Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

This Mobile App Fights Hunger in Africa

this-mobile-app-fights-hunger-in-africaSub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of undernourishment, with poverty being the leading cause of hunger. One invention increasing agricultural efficiency to fight back against hunger is the Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA) app. The app fights hunger in Africa by acting as a communication system for farmers to connect with one another and as an educational system for farmers to understand the market.

What Causes Hunger in Africa?

According to the U.N., approximately 21% of people in Africa suffered from hunger in 2020. Even further, the cost of food is also on the rise, up 42% from 2016. A number of factors contribute to these troubling statistics:

  • Poverty is the leading cause of hunger, resulting in an inability to afford sufficient food.
  • Conflict places constraints on employment opportunities and subsequently inhibits a person’s ability to acquire food. Conflict can also impact the import and export of food, leading to limited food access.
  • The environment, as environmental challenges such as erosion, drought and water shortages can have grave impacts on food security.
  • Poor governance and policies can lead to insufficient food access.
  • Population growth can limit increases in per capita income, causing hunger.

Creating an Alliance

Though reducing hunger is not easy, increasing agricultural productivity in developing countries is critical to chipping away at the problem. Growth in agriculture is two to four times more effective than growth in other sectors at raising income and subsequently, reducing hunger.  

Motivated by the promise of agricultural improvements serving as a counter to growing hunger rates in Africa, six agricultural-focused organizations — the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Bayer, Rabobank, Syngenta, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Yara International ASA — banded together to create the FtMA in 2016. The goal of the Alliance is to help make a sustainable agricultural sector that empowers farmers, builds strong markets and improves food security in Africa.

FtMA helps African farming families transition to commercial agriculture by leveraging the knowledge and experience of the world’s agricultural experts. In addition, FtMA looks to form local private sector partnerships that deliver a wide range of products and services to farmers.

As a result, the smallholder farmers can confidently plan, grow, store and sell their crops, maximizing the productivity and profitability of their yield.

Getting Technical

To reach as many farmers as possible, the Alliance launched the FtMA app. The app fights hunger in Africa through its many functions, including acting as a platform for ecosystem workers to offer their services, a communication tool to connect farmers, and, in the future, a method of payment to digitize transactions, according to WFP.

The FtMA app also fights hunger in Africa by providing modules for commodity aggregation, input and equipment ordering, loan applications and more currently under development. In addition, to help the farmers’ relationships with suppliers, the app keeps records of farmers’ activities and creates a credit history that financiers can use to provide loans.

The app aims to build upon the success of the Farm to Market Alliance, which has helped over 223,000 farmers since 2016, according to its website. By going digital, the app fights hunger in Africa by connecting farmers, organizing their work and, most importantly, empowering farmers as they face the difficult task of providing for those who are hungry.

– Sarah DiLuzio
Photo: Flickr

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Fanning the Flames: Extreme Heat and Child Malnutrition in West Africa

Extreme Heat and Child MalnutritionResearchers from Cornell University found a link between extreme heat and child malnutrition in western Africa. The study revealed that there was an increased prevalence of chronic and acute malnutrition in young children due to extreme heat exposure.

About the Study

The study focused on West Africa because it is a particularly warm section of the sub-Saharan region that experiences an average maximum temperature of 32 degrees Celsius — the heat threshold after which there are effects on mortality. It looked at data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) in the West African countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo between 1993 and 2014.

The DHS Program conducts household surveys to collect data from developing countries about health, nutrition and demographics. Researchers studied the nutrition of children aged 3-36 months who had been exposed to temperatures at multiple ranges, the highest of which is above 35 degrees Celsius or 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to the study, extreme heat affects child growth and nutrition in three main ways:

  • Agriculture: Inadequate rainfall brought on by extreme heat can negatively impact agricultural production. The study primarily looked into the agricultural effects of extreme heat on chronic and acute malnutrition.
  • Disease: Extreme heat increases exposure to infectious diseases that may affect early development, as pathogens and vectors survive at warmer temperatures.
  • Direct Impact: Infants and young children are sensitive to sudden heat waves or increased temperatures, as they are unable to regulate their heat stress.

The study found that the prevalence of stunted growth from chronic malnutrition increased by 12% and low weight from acute malnutrition increased by 29% as a result of average heat exposure.

Beyond health impacts and higher mortality rates, chronic undernutrition can also lead to worse learning outcomes and lower incomes later on in life, which perpetuates the cycle of poverty and malnutrition.

Future Implications

Research published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science showed that extreme weather patterns are linked to increased conflicts, the spread of diseases and migration globally. While the study analyzed child nutrition and temperatures between 1993 and 2014, its findings have larger implications for the future.

Rising temperatures are affecting the African continent disproportionately. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2021 was the sixth warmest year globally, but the third warmest year for Africa. In particular, West African countries faced their highest annual temperatures on record, including the countries reviewed in the study. The region is also likely to be more prone to heat waves in the future, which can set off droughts and other extreme climate events. In addition, Africa already has a high rate of stunting at 30.7% compared to the global average of 22% as of 2020, according to the Global Nutrition Project.

The effects of extreme weather patterns on food insecurity can already be seen in the long-term drought in the Horn of Africa, where millions are food insecure and are facing malnutrition. Western Africa is also experiencing a food crisis exacerbated by multiple factors, including extreme weather events, conflict, Russia-Ukraine war-driven inflation and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This issue will not stay localized to Africa — many other regions are seeing the impacts of extreme heat. Europe experienced extreme heat waves in June and July 2022, with countries such as France breaking temperature records. Along with these heat waves come wildfires, heat-related deaths and rising food prices from decreased agricultural production, leaving many families food insecure.

Successes

The study found that in the period of analysis, interventions such as improved infrastructure and child care decreased rates of stunting by 5.8%. Programs instituted by organizations such as UNICEF, Save the Children, the World Food Programme, Actions Against Hunger and more have made a tangible impact on providing food assistance and reducing child malnutrition in the past few decades.

Countries across Africa, including Senegal, Rwanda, Cameroon and Angola, set up councils or committees in their governments to address food insecurity and malnutrition. They started initiatives encouraging breastfeeding, fortifying foods, hosting school feeding programs and using technology to spread awareness about the importance of nutrition. Malabo Montpellier Panel, an international group of agriculture and food security experts, noted that these countries saw a significant drop in stunting and undernourishment rates between 2000 and 2016.

As the current food crisis persists, President Joe Biden’s administration announced $215 million in emergency food assistance to several African nations as of May 2022. This is an important step in addressing what Secretary of State Antony Blinken called “the greatest global food security crisis of our time.”

– Ramona Mukherji
Photo: Flickr

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Is Thorium-Based Nuclear Energy a Viable Solution?

Thorium-Based Nuclear EnergyThe 2021-2022 global energy crisis is the most recent in a series of energy shortages in the last 50 years. However, because of the rise in gas prices along with the strain on the world oil supply caused by the Russia-Ukraine War, impoverished countries reliant on oil and gas as their primary sources of energy are affected by this crisis much more. Now more than ever, the importance of alternative energy sources, such as thorium-based nuclear energy, is evident as countries reliant on the now strangled supply of oil and gas face struggles.

What is Causing Increased Energy Prices?

The primary source of energy in the world is usually a type of fossil fuel such as oil, natural gas and coal.

However, as a result of the current global energy crisis, every form of fossil fuel has rocketed in price. Due to the sudden hike in prices, some countries could find it difficult to afford their required quantities of fossil fuels. As such, countries could be unable to obtain enough energy-producing resources.

What is Thorium?

Thorium is a naturally occurring, slightly radioactive element that can be used to derive nuclear energy. It is also far less radioactive than uranium.

Thorium does not contain fissile material and therefore it is far safer than uranium. It can be immediately switched off in the case of a disaster, preventing a meltdown, while the latter will continue to produce energy during a disaster, causing a meltdown to occur.

Along with being safer, thorium is cheaper and more plentiful compared to uranium as well. This is partly because the concentration of uranium within the earth’s crust is far less abundant than thorium, making uranium much rarer. This could make thorium-based nuclear energy a much more affordable option.

How Thorium Can Help Energy Shortages?

While the initial cost of mining thorium and constructing power plants would be costly, it is an investment that could pay off in the long run. Thorium is extremely efficient when compared to the most commonly used sources of energy in the developing world. For instance, a ton of thorium is equivalent to around 3.5 million tons of coal.

Even when compared to other nuclear resources, thorium still holds out as superior to uranium, to which thorium is around 200 times as efficient.

Throughout history, energy sustainability has been one of the forefront issues when dealing with fossil fuels. This is especially true in developing nations, as many rely on coal as their main source of energy.

However, due to recent developments in nuclear technology, thorium-based nuclear energy puts humanity a step forward in achieving energy sustainability. The use of thorium could possibly eliminate one of the biggest problems faced by those in poverty, being a reliable source of energy that does not cause frequent power outages while being able to readily supply heat.

Hope for the Future

Energy crises are complex and even life-threatening disasters. In developed countries like the U.S., reserved power and backup sources of deriving energy encourage recovery. However, even with these resources, truly getting out of an energy crisis could take years; if unsuccessful, many could lose their jobs/livelihoods along with losing their comfortable standards of living.

In developing countries, years easily turn into lifetime struggles with a crisis that could prevent much of their population from advancing out of poverty. Fortunately, many countries in the developing world are realizing the potential of nuclear power and are funding programs to provide its energy to their citizens.

For example, in 2021, Nigeria established the Russian-Nigerian Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) which plans to build the largest nuclear power plant in Africa by the end of the decade.

In 2018, Bangladesh’s signed into law the funding for a second VVER-1200 nuclear power plant, one of the most efficient in the world.

While thorium-based nuclear energy may not be the perfect solution to the energy problem, it certainly could be a good start in helping those in poverty live a life without energy instability.

– Humzah Ahmad
Photo: Flickr

Push Africa Lobbies Government to Focus on Poverty

push-africa-lobbies-government-to-focus-on-povertyPush Africa is an NGO dedicated to reducing poverty throughout Africa by lobbying for policy change and encouraging community growth. It has most recently launched campaigns in the cities of Borno and Yobe to bring awareness to worsening poverty throughout Nigeria and inspire change in elected officials.

Worsening Poverty in Nigeria

Unemployment in Nigeria increased from 27.1% to 33% between the second quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021. As of 2022, as many as four in 10 Nigerians live below the national poverty line.

In its 2022 assessment of poverty in Nigeria, the World Bank found that the country needs “deep structural reforms” to lift Nigerians out of poverty. The effects of the changing climate, conflict and COVID-19 further impacted the effects of poverty. Conflict alone has displaced over 3 million Nigerians, as the insurgency has continued for well over a decade, according to The Sun News.

The World Bank assessment notes that many jobs are not sufficiently productive, as only 17% of Nigerians hold, “the wage jobs best able to lift people out of poverty.” It states that Nigeria needs serious policy reform to create productive jobs and social programs. The three main recommendations are large-scale economic reform, policy to assist in making household enterprises profitable, and increasing general access to basic necessities like water and sanitation while also improving various technologies.

Push Africa

Push Africa describes itself as a “Pan-African non-governmental organization with the aim to reduce poverty and unemployment in Nigeria and in neighboring West Africa states by promoting entrepreneurship, skill acquisition and agricultural development programs amongst women and youth.”

Its ultimate goal is to entirely rid Africa of poverty by the year 2050. It has a number of objectives through which it hopes to achieve this. Among these objectives are promoting cluster farming, encouraging bilateral trade and tourism among African states and building local “response mechanisms” for crises.

Initiative in Borno and Yobe

In July 2022, Push Africa launched its newest initiative in the Nigerian cities of Borno and Yobe. The campaign hopes to increase anti-poverty policies and initiatives both among those seeking elected offices and development agencies and private institutions, The Sun News reports.

With Nigerian elections set to take place next year, now is a poignant time to hold elected representatives accountable and encourage them to take on anti-poverty as part of their platform, according to Development Diaries.

The organization has tagged its initiative “do-one-thing” and is using the platform to highlight the stories of those that poverty affected.

Convener of Push Africa, Doris Egberamen, explained in the press conference announcing the initiative. “This is to show the depth and harsh realities they live with. The projection is that by exposing the vulnerable conditions in which they live, the nation’s elected and appointed leaders will be encouraged to take serious and actionable steps towards solving the problem,” she explained to The Sun News.

Push Africa is an organization with the goal of eradicating poverty throughout Africa. Its most recent initiative to do so uses the stories of real people to encourage the political class and the private sector to put more of its focus on reducing the worsening poverty throughout Nigeria.

–Eleanor Corbin

Photo: Flickr

How the United Kingdom’s Heatwave is affecting Poverty

United Kingdom’s HeatwaveDuring the second half of July 2022, record-high temperatures became a global scourge. Specifically, the United Kingdom has been experiencing an influx of media attention to a very intense heatwave. On July 19th, the national temperature record was broken with a reported 104.5 Fahrenheit. An entire three degrees higher than its previous record of 101.6 degrees Fahrenheit set in 2019. The negative consequences of this U.K. heatwave include a loss of productivity, over 800 casualties and the lack of protection against the heat added to the United Kingdom’s impoverishment.

Impact on the Impoverish

Poverty in the U.K. remains an issue. As of 2021, the Department for Work and Pensions’ data states that roughly 20% of U.K. citizens are living below the poverty line after factoring in their housing costs.

The heat wave is taking a huge hit on those living in low-income urban housing. Urban houses are more likely to be surrounded by other apartments, roads and a lack of green space which contribute to the challenges of these homes for losing heat.

In many instances, cooling systems such as ACs and fans remain unaffordable for people living in these neighborhoods. During the summer months, it is estimated that 6 million people live in these neighborhoods. An analysis from BBC conducted by satellite data and poverty figures suggests that people living in poverty in the U.K. are more than twice as likely to live in these hotter neighborhoods.

“If you’re in a top floor flat, if you’re homeless if you work outside and you have to do a lot of physical exertion, you are very vulnerable,” says Anthony Costello, a professor of global health at University College London, according to BBC.

Current Solutions

While there is no clear-cut solution, there have been many efforts on a smaller scale to alleviate and support the impoverished during these hot times.

London, which has the highest poverty rate in the U.K., has been taking action in creative ways to help. London’s mayor’s office has designated a digital map that shows areas of the city with shaded spots and indoor public areas. This method can help the poor find cooler areas.

The Museum of Homelessness, a U.K. group that advocates for homelessness, has made efforts for measures for museums to open their doors to London’s homeless, providing them with air conditioners, Bloomberg reports. Many U.K. charities are also providing amenities such as ice-cold water, showers and ice cream to homeless people who may be vulnerable to the country’s heat at the moment.

Going Forward

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has called for a change in the country’s climate “We must future-proof our cities to mitigate the impact of the climate crisis,” Bloomberg reports. Even with the recognition, the Climate Change Commission concluded in its 2021 evaluation that the U.K. government was failing to protect people from heat risk.

Here are some recommendations on how the U.K. can take larger measures to protect their civilians, including the impoverished, from extreme heat.

By taking recommendations like these seriously, United Kingdom’s Heatwave could have less of an impact on those living in poverty.

–Luke Sherrill
Photo: Flickr

Elderly Poverty in Afghanistan

elderly-poverty-in-afghanistanAfghanistan has one of the world’s smallest percentages of older people. Only 2.6% of the country’s population is 65 years or older and the average life expectancy stands at just 64.8 years old. Still, the crisis of elderly poverty in Afghanistan continues to deepen as a result of political instability and other lingering crises.

The War

The war in Afghanistan lasted over 20 years and had devastating effects on Afghans. Many Afghans have had to seek refuge, sometimes using methods that were physically and mentally straining. Some fled on commercial or military aircraft, while others had to find their way on foot. Unfortunately, high levels of fragility and low levels of mobility forced many older people to stay put, where they remained at risk of becoming victims of violent acts. Additionally, as a result of these factors, older individuals often lacked access to basic needs, such as water and shelter.

Severe Economic Drought

Due to the country’s long history of political unrest, Afghanistan is currently facing a severe economic drought. According to the International Labour Organization, “following the change in administration in August 2021 [totaled] more than half a million in the third quarter and may reach 900,000 by mid-2022.”

This crisis has worsened the issue of elderly poverty in Afghanistan, as many who rely on younger members of their family to take care of them financially are lacking sufficient resources, such as food and transportation. For those elderly people who do hold jobs of their own, they are overworked and the first to be let go as a result of economic instability.

Efforts to Solve the Problem

While the issue of elderly poverty in Afghanistan is one that often does not get enough attention, there are organizations that are acknowledging the problem, and trying hard to solve it. At the start of 2022, the UNDP announcd plans for a program that would provide temporary basic income to children, those with disabilities and senior citizens via monthly cash transfers.

For Afghan elders who have left everything in Afghanistan and currently reside in the Bay Area, the Afghan Elderly Association (AEA) offers support in a number of ways. Because many elders suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, fleeing Afghanistan may mean that they are currently homeless, with an inability to access services based on language barriers and lack of transportation. The AEA provides services such as disease and cancer screenings, vaccine administration, social outings and cultural recognitions. It educates Afghan elders about remaining vigilant when it comes to personal health and offers appointments for both physical and mental check-ins.

Elderly poverty in Afghanistan does not only affect the elderly. Those who are still in Afghanistan are struggling to earn enough income for themselves and to help the older members of their families and the elders who still have a job are severely overworking.

Elders who have managed to flee Afghanistan are stuck in almost the same conditions as they were at home, unable to find shelter or proper medical and financial resources and turning to others to help them. It is important to remain aware of the problem and do everything possible to help Afghan elders who are unfairly suffering.

– Ava Lombardi
Photo: Flickr

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International Organizations Fund School Feeding in West Africa

School Feeding in West AfricaThe COVID-19 pandemic forced schools across West Africa to shutter their doors. These widespread school closures had a deleterious effect on the education and well-being of western Africa’s most vulnerable children. Youth were not only deprived of an education but also a chance to receive a meal through their country’s school feeding program. As schools gradually reopened as COVID-19 rates subsided, school feeding in West Africa provided an avenue for children to receive nutritious food, a commodity that some children only attain through their educational institution.

What is School Feeding?

School feeding refers to a meal provided at a child’s school at no cost to the child’s family. According to the World Bank, it is “most frequently designed as a social protection measure for poor and vulnerable communities with the key outcome being an improvement in education through increased enrolment, reduced absenteeism and enhanced gender equality.”

With a full stomach, school feeding often leads to children’s increased ability to concentrate and learn. Additionally, per the World Food Programme (WFP), “every $1 invested in school meals has a $9 return on investment.” Finally, school feeding provides incentives for families to send girls to school instead of keeping them at home or marrying them off early.

Thus, initiatives to support school feeding in West Africa are crucial because of their remedial effects on the harmful repercussions of school closures. Fortunately, international organizations are partnering with government authorities to provide increased funding and efficacious implementation for school feeding in West Africa. Specifically, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Liberia have benefited from foreign assistance.

Home-Grown School Feeding in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is an impoverished West African nation bordered by Guinea and Liberia. According to the WFP, in 2022, more than 65% of residents living on less than $1.25 per day.

As food prices skyrocket across the nation, school feeding programs remain essential for children and their families. In 2021, the government of Sierra Leone launched an initiative to transition the nation to a home-grown model, according to the WFP. This novel type of school feeding allows local agricultural workers to directly supply schools with fresh produce.

Of note, the WFP is assisting the government by launching a pilot program in the town of Tawuya. The pilot initiative has been a blessing to local female farmers. Adama, a Tawuya resident and mother of seven, told a representative of the organization that the “WFP created a means for us women to earn money regularly.” Overall, the WFP’s intervention in Tawuya has enabled many families to overcome food insecurity.

The McGovern-Dole Program in Senegal

Currently, 751,000 Sengalese citizens are food insecure and 17% of children younger than 5 are malnourished. In response to the food security crisis in Senegal, Counterpart International, an organization focused on establishing enduring relationships with at-risk communities, announced in October 2021, that the nation would be the recipient of a $25 million McGovern-Dole program award. The McGovern-Dole program is an initiative by the United States Department of Agriculture to curtail childhood hunger by providing food and financial assistance to developing nations.

The new initiative seeks to bolster school attendance, literacy and community health through school feeding and enhance the Senegalese government’s ability to implement the program. In a 2021 article in Counterpart International, Brian Dotson, Director of Food Security at Counterpart International, commented “…this project will provide a vital safety net for food-insecure families living in poverty in Senegal…”

Save the Children’s $25 Million Project in Liberia

According to the 2021 Global Hunger Index, Liberia ranks 110th out of 116 countries. In an effort to ameliorate hunger in Liberia, Save the Children launched a $25 million school feeding program on June 2, 2022

The funds from Save the Children will help the Liberian government implement its “Liberia Empowerment Through Attendance, Reading, and Nutrition (LEARN) Project.” Although this is a program implemented by both the government and NGOs, the majority of its funds are supplied through donors. Thus, Save the Children revitalized the LEARN program which has distributed more than 10 million school meals to more than 45,000 Liberian children.

Western African Governments Take the Lead

As these three programs demonstrate, school feeding in West Africa is indispensable. While international organizations have largely funded and implemented these programs, western African governments have also taken action to strengthen school feeding.

According to Brookings, 27 countries from across Africa voiced approval for a United Nations school meals coalition that aims to exceed pre-pandemic school feeding levels. Specifically, President Patrice Talon of Benin and President Macky Sall of Senegal have allocated additional funds for their nation’s respective school-feeding programs. Additionally, the African Union, a collective organization of 55 nations, endorsed home-grown school feeding and marked 2022 as the “Year of Nutrition.”

– Alexander Portner
Photo: Flickr

How Mobile Clinics are Increasing Access to Health Care

Mobile Clinics“The clinic is 30 kilometers away, the bus runs only once a day, but even in town there is no cardiologist to consult with. I cannot afford medicines. We have not received proper health care for more than two years since the conflict started. Without the support provided by the mobile team, I cannot imagine how I would survive,” said Haylna, a 70-year-old woman from Synykha Village, Ukraine.

COVID-19 & Access to Health Care

Prior to 2020, health care metrics including life expectancy were increasing on a global scale. Nonetheless, lower-income and lower-middle-income countries showed slower progress than upper-middle-income and high-income countries. The impact of this disparity became very clear during the pandemic as only 12% of people in lower-income countries and 51% of people in lower-middle-income countries had been fully vaccinated by April 2022. On the other hand, 74% of people in high-income and upper-middle-income countries had been vaccinated in the same period.

The source of the disparity lay in access to health care services. This refers to how many existing health facilities could continue running, the availability of staff, the availability of diagnostic tools, the supply of medicine and the overall capacity of health infrastructure. In every category, lower-income and lower-middle-income countries fall behind. During the pandemic, there was such severe disruption of their health care systems, that even the treatment of common illnesses became an issue, according to a WHO report. This has also been true in other crises such as conflict and natural disasters and it is in these cases that mobile clinics have made their impact.

Mobile Clinics & Crisis Response

Some common features of crises include population displacement, damaged health infrastructure and restricted or completely cut-off access to health care services. As a result, the deployment of mobile clinics has become a common strategy used to improve access to health care during humanitarian crises. Mobile clinics primarily provide vaccination, health screenings and health promotion services.

Some of the countries in which mobile clinics have been deployed include Haiti to promote antenatal care, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to improve the health of gender-based violence victims and Afghanistan where rural and internally displaced people can access health services.

Mobile Clinics Extending Access to Health Care

Mobile clinics are a necessary extension of health care services in remote areas where health care infrastructure may be sparse. In these areas, the demand is rising due to the flexibilty offered and potential reach. For example in 2018, non-governmental organizations in Syria leveraged 44 mobile clinics, providing care for residents in isolated locations.

In addition to health services such as outpatient counseling, health education as well as the management of non-communicable diseases, there are other potential services mobile clinics can provide such as water and sanitation services, nutritional services in food insecure places and early warning and system response to disease outbreaks.

Beyond Zero

Launched in 2014, the main goal of the Beyond Zero campaign is to provide affordable access to health care to vulnerable groups in Kenya, focusing on maternal health and the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission. It is an initiative that combines the efforts of the government and the private sector through advocacy and mobilization.

Between 2014 and 2017, the campaign donated a minimum of one mobile clinic to each of the 47 counties in Kenya. The mobile clinics also serve as a base for outreach to even more isolated areas specifically to the nomadic communities of the northern region. Some of the services provided include antenatal care, immunization, cervical cancer screening, minor surgery services and the treatment of minor illnesses.

Growing demand has inspired research and development in order to improve the effectiveness of mobile clinics. Various public and private organizations have emerged across the world viewing mobile clinics not just as crisis response tools but as the innovation of an alternative health care model. As a business venture, it provides a potential solution to achieving universal access to health care at an affordable financial cost both to the patient and to the investor.

– Kena Irungu
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Pandemic Preparedness: The World Bank’s Investment in the Africa CDC

Investment in the Africa CDCIn July 2022, the World Bank announced a new $100 million support program for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). It aims to increase African governments’ preparedness to handle future disease outbreaks. This funding is vital since there are approximately 140 disease outbreaks annually across the continent. “The project will help to cultivate regional capabilities critical to ensuring a resilient and prepared continent. It will do this by helping to build and maintain a robust public health workforce across countries’ health systems,” said the World Bank.

The Program’s Aim

An important aspect of the program and its investment in the Africa CDC is to “increase the number of epidemiologists and outbreak responders” to better deal with diseases at their initial outbreak. Along with a more immediate response, an aim of the World Bank is to reinforce Africa’s already existing public health infrastructure. The International Development Association, a branch of the World Bank focused on providing financial support for development programs in the world’s most impoverished countries, finances the project.

The Africa CDC was formerly directly associated with the African Union (AU), but recently, the AU granted the Africa CDC autonomy to increase its efficiency when dealing with health emergencies. The World Bank cites the health organization’s newfound autonomy as a great opportunity for investment in the Africa CDC to help its growth and further increase its future efficiency when handling health emergencies across the continent.

Other Recent Investments

This recent investment in the Africa CDC comes on the heels of a $100 million investment project in October 2020, also initiated by the World Bank, titled the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI). However, this investment includes contributions from the U.S. CDC in addition to private entities such as Illumina, Oxford Nanopore, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Microsoft. The focus of this project is on pathogen genomics, namely to expand access to “next-generation genomic sequencing tools and expertise designed to strengthen public health surveillance and laboratory networks across Africa.” The Africa CDC asserts that this program will help “to develop new vaccines, diagnostics and treatments for current and emerging infectious diseases.”

Africa PGI will form part of the Institute of Pathogen Genomics that the Africa CDC established in 2019. The Africa PGI partnership will last for four years. These investments show an increased emphasis on public health in Africa from the states and organizations located outside of the continent.

Future Outlook

The goal of these investments in the Africa CDC is to increase preventative capability. The Africa CDC is looking to advance its ability to “nip diseases in the bud” before they become full-fledged outbreaks.

If the Africa CDC can be better prepared to detect and handle potential outbreaks before they occur, then it can save lives, time and funds. Africa’s past Ebola outbreaks present an illustration of inadequate disease control measures.

The Africa CDC cites these initiatives, namely the most recent $100 million from the World Bank, as holding the potential to increase efficient collaboration between institutions across the continent when it comes to outbreak preparedness.

Those that are likely to benefit most from these investments are those living in extreme poverty. Recent assessments of African states’ preparedness capacities have found that those most at risk of becoming affected by potential health emergencies are those living in the poorest conditions and those who are most marginalized. In sub-Saharan Africa, about 40% of the population lived in extreme poverty in 2018, equating to about two-thirds of the world’s extremely impoverished population.

The World Bank cites the emphasis on public health in the AU’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, as a pivotal reason behind its recent investment initiatives. As Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, the acting director of the Africa CDC, eloquently stated, “Africa is changing the dynamic in its journey of realizing a New Public Health Order.”

– Devin Welsh
Photo: Flickr

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The State of Renewable Energy in France

Renewable Energy in FranceIn 2015, nearly 200 countries signed off on the Paris Agreement to combat changing weather patterns. Since then, the agreement’s host nation, France, has made considerable, yet, insufficient progress towards its goals. The issue of climate has become a common topic of discussion in recent years. Changing weather can have various effects on the planet such as natural disasters. In an effort to confront the matter, the Treaty of Paris originated to get countries around the globe to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Interestingly, France, the country in which the treaty emerged, has fallen behind in trying to reach this goal. Here is some information about the state of renewable energy in France as well as the types of energy France uses in addition to it.

Sources of Power in France

In order for most nations to reduce their carbon emissions, they had to first reduce their use of fossil fuels. A large majority of greenhouse gasses come from the burning of these resources. France, on the other hand, does not really have this issue.

While renewable energy in France did not make up a large portion of power production, the country had another option to look to. For decades, France has primarily relied on nuclear energy for its power. In fact, in the year 2000, more than 70% of the country’s power came from nuclear energy, which emits much fewer greenhouse gasses than burning fossil fuels.

Unfortunately, nuclear energy comes with its own dangers. While nuclear power reduces the quantity of greenhouse gasses that release into the atmosphere, it produces nuclear waste that can prove to be harmful to the environment. Additionally, more nuclear energy means a higher risk of a nuclear meltdown which can have even more detrimental environmental effects. Overall, many countries, including France, have decided that renewable energy is the best option.

New Environmental Policies

France has implemented various laws and policies to help the country reach its Paris Agreement objectives. For example, the country’s environmental program, EN MARCHE, intends to close multiple coal based power plants, provide more funding for renewable energy and create a new recycling model. Also, the Environmental Transition Law (ETL) allows more renewable energy project funding to local authorities and single-use permits for wind energy, biogas and hydropower, and creates more than 35 million smart meters.

On top of this, France also has various future projects planned. In 2020, the French Energy Ministry created 1.7 gigawatts of renewable energy projects. Total, an energy company, will have its largest solar power plant located in Valenciennes. Overall, France expects 40% of all of the nation’s power to come from renewable energy by the year 2030.

Renewable Energy in France

According to the general delegate of the Renewable Energy Trade Administration, Alexandre Roesch, renewable resources generate 25% of France’s power. Hydropower supplies most of this energy. Out of all the nations in the European Union, France produces the most hydropower.

 Behind that is wind power, although that may not be the case for much longer. Wind power has progressed rapidly in France and the country has planned various projects for the future as well. Wind power could overtake hydropower by 2030 and could be key for France in meeting its renewable energy objectives.

 Like wind energy, solar power generation has also increased in France. While many do not expect it to surpass hydropower anytime soon, it could still significantly contribute to reducing carbon emissions.

Falling Behind

While France has increased its renewable energy production and has various renewable energy projects in the works, the country is still at risk of not reaching its Paris Agreement goals. Much of this is due to internal debates that are slowing the process of constructing renewable power stations.

For example, creating new wind farms could greatly boost renewable power production in France, but there are other factors that French citizens are concerned with. Wind farms drastically increase noise pollution and many believe that their construction could eradicate biodiversity.

While the citizens continue to debate over these and various other issues, France is unable to complete its projects because of these internal disagreements. France could end up falling behind its fellow European nations in its own treaty if it cannot develop its renewable energy at a faster rate.

Renewable Energy’s Impact on Poverty

Energy poverty is an issue that impacts many countries in Europe, including France. In 2019, 12% of France’s population did not have adequate access to energy. Much of this is due to high energy prices and low incomes. This has resulted in many French citizens being unable to warm their homes during cold winters or cool their homes during increasingly hot summers.

The implementation of additional renewable energy in France could mitigate this issue in a couple of ways. Firstly, the cost of renewable energy has dropped significantly over time and is actually more affordable than nonrenewable energy now. This will make it easier for poorer citizens to have access to the power they need. Also, many of the households experiencing energy poverty are located along France’s coastal regions, which also happens to be where many wind power stations will undergo construction. The price and proximity of renewable energy could be helpful in lifting France out of energy poverty.

In addition to lowering energy poverty, more renewable energy could lower unemployment as well. Currently, France sits at an unemployment rate of 7.3%. France’s various renewable energies account for about 60,000 full-time jobs. If France’s future renewable projects come to fruition, it could create thousands of new jobs and lower the unemployment rate drastically.

Overall, renewable energy in France has become more prominent in recent years albeit, not at the rate they hoped for. Unfortunately, if the country wants to reach its ultimate goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, they have to pick up the pace exponentially. There is time and potential for France to become an even more renewable nation as long as the government and its citizens can reach an agreement that will yield positive results in accordance with the Paris Agreement.

– Tyshon Johnson
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