Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

How Mamotest is Improving Breast Cancer Detection in Latin America

Breast Cancer Detection in Latin America
Breast cancer is “the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the Americas,” accounting for 16% of female cancer-rated mortality, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported in 2018. However, the survival rate for breast cancer in Latin America (27%) is significantly lower than in the U.S. (99%). This is due to a number of factors, including a lack of access to early detection and treatment services. Poverty also plays a role. In Latin America, 80% of females older than 40 lack access to mammograms due to equipment insufficiencies and a lack of health care professionals in this field. Also, where mammogram services are available, the costs are very high, UNDP Digital X explains. Furthermore, many women lack formal employment, making the high costs of mammograms prohibitive. Mamotest aims to improve breast cancer detection in Latin America.

Mamotest

Mamotest is a digital health company that is using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve breast cancer detection in Latin America. The company’s AI-powered platform can detect breast cancer with accuracy. Mamotest also offers a mobile app that allows women to book appointments, upload their mammograms and receive their results online. Mamotest has operated in Argentina since 2017 and it has recently expanded into Mexico. Guillermo Pepe founded it in 2013 as the first telediagnostic solution for breast cancer detection in Latin America.

The Benefits of Mamotest

Mamotest’s AI-powered platform is a significant advancement in the fight against breast cancer in Latin America. The platform makes it possible to provide early detection and treatment services to women who would otherwise not have access to them. This helps to increase the survival rate for breast cancer in the region. Early detection can raise the survival chances to 90% or more.

The United Nations (U.N.) regards Mamotest as “one of the four organizations changing the first level healthcare sector globally,” Mexico Business News reports.

The company has screened around 650,000 women. In Argentina, the company has 15 centers with a screening rate of 60,000 women per year. Mamotest helped 87% of the screened patients to receive an early diagnosis and begin treatment early on.

It is cost-effective, efficient and easily accessible to women in remote areas with certified examination reports available within 24 hours. UNDP Digital X says a mammogram in Latin America costs between $70 and $150 and the public sector does offer these services but the waiting list is typically four to six months.

Monetary Savings

As per the Swiss consultancy agency LeFil, Mamotest has resulted in benefits of around $6.2 million annually. Patients have saved $1.73 million annually due to “avoided out-of-pocket diagnostic costs, transportation expenses, treatment cost for uninsured patients and unpaid work days for patients without insurance or formal employer’s coverage,” LeFil says. Families of patients have saved $1.1 million annually that could have arisen from funeral expenses and lost income for household members caring for the ill member, among other costs.

A Notable Impact

Mamotest has made a notable impact so far. It has delivered “100 medical refresher courses,” diagnosed 150,000 women and ran 35 breast cancer awareness-raising campaigns. Further, Mamotest has performed 10,000 free mammograms through the support of Fundación Telmed. Mamotest’s efforts, in part, have influenced three provinces to pass a legal policy ensuring all people a day off work to undergo medical tests.

Owing to its positive impact on the lives of marginalized women in Latin America, Mamotest won the Zayed Sustainability Prize in 2022 in the health category for being an innovative and sustainable tech solution.

Mamotest is committed to continuing to innovate and improve its services. The company is currently working on developing new AI algorithms that will improve the accuracy of its platform. Mamotest is also working on expanding its services to reach other parts of Latin America like Peru, Uruguay and Mexico to help women fight breast cancer.

– Sarmad Wali Khan
Photo: Flickr

Eliminating Gender Inequality in Taiwan

Gender Inequality in Taiwan
The Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, is ranked first in Asian countries in the U.N. Gender Inequality Index for gender equality. This means that Taiwan has been successfully empowering, educating and creating equal opportunities for its women. But despite this fact, gender inequality in Taiwan endures.

The Gender Wage Gap

One perpetuating issue is the gender wage gap. The gender wage gap in Taiwan is at 15.8%, meaning women would have to work a total of 58 more days to earn equal pay.

In an effort to combat the wage gap, the Taiwan Ministry of Labor (MOL) established ‘Equal Pay Day’ in 2012 to raise awareness of the issue.

As things stand, there are several issues that may be contributing to this issue of inequality. Primarily, women have historically experienced discrimination due to the potential for maternity leave. Some Taiwanese women shared similar experiences. Hiring committees will often ask them if they are pregnant or intend on getting pregnant, and the answer can play a huge role in whether employers will hire them.

However, the overall heightened awareness about gender inequality and the work of the MOL has resulted in tangible progress. Back in 2012, women earned 16.6% less than men. In the last few years, the gap has closed by 0.8%.

Taiwan has also continued to increase the number of women in positions of political power and/or the workforce. About 51% of women over the age of 15 were in the labor force as of 2015, with an average monthly income of $1,346. As for political positions, female lawmakers make up 42.5% of the parliament, Legislative Yuan. Currently, the following are some programs addressing gender inequality in Taiwan.

Taiwan Women’s Center

The Taiwan Women’s Center, which originated in 2008, is an organization that aims to spread gender equality. Its conference rooms in Taipei City, its headquarters, host discussions, seminars and training courses about feminism. Members discuss potential solutions to relevant issues regarding how Taiwan can create a gender-equal society.

The website features videos on the history of gender equality in Taiwan. It also provides links to other organizations striving to make Taiwan a safe and equal country for everyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or sexuality.

Gender Equality Committee of the Executive Yuan

The Gender Equality Committee of the Executive Yuan, established in 1997, works to sustain and enforce government laws and legislation that protect women’s rights.

Some historical accomplishments of the GEC include the establishment of the Commission on Women’s Rights Program (CWRP), the passing of the Enforcement Act of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the establishment of the Department of Gender Equality.

The website includes a tab with various programs that can help kickstart “gender-responsive actions.” These “toolkits” aim to educate and inspire women to participate and be active in the fight for gender equality.

The Awakening Foundation

The Awakening Foundation is a nonprofit and nonpartisan group that has aided many in the fight for gender equality. Established in 1982, it originated as a magazine to protest against the way people treated women in Taiwanese culture. Some of the foundation’s original projects focused on ending child sex trafficking.

Currently, it aids Taiwanese women by lobbying for feminist reforms, providing legal assistance and counseling, as well as monitoring a hotline that reaches about 2,000 citizens per year. Recently, the Awakening Foundation has been working on mandating paid parental leave, as well as educating the public with articles on why women play a vital role in the advancement of politics.

Looking Ahead

Although Taiwan has made significant progress toward gender equality, progress is still ongoing. The current initiatives continue to push for a world where gender equality is the norm. With continued support and education on the issue, and based on the progress so far, there is a chance that one day, gender inequality in Taiwan will become an issue of the past.

– Alex Hasenkamp
Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Improving Mental Health in North Macedonia

Mental Health in North MacedoniaThe World Health Organization (WHO) has recently worked to help citizens improve their mental health in North Macedonia. In North Macedonia, the insurance fully covers mental health services and psychotropic medicines. According to the Mental Health Atlas, there were 179 psychiatrists in the country as of 2020.

There were also 20 hospital-attached mental health outpatient facilities as opposed to zero “community-based/non-hospital” mental health facilities. And other mental health facilities totaled 32.

The Mental Health Atlas also reported four mental hospitals and eight psychiatric units in general hospitals. In addition, there were 376 mental health nurses in North Macedonia, with the country spending 7.3% of its total health expenditure on mental health.

The Pressures of Poverty

In 2022, the WHO stated that nearly 40% of the nation’s residents were “at risk of poverty or severe material deprivation in 2019.” COVID-19 added to preexisting barriers to health equity, causing many to experience mental health challenges.

Rising costs of basic necessities pose another threat to impoverished citizens of North Macedonia. According to UNICEF, a 25% increase in household energy/heating costs and a 29% increase in food costs could disproportionately affect poorer households with multiple children.

A 2022 UNICEF mental health workshop for social protection frontline workers provided evidence of the negative effect of poverty on mental health in North Macedonia. Workers interested in learning how to cope with stress and build resilience shared their experiences with stress caused by daily dealings with complex cases of poverty and related adversities.

Economic Effects of Global Crises

COVID-19 took a toll on mental health in North Macedonia. In 2022, WHO also added that the pandemic diminished social and financial protection systems, leading to substantial mental health challenges. Furthermore, a 2023 UNICEF report highlighted a link between the pandemic and symptoms of anxiety and depression among the country’s residents.

The report examined 11 nations, including North Macedonia, and showed a statistically significant relationship between personal exposure to the virus and anxiety/depression symptoms in adults. Around 42% of adolescent respondents also reported moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety in response to the pandemic.

The recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine has also affected nations, including North Macedonia. According to UNICEF’s 2022 Country Office Annual Report, North Macedonia’s economy, which was recovering from the blow it suffered during the pandemic, faced another setback due to the war. Unfortunately, these economic events also pose risks to mental health in North Macedonia.

Economic Threats to Mental Health

Ongoing trends suggest that economic instability threatens mental health in North Macedonia. In a 2015 review, Ben Fell and Miles Hewstone argued that poverty increases the risk of mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and drug addiction.

Instances of poverty’s harmful effect on mental health exist abroad. A 2020 article by Lee Knifton and Greig Inglis revealed that in 2018, 23% of men and 26% of women in the most impoverished areas of Scotland reported symptoms of possible psychiatric disorders, as opposed to 12% of men and 16% of women in its most well-off areas. With a heightened risk of poverty comes a threat to mental well-being.

Systemic Barriers to Quality Care

Recent reforms have focused largely on North Macedonia’s mental health system. A May 2022 WHO news release reported that from 2000 to 2008, WHO and the Ministry of Health initiated reforms that moved North Macedonia’s mental health care out of hospitals and into community mental health centers.

This migration of mental health care reflects a need to remove patients from the negative conditions of hospital-based mental health units. A 2010 BalkanInsight article revealed that conditions at the Demir Hisar psychiatric hospital in North Macedonia were dehumanizing and that hospitals like Demir Hisar were underfunded and understaffed.

WHO Takes Action

Between 2008 and 2017, the WHO’s efforts to improve the mental health situation in North Macedonia faced challenges that were due to a reduction in government support for community-based mental health services.

In 2018, the Republic of North Macedonia adopted the new National Strategy for the Promotion of Mental Health. Goals include decentralizing mental health services, decreasing the number of psychiatric hospitals and strengthening staff at community mental health centers, according to a May 2022 WHO news release.

Stojan Bajraktarov, director of the Psychiatric Clinic in Skopje, North Macedonia, explained that education, communication and cooperation are key in delivering quality mental health care at a primary care level.

Taking Inspiration from Crisis

The pandemic, while tragic, has also provided an opportunity to improve access to quality care for mental health in North Macedonia. The pandemic inspired many to push health equity higher up the political agenda, said Anne Johansen, WHO’s special representative to North Macedonia. Overall, this can have lasting positive impacts on the country and its residents.

– Noel Teter
Photo: Pixabay

How Fintech is Transforming Economies in Sub-Saharan Africa

Fintech in Sub-Saharan AfricaThe number of unbanked people in Sub-Saharan Africa represents around 57% of the total population of the region. That equates to approximately 360 million people across the continent without recognized assets. South Africa, Mauritius and Kenya have maintained robust financial infrastructure for decades, while areas with the lowest levels of urbanization surrounding Ethiopia and Rwanda continue to struggle with provisioning traditional financial services with spotty internet and lacking identity documentation.

With the right strategy, overcoming these challenges carries great potential to change the livelihoods of millions. Experts at McKinsey, a global consulting firm, found that the market for financial services in Africa could reach $230 billion in collective revenue in the next two years. Boston Consulting Group and QED Investors estimated that Africa’s fintech sector could reach a revenue compound annual growth rate of 32% by 2030. In fact, fintech companies are expected to make up nearly a quarter of all banking valuations worldwide by then.

Fintech in sub-Saharan Africa: A Frontier For Change

Fintech encompasses any kind of platform that sidesteps traditional roadblocks to saving and spending in some form of credit or cryptocurrency. Alternatives like blockchain, peer-to-peer lending and equity-based crowdfunding can be up to 80% cheaper, with interest rates on savings up to three times higher. By using technology to keep all users accountable, these systems incentivize honest transactions and sustainable supply chains.

These technologies can streamline the investments necessary to facilitate small business ventures, eco trade and agriculture. Pula Advisors underwrites climate risks that negatively affect crop yields with digital micro-insurance for over 1 million farmers across Zambia, Kenya and Nigeria. In Mozambique, Vodafone has piloted an electricity initiative that provides customers with off-grid solar devices they can buy and recharge with mobile transfer service M-Pesa.

Online banks are longer lasting and relatively less capital-intensive to establish in Africa. For perspective, about 65% of companies in the United States (U.S.) fail within the first 10 years. In 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that U.S.-based companies raise the most capital and experience the least longevity. African companies raise the least from investors and fare the longest. The difference between the two lies in prioritizing change readiness rather than investor relationships. Successful African entrepreneurs can secure stakeholder support by ensuring market acceptance and engaging customers on a community level. 

E-commerce Giant Chips In

Amazon Web Services launched its inaugural FinTech Africa Accelerator in June 2023. The equity-free program is hosting a cohort of 25 startups to fast-track their go-to-market strategy, technical development and fundraising efforts. Exxtra, Chumz and Vargent have already validated their proof of concepts, exemplifying the unmet niche fintech addresses across Africa.

Exxtra provides over 10,000 Ghanaians short-term loans in under 24 hours with no collateral or guarantors required. Chumz uses Kenyan software to create group saving accounts with interest rates up to 8%, free of charge. Vargent is like a Nigerian Venmo for instant money transfers around Africa with safeguards for illicit laundering.

Summit Scheduled for November in Zambia

The 10th bi-annual Africa Fintech Summit is happening this fall in Lusaka. Past meetings have been held throughout the continent, in Lagos, Addis Ababa, Cairo, Cape Town and internationally this past April in Washington, D.C. The conference hosts panels, workshops and a pitch competition to foster conversations between industry regulators, investors and founders. Its tech exhibition has welcomed over 4,000 participants from 100 countries since 2018. Zambia is regarded with optimism within the industry, recently cited as Africa’s next major tech hub. Between 2015 and 2020, the country’s mobile money penetration increased by 10%. Also, Its current administration is prioritizing digital inclusion as a means for economic growth with business-friendly legislation.

Looking Ahead

Self-sufficient economies are on the horizon, and this is a result of the emergence of fintech in Sub-Saharan Africa. Already on Amazon’s radar, African fintech is emerging as a viable initiative for empowering the underbanked.

– Avery Pearson

Photo URL: https://unsplash.com/photos/aVbHFu-Doo4

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Artificial Intelligence Teaching Robot Improves Education in Vietnam

Artificial Intelligence Teaching Robot
Robotics using artificial intelligence have become increasingly prolific over the past decade. Usually, the programs power the execution of rudimentary tasks such as walking or holding items, and the robots often have sensors that make them aware of their surroundings. Additionally, the actual programming software that developers use for AI robots is a simulation of human intelligence. This allows the robot to process and analyze information and data, as well as “think,” communicate with and respond to humans. AI robots can also accumulate experience through special algorithms which allow them to learn rapidly. Here is some information about Vietnam’s artificial intelligence teaching robot.

Vietnam’s Artificial Intelligence Teaching Robot 

EdTech startup Open Classroom recently developed Vietnam’s first artificial intelligence teaching robot, Tri Nhan. In addition to the typical features and functions of traditional artificial intelligence robots, Tri Nhan stands at 1.8 meters tall and has synthetic human organs such as lungs, a heart, a simulated DNA double-helix structure and “good” and “evil” circuits, making it seem even more human-like. 

Tri Nhan means both “artificial intelligence” and “wise man,” and the world’s first robot, Sophia, meaning wisdom, inspired it.

Tri Nhan is also equipped with five “senses” — vision via cameras in its eyes, hearing via long-range microphones, smell via air quality sensors, touch via temperature and pressure sensors and taste via a meter attached to an anti-toxic device. These artificial “senses” have merged with a Google search engine, allowing the robot to conduct various tasks. 

Additionally, Tri Nhan has also been equipped with an artificial “personality,” which is almost human-like, according to Pham Thanh Nam, the AI expert who developed the robot. Tri Nhan has a certain level of emotional intelligence and even tells jokes. 

How Does This Improve Education? 

Tri Nhan can recognize voices speaking both Vietnamese and English and process natural human conversation, as well as translate sentences from other languages. Currently, Tri Nhan’s main purpose is for teaching assistance. It can answer questions from teachers and students and cater to many different subject areas, as it recognizes a question and then searches for the information online using search engines. This artificial intelligence teaching robot can also solve mathematical equations and read poetry, making it a useful tool in any classroom. Using its high-level programming, Tri Nhan helps to actively teach children, as well as give them assessments and correct their mistakes. It can also help students learn from their mistakes and use the skills they have learned in lessons. Parents can also receive reports and track their children’s grades via an app linked to Tri Nhan. 

This helps both students and teachers in Vietnam significantly, as teachers are often overworked due to the shortage of teaching staff in the country, and students lack a high level of personalized attention from the overworked teachers. The Vietnamese education authority stated in 2022 that Vietnam needed more than 94,700 teachers across all levels of education. Many areas that lack teachers are remote, but even high schools in Ho Chi Minh City are suffering from overcrowding and staff shortages.

Innovations such as artificial intelligence teaching robots have improved the quality of teaching for many students and teachers who have had the opportunity to use them, which is a welcome advantage in less developed countries such as Vietnam. 

Education and Poverty

Lack of education is one of the main factors perpetuating poverty and impeding economic development in many countries. Inadequate education prevents people from acquiring the fundamental skills and knowledge to obtain meaningful employment and financial stability. Higher levels of education can break cycles of poverty and improve people’s standard of living. 

Although there is still a certain amount of technological development required to produce a fully-functional teacher in Tri Nhan, it is highly feasible that an AI-teaching robot such as Tri Nhan could be educating children in the future, and it is clear that the Vietnamese EdTech sector has established a solid foundation in this sphere.

– Molly Wallace
Photo: Flickr

Informal Education in India

Informal Education in India
India has 28.7 million illiterate adults, the most in the world. According to the U.N. Population Division, approximately 50.3% of India’s population is under 25 years old, accounting for more than 40%of India’s population. Meanwhile, literacy rates improved to 77.7% in 2020. The lack of literacy could hinder the country’s prospects. The demand for education has increased, but as noted by Karthik Muralidharan, an assistant professor at the University of California, India’s problem relates more to the lack of supply than the lack of demand.

The lack of supply can result from several factors, including inadequate funding for public schools, a shortage of qualified teachers, insufficient infrastructure and a lack of accountability and transparency in the education system. The rising demand, faced with the shortcomings of state education, has created a market for low-budget private schools, for-profit enterprises and small entrepreneurs to charge small sums to poor parents.

Low-Budget Private Schools

James Tooley, a professor who people know for his work on low-cost private education in India, has pointed out that the government has been underestimating the number of low-cost private schools in the country, as many are not formally registered. His recent research has led him to find 1,224 private schools in the city of Patna, where the government had listed only 40.

The low-budget private slum schools, which legislation requires to operate as charities, have not been part of government schemes to help maintain small businesses afloat during the pandemic. Consequently, many of the schools closed down after the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the absence of more formal education, there appears to be a need for the emergence of solutions to maintain and expand private schools in slum areas. For instance, in Mumbai, the Doorstep School, a mobile classroom, found an innovative way to reward its most hardworking students by naming streets after them. These lanes, which are often not found on maps, become well-known, particularly among slum dwellers, providing students with a sense of pride and much-needed encouragement.

Solutions to Help Slum Education Initiative Survive and Strive

Owners of private schools in slums have very low chances of obtaining government loans. One way to support these schools could be to provide small loans to individual private schools to facilitate the upgrade of the facilities required for pupils to learn effectively, both in terms of study and sanitation. Investments could also help the schools improve teacher training programs, ensuring meeting and hearing to required standards.

Partnering with local NGOs such as the School-in-a-Box Project, the Ashraya Initiative for Children, the Barefoot College, the Balwadi School and the Snehalaya Shelter along with many others, do remarkable work in adapting to the needs of each community. These organizations provide education at various levels, and this is alongside health care and other essential services for children and women living in impoverished neighborhoods and slums across various Indian cities.

Improving Education

Education in Indian slums is a domestic issue with global implications. India, the world’s second-most populous country, has a significant portion of its population living in slums. The current generation of young people needs better education to acquire the skills and knowledge required to succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy. This could potentially have ripple effects on the global economy, workforce, as well as international development and poverty reduction efforts.

Apart from benefitting India, improving education in Indian slums could also benefit the United States (U.S.). Increased economic growth in India could create new opportunities for investment and trade, potentially benefiting both countries.

What is Next?

Education is not a luxury but a fundamental human right. Improving access to education for underprivileged communities is crucial for achieving the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a set of 17 goals adopted by the U.N. to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all. SDG4 aims to ensure the provision of inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

– Hanna Bernard
Photo: Flickr

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Poverty Eradication in Democratic Republic of Congo 

poverty eradication in Democratic Republic of CongoThe Democratic Republic of Congo boasts a generous supply of natural resources and opportunities, including the ability to use hydropower, but the country’s history of political instability and economic turmoil prevents its citizens from utilizing these assets. In fact, it ranks as one of the top five poorest countries and around 60 million, or 62% of its population, Congolese lived on less than $2.15 a day in 2022. Despite these statistics, the government seeks to help its citizens through efforts to further poverty eradication in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Digital Aid Program

During the pandemic, Togo launched the Novissi program. This initiative was partly led by Joshua Blumenstock, co-director of the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA), with an aim to identify those affected by poverty using “machine learning combined with mobile phone records and satellite data.” Novissi provided Togo’s poorest with cash transfers as a form of aid as the pandemic ravaged the nation.

Modeling this example, in December 2021, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government also initiated a COVID-19 relief program. With financial help from the World Bank and technical assistance from GiveDirectly, Congolese citizens receive access to $25 online payments over a period of six months. The transfer of cash and the aspects of financial independence play significant roles in poverty eradication in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

National Development Plan

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) National Development Plan (NDP) for 2022-2026 seeks to create “wealth upstream, in order to have, downstream, the necessary levers to deal with the country’s problems.” By focusing on strengthening the country’s economy and enlisting help from foreign aid, this program aims to resolve its most glaring poverty difficulties. It operates on six pillars:

  1. Agriculture – The growth of the agricultural sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo could not only provide a stable source of healthy food for a nation that experiences food insecurity but also expand the economy and increase national growth.
  2. Industry – Similar to the development of agriculture, the growth of an industrial sector could transform the economy by creating new jobs and increasing entrepreneurship.
  3. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) – SEZs “contribute to the intensification of industrial development.” The SEZs could allow the DRC to appear competitive on an international level, thereby increasing the number of exports received while also building domestic entrepreneurship.
  4. Tourism – The tourism sector could attract international attraction by utilizing the country’s natural resources for development. This also includes moving away from the country’s reliance on oil to diversify the economy. Expanding the national economy and implementing new resources serve as essential innovations in poverty eradication in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  5. Digital Economy – The growth of a digital economy could place the country on the global market, allowing it to experience relative productivity. Digitalization could also provide young individuals with access to new jobs and financial opportunities.
  6. Real Estate Development – The Democratic Republic of Congo’s need for housing and office and business buildings calls for an intensive reconstructive focus on updating real estate properties.

Opportunity International’s Programs

Around 10 million hectares of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 80 million hectares of plowable land are currently under cultivation, leaving a vast amount of fertile soil bare and untouched. Because of this discrepancy, which leaves families without a stable food supply, Opportunity International, a nonprofit organization that assists individuals in starting businesses, attending school, cultivating farms and reducing poverty, spearheaded the Agriculture Finance program across Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This initiative focuses on the market research of crops and collaborating with cooperatives to provide people with financial and agricultural training. Agricultural Finance also opens banking services for farmers and provides them with ready-to-use seeds and fertilizers in addition to enlisting a market of buyers. Positively, this program aided more than 540,000 farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.

Looking Ahead

These crucial developments to further poverty eradication in the Democratic Republic of Congo signal hope for a better future. As things stand, the trends suggest that focusing on technology-based solutions in the financial and industrial markets expands opportunity and paves the path for stability.

– Maddy Grieco
Photo: Flickr

Period Poverty in Argentina

Period Poverty in ArgentinaIn many Latin American countries, lack of access to menstrual hygiene products serves as a major barrier to people who experience periods. In many circumstances, people who menstruate lack the resources to easily and properly manage their cycle. Like other countries within the region, period poverty in Argentina has increased as a result of supply chain issues caused by COVID-19. Here is what you need to know about Argentina’s period inequality problem and the groups working to combat it.

The Context

Argentina is home to more than 10 million menstruating individuals with many unable to afford sanitary products for themselves. The country currently taxes menstrual products at 21%, leaving these essential products out of reach for many, especially lower-income women.

According to research conducted by the anti-poverty group La Poderosa, six out of 10 women living within the country have had to deprioritize the purchase of menstrual products in order to afford food.

Another issue with access to period products relates to the heavy stigma surrounding menstruation; the shamefulness of the topic means there is a lack of proper menstrual education and people struggle to voice the issues regarding period inequality. Despite this, a number of groups focus on combating menstrual stigmas and taboos and finding solutions to address the issue of period poverty in Argentina.

#MenstruAcción

This campaign, #MenstruAcción, led by the feminist group EcoFeminita, advocates for the free distribution of menstrual products and protections and education for people who menstruate. Since its origin in 2017, the campaign has tracked legislation promoting the dissemination of sanitary products or the elimination of tax on menstrual products.

Along with this, the organization offers educational resources for the classroom, helping to better inform the population and destigmatize menstruation. So far, the campaign has achieved notable success. It contributed to the passing of bills for tax reduction and/or free distribution of menstrual products within Argentina’s municipalities and provinces.

Pro Mujer

This Latin American organization focuses on providing health, education and career-related resources to women in the region. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pro Mujer launched the Una Para Vos, Una Para Todos Campaign, working with Johnson & Johnson to help combat period poverty in Argentina, according to its website.

By the end of 2020, the organization was able to deliver both education and sanitary products to more than 21,000 people. In total, Pro Mujer was able to distribute around 26,000 menstrual products.

Argentinian Red Cross

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Red Cross has worked to reduce the impacts of period poverty in Argentina. The organization’s outreach particularly focuses on the struggle that individuals face in gaining access to menstrual hygiene products.

The Argentine Red Cross provided napkins, tampons and menstrual cups to those most in need of supplies. The organization also worked to provide educational material on the use of period products.

Why it Matters

The work of these organizations has made a significant impact on the day-to-day lives of Argentinian women. By increasing education and access to sanitary products, these groups have the potential to make a long-term difference in reducing period poverty in Argentina.

On top of this, legal protections and benefits that initiatives like MenstruAcción support have already begun to minimize these inequalities. While there is still more work to do, the future seems to hold promise for those struggling with period inequality.

– Mary Burke
Photo: Flickr

HIV/AIDS in Colombia

HIV/AIDS in ColombiaAcross Latin America, Colombia has the fourth-largest infection rate of HIV/AIDS, according to a 2021 BMC Public Health article. The incidence of HIV/AIDS in Colombia started increasing notably in the 1980s. As of 2021, 170,000 people are HIV/AIDS positive in Colombia. Fortunately, the Colombian government’s efforts and the expansion of advanced medical technology have strengthened the support system in order to reduce cases of HIV/AIDS in Colombia.

HIV Self-Testing Kits

In 2020, Colombia developed initiatives for advancing HIV self-testing policies. Some other Latin American countries implemented the same actions. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) helped strategize these efforts to combat the limitations of health care services once the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted the availability of testing and treatment services.

Earlier on, PAHO reported that Latin America’s HIV infection rate rose to 21% within the last decade, proving that support was going to be essential in terms of preventing the COVID-19 pandemic from weakening burdened health care systems and therefore escalating human suffering due to AIDS-related illnesses. Prevention and awareness surrounding HIV/AIDS in Colombia during the pandemic appeared to be isolated even further with health care facilities providing limited support options as the pandemic worsened. As a result, PAHO and UNAIDS got to work on promoting the self-testing kits.

Although HIV/AIDS testing had decreased at the beginning of 2020, PAHO, WHO and UNAIDS still recommend the self-testing strategy. According to PAHO, the kits play a vital role in moving toward the goal of “having 90% of people with HIV know their status” while also allowing for more privacy and autonomy for patients, a key objective in deconstructing the stigma around HIV/AIDS and reaching out to more people who could not receive HIV/AIDS testing before.

Health Sector PEPFAR Donations

Vulnerable populations in Colombia including Venezuelan migrants and refugees have been able to receive crucial HIV/AIDS health care services, bettering resources with the support of both Colombia and the United States (U.S.). In 2019, The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Colombia prioritized life-saving treatment to decrease the spread of HIV/AIDS in Colombia by giving antiretroviral treatment to 1,000 Venezuelan refugees and migrants for one year, the U.S. Embassy in Colombia reports.

Many migrants and refugees would have previously not been able to receive clinical services for HIV/AIDS because of their exclusion from Colombia’s national health care system. The formalized letter of intent signed in August 2019 by the U.S. and Colombia has expanded efforts on behalf of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), an initiative originally established by the Bush administration in 2003.

Colombian regions that have benefited from the 2019 PEPFAR agreement include Cúcuta, Bogotá, Bucaramanga and Arauca, according to the U.S. Embassy in Colombia.

Resolution 881

Resolution 881 by the Ministry of Health Of Colombia has been set for 2023, according to UNAIDS. The goal of this resolution is to issue affordable pricing on Dolutegravir (DTG)–an oral antiretroviral treatment–by having the World Trade Organization (WTO) supply a compulsory license. As a result, DTG could have more than an 80% price drop.

Access to medication such as DTG for HIV/AIDS in Colombia has been pivotal for expanding health care services and creating more protection for public health in Colombia. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized DTG as a primary treatment option for HIV/AIDS due to a lower rate of resistance development and adverse drug reactions, according to UNAIDS.

For people living with HIV/AIDS in Colombia, community-based organizations could provide greater support to manage their condition. And for the general populace, increased HIV testing presents hope for success in preventing future infections.

– Lucy Cosme Vera
Photo: Flickr

How Start-ups Are Driving Growth in Africa

Considered to be the fastest-growing continental economy in the world, Africa’s socio-economic and political climate has fostered a culture of entrepreneurship and enterprise. The surge in successful African start-up businesses has become a driving force behind the continent’s economic growth with favorable business conditions encouraging increased investment in the region. With a wealth of natural resources and a “young, urbanizing population“, Africa has become the global focal point for developing business and innovation.

A Formidable Market

Africa’s relatively young and growing population constitutes a growing market of consumers ready to engage in innovative goods and services. The young population also delivers plentiful labor for new businesses. The continent is rich in natural resources, a further advantage for the development of lucrative businesses. The goal of attracting increased foreign direct investment (FDI) encourages the authorities within Africa to invest in policies that will decrease investment risk such as tackling corruption, improving education and boosting technological innovation. The wave of start-up businesses emerging into the economy, alongside government strategies to encourage FDI, could improve the quality of life and reduce poverty across Africa.

New businesses create jobs, diversify the economy, attract FDI and encourage the development of new infrastructure.

Successful Startups

In the midst of global economic turmoil, many African businesses saw impressive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic by adapting to changing global market conditions to become more dynamic and innovative. Existing companies and startups in various sectors successfully transitioned to online operations.

Startups dominate Africa’s fastest-growing companies, with Nigerian trade finance services company, AFEX Commodities Exchange, holding the top position. The company generated impressively high revenues of $102 million in 2021.

Other companies featured on the top 100 list include the e-commerce company Wasoko in Kenya and the Egyptian company Globe Medex, established in 2017, which distributes ophthalmology equipment.

Female entrepreneur Talash Huijbers from Kenya founded InsectiPro, a company harvesting insects as a more sustainable and cost-efficient source of protein that is used for animal feed as well as crickets for human consumption. Elements of the harvested insects are also used for fertilizers and pharmaceutical production, minimizing waste. The innovation from InsectiPro has provided a possible solution to improve food security and nutrition in Kenya and beyond.

The African health care sector is also evolving through innovation from start-up businesses such as Jamii Life. The company developed a technology platform providing a virtual health care system aimed at increasing “accessibility, transparency, quality care and peace of mind” across South Africa, particularly benefitting low-income communities.

Promoting Development

In April, the NewSpace Africa Conference aimed to promote continued investment and development in the African space and satellite industry. The 2021 valuation of the African space industry was $19.49 billion and it could grow over the coming years, driven by pioneering startups and creating the potential for further economic growth, innovation and sustainability in Africa.

Alongside this conference, GMES & Africa launched a Startups Development program to support research and development in the African NewSpace sector, where it chose 15 businesses to showcase their innovation in the sector and encourage further investment.

The Africa Startup Initiative is a program supporting new businesses in various technological sectors such as AgriTech and Digital Health. The program connects startups with corporate partners, investors and the media. Startups in the program get access to workshops, mentoring and the opportunity to showcase their innovations to industry associates.

Attracting Investment

African start-up businesses are attracting increasing levels of investment from within Africa and across the globe. These startups raised more than $4 billion in funds in 2021, and investment remains on the rise, particularly within Africa’s developing technology industry. According to the U.N., “Africa is the most profitable region in the world,” generating the highest rate of return on inflows of FDI between 2006 and 2011.

However, business venture capital is not evenly distributed across the continent, and around 80% of the continent’s FDI goes to the “Big Four” African countries: Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. Sizeable populations, strong GDP growth, and eager innovation, particularly in tech-based industries, make the ‘Big Four’ countries more attractive to investors.

Global venture capital firms investing in Africa include New York-based Tiger Global, which has invested in various African businesses – one being Wasoko –  from industries such as software and financial technology. Y Combinator, a Silicon Valley company accelerating technology businesses, invested in more than 95 African startups between 2015 and 2022, according to Benjamindada.com.

On the Right Track

In recent years, Africa has been forging a new development path, harnessing the potential of its human and natural resources to drive a new era of business. The growth of investment in African startups has opened up the realms of innovation in the continent to provide solutions for its biggest problems. Successful investment in startups is also helping to drive economic growth, improve quality of life and move toward eradicating poverty across Africa.

– Sophie Sadera

Photo: Unsplash