Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

Improving Mental Health in Tunisia

Mental Health in TunisiaWith more than half a million of its inhabitants suffering from depression in 2019, the North African country of Tunisia has seen a rise in mental health conditions in recent years. Based on data compiled between 2018 and 2020, the 2021 World Happiness Report ranked Tunisia 122 out of 149 countries in terms of citizens’ overall happiness. Unfortunately, stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health in Tunisia deter those in need from seeking help and treatment, a problem exacerbated by a lack of mental health services and facilities. However, the Tunisian government and several national and international organizations are taking action to improve mental health in Tunisia and ensure its citizens have the resources necessary to lead happy, fulfilling lives.

Factors Impacting Mental Health in Tunisia

Over the last 10 years, Tunisia has been hit by social, economic and political turmoil that has led to a decline in mental health. Mental disorders are responsible for 98% of extended sick leaves among public service sector employees in the country. Yet, many Tunisians suffering from mental illnesses and disorders do not seek help due to persistent “stigma and discrimination against people with mental disorders,” which the WHO has identified as “a significant public health issue in Tunisia.”

Such stigma is prevalent, not only among the general public but also across the country’s health care systems and among health care providers, who receive limited training in mental health diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Similarly, there are limited public programs in place to raise awareness of mental health disorders and promote intervention, prevention and treatment, causing many to feel shame for seeking help for themselves or their loved ones.

Additionally, there are limited resources for those struggling with mental health issues in Tunisia. For instance, as of 2020, Tunisia had only 2.89 psychiatrists, 3.36 mental health nurses and 0.23 social workers for every 100,000 Tunisian citizens, according to the WHO’s 2020 Mental Health Atlas report. The lack of mental health care workers has been compounded by a lack of mental health care facilities across the country, which has only one mental health hospital and 10 psychiatric units in general hospitals.

Consequently, even those who want to seek help often lack access to it. Untreated mental illness can have detrimental consequences for individuals, families, communities and societies as a whole. It often results in unemployment, homelessness, substance abuse and incarceration, profoundly diminishes the quality of life and increases the risk of suicide.

Current Solutions

Fortunately, there is hope for strengthening mental health care in Tunisia and eradicating the barriers that prevent people struggling with mental illness from obtaining help.

With support from the WHO, a group of psychiatrists from Razi Hospital is now working to implement changes that will advance mental health care in Tunisia to a level consistent with its general health care system.

The only public hospital completely dedicated to mental health in Tunisia, Razi Hospital has launched the country’s first anti-mental-health-stigma training for medical students at Tunis Medical School. Introduced in 2017, the program called Responding to Experienced and Anticipated Discrimination (READ), centers on educating future doctors about mental-health-related stigma in order to reduce it and improve the quality and accessibility of mental health care. The program has already shown positive results. In Tunisia, the number of mental health workers per 100,000 citizens increased from 0.20 in 2017 to 8.77 in 2020. Additionally, there was a 1.31% increase in expenditures on mental health research between 2016 and 2019.

The Tunisian authorities are stepping in to improve mental health in Tunisia, as well. In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government implemented a Psychological Assistance Unit to address the growing need for mental health support. It also established a toll-free hotline that allowed people struggling with mental health issues to remotely access the services of 240 mental health professionals.

Looking Ahead

In the face of rising mental health challenges, Tunisia is taking significant steps to improve mental health care and reduce stigma. The implementation of the Responding to Experienced and Anticipated Discrimination (READ) program at Tunis Medical School has shown promising results, increasing the number of mental health workers and research expenditures. Additionally, the government’s establishment of the Psychological Assistance Unit and toll-free hotline during the pandemic demonstrates a commitment to providing accessible mental health support to those in need. These efforts offer hope for a brighter future where mental health resources are readily available to all Tunisian citizens.

–Paige Falk

Photo: Pxfuel

Midwives in Bangladesh: A decade of Success in Saving Lives

Midwives in BangladeshBangladesh has made significant progress in the field of childcare, surpassing the Millennium Development Goal set by the U.N. in 2010 and consistently reducing infant mortality rates over the past decade. This achievement can be largely attributed to the increased number of midwives in Bangladesh who have received excellent education through the National Midwifery Programme. This program has effectively trained and deployed more midwives in Bangladesh than ever before, providing safe and trustworthy maternal care while simultaneously creating new career opportunities for young women in Bangladesh.

The Program

The National Midwifery Programme is a three-year diploma course currently offered by 60 different nursing colleges and 105 private midwifery institutes across the country. According to MD Saiful Hassan Badal, the Honorable Secretary of the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, this program has created “a cadre of international standard professional midwives.” It equips midwives with training in technology and counseling skills preparing them to provide excellent service both during the delivery but also pre- and post-natal care.

Successes

  • The child mortality rate has dropped by almost 50% since 2012.
  • In the last decade, 8,646 midwives have graduated from the program.
  • Nearly 3,000 Bangladeshi midwives are employed in the public health system.
  • 403 public health complexes, known as Upazila Health Complexes (UzHCs), employ midwives trained by this program.
  • Midwives now conduct 87% of the deliveries in these complexes, compared to 24% in 2018.
  • Around 400 midwives trained by this program are working in the Rohingya camps.

Community trust in public sector midwives has significantly increased, with people now choosing to have a midwife present rather than a traditional birth attendant during delivery.

Funding and Key Actors

The National Midwifery Programme is largely funded by the U.K. government, which maintains a strong bilateral aid partnership with Bangladesh. The U.K. supports a total of 38 midwifery colleges and provides financial and technical assistance to the Fourth Health Sector Programme of the Government of Bangladesh. This program aims to improve health care in Bangladesh, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 3, which seeks to end preventable deaths of newborns and reduce the maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

The implementation of the Fourth Health Sector Programme is overseen by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh. During a seminar held in March 2022 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Representative of UNFPA, Dr. Eiko Narita, personally thanked the U.K. Government for its “generous support” of Bangladeshi midwives. She acknowledged that this support “has enabled [UNFPA] to train thousands of midwives over the past decade and integrate their life-saving services into the national health system.”

Empowering Women

The impact of the midwifery program goes beyond safe maternal care and deliveries; it empowers women and provides them with a new career path. The program offers free training, making it accessible to all and aligning with the U.K.’s priorities in their International Development Strategy to “provide women and girls with the freedom they need to succeed.” The Midwifery Newsletter in Bangladesh serves as a platform for midwives to share experiences and stories. One such story is that of Tanjina Akter, a Bangladeshi midwife based in Baharchara who successfully delivered a baby girl to a Rohingya refugee couple. The baby presented in breech, making for a possibly complex birth. Akter handled the complications independently, as she was the only midwife on duty, and the parents decided to name their daughter Tanjina in honor of the midwife who brought her into the world. This newsletter serves as tangible evidence of the program’s success and its impact on lives across the nation.

The Future

Looking ahead, Bangladesh still requires more than 20,000 midwives to meet the country’s needs. The government is already taking steps and making plans to create an additional 5,000 midwifery posts. Some nursing colleges are also offering a Bachelor of Science degree in Midwifery as an alternative to the diploma course, which elevates the program to a higher education level, providing greater opportunities for participants.

Conclusion

The Bangladeshi midwifery program has achieved remarkable success over the past decade, saving lives and improving maternal and child health care. Through effective training and deployment, support from the U.K. government and collaboration with the UNFPA, this program has not only reduced infant mortality rates but also empowered women and created new career paths. With continued efforts and expansion, Bangladesh is on track to further enhance its health care system and save even more lives in the future.

– Danielle Chorley
Photo: Flickr

Coconut Hounds: Caring for Stray Dogs in the Dominican Republic

Stray Dogs in the Dominican Republic
From Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic, stray dogs wander the streets of both urban and rural areas. While these dogs are laid-back, relaxed and rarely aggressive, they dominate entire neighborhoods. Tourists see stray dogs in the Dominican Republic, dubbed “Coconut Hounds” by locals, as a concern and a major problem.

Contrary to the fears of tourists, Coconut Hounds are friendly animals that have decent lives roaming the streets of urban areas, such as Santo Domingo. The pet culture of the Dominican Republic is dissimilar to that of other nations like the United States. While tourists believe these dogs are in danger and need help, organizations such as Dogs and Cats of the Dominican Republic ensure these pooches are well cared for. On the island, it is normal for pets to roam around during the day to visit friends or their favorite food spots and then return home to their owners at night.

How Stray Dogs Become an Issue

Despite Coconut Hounds’ friendly nature, stray dogs in the Dominican Republic are unfortunately impacting the tourism industry. With street dogs roaming around resort areas, websites such as Trip Advisor advise foreigners to not vacation in the Caribbean due to the unpleasant animal presence. As a result, the Dominican Republic loses millions of dollars as first-time visitors are told to avoid the island and returning tourists do not want to come back and see the strays.

As the economy takes a hit, the number of street dogs amplifies. Poverty directly links to more abandoned animals because owners lack the money to properly care for their pets. Not only can people in poverty not afford the supplies, food, shelter and health care for their pets, but underserved communities also have a lack of access to veterinary services and pet-care information.

Animal resource deserts appear in impoverished towns. Not only can owners not provide their pets with services to aid in their well-being, but there are also no veterinarians, spay and neuter clinics, groomers or supply stores. As impoverished individuals unable to care for their pets increasingly neglect their dogs, nations like the Dominican Republic face issues with their stray dog populations.

Dedication to Care, Dignity and Rescue

Fortunately, the organization Dogs and Cats of the Dominican Republic (DCDR) is making strides in providing Coconut Hounds with proper care. Managed entirely by volunteers, the non-profit runs programs in impoverished communities where animal neglect is prevalent.

To mitigate the effects of poverty on pet well-being, DCDR works with volunteer veterinarians who provide free medical services for both strays and dogs belonging to impoverished owners. Through spay and neuter clinics, the organization can prevent overpopulation and reduce the number of strays on the streets. Their outreach programs involve volunteers going into underserved neighborhoods and handing out tick, flea and parasite medication. While DCDR cannot house all the Coconut Hounds of the Dominican Republic in their shelter, they focus on providing vet services, such as x-rays and surgeries, to any dog in need.

Besides expanding the accessibility of animal well-being services, DCDR is also committed to educating impoverished individuals on proper pet care. The organization runs classes on proper treatment of pets, animal rights laws and what to do in an encounter with a stray. Along with providing pet owners with advice and information, DCDR also educates tourists on the pet culture of the island and encourages them to support stray dogs in the Dominican Republic by staying in hotels that embrace the animals.

Through the effort of the locals of the Dominican Republic, visitors and organizations like Dogs and Cats of the Dominican Republic, the beloved Coconut Hounds will continue to live happy lives on the island.

– Meilyn Farina
Photo: Flickr

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Power in Pulses: Using Beans To Reduce Food Insecurity

Beans to Reduce Food InsecurityFoods accessible to low-income populations often face stigma. For instance, there are many who consider food items like beans as plain or last-resort options. However, beans are far from plain. Across the globe, these legumes are staple foods in many diets, and there is compelling evidence supporting their potential to reduce global food insecurity.

Food Insecurity

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) describes a person as food insecure when they “lack regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life.” According to the Economic Research Service of the USDA (ERS), around 1.3 billion people in low and middle-income countries met this definition in 2022.

According to the World Bank’s 2023 data, 61.1% of low-income countries are experiencing more than 5% food price inflation. Rising food prices lead to people being unable to afford basic necessities and resorting to skipping meals, sometimes for days. Unfortunately, the cheapest foods are often the least nutritious, increasing the risk of malnutrition and diseases like diabetes. Natural disasters and geopolitical crises in developing countries can disrupt food production and trade, resulting in food shortages. Lack of sanitation can also compromise accessible food supplies, leading to the spread of diseases.

Food insecurity affects both child and adult health. The Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates for 2022 show that, globally, one in five children under the age of 5 suffer from stunting. These children are at risk of experiencing cognitive delays that impact their development into adulthood. Malnourished adults are less productive, making them more susceptible to diseases and less capable of working.

The Benefits of Beans

Beans, considered one of the “pulses” harvested for their high protein, fiber and low-fat content, offer a host of benefits to the dinner table and beyond. Incorporating beans into diets can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and diabetes. These nutrient-rich legumes provide numerous advantages, making them a valuable addition to a healthy diet.

In addition to their nutritional value, beans are a cost-effective option. Beans and other pulses are cheaper than animal-based proteins and one can store them dried or canned for longer periods of time, reducing food waste. The high levels of complex carbohydrates and fiber in beans provide lasting energy and satisfaction.

Beans are an environmentally-friendly option as compared to meat. It takes 43 gallons of water to produce one pound of pulses, whereas it takes 800 gallons of water to produce one pound of meat. Moreover, beans are highly adaptable and can thrive in various weather conditions. This makes beans a practical solution for reducing food insecurity in regions that experience harsh weather conditions.

The Issue of Labels

Despite its benefits, beans still attract stigma. For many, this food is a quintessential poverty meal and is disregarded in favor of meat. In her piece on the subject, Nikesha Elise Williams recounts her husband’s perception of the food and how he felt he “had no choice but to swallow and stomach” it. Unfortunately, Williams’ experience is not uncommon. Perceptions like these create negative associations with beans and may even deter people from eating this healthy source of high-quality nutrients.

Beans Around the World

Despite the stigma surrounding beans, the food remains a part of many cultures due to its nutritional and cultural values. People cook staple meals with beans in countries like Mexico, Italy and Zambia. The following are few of the different ways in which cultures around the world enjoy beans.

  1. Frijoles De La Olla: Stewed beans form the basis of many traditional Mexican dishes, simple yet delicious and commonly served with rice and tortillas.
  2. Pasta e Fagioli: A dish of pasta, beans and sauce, part of Italy’s “cucina povera” or “peasant food” tradition, known for its simplicity and accessibility.
  3. Kabulangeti Beans: Sugar beans popular in Zambia, cooked with tomatoes, onions and spices, featured in various traditional meals and widely available.

Organizing Around Beans

Many are starting to realize the potential of beans to reduce food insecurity. There are entire organizations centering beans as a poverty solution.

Slow Food, an Italian-based organization founded in 1989, aims to ensure access to nutritious and safe food for all.” The organization’s Slow Beans network is aimed at educating people on the benefits and traditions of eating beans. In 2020, it launched the Let It Bean! campaign in collaboration with Meatless Monday. It aimed to increase knowledge of how to cook beans and support local bean producers. Slow Food started in Italy but is now active in more than 1,600 areas of the world.

The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) is dedicated to improving food security, income and health for smallholder farmers and urban dwellers across Africa.” PABRA works in 31 countries in Africa. Its work includes breeding more resilient and nutrient-dense bean varieties, helping farmers maximize bean production in an affordable and environmentally-friendly way. The organization also helps farmers sell their beans in the world markets.

Looking Ahead

In the face of food insecurity, beans prove to be a powerful ally. Rich in nutrients and cost-effective, these legumes offer multiple health benefits while being environmentally friendly. Organizations like Slow Food and the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance are championing beans as a solution to poverty and malnutrition, promoting education and innovation to harness their potential. By challenging stigma and embracing the cultural and nutritional value of beans, communities worldwide can take a significant step toward reducing food insecurity and building a healthier, more sustainable future.

– Yesenia Aguilera
Photo: Flickr

3 Organizations Fighting Malnourishment In Nigeria

malnourishment in NigeriaUNICEF reports that 37% of children in Nigeria experience malnourishment. With a population of 213.4 million in the African country, 6 million Nigerian children suffer from severe hunger and stunted growth. The root causes of malnourishment in Nigeria include poverty, inadequate sanitation and food restrictions. The following is an overview of the efforts to alleviate malnourishment in Nigeria.

Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger reveals that Nigeria is Africa’s most popular and wealthy nation due to its fast-growing economy. However, the organization’s website reports that “Despite this, more than half of the country lives below the poverty line and northern Nigeria suffers with widespread child undernutrition. In 2020, 7.9 million people were in need of humanitarian aid.” The reduced access to food, clean water and sanitation facilities results in malnutrition and severe hunger. Additionally, the lack of basic services caused by poor knowledge of healthy feeding practices for young children results in extreme hunger.

Northeast Nigeria has faced food insecurity due to the conflicts involving the Boko Haram insurgency since 2012. In situations like this, it is more challenging for humanitarian organizations such as Action Against Hunger to positively intervene. However, Action Against Hunger works hard to operate within the most affected areas in the country — already reaching more than 2.4 million people facing malnourishment in Nigeria.

Here are some of Action Against Hunger’s efforts in Nigeria:

  • supplying monthly food assistance to 210,00 people in Borno and Yobe states
  • producing farming, fishing and vegetable garden training programs to improve families’ access to food
  • strengthening the health care system in preventing malnutrition for pregnant and breastfeeding women
  • improving people’s access to safe water by building and restoring water points
  • supporting people who have fled conflict by distributing hygiene kits and providing shelter

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

With 45% of all child deaths in Nigeria among children 5 and under being caused by malnutrition, UNICEF’s program intends to support the government in diminishing this tragedy. It implemented the National Plan of Action on Food and Nutrition, which sustains health and community systems by including nutrition in every aspect of the primary health care (PHC) system — focusing on micronutrient supplementation, community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) interventions.

Other sectors that UNICEF’s nutrition interventions support in Nigeria include:

  • antenatal care
  • the prevention and control of pneumonia and diarrhea
  • immunization
  • deworming
  • distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets
  • adolescent girls’ and maternal nutrition

UNICEF reports that, since 2009, it has been “supporting Nigeria’s community-based program for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition. Since then, the program has grown significantly to become one of the largest UNICEF-supported treatment programs in the world.”

Action Contre la Faim

For more than 40 years now, Action Contre la Faim has fought hunger and malnutrition around the world. It began its mission to alleviate malnutrition, specifically in Nigeria, in 2009. Currently, with a team of 394 people, Action Contre la Faim supports the progression of the country with multiple interventions. These interventions surround sectors such as Nutrition and Health, Food Security and Livelihoods, Access to drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Advocacy and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support.

Action Contre la Faim states that “In 2021, global acute malnutrition rates reached one of the highest levels recorded since 2016. Nigeria also experienced a significant cholera epidemic, which affected the north of the country especially.” Also, the non-government-funded organization reports that “In 2021, ACF supported communities and systems, helping them to improve their resilience, and continued with its nutrition and health emergency response, providing humanitarian assistance to populations impacted by conflicts and natural disasters.”

The organization was able to combat severe malnutrition in Nigeria by providing treatment for women and children — as well as introducing health education programs. Combined with the renovation and contraction of water supply points and sanitation facilities, Action Contre la Faim was able to “respond to the needs of displaced populations and of communities affected by the cholera epidemic.”

What is Next?

Despite these organizations’ great efforts and accomplishments to tackle malnourishment in Nigeria, an estimated 88.4 million Nigerians continue to live in extreme poverty. With poverty being the main cause of severe hunger among people living in the country, there is a need for poverty alleviation in the fight against malnourishment in Nigeria.

– Katerina Petrou
Photo: Flickr

5 Key Insights Into the Gender Wage Gap in Lebanon

Gender Wage Gap in LebanonLebanon borders Syria to the north and east, the region of Palestine to the south and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. A Middle Eastern nation with a varied landscape ranging from picturesque coastlines to the majestic Lebanese Mountains, the country has earned recognition for its rich history and cultural heritage. However, Lebanon faces several socioeconomic challenges, including a persistent gender wage gap. Here are five key insights into the gender wage gap in Lebanon and the growing efforts to close it.

The Problem

  1. Significant Wage Disparity: According to a recent study published by the University of Sciences and Arts in Lebanon (USAL), Lebanese women earn an average of 16%-19% less than Lebanese men. And while it has made progress in women’s rights, Lebanon retains one of the highest overall gender gaps globally, placing 119 out of 146 countries in the 2022 World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report.
  2. Education Does Not Mean Equal Pay: Despite improvements in women’s education in Lebanon, data reveals that the gender wage gap widens with education. For instance, the wage gap between Lebanese women and men with university-level or higher degrees is 20.2%, according to the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) 2021 Lebanon Gender Analysis report. Additionally, despite having nearly equal access to education, just 23.5% of Lebanese women were employed as of 2021, compared to 70.9% of men.
  3. Occupational Segregation: Employers’ perceptions and decisions regarding hiring and promotions are influenced by deeply-ingrained gender stereotypes and traditional roles that persist in Lebanese society. For example, according to the UN’s 2022 Women’s Economic Participation in Lebanon analysis, men dominate higher-paying sectors like engineering and technology, while women find themselves disproportionately clustered in lower-paying industries like education and administration. Such occupational segregation contributes to the widening gender wage gap in Lebanon, limiting women’s earning potential and opportunities for career advancement. 
  4. Limited Leadership Representation: Similarly, women face difficulty obtaining managerial and leadership positions, which frequently offer higher salaries. The underrepresentation of women in decision-making positions across the public, private, political and academic sectors greatly contributes to wage disparity. 
  5. Unpaid Care Work: A 2018 World Bank report revealed that Lebanese women disproportionately bear the burden of unpaid care work and household duties. Consequently, many women sacrifice paid employment, reduce their working hours and endure frequent career interruptions, all of which negatively impact women’s earning potential and Lebanon’s economy as a whole. For example, the report estimated that a 25% reduction in the Gender Participation gap would spark a 9% increase in the country’s GDP. 

Ongoing Efforts

Here are five ways that Lebanon and the international community are working to achieve progress in reducing the gender wage gap in the country.   

  1. Government Interventions: In 2018, the Lebanese government launched a public awareness campaign to promote gender equality and reduce gender-biased social norms. The campaign aimed to change attitudes, increase women’s awareness of equal-pay rights and foster a culture of mutual respect.
  2. The Women Economic Empowerment for Lebanon Project (WEEL): Part of the European Union for Women Empowerment (EU4WE) Project in Lebanon, this program provides grants ranging from €15,000 to  €50,000 to up to 20 women-owned and women-led businesses and startups in Lebanon. A joint initiative of the Lebanese company Berytech and Expertise France, the EU-funded program aims to promote gender equality and reduce gender-based violence in Lebanon through financial empowerment.
  3. Lebanese League for Women in Business (LLWB): LLWB is a nonprofit organization that advocates for equal opportunities for women in business and entrepreneurship. It provides networking platforms, mentorship programs and training to support women’s professional growth and bridge the wage gap. In 2021 alone, the LLWB achieved remarkable milestones, establishing more than 31 new local and international partnerships and raising $852,197 to tackle gender disparities. Additionally, it implemented more than 350 training initiatives and workshops to support women entrepreneurs in Beirut, North Lebanon and Bekaa and benefited more than 1,400 women, including farmers, professionals and entrepreneurs.
  4. KAFA: Meaning “enough” in Arabic, KAFA is a nonprofit founded in 2005 to combat gender-based violence and discrimination. It advocates for women’s labor rights and equal pay, strives to economically empower women through awareness campaigns and supports research and legal advocacy initiatives. In 2020, KAFA received 9,763 calls and successfully implemented the “Men and Women for Gender Equality Program.” The UN Women provided funding for this program that aims to address the underlying reasons for gender inequality. The program implemented measures to alter biased societal norms regarding gender, supported civil society groups in advocating for legal and policy reforms and urged the government to enforce laws that promote gender equality.
  5. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Lebanon: As part of its 2030 Agenda, UNDP Lebanon has prioritized women’s social, economic and political advancement in Lebanon. Taking a holistic approach to gender equality, its initiatives promote equal pay and employment opportunities for women, increasing women’s political and leadership presence, guaranteeing legal protections and eliminating gender biases.

Looking Ahead

Through ongoing efforts, Lebanon and the international community are working to address the underlying issues behind the country’s persistent gender wage gap. By supporting women’s social, economic and political empowerment, they are paving the way for a more prosperous and just future for the country as a whole. Still, there appears to be room for more effort and progress. Efforts such as targeted legislation, promoting equality in hiring, promotion and pay, alongside changing social attitudes could go a long way in closing the gender wage gap in Lebanon.  

– Kassem Choukini
Photo: Flickr

4 Projects Working to End Period Poverty in The Gambia

Period Poverty in The GambiaIn lower and middle-income countries, period poverty significantly hinders the improvement of women’s health and economic empowerment. Period poverty refers to the lack of access to menstrual sanitary products, hygienic washing facilities and sexual and reproductive health education. Unfortunately, this problem particularly affects developing countries, where ongoing socioeconomic challenges and cultural stigmas surrounding menstruation worsen the situation.

Impacts of Period Poverty

The World Bank reports that more than 500 million people worldwide face the effects of period poverty. This issue can have severe consequences, as it exposes women to urogenital infections when they use inadequate substitutes like cloth pieces or plantain leaves. Additionally, females may suffer in terms of dignity, societal participation, school attendance, economic independence and mental health.

Period Poverty in the Gambia

In The Gambia, period poverty is widespread, especially in rural areas. The United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency (UNFPA) conducted a survey in The Gambia’s Lower River Region, which revealed that three out of 10 women manage their menstruation using old cloth strips instead of sanitary products. Consequently, due to the lack of menstrual products and safe hygiene facilities, some girls miss school during their period and lag behind academically compared to their male peers. However, four initiatives in The Gambia are working to eliminate period poverty in The Gambia and empower girls and women economically.

4 Projects Working to End Period Poverty in The Gambia

  1. UNFPA Women Empowerment and Peacebuilding Initiative – UNFPA implemented this initiative in 2021 and is operating in Basse, in The Gambia’s Upper River Region. It has set up a production facility and trained 15 local women to make reusable sanitary pads, which are provided free to students in schools and to the women working. This project also provides comprehensive health education to students to learn more about their physical health and bodily autonomy. In providing local women with skills and employment opportunities, this UNFPA project provides them with income and decision-making opportunities that will make a great difference in the rural area.  This initiative hopes to provide an environmentally friendly solution to period poverty in The Gambia, as well as to strengthen communities and prevent girls and women from being discriminated against due to menstruation stigma.
  2. The Gambian American Foundation – Founded in 2019, The Gambian American Foundation is an NGO  that aims to advance social and economic development in The Gambia. This is done through providing resources, leadership, donations and expertise on various socio-economic issues within the country. It “envisions a society in which people are empowered at the fullest to achieve all their human development and potentials, for their individual well-being and for the society’s greater good.” One of its projects is campaigning against ‘Menstruation Poverty and its Impact on Girls’ Education and Sexual Health. This project aims to provide 250 schoolgirls with regular access to sanitary products, both at home and at school. The students are also provided with self-esteem-building workshops and information sessions on reproductive health. As an outcome, this project hopes to reduce school absences to improve their academic future and to maintain good reproductive and sexual health.
  3. Project Gambia – Project Gambia is a nonprofit organization, founded in 2007, that works alongside partners both within The Gambia and the U.K. to set up a variety of initiatives in villages, farms and schools to alleviate poverty in a sustainable manner, through volunteer trips, child sponsorship, Christmas donations and project fundraising. In collaboration with The Gambia Teachers’ Union, this nonprofit organization launched the ‘Let’s See Red’ project in 2022. It provides menstrual health education and instructions on manufacturing sanitary products to 40 teachers, who can then educate students in Gambian communities and create long-term access to menstrual products. It is also dispensing packs of reusable sanitary pads to schools. Through this scheme, Project Gambia hopes that women will be able to continue to study and work on their periods, as well as remove cultural stigmas surrounding menstruation through education.
  4. Girls’ Pride – Established by Fatoumatta Kassama in 2017, Girls’ Pride focuses on eliminating period poverty, improving maternal and child health and maintaining girls’ school attendance during menstruation in The Gambia. It aims at improving maternal and child health, maintaining girls’ school attendance during their menstruation periods and creating job opportunities for local women. It manufactures and distributes reusable sanitary pads, offers counseling services and provides training to women and girls to make pads and educate their communities about period hygiene. Kassama grew up in The Gambia, where she faced challenges managing her periods due to cultural taboos and lack of access to products. Inspired to bring about change, she founded Girls’ Pride. The organization manufactures and distributes reusable sanitary pads to schoolgirls, provides counseling services and trains 35 women and girls, alongside 26 school teachers to make pads. These trainees then pass on their knowledge to others in their communities. The Comprehensive Health Education project, funded by the International Development Research Centre, coordinates this training. As a result, students can use the pads for themselves and donate extras to Pad Banks in schools. In addition to production, Girls’ Pride prioritizes education. The organization has educated 623 girls on period hygiene and 923 boys on period shaming and cultural taboos.

Looking Ahead

These programs and organizations are doing vital and inspiring work to address period poverty in The Gambia. Due to ongoing efforts, menstruating individuals in The Gambia can look forward to higher school attendance, greater dignity, improved physical and mental health, and better economic mobility.

– Eleanor Moseley
Photo: Flickr

Kyrgyzstan’s Combat Against Statelessness

Kyrgyzstan’s Combat Against StatelessnessIn Kyrgyzstan, statelessness has become a significant issue due to continuous internal and external migration and changes in the country’s borders since its independence in 1991. Statelessness occurs when a person is not recognized as a citizen of any functioning nation by law, often resulting from discrimination, migration, or conflicts between opposing nationalities.

Offering individuals a national identity is crucial, enabling access to education, employment, housing, health care and political rights like voting. Kyrgyzstan’s efforts to combat statelessness hold immense importance in ensuring the well-being and inclusion of affected individuals.

Global Aid to End Statelessness

To tackle Statelessness, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), created a Global Action Plan in 2014 titled the #IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness. The goal of the program is to eliminate statelessness by 2024 by implementing 10 actions. These actions include removing gender discrimination from nationality laws and providing protection status to migrants. These actions serve as guidelines for countries dealing with this problem.

Through these National Action Plans, the UNHCR works closely with countries in implementing new laws, allying with them through a clear outline to end statelessness called the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, and monitoring the country’s efforts to reduce and prevent statelessness. Despite their best efforts, cases in Kyrgyzstan continue to appear due to legal gaps, and legal barriers within the administration. 

In the same year the #IBelong Campaign began, Kyrgyzstan’s efforts against statelessness took off by joining the campaign and allying with the UNHCR. From 2014-2017, birth registration reached a high rate of 98%, and on July 4, 2019, Kyrgyzstan became the first country to solve the issue of statelessness.

With the UNHCR, the Kyrgyz Republic identified more than 13,000 stateless persons including 2,000 children. By obtaining a birth certificate and passport, the newly identified people of Kyrgyzstan took their first steps in acquiring a national identity.

Welcoming Children as Kyrgyzstan Citizens

Even though Kyrgyzstan has successfully fought against statelessness, it is essential to continue taking action to prevent the issue from recurring. Thus, on June 24, 2023, the Kyrgyzstan government in alignment with the #IBelong Campaign implemented a law that will provide birth certificates and registration for all children born in the nation regardless of whether or not their parents are undocumented or stateless, including children born prior to this new implementation.

In a 2022 survey conducted by the United Nations (UN), an estimated 5,000 families reportedly benefitted from this law. Alongside establishing a nationality, birth certificates ensure to ensure the protection of children’s rights. This is to help children obtain government assistance and access quality education.  

Without crucial legal rights, many stateless persons face disadvantages such as economic and political marginalization. Also, putting an end to statelessness can potentially uplift several thousands of people from extreme poverty by providing them with access to sufficient housing, employment opportunities and health care services.

Looking Ahead

Overall, Kyrgyzstan’s successful efforts to combat statelessness through the #IBelong Campaign and collaboration with the UNHCR have resulted in significant progress, granting several thousand individuals a national identity. And by eliminating statelessness, Kyrgyzstan is paving the way for improved living conditions and opportunities for its citizens, helping uplift them from poverty and marginalization.

– Kenzie Nguyen
Photo: Flickr

The Catch-22 of Crime and Poverty in Haiti

Crime and Poverty in HaitiHaiti is both the poorest and most dangerous country in the Caribbean, the World Bank says. Political instability, civil unrest and a geographic location with a high risk of natural disasters keep almost 60% of Haitians below the international poverty line. Simultaneously, Haiti ranks 58th on the Global Organized Crime Index of 2023, and the U.S. has issued a warning against travel to Haiti because of dangerous conditions related to gangs and other organized crime. In other words, crime is rampant in an already impoverished nation. The connection between crime and poverty in Haiti results in a catch-22, or vicious, cycle. In this country, crime exists because extreme poverty exists. 

Poverty as a Breeding Ground for Gang Violence in Haiti

Simply put, political dysfunction, natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic have ensured that as of 2023, more than half of Haitians live below the poverty line. This poor circumstance allows organized crime to thrive. A lack of jobs and government instability open space for gangs to offer the structure, stability and income that Haitians desire. Haiti has such poverty, desperation and lack of political strength that more than 200 gangs have formed in the last five years. However, gangs do not offer the social stability or solution to poverty that Haitians might hope for. 

Nearly 100 gangs, half of the gangs in the entire country, currently fight for control of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. So many rival gangs in such close proximity cause extreme danger for Port-au-Prince’s residents, but Haiti’s current government is not powerful enough to regain control of the city. 

Gangs do not lift Haitians out of poverty the way that official government action could. For instance, by building infrastructure, protecting against natural disasters, increasing education rates or developing industry. Rather, gangs introduce extreme violence and cause long-term damage to a country already ransacked by extreme poverty.

Gangs are responsible for much of the crime in Haiti; the crime rate has more than doubled from 2022 to 2023 and more than 1,600 crimes occurred in just the first quarter of 2023. These crimes, including homicides and kidnappings, impede both immediate and long-term solutions to poverty because crime wrecks stability. Children, for example, run the risk of shootings at school and in the streets, impacting their education and the chance of a prosperous future. In other words, the crime-ridden atmosphere that poverty creates guarantees that poverty will continue — the catch-22 of crime and poverty in Haiti. 

Aid to Haiti

Despite the catch-22 that encloses Haitians in an unending loop of danger and poverty, some hope remains outside the loop. The U.S. has a close partnership with Haiti and is responsible for the largest amount of humanitarian aid sent to Haiti in 2023. Since 2021, USAID has provided Haiti with a total of $278 million for humanitarian assistance, societal advancement and the development of a reliable health care system; more than $110 million of this aid has come in 2023.

In addition to USAID, many nonprofit organizations work in Haiti to promote health, development and safety despite the threat of gangs. In fact, Haiti is known as the “republic of NGOs” due to the amount of aid that has poured into the country from nonprofits since the earthquake of 2010.

Hope for Haiti is one particularly successful NGO that aims to promote education among Haiti’s children. To date, Hope for Haiti has paid the salaries of 400 teachers, which opened space for more than 4,000 children to attend school. Regular school attendance guarantees Haitian children some form of stability amid the chaos of a gang-ridden country, allowing them the opportunity of a promising future. 

Although crime in Haiti is at an all-time high, which cycles into high poverty rates, the support of the U.S. and NGOs helps millions of Haitians living below the poverty line. 

– Suzanne Ackley
Photo: Unsplash

Tackling tuberculosis in Moldova: The Stop TB Partnership 

tuberculosis in MoldovaTuberculosis, a bacterial lung infection transmitted through coughing and sneezing, ranks as one of the most widespread global diseases, with only COVID-19 surpassing it in death toll. In 2021, TB diagnoses worldwide reached 10.6 million, and Moldova alone accounted for 3,000 cases.

On the bright side, the Stop TB Partnership is diligently working to prevent this treatable yet often fatal disease from gaining a stronghold. The organization’s efforts span the globe, aiming to halt avoidable deaths among those who may not otherwise receive adequate health care.

Combating Tuberculosis in Moldova

  1. Testing Accessibility for the Community – One aspect of disease prevention that the Stop TB Partnership takes very seriously is the testing process, as many may be left undiagnosed, or even misdiagnosed by doctors. Not only this, but many who live in more remote locations do not have sufficient access to testing overall. Notably, Moldova faces a high prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis, with 60% of treated cases being this strain. To address these challenges, the Stop TB Partnership collaborates with Moldova’s National Tuberculosis Program to enhance the availability of XPert testing machines in the community. By distributing 30 XPert machines to community health centers, testing facilities catering to TB and prisons, an estimated 64% of Moldova’s population gains easy access to testing. This initiative marks a groundbreaking step, with Moldova becoming the first country worldwide to implement this technology in community centers. Consequently, 1,374 additional TB cases were detected in the first two years of operation.
  2. Raising Community Awareness – While the Stop TB Partnership’s current efforts primarily focus on testing, it has previously undertaken projects that focused on enhancing local communities’ understanding of tuberculosis. To combat tuberculosis in Moldova effectively, there is a need for community members to recognize the disease’s symptoms and respond appropriately when a loved one is affected. In 2009, the Stop TB Partnership partnered with Speranta Terrei, a Moldovan nonprofit, to promote awareness among young children through comic strips. These child-friendly comics, illustrated by Stop TB Ambassador Luis Figo, portray heroes battling TB, effectively disseminating messages about disease prevention and treatment to children in an accessible and enjoyable manner. By distributing these comics to four major Moldovan cities, public comprehension of the disease improves, increasing the likelihood of people seeking testing.
  3. Using AI to Fight TB – In recent years, AI has become increasingly utilized for diagnosing, treating and proposing novel cures for communicable diseases, including TB. As part of its commitment, the Stop TB Partnership introduced AI4HLTH, an initiative that aims to enhance TB diagnosis efficiency through AI technology. The AI effectively assesses chest X-Rays of patients, identifying abnormalities consistent with tuberculosis infection. By employing this crucial tool, doctors are relieved of the burden of manually assessing every X-Ray, allowing them to focus more on treatment after a successful diagnosis. Furthermore, this approach reduces the number of undiagnosed cases due to limited health care staff availability.

Looking Ahead

In the battle against tuberculosis, the Stop TB Partnership is making significant strides with innovative and community-focused initiatives. By increasing testing accessibility through XPert machines and raising awareness through child-friendly comics, the organization is empowering Moldova’s communities to combat the disease. Additionally, the use of AI technology in TB diagnosis streamlines the process and enables health care professionals to focus on providing timely treatment. These efforts offer hope for a future of reduced TB impact in developing countries like Moldova.

– Annabel Kartal-Allen
Photo: Unsplash