Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

IEPAW to Introduce Ways to Alleviate Global Energy Poverty

Global Energy Poverty
The International Energy Poverty Action Week (IEPAW) will occur in February 2023 for the second year, focusing on efforts to address global energy poverty. IEPAW will take place virtually from February 20–24 and will bring together experts in the fields of energy access and energy poverty for a series of five seminars, roundtable discussions and workshops, among other activities, centered on finding practical solutions to this global problem.

Global Energy Poverty and Health

The first day of the event aims to assess the relationship between energy poverty and the population’s health. Many poverty-stricken families are most often located in rural areas and depend on the use of unclean fuels, such as coal and firewood, to generate heat and prepare food. Such fuels contribute to air pollution and have a debilitating effect on people’s health.

According to a report from European Environment Agency (EEA) in October 2022, Europe’s greatest environmental health concern is air pollution — a significant contributor to early mortality and disease. EEA data shows that, in 2019, fine particulate matter stood as the cause of roughly 307,000 premature deaths in the 27 EU countries. The agency also estimated that 40,400 premature deaths related to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and “ground-level ozone” has been connected to 16,800 sudden deaths.

As a result of the energy crisis of 2022, supply cuts have pushed people to rely on unclean fuels. Assessing the link between energy inaccessibility and health, with the support of qualitative surveys, will allow for data-driven solution development.

Discrimination and Social Impacts

Exploring the “different faces of vulnerability” also forms part of the IEPAW’s agenda. This means considering the social impacts of energy poverty and assessing how “gender, class, age, disability and ethnic and racial identity interact with energy poverty.”

A study in South Africa by Boqiang Lin and Michael Adu Okyere aimed to assess the link between race and energy deprivation. The researchers found that people of color endure a higher prevalence of energy deprivation. In particular, findings highlight that non-whites, particularly black people, are 11.5% more likely to experience energy deprivation in comparison to white people. The researchers also found that minorities who receive “free basic electricity and social housing subsidies” generally see no improvement in their energy poverty.

Considering studies like these, IEPAW will attempt to address social issues that link to energy deprivation and encourage decision-makers to take action to address the prejudice associated with the distribution of subsidies.

Economy and New Policy Responses

Energy poverty and its relation to the economy and the policy responses needed to address the issues are at the heart of IEPAW’s five-day event. The session will highlight several global strategies for investing in the fight against energy poverty and addressing financing barriers in countries that do not acknowledge energy deprivation as a problem.

The agency aims to assist nations to “navigate a new world order while preserving social stability,” hinting that deeper structural adjustments may be necessary for “economies, policies and societies.” The discussion will examine potential strategies for energy policies that aim to resolve global economic, social and technical issues.

Findings of a U.K. Citizens Advice report, published in January 2023, show how dire the energy crisis is for millions of low-income and vulnerable households in one of the most energy-efficient countries, the United Kingdom.  Around 3.2 million individuals in Great Britain had their prepaid electricity meter credit completely depleted in 2022 due to an inability to afford the expense of replenishing it. This equates to a person disconnecting from the electricity supply every 10 seconds due to the high cost of living.

The U.K. ranked second in the International Energy Efficiency Scorecard in 2022 but still faces problems of such nature. This provides insight into the gravity of the energy situation in less developed countries.

Spiraling energy costs, harmful air-polluting fuels, poor quality housing and inadequate electricity supply among the world’s most deprived are pressing concerns that require collective action and fast solutions. The IEPAW’s activities aim to “create an energy system that puts people and planet before profit” by bringing together stakeholders from a wide variety of backgrounds to find innovative solutions to solve global energy poverty.

– Ralitsa Pashkuleva
Photo: Flickr

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What to Know About USAID’s Maternal and Child Health Roadmap to 2030

Maternal and Child Health
USAID recently unveiled its Roadmap to 2030 for Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition, a plan that seeks to help countries reach the target date for completing part of their Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) targets in 2023. USAID’s Roadmap to 2030 identifies areas where the agency can shift its work in order to help countries achieve certain targets for completing SDG 3, many of which poverty and access to basic needs directly impact.

Current Data

Globally, the under-five mortality rate (U5MR) has fallen according to UNICEF, and as of 2021 stands at 38 deaths for every 1,000 births. While some of USAID’s “target countries” have made tremendous progress in maternal and child health and are currently on track to meet some of their SDG 3 goals by 2030, many have not, according to the agency. In order to meet their SDG 3 goals, countries must meet four criteria by 2030 according to USAID:

  • A projected under-five mortality rate (U5MR) of ≤25.
  • A nation-specific projected maternal mortality ratio (MMR).
  • A projected neonatal mortality rate (NMR) of ≤12.
  • A projected postneonatal mortality rate (PNMR) of 13 for children under five.

Very few countries are on track to achieve some of these goals, according to the framework. Out of 24 target countries, six are on track to meet the U5MR target, and projections have indicated that three will meet their specific MMR target, three will meet their NMR target and 12 will meet their PNMR goal.

The Goal of the Roadmap

The self-stated main goal of USAID’s Roadmap to 2030 is to help put target countries on track to meet their SDG 3 targets and to “save lives, decrease morbidity and disability, and increase the potential of women, newborns, children, families, and communities to thrive.” Through a series of five intermediate results, the agency seeks to achieve some of the following in regard to maternal and child health:

  • Improve access to pre and postnatal care, as well as childcare.
  • Improve health care systems and providers’ ability to deliver high-quality care.
  • Support programs that work with local actors.
  • Continuing to improve the nutritional status of women and children, while also increasing access to water and sanitation.

Many of these proposed programs would combat the effects of poverty on child health, putting target countries closer to being on track to meeting SDG 3 in 2030.

Shifts in USAID’s Work

While significant worldwide progress has occurred toward achieving SDG 3, which seeks to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages,” the COVID-19 pandemic has threatened “decades of progress” toward achieving the goal, according to the United Nations. As a result of the pandemic, 22.7 million children did not receive basic vaccinations in 2020, putting children at significant risk of infection or death from preventable illnesses.

Due to the fact that many countries are at risk of not meeting some of their SDG 3 goals, USAID’s Roadmap to 2030 identified three areas where they can shift their current work in order to further assist these countries. One of these areas is in primary health care approaches, as the pandemic “underscored the need for more resilient systems,” according to USAID. On top of millions having missed essential vaccinations, the report also projected that 3.6 million children would experience growth stunts due to the disruption to global food systems in 2022 as a result of the lasting effects of the pandemic.

The other two areas are localization and private sector engagement, both of which the agency seeks to use in order to provide more local engagement in combating these issues — ensuring that progress toward the goals involves both local government and private sector participation. 

With COVID-19 having exposed flaws in some approaches to combating the effects of poverty on maternal and child health, USAID’s Roadmap to 2030 identifies and adjusts approaches in order to further combat these issues. With the pandemic on the back burner, this roadmap provides a much-needed “renewed sense of urgency” on the issue of maternal and child health and represents an effort to put countries back on track to meeting SDG 3 by 2030.

– Mohammad Samhouri
Photo: Unsplash

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Tackling Diseases in Nigeria with the Help of Technology

Diseases in Nigeria
In today’s digital age, technology has become an integral tool in Nigeria’s fight against various diseases. From improving access to health care to building health care capacity, technology has played a vital role in the effort to combat disease. Here are 10 ways technology assists in tackling diseases in Nigeria.

Tackling Diseases in Nigeria with the Help of Technology

  1. One of the major ways technology is helping to combat diseases in Nigeria is through an electronic case-based reporting system. This system allows for real-time tracking of disease cases and outbreaks, which helps detect potential outbreaks early and respond quickly. All 774 local government areas in Nigeria have implemented this system through the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programs (FELTP).
  2. Technology is also helping to fight tuberculosis (TB) and HIV in Nigeria. More than 1,000 health facilities have implemented electronic medical record systems, providing data for program decision-making. A national repository of de-identified patient records for more than 1.9 million HIV patients has also emerged and more than 500 facilities have implemented systems for automated and instant transmission of viral load results to aid in the exchange of health information related to HIV.
  3. Technology has played a key role in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases by using innovative software and messaging systems. Nigeria has implemented a national software system for routine immunization along with an SMS texting system for weekly reporting in 18 states. Additionally, an electronic data management system is aiding COVID-19 vaccination efforts, allowing for more efficient tracking and distribution of vaccines.
  4. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of technology in the fight against disease in Nigeria. The integration of COVID-19 testing into the national laboratory network enabled the country to conduct more than 5.5 million tests between 2020 and 2022. A state response coordination mechanism has emerged, allowing for weekly virtual meetings among the 52 national rapid response teams. Additionally, digital training materials are helping to support infection prevention and control efforts among 1,000 frontline health care workers.
  5. Funmi Adewara and her company, MobiHealth International, are using digital technology to combat the pandemic. They are doing this by providing patients with access to thousands of doctors in multiple languages through a smartphone app, toll-free line or mobile, solar-powered telehealth clinic across Nigeria. Additionally, the company has launched a free telemedicine hotline in partnership with the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research to provide remote communities with COVID-19 screening and testing.
  6. Technology is also aiding in training volunteers who spread information about COVID-19 through digital media platforms such as Zoom. This allows for effective communication and dissemination of information about the virus to a wider audience, which increases public awareness and understanding of the disease.
  7. Technology is also beneficial for surveillance and response to diseases. The power of technology has greatly enhanced the speed and effectiveness of activating public health emergency operations centers in Nigeria. The country has 36 sub-national public health EOCs spread across its six geopolitical zones, all of which are connected to the National EOC.
  8. Additionally, technology is helping to improve surveillance systems for tracking and preventing infectious diseases, such as polio and measles, in Nigeria by monitoring vaccines’ side effects. In the fight against Ebola, technology has played a crucial role in early detection and response. Examples include thermal scanners at airports, mobile phone technology for reporting, and public health informatics tools for data collection and analysis, which have helped overcome challenges in Lagos and Port Harcourt.
  9. The African CDC is using technology to improve disease monitoring in Africa, including Nigeria, through Digital Disease Surveillance. This method involves tracking and monitoring illnesses and outbreaks by utilizing data from online sources such as search engines, social media and mobile phones, allowing for real-time tracking of disease spread and targeted efforts by health care professionals.
  10. Technology is helping enhance health care delivery in Nigeria by utilizing Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). This includes the utilization of ICTs to improve health care services and record keeping by implementing remote monitoring systems for patients to track their health, using advanced equipment and machinery in laboratories to better understand diseases and their causes and utilizing telemedicine and artificial intelligence.

Looking Ahead

In conclusion, technology is playing a vital role in the fight against diseases in Nigeria. From electronic case-based reporting systems to digital surveillance and telemedicine, technology is improving disease monitoring and responsiveness, enhancing health care delivery and increasing health care access for all Nigerians. The implementation of these technologies has enabled real-time tracking of disease cases, early detection of outbreaks and efficient distribution of vaccines. The use of technology has also helped to overcome challenges in the fight against diseases such as COVID-19, TB, HIV and polio. Moreover, it has greatly enhanced the speed and effectiveness of activating public health emergency operations centers. As technology continues to advance, it will become an even more important tool in the fight against diseases in Nigeria.

– Nkechi First
Photo: Flickr

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Addressing Food Insecurity in Africa

Food Insecurity in Africa
Thirty-four African leaders met between 25-27 January 2023 in Senegal to address worsening food insecurity in Africa. The president of Senegal and the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, jointly hosted the gathering, called the Dakar 2 – Africa Food Summit. Adesina announced that the AfDB would be dedicating $10 billion worth of funding over the next five years to reduce food insecurity on the African continent.

The Magnitude of Food Insecurity

According to the report “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022,” an annual assessment that several U.N. partners compiled, the global effort to reduce extreme hunger and food insecurity “is moving backward.” One can attribute this to conflicts, changing weather patterns, economic shocks and the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a disconnect between agricultural policies and expected outcomes.

In Africa, food insecurity has been endemic, but it has worsened in recent times. The backward movement in the global effort to reduce the prevalence, which the report underscored, is graphically illustrated through statistics. For instance, the number of persons facing hunger on the African continent stood at 187.4 million in 2015.

In 2021, the number of individuals experiencing hunger rose to 278 million, or 20.2%, the highest rate of hunger across the world. In Africa, almost 58% of the population is enduring moderate to severe food insecurity. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicts that, in Africa, these numbers will worsen and, by 2030, the African continent will hold the highest burden of undernourished individuals.

The AfDB commitment and the declarations of leaders during the Dakar 2 – Africa Food Summit underscore the gravity of the issue. Additionally, this is a positive development, indicating a determination to own the problem and address it, boldly.

Currently, due to budget constraints due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dwindling prices of commodities, “slow disbursement of funds,” heavy reliance on donor funds and lack of political will, African countries are unable to direct sufficient capital toward addressing food insecurity in Africa. Indeed, many African countries have not reached the goal of the Maputo Declaration, developed in 2003, to “allocate at least 10% of their national budget to food and agriculture.” The Dakar 2 – Africa Food Summit recognizes the severity of the issue and demonstrates a renewed political will to address food insecurity in Africa.

The Vision

At the end of the Dakar 2 – Africa Food Summit, African leaders acknowledged that with 65% of the world’s uncultivated land in Africa, the continent has the potential to become self-sufficient in food production. In fact, Africa has the potential to become the food basket of the world by 2030. The leaders, therefore, agreed to support the process of boosting agricultural production on the continent with strong political will in cooperation with development partners to ensure food sustainability in Africa.

Implementation

The Dakar 2 – Africa Food Summit, with the sub-theme Food Sovereignty and Resilience, set out strategies for the implementation of the leaders’ visions. The Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts developed at this summit “convey the vision, challenges and opportunities in agricultural productivity, infrastructure, processing and value addition, markets and financing that will accelerate the implementation of the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP).”

Some of these strategies include:

  • Develop Presidential Delivery Councils to supervise the implementation of agricultural programs in each country.
  • “Mobilize internal and external financing” for food and agriculture programs.
  • Expand funding from national budgets to support these food security objectives.

Looking Ahead

The response of the African Development Bank in collaboration with African leaders to address food insecurity in Africa is certainly a welcomed development. Leaders agree that it does not make sense for Africa to hold both 65% of the world’s arable land and the highest number of food-insecure individuals. The collaborative strategies of global leaders have the potential to lift a significant number of Africans out of poverty.

– Friday Okai
Photo: Flickr

The Recent Energy Crisis in Pakistan

Energy Crisis in Pakistan
On January 23, 2023, the nation of Pakistan, home to almost 220 million people, fell prey to yet another consequence of its ongoing energy crises. The recent energy crisis in Pakistan left almost all of the population in a complete blackout for more than 20 hours. This is the second major blackout within the last few months and it is another indicator of the poor management of energy crises in Pakistan. At the offset of the crises, the cause of the blackout remains clouded and a major cause for concern.

The Ministry of Energy reported that all energy grids in Pakistan went down at around 7:30 AM on Monday. The Energy Minister of Pakistan, Khurram Dastgir Khan, reported that the major breakdown was due to a voltage fluctuation that occurred in the Sindh province, between the cities of Jamshoro and Dadu, Al Jazeera reported. As a result of this fluctuation, all the power grids in the country shut down one by one, although the Minister still maintained that it “was not a major crisis.” The restoration took almost 24 hours for all 1,112 grid stations, but by then the brunt of the damage had impacted schools, hospitals, businesses and offices nationwide.

Previous Energy Crisis

According to Al Jazeera, the last time an energy crisis in Pakistan occurred to this extent was back in January 2021. Since then there has not been any major improvement when it comes to handling blackouts of this sort. Pakistan is still heavily reliant on oil and natural gas, both of which are its primary sources of energy. There have been recent inroads into the development of sustainable and renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar PV, however, more than 40 million Pakistanis still lack access to any sort of electricity.

Alongside the overreliance on the poorly managed oil and natural gas industries, Pakistan is also in the midst of a historic economic crisis that is devasting the nation’s infrastructure. The practice of “load-shedding,” periodic electricity cuts by the government, is something the people of Pakistan are well accustomed to however this recent blackout is a testament to the disastrous financial state the country is in. The current government of Pakistan has faced accusations of poor management of the country’s financial situation, one that experts predict may lead to the nation defaulting on its massive foreign debt.

The Lack of Investment

The blame for the recent energy crises in Pakistan also fell on the lack of investment put into the nation’s power grid. The energy minister blamed the previous government for failing to upgrade the power grid. However, due to the ongoing economic crises, funding has seemingly dried up. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has already bailed Pakistan out five times in the previous 20 years. In addition, as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, there have been investments of almost $60 billion in the energy sector, yet the impact of this is unpredictable. This combination of factors is exacerbating an already heightened energy crisis in Pakistan that affects millions of people daily. Many Pakistani residents do not have access to electricity for hours and it is especially devastating for hospitals and schools.

The future of the energy crises in Pakistan remains bleak. The government relies on foreign fuel supplies and is losing more money than it makes. The effect on people is devastating. In Peshawar, with a population of more than 2 million residents, many residents reported not having access to clean water as pumps require electricity to work. Many hospitals nationwide had to switch to backup generators. Going forward, reports have indicated that Pakistan and Russia are cooperating on the oil and gas supply to the country on a large scale. Claims are that it will be a long-term operation, however, only time will tell if the government will be able to rectify the mistakes of the recent energy crises in Pakistan.

– Saad Haque
Photo: Flickr

Spaceport Brings Djibouti Promise


Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group Limited and Touchroad International Holdings Group have recently signed a memorandum agreeing to build a new spaceport in the northern Obock Region of Djibouti. The new spaceport brings Djibouti promise and should alleviate Djibouti’s poverty. The international commercial spaceport will have seven satellite launchpads and three rocket testing pads. The Republic of Djibouti received $1 billion with five years to complete the project before use begins.

Djibouti’s Poverty and Unemployment

According to the most recent data, with 21.1% of the population living in extreme poverty, Djibouti is a poor nation. The unemployment rate for Djibouti is also high. In 2021, it was 28.39%. The spaceport should increase employment and therefore help lower the poverty rate.

Africa’s Growing Space Ambitions

This project is Djibouti’s entry into an energized spaceport industry on the African continent. South Africa and Egypt sit at the forefront of African space development, but they are by no means alone. Private sector investment is driving space race competition on the continent. That competitive market, in turn, should bolster Djibouti’s technological development.

Oman, a country near Djibouti, is also planning its entry into the spaceport industry. The National Aerospace Services Company’s Etlaq Space Launch Complex should be operational in 2024. It will focus on educational and commercial orbital and suborbital launches from Duqm, a port city.

Djibouti’s Space Entrance Beyond the Spaceport

Djibouti’s new spaceport is not the only space development in the country. Last year the country also announced its plans to launch two satellites named Djibouti 1A and Djibouti 1B. Djibouti worked with the Van Allen Foundation on plans for these satellites specifically to support the nation’s sustainable development goals. In addition, Djibouti sent 10 engineers to the University Space Centre of Montpellier, France to learn about satellite development.

Djibouti’s New Spaceport Supporting Development

Djibouti’s new spaceport could offer significant employment and educational opportunities for the nation. Djibouti falls far behind the African average in terms of current research output per capita. Only 11% of students in Djibouti either complete secondary school or go on to further education such as a university.

In the past, African research has not generated public engagement. As Nigerian virologist Oyewale Tomoris noted in a recent interview, “If your science doesn’t affect the life of your people, nobody cares about you.” Most recently, though, Africa is, nonetheless, beginning to be a site of exciting development in terms of scientific technologies.

The spaceport could support Djibouti in the creation of scientific jobs and research. The development of a spaceport of a similar size in Cornwall, England, will likely generate 240 jobs, not including those involved in the building of the spaceport and its associated businesses. Projections have indicated that it could bring the British economy an additional 240 million pounds of gross added value. Djibouti’s new spaceport could generate a similar number of jobs and added value. The facility can also help reduce the brain drain in Europe and North America, with which so many African countries struggle. The spaceport will also involve the construction of a highway and a port which will benefit all residents of the country.

Djibouti’s Geopolitical Influence

In addition to scientific development, the spaceport can help Djibouti to increase its influence on the global stage. The country is only small at only 23,200 square kilometers, but it is already home to the only United States military base on African soil. Camp Lemonnier has increased Djibouti’s geopolitical influence and supports Djibouti with humanitarian aid and community support.

Djibouti is increasingly participating in international politics. On January 9, 2023, the country became the latest member to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), at the United Nations headquarters in New York. As the country becomes more influential, it will undoubtedly experience the associated benefits.The plans to develop a new spaceport in Djibouti represent an exciting time for the country. The new spaceport brings Djibouti promise. In addition to providing infrastructure and bringing new technology and research to the country, the new spaceport should help alleviate Djibouti’s poverty.

– Florence Jones
Photo: Flickr

Resolving Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis

Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis
World Bank data reveals that almost 300,000 Sri Lankans fell under the poverty line in 2020, meaning that 12.7% of the population lived on less than $3.65 a day. The COVID-19 pandemic had a lethal effect on the tourism, manufacturing and construction sectors that locals are financially reliant on.

In an interview with The Borgen Project, Saman Kumara, a guest house owner in the city of Haputale in Sri Lanka, shares that the local population has resorted to selling their personal property to secure money for food and medicine. According to 2022 data from the World Food Programme (WFP), close to 30% of Sri Lanka’s households (more than 6 million people) experience food insecurity. Adding insult to injury, citizens are experiencing power cuts of up to 13 hours and massive shortages of medicine and fuel. These consequences stem from government mismanagement and failure to act on time, resulting in Sri Lanka’s deepest economic crisis yet.

Coping with the Crisis

To alleviate the impacts of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, in 2020, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) examined Sri Lanka’s social protection response, concentrating on cash transfer initiatives. The Sri Lankan government swiftly established a cash transfer initiative in response to the crisis, “providing millions of monthly payments of LKR5,000 (roughly $14) to households in April and May.” Although the initiative lasted just two months, the government managed to reach most of the country’s citizens with this financial sustenance.

Kumara says that, during the pandemic, “the rich became richer” by buying off the properties that poverty-stricken people were forced to sell due to financial difficulties. “We had to sell our properties, vehicles and land to earn some money because every other income was blocked. [Wealthy] people bought those properties and vehicles at a very low price and that made the situation even worse.”

Government Mismanagement

Official records from Sri Lanka’s Department of External Resources show that by the end of April 2022, the government’s external debt amounted to $34.8 billion. The BBC reported in May 2022 that “Sri Lanka has defaulted on its debt for the first time in its history.” The economic turmoil, rolling blackouts, shortages of essential resources and staggering inflation have caused countrywide protests.

According to protestors, “a series of missteps” that the president and his administration have made have led the once vibrant and thriving economy of Sri Lanka to a fatal crash. In July 2022, after angry protesters stormed his family residence, President Rajapaksa chose to step down from his position and fled the country.

Some of the decisions that triggered Sri Lanka’s economic crisis include the ban on chemical fertilizers, a decision that the government later reversed, but detrimentally affected Sri Lanka’s tea industry and increased food insecurity. Tax cuts in order to garner political support worsened the economic situation while Sri Lanka’s external debt continued to grow. Overall, citizens blame Sri Lanka’s economic collapse on poor governance and severe mismanagement of the economy.

A New Administration

In June 2022, Sri Lankan members of parliament appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as Sri Lanka’s new president, but according to Kumara, the new government has not helped the situation. “Yes, the government has changed but prices keep increasing. Before the pandemic, 1kg of rice cost 80 rupees (equivalent to $0.22), but now it costs more than 240 rupees (equivalent to $0.66). Petrol, gas and electricity have increased by about 800%,” Kumara says.

“Many of us [have no choice but] to leave the country as we cannot recover from the pandemic. Lots of restaurants are closed, most hotels have remained closed and people skip meals to save food and money.” Kumara also shared that the crisis has led to an increase in criminal activity and mental difficulties. “Every day we see on the news more robberies, suicides, people struggling with income.”

“We were lucky because our business received help from abroad. Previous guests [who] have been staying at our guest house sent us some money to lend a hand. However, it’s been almost impossible to recover from Sri Lanka’s economic crisis,” Kumara notes.

A September 2022 report by the U.N. says, in Sri  Lanka, “Fundamental changes will be required to address the current challenges and to avoid repetition of the human rights violations of the past.”

A Helping Hand

Help from abroad comes as UNICEF and Rotary International announce their new scheme to “deliver critical lifesaving supplies to families impacted by the crisis in Sri Lanka,” the UNICEF website says. The partnership, announced on 22 August 2022, aims to tackle the deepening economic crisis impacting the Sri Lankan community. Among other essentials, the partners will provide clean water, medicines, educational resources and medical equipment.

Projections by the World Bank suggest that poverty will continue to stand above 25% in the years to come. Aid from international organizations helps struggling Sri Lankans meet their basic needs, but for lasting change to occur, the new government needs to step up with reforms and solutions to reverse the damage that the previous administration caused.

– Ralitsa Pashkuleva
Photo: Flickr

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Women’s Rights in Iran and Afghanistan

Women’s Rights in Iran and Afghanistan
Women’s rights in Iran and Afghanistan are in severe danger. According to the National Library of Medicine, women’s empowerment has a direct correlation to food security, poverty rates and the elimination of hunger. Studies have proven that when women have access to education and are empowered to make their own decisions, there is a subsequent decline in “income poverty and multidimensional poverty.” The shared misogyny in Iran and Afghanistan, then, further propagates the countries’ high poverty rates–Iran with a rural poverty rate of 32%, and Afghanistan with a total poverty rate of 49.4%.

Women’s Challenges in Iran

The death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman arrested in Iran for “not covering her hair modestly enough,” and died in police custody just three days later, sparked outrage among women across the country. Amini’s arrest served as a reminder to all Iranian women of the in-place regime that “by law, treats women as second-class citizens.”

As Human Rights Watch reported, once a girl has hit puberty, they must wear the hijab. Additionally, any protest of the hijab can result in a fine or detention, which often includes beatings, harassment or sentencing to a term in prison. This denial of choice in clothing is just one way of controlling Iranian women, influencing their view of choice in all other aspects of life.

Thus, the retaliation Amini’s death sparked was not only in response to her death, but the risk Iranian women face in making choices as seemingly simple as how to wear a hijab.

This dangerous Iranian regime has not only “created many dangerous social crises,” according to Iran Focus, but has left more than 3 million women unemployed as heads of households, extending poverty to an additional 7 million children.

Gender discrimination in Iran is actively contributing to increasing poverty levels, with women who are the sole providers in their families struggling to meet ends for themselves and their families. Here are two organizations fighting for women’s rights in Iran, thereby fighting poverty.

The Iranian American Women Foundation (IAWF)

Founded in 2012, the Iranian American Women Foundation (IAWF) is an organization that aims to inspire, empower and connect Iranian women across the globe. Since Mahsa Amini’s death, AWF has actively raised awareness for and supported the Iranian Women’s Rights Movement. Some ways it does this include:
  • Working with Major Companies and/or Buildings: The organization, in collaboration with various companies and schools, has hosted conferences across the U.S., opening dialogue on the women’s rights crisis in Iran.
  • Facilitating Vigils: On September 29, 2022, IAWF held a vigil in West Hollywood Park for Mahsa Amini and other Iranian women who have risked their safety fighting for women’s rights.
  • Buying Advertisements/Billboards: The foundation has raised funds to cover major billboards raising awareness for the ongoing fight for women’s rights in Iran, locations include: Times Square, NYC, Miami, FL, San Jose, Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA.
  • Visiting Schools: On October 11, 2022, the organization honored the International Day of the Girl by hosting Iranian American speakers at Marlborough School to speak about female empowerment. Speakers presented speeches and held conversations with students about the education crisis for women around the globe and specifically in Iran, encouraging students to be “agents of change.”
All of these efforts raise awareness for the crises Iranian women face every day. With every conversation hosted, and every billboard read, IAWF raises awareness for and helps fight poverty rates that gender inequality in Iran propagates.

United for Iran

United for Iran, founded in 2009, is a nonprofit organization that advocates human rights in Iran by supporting progressive civil liberties and empowering citizens through technology. By organizing campaigns, supporting civil movements and providing Iranians access to new technologies, United for Iran equips citizens with the necessary resources and skills to fight oppression head-on.

In its IranIncubator 1.0 and IranIncubator 2.0 projects, United for Iran connected app developers and software engineers to “civil society leaders” to collaborate on apps to better the lives of vulnerable social groups (i.e. women, immigrants, LGBTQI communities, activists, etc.). By assessing community needs, app developers and leaders brainstorm and develop apps to serve Iran’s most vulnerable.

Additionally, back in 2015, the organization led a campaign to free Bahreh Hedayat, a women’s rights activist, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence for peaceful protests against gender discrimination and violence towards women. In its campaign, U4I acquired 130,000 petitioners for Hedayat’s release.

Women’s Challenges in Afghanistan

On Dec. 21, 2022–a mere two months after Amini’s tragic death–Taliban officials barred females in Afghanistan from pursuing all educational opportunities, closed universities to women, fired professors and sent home elementary school girls. Alongside barring education, the Taliban published a set of rules for Afghani women to follow, including:
  • Adult women are not to visit mosques or religious seminaries.
  • A “male guardian” must accompany any woman when they travel more than 48 miles or attend appointments and errands (entering government buildings, doctor checkups, taking a taxi, etc.).
  • Women cannot pursue jobs, except medicinal careers.
  • Women cannot visit public parks.

Amini’s death sparked retaliation in Iran against the commonplace violence women endure, and in retaliation, security forces have killed 201 protestors. Similarly, the Talbian’s latest education ban inspired protests in Herat, where female protestors faced water cannons for their retaliation.

About 71.5% of adult females in Afghanistan face “severe food insecurity”– versus 61.2% of adult men. With the new bans on women pursuing education and careers, this statistic is likely to worsen.

Afghani women who no longer have the option to work and are the heads of households have no choice but to starve and households relying on both parents’ incomes will be highly vulnerable to poverty and food scarcity. Here are two organizations fighting for women’s rights and against poverty in Afghanistan.

Women for Afghan Women (WAW)

Women for Afghan Women (WAW), founded in 2001, is a civil-society organization– and the largest women’s organization in Afghanistan– that promotes women’s rights in Afghanistan. By working with victims of domestic violence, WAW aims to empower women to “pursue their individual potential,” and fight for places in scenes prohibited to Afghani women (i.e. political scenes).

Over the past 22 years, WAW has distributed food and sanitary necessities to women and girls in Afghanistan, operating 34 centers to provide women’s protection services, child support and family guidance.

By August 2022, WAW’s efforts supported 94,863 Afghani individuals, 11,454 families and 1,355 survivors of gender-based violence, equipping families, Afghani women and girls with immediate and long-term relief services and support.

Women’s Regional Network (WRN)

The Women’s Regional Network (WRN), founded in 2010, aims to provide a voice to the voiceless women subject to violence and misogyny in South Asia. In Iran, the network connects women to “peace advocates,” who offer a safe, supportive and empowering learning environment for participants to gain access to knowledge on political discourse and policy development.

WRN hosts community conversations with Afghani women regarding any emergent needs, conflicts and policy discourse. By offering safe spaces for women to speak freely, learn about policy impact and brainstorm solutions, WRN equips Afghani women with hope for and actionable plans for a more equitable future.

While news headlines regarding women’s rights in Iran and Afghanistan may be tough to read, it is an important reminder that the fight for equality and civil rights around the world is not nearly at a close. Every day women’s rights in Iran and Afghanistan are at risk, raising the vulnerability of women and children to severe poverty. Consider donating to or reading more about these four organizations fighting for women’s rights in Iran and Afghanistan to help.

– Micaella Balderrama
Photo: Flickr

How the PAHO Telehealth System Compares to Other Systems

Telehealth System
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has created its own digital platform to bring a telehealth system to those in the remotest parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. “The aim of the platform is to improve patient outreach and follow-up, with an emphasis on continuity of care for people with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs),” said Sebastian Garcia Saiso, the Director of the Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health at PAHO.

Accounting for more than 70% of deaths across the globe, NCDs are the leading cause of disability and death in the world. The platform will be able to help ailing patients and allow healthcare workers to refer patients residing in remote locations before they undertake potentially burdensome travel.

The platform will be rolled out to The Bahamas, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru, Suriname, Dominica, Uruguay, Panama and Nicaragua. Below is a comparison of the PAHO telehealth system and those currently in place.

Telehealth System in Trinidad and Tobago

In a collaborative effort between PAHO and the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago, mobile medical robots underwent deployment to public health facilities in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. This benefitted those in the community who did not want to be face-to-face with their health care provider during the outbreak.

This shows that PAHO is not unfamiliar with working in Trinidad and Tobago and its continued work to get the most vital telehealth services to those who need them.

According to Erica Wheeler, a PAHO representative in Trinidad and Tobago, “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, both patients, as well as health professionals, are more eager now to engage in the use of the benefits of telemedicine.”

Telehealth System in Peru

Compared to other countries, Peru accelerated the implementation of telehealth services in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While this was a step in the right direction, Peru’s telemedicine system was considered a hasty step because of inadequate internet access nationwide.

Peru has many factors working against the efforts of telemedicine to be effective. These include geographical concerns, costly internet prices and a high population of low-income individuals. PAHO’s “All-in-ONE Telehealth platform” will help to reach out to these people and have routine checkups to keep diseases, especially NCDs in check.

Telehealth System in Uruguay

The government of Uruguay saw the need for online health care and, in 2012, created the website “Salud.uy.” The National Agency of Electronic Government, Uruguay’s Presidency, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Economy all collaborated in developing the platform. In March 2020, the government passed legislation to encourage telemedicine development and implementation in Uruguay. While Uruguay has made great strides in its own goals of getting telemedicine across the country, the efforts of PAHO will help those in the most remote spots.

Concluding Thoughts

The comparison of the PAHO telehealth system and those currently in place in countries across Latin America and the Caribbean revealed that many countries need help to bring the benefits of telehealth to their citizens. PAHO’s system will serve as a bridge by aiding those who need the most help.

– Sean McMullen
Photo: Flickr

6 Facts to Know About Diabetes in Mexico

Diabetes in Mexico
In 2019, diabetes was the second-highest cause of death in Mexico. Due to these alarming statistics, the government is looking to lower diabetes rates and increase the health and quality of life of its citizens, especially vulnerable and impoverished populations who are most at risk of acquiring the condition.

6 Facts to Know About Diabetes in Mexico

  1. Prevalence. The prevalence of diabetes in Mexico stood at almost 17% in 2021, according to the International Diabetes Federation, which equates to one in six individuals or 14 million Mexican adults suffering from diabetes. In just two years, the prevalence of diabetes in Mexico has risen by about 10%. Along with this, there are 11 million adults in Mexico suffering from Impaired Glucose Tolerance, which means they are more susceptible to acquiring Type 2 diabetes. The increasing influx of patients diagnosed with diabetes in Mexico has put a strain on the nation’s public health systems. While the nation is already struggling to keep up with the number of cases it currently has, estimates indicate that “47.5% of people living with diabetes in Mexico have not been diagnosed yet.” These undetected causes go untreated, causing life-threatening complications and a lower quality of life, all of which lead to higher health care spending and costs.
  2. Risk Factors. One key risk factor for diabetes is being overweight. Those who are obese are at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which people often refer to as a lifestyle disease. In Mexico, “65% of the population is overweight,” a 2019 study led by Mathieu Levaillant says, and 32.4% of the population suffers from obesity. Mexico holds the second highest rate of obesity after the United States, according to Columbia Public Health. To address the obesity epidemic, Mexico’s government has implemented a series of public health policies to influence lifestyle choices. These policies include “taxing sugary beverages and high-calorie non-essential food, mandatory front of packet food labeling and regulation of food advertising targeted at children.”
  3. Vulnerable Groups. Mexico’s vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those who are of lower socioeconomic status are at particular risk of developing diseases like diabetes and bear the highest burden. Elderly people experiencing diabetes in Mexico are more susceptible to disability and mortality arising from the condition. Not only is the disease costly to manage for low-income individuals but a lack of access to health care means a lack of preventative services that could help with early detection or avoiding the disease altogether. Furthermore, if impoverished individuals become subject to disability or amputation as a result of the disease, the inability or decreased ability to work will disrupt their financial stability even further.
  4. The Economic Cost. The task of managing diabetes can be a very expensive burden on the family of the person suffering from the disease. As it is a lifelong disease with no cure, proper management is crucial. The cost of this management, however, can create significant financial barriers to health care access, particularly for those who are not financially secure. Diabetes costs Mexico billions of dollars annually, according to NPR.
  5. The Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A new study noted an increase in diabetes rates since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Researchers noted “148,437 diabetes-related deaths in 2020 compared to an average of 101,496 deaths in 2017-2019.” One could attribute this to barriers to accessing medical care during the pandemic as the study found that “in-hospital deaths related to diabetes decreased in 2020 at 17.8% while out of hospital-deaths increased by 89.4%.”
  6. Clinics del Azucar. The largest diabetes care clinics in Mexico, Clinics del Azucar, provide affordable diabetes and hypertension care to patients. Through these clinics, teams of doctors, nurses, nutritionists and psychologists jointly help diagnose and treat patients. For instance, the development of comprehensive diet and exercise plans helps to maintain blood sugar levels and prevent the disease from worsening. The International Finance Corporation’s investment of $4 million is assisting Clinicas del Azucar in helping the most vulnerable patients. Through IFC support, Clinicas del Azucar aims to establish 100 new clinics in Mexico by 2024.

Looking Ahead

With increased efforts to make diabetes care in Mexico both affordable and accessible, the nation has the potential to reduce the prevalence of diabetes in the country and reduce the economic costs associated with it.

– Emma Cook
Photo: Pixabay