Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Industry 4.0: Africa’s Pathway to Poverty Reduction

Industry 4.0
As the global community steps firmly into the era of Industry 4.0, defined by groundbreaking smart technologies, sophisticated automation and intricate interconnected systems, Africa is poised for transformative change. Historically sidelined during earlier industrial revolutions, Africa now has a golden chance to use the Fourth Industrial Revolution as a driving force to significantly mitigate poverty.

This article delves into how Industry 4.0 stands to revolutionize three pivotal sectors in Africa: agriculture, infrastructure and energy, and entrepreneurship-driven job creation.

1. Agriculture: Embracing Tech for a Greener Tomorrow

Agriculture has long been the linchpin of numerous African economies, comprising more than 60% of its workforce. Yet, this vital sector grapples with a myriad of challenges, from dwindling productivity and the looming specter of climate change to substantial post-harvest losses.

Enter the promise of smart farming. Enriched by Internet of Things (IoT) devices, this approach can help surmount existing barriers. It promises enhanced yields, predictive equipment maintenance and adept resource management. A shining example of this shift is Nigeria’s Hello Tractor, a novel start-up that not only bridges farmers with tractor owners via a mobile application but also harnesses crucial data on soil health, weather patterns and crop outputs. By morphing traditional farming methods into lucrative enterprises, such innovations can elevate food security and amplify income streams across the continent.

2. Infrastructure and Energy: Building a Brighter Future

Economic growth and societal well-being are inextricably tied to robust infrastructure and energy frameworks. Yet, Africa grapples with a yawning infrastructure deficit, demanding an annual infusion of a staggering $130–170 billion. Coupled with this, an alarming 640 million Africans find themselves in the dark, sans electricity. 

The solution lies in smart grids that optimize energy distribution, coupled with 3D printing technologies that herald a new era of rapid, cost-efficient infrastructure development. A testament to this is Tanzania’s Zola Electric, which brings solar-powered smart grids to remote communities, offering them a lifeline of reliable and affordable energy. In a similar vein, Kenya’s 3D Homes leverages 3D printing to construct affordable housing within a mere 12 hours, addressing housing deficits while simultaneously spurring local employment.

3. Entrepreneurship and Job Creation: Unlocking Boundless Potential

Entrepreneurial ventures and job opportunities are the cornerstones for uplifting communities out of poverty and fostering inclusive growth. Yet, a multitude of African entrepreneurs are shackled by hurdles, including limited financial avenues, restricted market access and skill gaps.

The digital realm offers a panacea. Platforms like Jumia are democratizing market access, linking local vendors to a sprawling African consumer base, while also offering auxiliary services to bolster these nascent businesses. On the educational front, Andela stands out as a hub, training African software enthusiasts and linking them to international firms, all while cultivating a nurturing community for enhanced learning and collaboration. 

Industry 4.0 and the Future of Africa

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is not just another buzzword for Africa — it is a clarion call for a brighter, more prosperous future. Yet, harnessing its full potential demands meticulous investments in digital frameworks, nurturing human capital and fostering innovative ecosystems. Equally paramount is the need for robust governance and regulation, ensuring that the benefits of Industry 4.0 are widespread, ethical and sustainable. With visionary leadership and concerted action, Africa can metamorphose its latent potential into tangible, transformative outcomes.

– Yudi Zhang
Photo: Flickr

Awaaz-e-Sehat: AI Health Care in Pakistan

Health Care in PakistanPakistan’s poor health care standards for pregnant women has left the country facing some of the worst infant and maternal mortality rates in the world. According to UNICEF, Pakistan’s infant mortality rate stands at 63.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. Comparatively, the United States has an infant mortality rate of 5.4 out of 1,000, the CDC states. Maternal mortality rates in Pakistan also determine the dire situation, with 186 deaths among mothers per 100,000 live births. In developed nations, this number sits at just 12 deaths per 100,000. A new AI assistant, Awaaz-e-Sehat, is being developed to combat this problem and set the standard for AI health care in Pakistan. 

Mothers and Children at Risk

Even among other developing nations, Pakistan stands out as having alarmingly low pregnancy outcomes. Poverty plays a major role in this situation as a lack of education in underdeveloped areas and poor socioeconomic conditions exacerbate the problem. Low literacy rates in underdeveloped areas contribute to an unawareness of the importance of contraceptives, check-ups, blood testing and nutrition. Women in these areas also have difficulties improving their socioeconomic standing and young, unmarried women often face discrimination due to taboos surrounding contraceptive use. 

Adequate health facilities and staff can similarly determine the outcome of pregnancies. A general lack of quality health care services places pregnant women at a disadvantage. Other factors, such as the distance to facilities in rural areas, make dangerous home births a common occurrence. One of the most significant challenges is a lack of medical records. Without documented background information, medical professionals cannot make accurate diagnoses and prepare personalized care plans that factor in lifestyle and socioeconomic components. 

Funding from Gates

Earlier this year, philanthropist Bill Gates remarked on artificial intelligence’s ability to improve health care for developing nations. He believes AI can perform everyday tasks, such as filing insurance claims and preparing doctors’ notes, reducing the workload for medical professionals. 

Determining the severity of medical conditions through AI-linked devices to lower child mortality rates is another endeavor he hopes to achieve in the future. Gates has already developed an ultrasound tool utilizing AI software to determine whether a pregnancy is high-risk, which has the potential to save the lives of both mothers and children. 

On Aug. 9, 2023, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced the 48 recipients of its Grand Challenges grant. The $5 million grant gives each recipient $100,000 to fund projects that tackle global health and development issues using AI in low- and middle-income countries. Dr. Maryam Mustafa, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Lahore University of Management Sciences in Pakistan, is one such recipient. Her work is set to pioneer maternal AI health care in Pakistan and decrease the country’s high mortality rates. 

AI as a Solution

Dr. Mustafa and her team are developing an AI assistant called Awaaz-e-Sehat, meaning “voice of health.” Health care workers will use the voice-enabled conversational AI assistant on mobile phones to electronically create and file medical records. Developed using a large language model (LLM), Awaaz-e-Sehat utilizes an intuitive user interface, speech recognition and text generation modules. The assistant will cut down paperwork, leaving more time to address patients and create the valuable records that Pakistan’s maternal health care system has been sorely lacking. 

The innovation will be tested for its ability to collect data from 500 patients at Shalamar Hospital in Lahore. The AI assistant will initially be distributed to maternal health care workers in rural areas, but Mustafa hopes it will eventually be used in all maternal health facilities in Pakistan. Mustafa says, “It has the potential to significantly improve not just patient treatment but also create datasets to train diagnostic AI tools that tackle maternal health outcomes in Pakistan.” 

With the help of Dr. Mustafa’s innovation and Gates’ funding, AI health care in Pakistan could become a lifesaver for expecting mothers. Establishing electronic medical records changes the field of medicine in Pakistan for the better and Awaaz-e-Sehat is the first step toward a bright future. 

– Isabella Rothe
Photo: Flickr<

Renewable Energy Stimulates Economic Growth in Cambodia

Renewable Energy in CambodiaCambodia has over 15 million inhabitants but can provide power consistently to only 13% of its population. In a largely rural area, most people have devices like smartphones, but with unreliable sources of power, many people lug rechargeable batteries over long distances to be charged with an industrial generator. 

Background

75% of the population lives in rural areas, but less than 7% can access electricity. Population growth has led to a need for economic growth, which has led to electricity demand increasing tenfold. 

Rural areas often experience rolling blackouts contributing to reliable energy issues, along with health care and clean water accessibility in Cambodia. Power and gas prices remain extremely high, and citizens are forced to walk miles to find water or sources of energy to fuel their lives. One-quarter of the population lives off the grid, using their own homes to provide power. 

However, technological advances have proven to stimulate economic growth in Cambodia, providing several solutions to the energy crises that provide renewable energy. In 2021, just over half of the country’s energy came from renewable sources, 44.17% from hydropower and 7% from solar and biomass. Renewable energy in Cambodia has increased generation to 372 megawatts by 362 since 2017, to reach 1815 megawatts of solar energy by 2030. 

In the past five years, Cambodia has reduced its diesel and fuel oil consumption from 89% to 9%. In 2021, Minister for Mines and Energy, Suy Sem, shut down approvals for new power plants powered by coal. Authorities intend to focus on “making fossil fuels cleaner, developing batteries and energy storage systems and focusing on energy efficiency. Through such measures, authorities aim to target the energy supplies’ security, accessibility, affordability and reliability across Cambodia,” according to Energytracker Asia. 

In 2020, access to electricity in rural areas increased to 97%. Areas that have not received electricity are difficult to reach, but solar-powered mini-grids provide a more reliable and affordable source of renewable energy in Cambodia. 

Renewable Energy Sources in Cambodia

Solar power is an easy solution for this area because Cambodia is one of the few countries that experiences up to eight full hours of sunlight every day. It is a low-cost solution with the business community embracing it as a way to cut the high electricity costs of the rest of the country. 

Wind power may also be a solution, but it is vastly underused. Hypothetically, it could provide 3,665 GWh in the way of total annual electricity capacity. 

China was the main source of coal to fuel Cambodia, but with its decision to stop overseas coal exporting, Cambodia has been able to reach more green sources of energy. Major companies such as H&M, Nike, Adidas and Puma have urged the government to find cleaner energy sources as well. 

There are more possibilities for employment in the move to a resource-efficient society, creating jobs in environmental services including organic farming and sustainable production. The economic growth for Cambodia in this sector has increased significantly. In 2017, only 0.3% of the population was employed in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning, but only a year later, nearly 5.5% of people were employed in hydropower. This growing sector of renewable energy in Cambodia is an opportunity for job growth for both men and women.

Due to COVID-19, the Gross Domestic Product hovered around 6%, but in 2022 decreased to 4.8%, placing Cambodia back on the path toward economic stability. Exports remain largely the cause of this growth.

Final Thoughts

Capitalizing on renewable energy resources is one of the best ways to stimulate economic growth in Cambodia due to the accessibility of solar, wind and even hydropower because of climate conditions in the area. Growing awareness has paved the way for generating accessibility for rural areas, a crucial resource for farmers. This not only helps lift them out of poverty due to investment opportunities for businesses, but it also provides possibilities for future generations to take advantage of natural resources to create a cleaner environment for all. 

– Jennifer Arias
Photo: Unsplash

The Importance of Early Childhood Development in Afghanistan

Early Childhood Development in AfghanistanAfghanistan is a country located in South-Central Asia – part of the Middle East. Afghanistan lies along historically significant trade routes between Asia and Europe and is known globally for its rich history and desert landscape. Now, early childhood education in Afghanistan faces the lasting effects of decades of foreign military action.

Background

Afghanistan has faced sustained armed conflict since the 1970s. In their profile on Afghanistan, Encyclopædia Britannica explains how this Middle Eastern country “became a pawn” in political conflicts and disagreements over market domination. What began with Soviet occupation 40 years ago resulted in warfare, the rise of multiple warlords, and various changes in the regime. 

Britannica explains that one notable group that rose to power was the Taliban, which fell in 2001 “in the wake of a sustained U.S.-dominated military campaign.” What followed was “a period of transitional leadership” and further uncertain times. These decades of conflict between opposing powers, changes in regime and general civil unrest have left Afghanistan’s public services with a lack of stability.

UNICEF says the likelihood of receiving an education in Afghanistan is a “distant dream.”

In their profile on the Middle Eastern country, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reported that Afghanistan’s school system “has been devastated” by this prolonged armed conflict. The “socio-political and humanitarian” struggles that plague Afghanistan have strained its infrastructure. As a result, these issues have severely impacted the quality of early education in Afghanistan.

UNICEF says these issues impact school enrollment rates from all angles. Not only does ceaseless unrest in the country “critically affect” its unstable school system, but safety factors associated with the conflict “raise parental concerns,” and ultimately compel parents not to send their children to school. Now, UNICEF estimates that around 3.7 million school-age children are not receiving an education.

The Afghan Literacy Foundation

The Afghan Literacy Foundation is working to bolster early childhood development in Afghanistan. According to its website, Adita Arya founded The Afghan Literacy Foundation (AFL) in 2009 with a partner. Arya says she was born in Afghanistan and remembers seeing just how much her classmates went without in her early education. She says she founded the AFL with “the idea of wanting to give back” and feels like she owes it to those who did not have the same opportunities. Arya wants Afghanistan to “rebuild from within” and believes providing the country with “the tools to be able to do that through literacy” is essential.

Now, The AFL’s chief purpose is encouraging children to remain in school. It accomplishes this mission by working to end child labor. The foundation provides much-needed donations to students’ families to reduce children’s need to work instead of school. 

The foundation is now achieving its goals in real-time. The AFL’s website also details its use of sponsor donations for education resource campaigns in Afghanistan. With these, The AFL purchases supplies for students, builds classrooms and upgrades schools’ technology. The AFL announced that in 2022, $111,000 in relief funds were dispersed, and 10,000 families in Afghanistan received aid through its efforts. 

Additionally, the foundation’s mission statement says that providing an education to a child “not only brightens their own future, but it also serves as a beacon of hope and support for their families and communities.” This philosophy rings true as a testimonial on their website from ALF-sponsored student Suhelia Mohammad Noor explains what getting her education has meant for her. Noor says she is “grateful” for the opportunity the AFL’s support has given her to become a nurse. She ends her testimonial with three powerful words: “I am helping.”

Final Thoughts on Early Childhood Development in Afghanistan

Despite the challenges faced, such as limited resources and cultural barriers, initiatives like The Afghan Literacy Foundation are making significant strides in expanding access to quality early education for Afghan children. Through their dedicated efforts, including establishing schools, training teachers and providing educational resources, The Afghan Literacy Foundation is helping to break the cycle of illiteracy and empower the youngest generation with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive.

– Rosemary Wright
Photo: Flickr

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Mary’s Meals is Reducing Hunger in Ethiopia

Hunger in EthiopiaAs of 2022, Ethiopia has 123 million citizens, making it Africa’s second most populous country. With a fertility rate of 4.6 children born per woman, projections have indicated its population will have significant growth moving forward. This has exacerbated the problem of hunger and poverty among Ethiopians. One organization, Mary’s Meals, noticed Ethiopia’s need for support and is attempting to reduce hunger in Ethiopia.

Mary’s Meals

Mary’s Meals is a nonprofit organization that Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow founded. It works to provide school meals to impoverished communities around the world. The organization believes that every child should have one nutritious meal daily. Magnus argues that this meal should be available at school. He asks, “How can any part of the human family make progress if its children are without adequate food and access to at least a basic education?”

A meal provides nourishment, enables access to education and provides hope for a different future.

Ethiopian Outreach

Mary’s Meals spread to Ethiopia in 2017. It now supplies meals to 24,320 Ethiopian children in the semi-arid impoverished Tigray region in an effort to reduce hunger in Ethiopia.

It costs $2,794 to feed a child for a year, and people around the world share their resources to help feed these children.

School Feeding Program

Mary’s Meals has been serving Ethiopia since 2017, working with a trusted in-country partner to deliver and support the sourcing, cooking and serving of meals to children in 36 places of education. Children in Tigray recently shared what a meal and education meant to them with Mary’s Meals staff.

Making a Difference

According to reports, Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries, ranking at 32, according to the Global Finance Magazine. An estimated 36% of children under the age of five have stunted growth. Ethiopia also has a very high school dropout rate, with an estimated 66% of children not completing primary school.  

Because of these statistics, children attend school where they can receive a meal and an education which can be a changing point and a lift out of poverty. It can also be a bridge to a better tomorrow. Helena Finnegan and the organization believes this is the turning point for making a difference. 

She shared that it is crucial to have a partnership to make a school-feeding program possible. Mary’s Meals’ in-country partner delivers the program with the commitment of dozens of local volunteers. The volunteers prepare, cook and serve the meals, ensuring that more than 24,000 children receive a meal. For many children it is the only meal they receive in 24 hours.

Devastation in Ethiopia

Mary’s Meals believes that its ability to continue providing meals throughout a sudden two-year civil war is a very great accomplishment as Tigray has been at the center of the conflict.

Since thousands of people had to leave their homes when this sudden conflict occurred, Mary’s Meals’ trusted in-country partner was able to pivot from feeding children at school to delivering emergency food to more than a dozen centers in Mekelle where people sought refuge. 

Visiting Ethiopia

When asked about their hands-on work done in Ethiopia, Helena Finnegan said, “While periodic in-country visits are needed to provide support and check on program status and impact, etc., these visits are undertaken in conjunction with other regional trips to maximize outreach efficiently. During the two-year conflict, it was not possible to travel to Tigray, and communications were sporadic, so this recent visit to reconnect and ensure support was particularly meaningful for everyone.”

Improvement

As Mary’s Meals’ founder, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow says, “We always want to reach the places where life is most difficult for children, where people are suffering the most…In the many countries in which we serve such as Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, that is made even more challenging due to conflict and climate shocks.” 

After 21 years, Mary’s Meals has created and grown a well-organized, efficient and low-cost school feeding model for the students of Ethiopia who are unable to afford meals outside of school. 

Looking Ahead

When asked about the future, Helena Finnegan said, “A visit this summer enabled us to review the situation, meet with the partner and communities to determine their needs and the best ways to move forward in re-establishing the feeding programs back in schools/places of education. 

We are looking forward to partnering with the local Tigray communities as they work to re-open schools, which will be a process. In many cases, that requires repairing and rebuilding schools and the kitchens where food was prepared and cooked and coordinating the reestablishment of an in-school education program.” 

Mary’s Meals will continue to grow and reduce hunger in Ethiopia using the skills it has developed over the years since establishment.

– Abigail DiCarlo
Photo: Flickr

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Noma: The Disease That Should Not Exist

The Disease That Should Not ExistDoctors Without Borders estimates that noma affects 140,000 children each year. Without treatment, 90% of victims die within the first two weeks. The disease is rapid and painful, and it leaves those who survive with traumatic and often life-impacting injuries. It is also easily preventable and treatable. Here is everything to know about noma, the disease that should not exist.

What is Noma?

Noma, also known as gangrenous stomatitis, is a rapidly progressive bacterial disease that affects the mouth, nose and lips. It is most commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa and mainly affects children, with most cases occurring under the age of 10. If detected at an early stage, noma is easily treatable through basic hygiene, antibiotics and nutrition.

The Symptoms

The word noma stems from the Greek word “nomē,” meaning “to devour,” and looking at the disease, it is easy to see why. The disease starts in the mouth, with gingivitis developing in the gums over one to two days. In three to four days, ulcers develop within the mouth, along with swelling in the gums and cheeks. These ulcers spread rapidly and before the end of the week, the disease begins to eat away at the soft tissue within the mouth and cheeks, leading to a hole developing in the face. The infection continues to spread over the following days and gangrene sets in in the affected areas, causing devastating damage to facial tissue and bones. Depending on where the infection began, the jaw, lips, cheeks, nose or eyes are quickly destroyed, leading to severe disfigurement and life-threatening impairments.

The Causes

The exact cause of noma is unknown, but certain factors can influence the development of it within patients.

  • Malnutrition: Malnutrition, particularly severe protein malnutrition, often occurs in the victims of noma.
  • Hygiene: Like most diseases, the chance of noma drastically increases for people who do not have access to clean living conditions and adequate sanitation.
  • Previous illness: The risk of developing noma also increases with the presence of prior diseases that cause immunodeficiency, such as HIV, tuberculosis, measles or scarlet fever. A compromised immune system is a common precursor to developing noma.
  • Living in a developing country: Many of the risks listed above are factors that impact people living in a developing country every day. Add to this the lack of medical infrastructure and treatment available, and the risk of noma developing becomes much more likely.

The Fight Against Noma, a Disease That Should Not Exist

Noma, a disease that should not exist, has left a devastating mark on many children and adults in developing countries, both mentally and physically. There are, however, those out there who are fighting to lessen the impact of the disease. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), supports one of the world’s only dedicated noma hospitals. Based in Sokoto in Northern Nigeria, the hospital is a haven for victims and survivors of noma.

Founded in 2009, the hospital offers four main components of care. They offer intensive care, such as wound treatment, medication and oral hygiene. It also offers continuous care, such as surgical interventions and post-operative care for survivors. Finally, it offers integrated hospital and community-based services that provide support for patients and lessen the stigma that often comes with the facial disfigurements left by the disease. The hospital admitted nearly 500 patients between 2014 and 2019 and continues to help those in need today.

Through continuous efforts, hopefully, noma will disappear completely. Until then, MSF is making a significant difference.

– Jodie Donovan
Photo: Unsplash

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How Foreign Aid in Afghanistan Helps

Foreign Aid in Afghanistan
On October 7, 2023, a powerful earthquake hit the grounds of Afghanistan and wreaked havoc. Violent shakes hit the city of Herat three times. More than 2,000 people lost their lives due to the natural disaster. The quakes reduced whole villages to rubble, burying families and leaving many homeless as winter arrived. After the earthquakes in Afghanistan, global aid groups and rescue teams have issued warnings. With the recent seismic activity, an escalating humanitarian crisis amid war and a collapsed economy requires attention. What is even more concerning is the human recovery aspect. The earthquakes reduced entire villages to debris, and inadequate funding, coupled with limited global awareness, hampers foreign aid efforts in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan in Relentless Crisis 

On August 15, 2021, Taliban rule looked over Afghanistan as NATO and U.S. forces left the country. This year, the country is entitled to no growth territory by the World Bank. The private sector appears weak, with no opportunity for growth. The industrial and agricultural sectors also saw sharp decreases in GDP. This decline is due to harmful gender policies that have shut down women-run businesses and weather conditions with no resources for the farmers to adjust.

Following the Taliban takeover, civilian and security aid abruptly ceased, amounting to more than $8 billion annually, roughly 40% of Afghanistan’s GDP. This sudden economic shock, compounded by sanctions, the freezing of Afghanistan’s foreign exchange reserves and the reluctance of foreign banks to engage with the country, placed an unparalleled strain on Afghanistan’s economy. Afghanistan’s GDP is a challenge, but estimates suggest a roughly 20% decrease in the aftermath of August 2021. Hunger and hardship are continuously increasing in Afghanistan.

How the Earthquake Has Worsened the Condition

The reduction in Afghanistan’s foreign aid after the occupation of the Taliban for two years and much international assistance has also stopped. This change had a dire effect on the country’s health care system. The consecutive earthquakes in Afghanistan have made this problem more grave.

Residents report that after the earthquakes in Afghanistan, Taliban fighters barricaded the streets leading to the hospital, preventing anyone from seeking medical assistance and subjecting those searching for loved ones to beatings with pipes and guns.

Within the hospital, survivors from homes reduced to rubble now occupy beds in the courtyard or sit on the floors. Fatigued health care personnel are making valiant efforts, but supplies are dwindling, and the oxygen reserves are nearly depleted. Patients endure agonizing waits of hours or even days for critical medical care without access to pain relief. In this case, Afghans desperately need foreign aid to survive.

Foreign Aid in Afghanistan Aids in Crisis

The first to respond and send immediate help after the earthquakes in Afghanistan was The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS). Additionally, the IFRC and another partner Red Cross Red Crescent Societies also came. They worked rapidly and provided emergency medical aid, along with non-food supplies. The survivors received temporary shelter while rescue and search operations in the affected provinces also occurred.

The United States, via USAID, is offering $12 million in immediate humanitarian aid. Seeing the devastation, along with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), aid was supplied to earthquake-affected individuals with emergency shelter kits, cooking and water collection materials, blankets, solar lamps, clothing and household items. Considering the possibility of disease outbreaks like watery diarrhea, IOM is also working on rehabilitating water sources in villages with damaged infrastructure to ensure safe drinking water access.

Despite the challenges that Afghanistan has faced, these foreign aid efforts in Afghanistan are making a considerable impact. Through the work of The Afghan Red Crescent Society, USAID, IOM and more, quality of life for Afghanis should only improve.

– Asra Mairaj
Photo: Flickr

Nigeria Invests $5 Billion Annually Towards Poverty Reduction

Poverty Reduction in NigeriaA recent decision by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of Nigeria approved an annual $5 billion trust fund aimed at reducing the effects of humanitarian crises on affected Nigerians, as well as a general reduction in poverty across the nation. 

The Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund was approved by the FEC and unveiled by Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu. The fund will be realized through the collaboration of public and private sectors, as well as philanthropic organizations and individuals. 

“This, of course, is a victory for the poor and indeed would bring help and succor, which the Renewed Hope Agenda stands for,” Minister Betta Edu stated in Vanguard News. 

Background

According to the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics, it is estimated that approximately 63% of the population suffers from poverty. Moreover, more than half of the population does not have basic access to housing, health care, food, and clean energy. Of those affected by poverty, approximately 51% are children — two-thirds of children in Nigeria are victims of inadequate living conditions. 

In response to concerns about these living conditions, Nigeria announced the Renewed Hope Agenda on October 17, where President Tinubu outlined the nation’s new strategies in poverty reduction. These include government restructures that will make poverty reduction a key focal point in order to provide effective implementations without the hindrance of government corruption. Furthermore, the government announced collaborations with private sector groups, such as the World Bank, to provide zero-interest financial support to the state’s national social safety net expansion program, which will deliver aid to vulnerable Nigerians. The recently announced Renewed Hope Agenda will act as a seven-year plan to aggressively address humanitarian crises and poverty in the country. 

Expected Outcomes

With increased funding, the Nigerian government will be able to deliver new shelters to impoverished households, refugees and those suffering from disabilities. The agenda will deliver school meals to 10 million children across the nation, while also providing education to children who have previously been unable to access it.

The government will also be funding agricultural developments on 500,000 hectares of land, as well as providing farmers with 225,000 metric tons of fertilizers, in an effort to tackle food shortages. To strengthen the economy, the agenda will deliver support to an estimated 2 million beneficiaries in Nigeria through business grants. 

With the combined annual dedication of $5 billion as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is taking an aggressive and direct approach toward implementing poverty reduction. By working with private sectors and charity organizations to support these new, ambitious policies, the Nigerian government hopes to propel the nation into economic stability and improve the lives of many Nigerians who face the obstacles posed by poverty on a daily basis. 

Final Thoughts

“Our objective is to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty. Yet, this will only be possible with the cooperation of the people we seek to help. Let us continue to work together to achieve our collective goal of eradicating poverty in Nigeria,” said President Tinubu in his address to the nation.

– Remigius Kim
Photo: Pixabay

Using the Education System to Support Mental Health in Eritrea

Mental Health in EritreaIn the East African country of Eritrea, the shadows of mental health challenges often go unnoticed. This article highlights the experiences of Eritreans, their access to mental health services, the importance of education and its effect on the country’s economy. 

Mental health includes an individual’s emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how an individual thinks, feels and acts. It can also affect how we handle stress, make health decisions and relate to others. It can affect a person’s physical health. For example, depression increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Similarly, chronic conditions can increase the risk of mental illness. Mental health disorders refer to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect mood, thinking and behavior. A mental health concern becomes a mental health illness when it affects your ability to function, and symptoms become frequent stressors in daily life. In most cases, treatment can be either medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two.

Background

In 2022, the people of Eritrea continued to experience the impact of weak socioeconomic conditions, low food production, a decline in family remittances due to economic sanctions and a depletion of groundwater levels, affecting access to potable water. Additionally, mental health problems are rising in Eritrea, with mental illnesses among the leading causes of disability, comorbidity and mortality. In 2015, there were an estimated 219,549 cases of depressive disorders (4.3% of the population) and 156,599 cases of anxiety disorders (3.1% of the population) with other common conditions, including schizophrenia, neuroticism, stress and mood disorders, epilepsy and dementia. Approximately 30-40,000 children are estimated to have intellectual disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, childhood intellectual disability and childhood neurological origin.

Regarding the treatment and services for mental health patients, Eritrea has a small network of mental health facilities, the main being Saint Mary’s Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, located in Asmara. This provides inpatient care and long-stay residential services for individuals with mental disorders. A second community residential care facility serves those with relatively stable and chronic mental disorders not requiring intensive medical interventions. 

Eritrea also has a long-standing commitment to social justice, accessibility, and the right to health care, with a range of medicines, including antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood stabilizers, available free of charge. However, despite being free of charge, many children and adolescents drop out of school due to mental health issues.

Mental Health Support in the Education System

The introduction of mental health and psychosocial support into the education system could aid the stress of mental illness in Eritrea and help keep children in school. In 2022, the Eritrean Government reported that around 300,000 children and adolescents aged 6-17 were out of school. During humanitarian emergencies, child mental health can be affected in several ways, including exacerbating existing mental health issues, reducing educational participation and worsening educational outcomes. As a result, mental health issues combined with low academic attainment can result in low lifetime earnings. This can not only affect individuals but can also affect Eritrea’s economy. 

UNICEF completed a global cost-benefit analysis and found that the impact of failing to address the mental health and psychosocial support needs of 10-17-year-old children affected by humanitarian emergencies would result in the equivalent loss of a global US$203 billion loss of potential lifetime earnings.

In Eritrea, there is a high urban-rural distribution disparity of mental health workers and services, with the majority located within urban areas. Patients in rural areas have reduced accessibility to services. Spreading mental health work throughout schools in both rural and urban areas could help to reduce this disparity and align with Eritrea’s long-standing commitment to social justice, accessibility and the right to health care. Introducing mental health support into the education system could inspire a new generation of psychiatrists and mental health support workers in Eritrea. 

Currently, the country only has one psychiatrist. Comparing this number with the United Kingdom, which has 13,170 psychiatrists per 67.33 million people, Eritrea should have around 708 psychiatrists for its population of 3.62 million. Eritrea does have an initiative to send doctors and medical professionals abroad to train as psychiatrists, which should help to grow the country’s mental health support network.

In January 2021, the Eritrean Minister of Health, Honorable Amina Nurhussien, launched a four-year health sector strategic development plan for 2022-2026. This development plan would include essential tools to help guide the country towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This plan should allow all who need it to access mental health support and treatment. Eritrea has made remarkable progress in health care since 1991, achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) health care targets, and shows great promise in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 by 2030.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Eritrea is making significant efforts towards improving mental health support. However, introducing it into the education system could enhance it further. Allowing children and young adults to learn about mental health in a school setting could provide them with an interest in a career in mental health support and provide Eritrea with a new generation of psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health support workers. 

– Charlotte Campion
Photo: Flickr

How the Bean Industry in Africa Could Help Reduce Food Insecurity

Bean Industry in AfricaThe Pan-African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) has researched and developed 650 new bean varieties that could combat food insecurity in Africa. PABRA’s development is an effort to retain bean crops as climate change has threatened the crop. The alliance won the $100,000 African Food Prize for its commitment to improving food security through the bean industry in Africa.

What is PABRA?

The Pan-African Bean Research Alliance is based in Nairobi, Kenya. The alliance works with members in 30 countries to provide better beans and economic growth within those countries. They believe that their research on beans can: 

  • Reduce food insecurity in Africa
  • Provide stable income for farmers
  • Improve the health of Africans
  • Improve soil fertility

Food Insecurity in Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa faces an alarming food crisis, with around 146 million people food insecure. The causes of food insecurity in Africa include extreme weather and armed conflict. Food insecurity has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which reduced essential food imports to African countries.

Beans are a popular food item across Africa, with approximately 300 million people eating beans. Researchers Ulrike Rippke and Julian Ramirez-Villegas 2016 studied when and where bean farming will become unviable in Africa. They found that if action is not taken, 60% of the land in sub-Saharan Africa will be unviable for bean farming by the end of the 21st century.

Better And Diverse Bean Varieties

PABRA’s efforts to reduce food insecurity in Africa have led to the creation of 650 new bean varieties. These new bean varieties are more resilient and better acclimated to the extreme wet and dry seasons that Sub-Saharan Africa is facing. PABRA’s beans use less water than other beans.

The newly developed beans also double productivity. The director of PABRA says that in Ethiopia, there is a shorter harvest time for PABRA’s beans. Therefore, you can harvest the beans and sell them before other crops. Additionally, the beans provide diversity and a more comprehensive range of crops that can be grown by farmers. Through diversity and high resilience, farms can better withstand the shock in the cropping system.

Economic Benefits Of Better Bean Crops

Bean crops are a valuable income source for at least 37 million farmers across the African continent. PABRA reports that there has been a 30% income increase in more than 5 million households due to their beans. From 2003 to 2021, with PABRA’s improved bean varieties, farmers in Zimbabwe saw $500–$800 income gains per hectare under rain conditions and $1,000 per hectare for irrigated plots. For further poverty reduction, PABRA found that households using their beans are 6% more likely to be food secure. The likelihood of being poor also decreased by 6%, according to PABRA’s 2022 report. 

Concluding Remarks

The Pan-African Bean Research Alliance’s efforts towards bean development are one of the many ongoing projects to reduce food insecurity in Africa. The diverse bean varieties provide new sources of income and food for consumption to approximately 30 countries and millions of people.

– Komalpreet Kaur
Photo: Wikimedia