the Middle East.

While steps are being made toward a promising future, efforts of local and foreign aid to improve water quality in Morocco and strengthen resources must gain momentum in order to counter the effects of a growing population and a warming world.

– Sophie Nunnally

Photo: Flickr

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10 Facts About UNIDO

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is an expert agency focused on industrial development as a means of “poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability,” according to the organization’s website. It primarily focuses on inclusive and sustainable development (ISID) in cultivating solutions. Considering its active role in working to eradicate poverty, here are 10 facts about UNIDO.

10 Facts About UNIDO

  1. UNIDO was established on Nov. 17, 1966, by the United Nations General Assembly.
  2. It has 47 offices around the world and, as of January 2017, 169 member states.
  3. The organization works closely with individual nations, nonprofits and private sector partners to achieve its goals across the globe. From arranging large-scale conferences to handling goods and services, UNIDO serves as a link between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their sponsors.
  4. According to the Lima Declaration, the organization’s three priorities are creating shared prosperity, advancing economic competitiveness and safeguarding the environment.
  5. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation” is closely integrated into UNIDO’s work. With sustainable development in mind, UNIDO is a proponent of South-South cooperation and works in tandem with Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICS). From knowledge sharing to developing technical and target-specific strategies, UNIDO’s work with SDG 9 is extensive and spans numerous projects.
  6. UNIDO supports the development of special economic zones (SEZs) and SMEs for sustainable industrialization.
  7. It encourages foreign direct investment (FDI) to bolster local industries, which correlates with a boost in education and developing transferable skills. The cotton and fashion industries in Africa have invited FDI, which come in the form of direct business investments made by individuals, corporations or governments from one country to another.
  8. The organization has a strong focus on entrepreneurship in stimulating local and regional economies, and played a large part in providing $1.3 million for increasing the export value of Cuba’s music industry.
  9. Clean and green energy is one of UNIDO’s top priorities. It launched its Green Industry Initiative in 2009. Its overarching goal was to raise awareness and encourage more nations and their corresponding private and public sectors to incorporate clean energy systems. More specifically, the project is aimed at closing gaps in the normative framework, support systems and knowledge set in the clean energy industry.
  10. UNIDO’s solutions and programs are target-specific, focusing on disenfranchised groups. For example, its 2001 to 2011 entrepreneurship program in Morocco was specific to women.

UNIDO has an important role in bringing international attention to salient local and regional issues. Its focus on sustainable economic advancement makes it one of the United Nation’s most valued organizations. Even being aware of these 10 facts about UNIDO is a step closer to individual awareness of the organization’s regional and international outreach programs.

– Sydney Nam

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9 Facts About Refugees in Fiji


All around the world, there are more than 65 million people seeking refuge and relocation. With so much controversy surrounding the acceptance of refugees, the safety of those who are fleeing harm is at stake. Fiji is welcoming of refugees, and the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) works to ensure that refugees in Fiji will be acknowledged and their concerns heard. Here are nine facts about refugees in Fiji.

9 Facts About Refugees in Fiji

  1. As of June 2, 2017, there are 12 confirmed refugees in the country.
  2. These 12 are left from the original group of 40 that arrived in Fiji in 2006.
  3. People seeking refuge come to Fiji from various countries, including Pakistan and Congo.
  4. Fijian refugees are guaranteed confirmation thanks to something called “a claim for asylum,” which is filed when an individual indicates the want to be acknowledged by the country as a refugee.
  5. A lot of people seeking refuge in Fiji are “climate refugees,” meaning that they are experiencing a sudden change in environment and climate in their country of origin and flee to Fiji for refuge.
  6. Fiji has offered to give refuge to its neighboring citizens of Kiribati and Tuvalu in the event of a disaster.
  7. Fiji is at high risk for climate-induced natural disasters as well. So while Fijian refugees may find solace in their new homes, they may still be at risk of being affected by natural disasters.
  8. The UNHCR covers Fijian refugees by ensuring funding to help protect their refugees.
  9. People seeing refuge do not always permanently reside in the country, seeing as Fiji is typically a temporary holding ground for refugees rather than a permanent residence.

These nine facts about people seeking refuge in Fiji suggest that the country has struggled on its own, but its efforts to make refugees feel accepted and taken care of displays its ability to welcome those seeking shelter with open borders.

– Trisha Noel McDavid

Photo: Flickr

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Efforts to Improve Water Quality in Costa Rica


Only four percent of Costa Rica’s water has been treated so far in 2017, and many of its residents lack access to sanitation areas. However, efforts are being made to enhance the country’s wastewater and sewerage systems. Past projects focused more on water supply than on sanitation. The following organizations and initiatives are working to improve water quality in Costa Rica.

6 Efforts to Improve Water Quality in Costa Rica

  1. The Development Bank of Latin America predicts that the U.S. will spend $33 billion on water sanitation and $80 billion on sewage infrastructure between 2010 and 2030. While the monetary investments are large ones, they are necessary in order to increase the country’s water sanitation over the next decade. With this level of funding, Costa Rica could benefit from a 50 percent improvement in its water quality.
  2. The World Bank continues investments in wastewater treatment for countries such as Costa Rica. By providing much-needed guidance and promoting integrated approaches to pollution control, the World Bank could significantly improve the country’s water quality. Costa Rica established its first national policy on sanitary wastewater this year, along with a plan to spend $520 million in infrastructure and provide environmental and public health services.
  3. AyA (Acueductos y Alcantarillados), Costa Rica’s public water and sewerage utility, is taking action to fulfill the PNSAR’s (Política Nacional en Saneamiento de las Aguas Residuales’) established goals, one of which is the U.S.’s $345 million environmental improvement program for San José, Costa Rica’s capital city. The program was launched in 2015, and San José’s sewage network is already expanding. PNSAR will focus on building water treatment institutions, procedures for wastewater management and financial sustainability.
  4. Los Tajos is a planned wastewater treatment plant designed by ACCIONA Agua and AyA intended to alleviate pollution in the country’s Tiribí, María Aguilar and Torres rivers. It will serve over a million people, 65 percent of San José’s population. Phase one of the project involves rehabilitating and extending the sewerage network over 360 kilometers, and phase two focuses on cleaning the basin from the Tárcoles River and reducing pollution in San José’s aquifers. It will be the country’s largest wastewater treatment plant when completed.
  5. The Costa Rica-U.S. Foundation, along with various other institutions, undertook a project that would help several aqueducts in the country’s Central Pacific region to function through solar energy. With the panels expected to save residents up to 50 percent in electrical costs, the leftover funding could provide means to increase water quality in Costa Rica. Virginia Reyes, the project’s coordinator, says water in dry areas is necessary for attracting tourists and commercial activities.
  6. In October 2015, the Latin American Water Funds Partnership launched Agua Tica, Costa Rica’s first water fund specifically designed to benefit the country’s millions of residents whose water supply comes from the polluted rivers of the Río Grande de Tárcoles. Agua Tica will invest in regenerating soils, restoring degraded areas and other strategies to improve water quality in Costa Rica. Edgar Gutierrez, the Minister of Environment and Energy, calls the water fund a “sign” of how Costa Rica’s citizens can work together in ensuring their resources.

Much of Costa Rica’s water supply is in need of sanitation, but notable efforts are being made. Time and money will determine the quality of improvements, but organizations and constituents will continue to invest in bettering water quality in Costa Rica. If the efforts prove successful, all of Costa Rica’s residents may gain access to clean, healthy water.

– Rhondjé Singh Tanwar

Photo: Flickr

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10 Facts About the IFAD

10 Facts About the IFAD
The IFADs work is a critical component for addressing food security across the globe and helping to reduce poverty.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a specialized agency under the umbrella of the United Nations. It works to educate families in developing regions and to provide them with access to resources for sustainable agricultural practices. Here are 10 facts about the IFAD.

10 Facts About the IFAD

  1. The fund started in 1977 as a specialized agency of the United Nations. The framework came out of the 1974 World Food Conference in Rome.
  2. Continuing to pursue the vision of five presidents before him, Gilbert F. Houngbo has been leading the fund since April 2017. A Togo native, Houngbo has dedicated 30 years to working with the world’s poor in rural areas. Houngbo led field operations in over 100 different countries as the deputy director-general of the International Labour Organization. He served as prime minister in the Republic of Togo from 2008 to 2012.
  3. The IFAD currently has staff members in over 40 countries and subregional offices. There are more than 600 people on staff.
  4. The agency works to provide developing nations with low-interest loans and grants used to fund agricultural projects in developing rural areas. It focuses on passing on integral skills and essential access to natural resources to individuals and families in developing nations.
  5. The agency falls under the jurisdiction of a governing council and an executive board. A president and vice-president manage it, including an array of departments such as financial operations and corporate services.
  6. Rome, Italy houses the IFAD headquarters.
  7. The fund is one of three multilateral institutions working to improve agricultural practices in Africa. It is also the only institution that has an exclusive focus on smallholder development — meaning a focus on farmers who cultivate small plots of land and rely on family for labor. IFADs outreach stretches across five continents, where impoverished rural areas benefit from a focus on smallholder development.
  8. Ongoing projects are located in areas of Asia and the Pacific, East and Southern Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Near East, North Africa, Europe, Central Asia and West and Central Africa. These areas receive financial support and agricultural technologies.
  9. Thus far, IFAD has distributed over $12.5 billion in grants and low-interest loans, leading to 860 different projects, and impacting more than 370 million people. Those benefiting from the fund’s efforts have been able to achieve better food security for their families.
  10. IFAD is working to mobilize more funds and resources to be invested in developing rural areas and to improve the quality of its programs through partnerships with other nations. The fund looks for the best ways to address each country’s evolving needs with Agenda 2030, a global initiative working to eradicate poverty and hunger. Agenda 2030 will work to further expand IFADs outreach, starting in 2016 and continuing through 2025, and will focus on sustainable agricultural models.

– Leah Potter

Photo: Flickr

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10 Facts About Refugees in Lithuania


Since August 2015, more than one million refugees have entered the EU, many of them fleeing conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Under block rules, refugees faced relocation to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. As these countries are among the poorest in the European Union, refugees relocated to Lithuania are fleeing elsewhere out of fear of starvation. Here are ten facts about refugees in Lithuania.

10 Facts About Refugees in Lithuania

  1. Through the EU relocation plan, refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq have been sent to live in Lithuania, a small country on the Baltic Sea, north of Poland.
  2. While Lithuania is home to less than three million people, it has a quota of about 1,100 refugees to take in within two years. So far, there have been around 90 refugees sent there. Lithuania’s interior minister Tomas Zilinskas noted that even the small number of accepted refugees in Lithuania faced opposition by half of the country’s citizens.
  3. As benefits in Lithuania are already extremely limited, a refugee family of four receives €450 a month for half a year, after which the payment halves.
  4. A whopping 72 out of 90 of those granted refugee status in Lithuania have left. Many refugees claim living in a refugee center somewhere else is better than life in the Baltic States. As Mohamed Kamel Haj Ali, a refugee sent to Lithuania said: “The ones who left for Germany said they left Syria out of fear of death from bombs, but here they feared they would die from hunger.”
  5. EU rules dictate that refugees are to be forbidden from work or to claim refuge in other member states. Some destroy their identification documents before leaving Lithuania, hoping to claim asylum in richer countries amidst Western Europe.
  6. Refugees in Lithuania struggle to find work due to an insufficient amount of jobs available. As NPR’s Corey Flintoff states, “Lithuania cannot supply enough jobs for its own citizens. Hundreds of thousands of them have had to find work in other countries. Still, Lithuania’s current government considers it an obligation to do its part to help solve the migrant crisis among its fellow EU members.”
  7. After the discovery of a new route through Lithuania’s eastern border, a gateway into Western Europe allows refugees in to enter the country. Renatas Pozela, acting commander of the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service, states, “We are also seeing constant attempts to open new corridors [to Europe], mostly by Syrian and Iraqi refugees who are trying to reach Scandinavian countries.”
  8. While Lithuania joined the EU in 2004, its population has shrunk 12 percent to 2.9 million people over the past decade, as refugees and citizens alike flee in search of higher wages and better job availability.
  9. As Lithuania continues to depopulate, refugees help to sustain local businesses, such as a barber shop operated by Vilius Leveris.  Leveris finds most new staff for his barber shop in the refugee hostel. Since Leveris opened his business four years ago, he has taken on 12 employees from Turkey, Libya, Syria, Morocco and Colombia. Leveris states, “I couldn’t find anyone here. Even getting a wet shave is a completely new thing… Now, if a refugee who was a barber at home arrives in Lithuania, the refugee center calls me at once.”
  10. Ilmars Latkovskis, head of the Latvian parliament’s Citizenship, Migration, and Social Cohesion Committee, said to make staying in Lithuania feasible for refugees, it was necessary to have benefits increased “to a level which would be very unpleasant for our population, which is not that well-off.”

These were ten facts about refugees in Lithuania. It is evident from the significant number of refugees in Lithuania fleeing the country, as well as the other neighboring Baltic nations, many areas within the European Union need assistance in their efforts to aid refugees worldwide.

– Kendra Richardson

Photo: Flickr

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Infrastructure to Maintain Water Quality in Barbados


Barbados sits near the end of the Lesser Antilles arc of the Caribbean. It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the country’s water source, which supplied the public via ponds, springs and wells in Barbados’ early days. Methods to provide water to the public developed from hauling well water up with buckets to steam-driven pumps to the first electric pump in 1944.

Water quality in Barbados is maintained by its two wastewater treatment plants: the Bridgetown Sewage Treatment System, commissioned in 1982 and the South Coast Sewage Treatment System, commissioned in 2003.

A brackish water reverse osmosis desalination plant in Spring Garden, Saint Michael also contributes to water quality in Barbados. It supplies potable water to 44,000 people.

Barbados now has a cultivated irrigation system. The Golden Ridge Reservoir, the Castle Grant Reservoir and the Spring System provide water to parishes including St. Andrew, St. John, St. Joseph and St. Thomas.

According to the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), these very parishes experience long-term reduced water supply.

In 2015 the Caribbean shifted the focus of its strategies and programs from storms and floods to droughts. Climate change and El Nino increased the severity and frequency of drought conditions in the Caribbean. As a result, Barbados is one of the top 10 water-stressed countries.

The drought caused the Barbadian cost of living to rise, increasing the number of kitchen gardens and water demands from local water systems. Agriculture is Barbados’ largest water user, and there are about 120 privately owned wells to contend with this heavy usage.

Consequently, the functionality of water in Barbadian homes changed. In early 2016, the BWA implemented a three-month water ban. The ban prohibits filling and supplying tanks, swimming pools, baths and ponds as well as washing roadways, pavements, paths, garages, out rooms and vehicles. It requires Barbadian domestic tanks be connected to their water supply and sewerage system.

In 2016 the BWA established long-term water management solutions to ameliorate water scarcity. The first goal is the installation of eight water tankers to provide water for residents of St. Joseph, St. Andrew and St. John. The second is rehabilitating a well in St. George to provide an additional 500,000 gallons of water to the Golden Ridge and Castle Grant systems. The third is completing the pumping station at the Lazaretto, St. Michael, pushing desalinated water into the St. Peter’s system for St. Peter and St. Lucy.

The final goal is the commencement of the St. Philip Water Augmentation Project. After conducting hydrogeological investigations in the St. Philip aquifer and constructing new wells, improved water quality in Barbados will be a reality for the people of St. Philip.

– Tiffany Santos

Photo: Flickr