Information and stories on health topics.

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Poverty and Health in Sierra Leone Following the Civil War

Poverty and Health in sierra leoneIn January 2002, the 11-year civil war of Sierra Leone came to an end, leaving behind one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes the country had seen since gaining its independence in 1961. Up to 4.5 million people faced displacement and 100,000 people had been mutilated by rebel forces.

The country’s economy was left in pieces, and its people carried the weight of psychological and physical trauma. Despite this, in the face of adversity following the civil war, the people of Sierra Leone have continued to show a desire to overcome the struggles they encountered. As January 2026 marks 24 years since the end of the civil war, this article reflects on poverty and health in Sierra Leone and how the country has progressed.

The Immediate Response

Following the end of the civil war, the international response was swift and targeted. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which had been active within conflict zones in Sierra Leone from 1995, provided the country with significant support, including malaria vaccination campaigns and medical care in a country that no longer had the infrastructure required to support its population’s health.

In 2004, MSF reduced its presence in Sierra Leone, stating that although many people still lived in poverty, the country was no longer undergoing a humanitarian crisis.

With that departure, the Ministry of Health in Sierra Leone took on responsibility for basic health care and hospital programs, and the country began rebuilding through different initiatives. Although Sierra Leone ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world, the health sector introduced schemes such as the cost recovery scheme in 2006 and the Free Health Care Initiative (FHCI) in 2010, and the sector began to see economic recovery.

The road to escaping poverty and rebuilding health care in Sierra Leone was not without turbulence. In 2014, the Ebola epidemic created further setbacks in the landscape of poverty and health in the country.

Solving the Poverty Paradox

The economic recovery of Sierra Leone following the civil war required both the help of NGOs and a population willing to put in the work, in part to avoid creating an overdependence on aid. While NGO activity started as wholly philanthropic, it eventually helped inspire the country’s population to cultivate its own agriculture and economy.

A prime example of a collaboration between NGOs and the Sierra Leonean population was the Kalangba-based Sierra Leone Children’s Fund. The fund allowed community farms to be created, providing jobs for people living in the area and increasing local trading.

Initiatives such as these allowed the country to develop its own economic landscape and provided a level of development that deploying aid alone could not achieve.

Public Resilience

For many of the population, health and poverty in Sierra Leone have always existed alongside struggle. That struggle, however, has also created a desire to foster independence.

In an interview with The Borgen Project, a Civil Affairs Officer who worked with the United Nations in Sierra Leone in the years following the civil war said that the people of Sierra Leone have “shaken off the desperation to be helped” when asked about whether international organizations’ involvement in the country’s rehabilitation has created dependency.

Looking Ahead

Poverty and health in Sierra Leone still have a long way to go in terms of promoting health care and reducing poverty following the civil war. The country is still rebuilding its economy. Despite this, in many ways, the country is adapting to its own economic conditions. In 2025, the World Bank Group reported that in the face of global insecurity, Sierra Leone’s economy had remained stable.

Health care in Sierra Leone also continues to grow, with the introduction of new facilities across the country.

These new implementations and improvements reflect the resilience of Sierra Leoneans following the civil war, who, in the face of adversity, have remained committed to rebuilding their country.

– Bernice Attawia

Bernice is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Poverty Reduction in Cuba

Poverty Reduction in CubaWhile poverty reduction in Cuba has been at the forefront of its government’s policies since the 1959 revolution, poverty, food insecurity and inequalities in universal services still exist today. As of 2019, Cuba’s multidimensional poverty index score was 0.003, with only 0.7% of its population considered poor. Although one of the lowest in the region, certain indicators, such as the Cuban childhood poverty figure, have steadily increased since 2012. With an economic dependence on the tourism industry and imports, while also suffering under the United States’ strongest trade embargo; Cuba remains at risk for instability.

Since 1959, Cuba’s socialist program has addressed poverty by prioritizing food rations, healthcare, literacy and housing for all of its citizens. Despite hardships due to frequent natural disasters, a resource-poor environment and forced isolation from the world market; the Cuban people have remained both steadfast in their principles and adaptable in moments of crisis. As Cuba recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and fights against the United States’ oil blockade, unity and creativity are of the utmost importance when reducing poverty.

Healthcare

Cuba’s planned, state-controlled economy allows for much of the national budget to fund universal healthcare, education and food rations. During the Batista regime of the 1950s, nearly half of the country’s physicians were located in Havana. The centralization of healthcare in cities created severe disparities between quality of care for rural and urban citizens. At that time, Cuba had a single rural hospital, and the rural infant mortality rate was 100 deaths per 1,000 births.

In 1960, the government formed the Rural Medical Service, placing recent graduated physician volunteers in rural areas, and by 1970, there were 53 rural hospitals in Cuba. Through the Family Doctor and Nurse Program, every Cuban has had access to one of more than 13,000 teams of neighborhood doctors and nurses since 1999. These local doctors ensure that the Cuban Health System regularly engages with all of the country’s citizens.

It also gives the government access to aggregated community diagnoses that lead to greater analysis of risk factors and the nation’s most pressing needs. This has led to a reduction of the infant mortality rate from 38.7 per 1,000 live births in 1970 to 4.0 per 1,000 live births in 2018, and has strengthened women’s health services through the establishment and expansion of the National Maternal-Child Health Program. Furthermore, Cuba’s commitment to universal healthcare and public health exceeds its own borders. Since the end of 2018, approximately 400,000 Cuban health professionals have worked in more than 150 countries.

Food and Housing

Although to varying amounts, food rations have been a staple of poverty reduction in Cuba. Recently, limited access to foreign currency for imported food, natural disasters such as Hurricane Melissa and fuel shortages have led to increased food security issues for the island. As the government-issued food baskets are almost entirely imported, Cuba has partnered with the World Food Programme (WFP) for assistance in reducing imports and increasing food self-sufficiency. 

This partnership seeks to improve assistance in maintaining food access amid natural disasters, and to strengthen nutrition systems for vulnerable groups, such as expanding school lunches for children. In 2025, 1,540,107 Cubans benefitted from the World Food Programme’s aid—particularly through food assistance and disaster relief from Hurricane Melissa.

Cuba’s 2019 Constitution reiterates these goals. It defines healthcare, education, food security and shelter as human rights, and upholds the state’s goal to achieve food security and housing for all of its citizens. The Cuban government plans to increase shelter construction programs and food rations to accomplish this. By deeming these basic necessities as natural rights, the Cuban government seeks to create both a baseline of security and a healthy, well-educated workforce.

Future Strategies 

Due to the recent oil blockade, Cuba has turned to solar power. In 2025, Cuba, with financial help from China, installed around 1,000 megawatts of solar generation. As of February 2026, the Cuban government announced it would waive personal taxes for up to eight years for business people investing in renewable energy. Even local taxi drivers have installed solar panels on the roofs of their vehicles in response to the scarcity of oil. While the oil blockade presently harms Cubans, they are already preparing for an alternative future.

Leader Miguel Díaz-Canel has begun preparations for poverty reduction in Cuba amid increased sanctions and economic instability. Alongside investments in renewable energy, Díaz-Canel has prioritized a decentralization of authority—giving more power to local municipalities and state-owned enterprises—with the goal of expanding local production and reducing reliance on imports. Above all, Díaz-Canel cites “cooperation and collaboration…based on principles of solidarity, integration and complementarity,” as the core principles necessary for Cuban prosperity.

– Josh Megson

Josh is based in Albemarle, NC, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Caribbean Health Systems: Lab Training and AMR in Barbados

AMR in BarbadosIn Barbados, laboratory professionals are helping lead one of the Caribbean’s most important public health efforts: strengthening the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Through regional training workshops focused on advanced diagnostic technologies, laboratory information systems and shared surveillance strategies, Barbados is emerging as a key hub for Caribbean cooperation against drug-resistant infections. As AMR continues to threaten health systems worldwide, Barbados offers a model for how regional investment in public health infrastructure can improve long-term development outcomes.

Why AMR Matters

AMR happens when bacteria and other microorganisms evolve, making antibiotics and other medicines less effective. The result is infections that are harder to treat, longer hospital stays and a higher risk of severe illness or death. For smaller island nations, the challenge extends beyond medicine into development itself. 

Limited diagnostic infrastructure can delay treatment decisions, raise health care costs and place greater strain on already stretched public health systems. For Caribbean countries with limited standard laboratories and uneven access to advanced testing equipment, these delays can weaken infection control efforts and reduce the quality of data needed for policy decisions. This is especially significant in lower-resource settings, where preventable illness can deepen poverty by increasing medical expenses and reducing workforce productivity.

How Barbados Is Strengthening Regional Laboratory Capacity

At the center of this effort is the Best-dos-Santos Public Health Laboratory in Bridgetown, where regional training sessions have brought together laboratory professionals from across the Caribbean. Recent workshops organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) focused on Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), AMR characterization and new diagnostic technologies, including Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and infrared spectrometry. These tools allow laboratories to move more quickly from identifying pathogens to determining which antibiotics will work. 

Just as importantly, digital systems such as WHONET and SEDRI-LIMS help countries standardize data collection and share reliable surveillance information across borders. This regional interoperability strengthens the Caribbean’s ability to track resistant infections and coordinate public health responses more efficiently. Barbados’ growing leadership in this space reflects years of capacity-building support through PAHO and the U.K. Fleming Fund. 

According to PAHO, the Best-dos-Santos laboratory has improved microbiology workflows, reporting systems and regional coordination. This positions the country as an emerging reference center for AMR surveillance in the Eastern Caribbean.

The Link Between Stronger Labs and Global Development

Stronger laboratories do more than improve diagnostics. Faster, more accurate testing reduces unnecessary antibiotic use, supports better patient recovery and lowers the long-term costs associated with resistant infections. In practical terms, this means fewer preventable deaths, shorter disruptions to employment and less financial pressure on households already vulnerable to health-related poverty.

For the Caribbean, this also represents a broader investment in resilience. Over the past year, PAHO-supported initiatives delivered 34 critical pieces of laboratory equipment to 14 laboratories in nine Caribbean countries, helping expand the region’s diagnostic capacity and data quality. These improvements strengthen not only clinical care but also national action plans and regional health security.

A Model for Regional Public Health Cooperation

Barbados’ leadership points to a larger shift toward regional self-sufficiency in health infrastructure. As AMR grows into one of the century’s most serious public health threats, Barbados is showing how regional cooperation can turn limited resources into collective strength. By sharing technology, expertise and surveillance systems, Caribbean countries are building a collective response to a problem that no single nation can solve alone. 

Investments in laboratory systems today are helping the region build healthier, more resilient futures tomorrow.

– Angela “Phoenix” Garrett

Angela is based in Chicago, IL, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Amparo Confidence Sockets and Kenyan Amputees

Kenyan AmputeesIn Kenya, as of 2025, approximately 0.9% of the population is living with disabilities. Of that population, 42% experience disabilities related to motor function and 80% live in more rural parts of Kenya. Due to the nature of Kenya’s public health facilities, which often lack adequate equipment to provide more adapted amenities for Kenyans with mobility-related disabilities, a large number of Kenyans live with only the most basic levels of aid. 

Despite this, technology being deployed in the form of the Amparo Confidence Socket in Kenya has the capacity to modernize and revolutionize the lives of Kenyan amputees.

Causes of Amputations in Kenya

Around the world, amputations happen often for a plethora of reasons. In Kenya, a disproportionate number of amputations occur due to many different factors. For instance, in Kenya, around 550,000 people are living with diabetes, with more than one in three undiagnosed.

When diabetes is not managed, which can be the case when someone is living with undiagnosed diabetes, amputations may end up being the only form of treatment. Another factor is amputations related to trauma. In Kenya, 35.7% of amputations are a result of trauma-related incidents. 

Part of the high number of trauma-related incidents includes poor road infrastructure, which has the capacity to cause accidents weekly. Even with the different reasons as to how Kenya, as a country, ended up with a high portion of its population requiring aid in relation to their motor-related disabilities, there are still many barriers to achieving access to technology that could help. These barriers limit the availability and use of such technology.

The Amparo Confidence Socket

Designed for individuals with amputations in areas that often lack resources, the Amparo Confidence Socket was created as an “off-the-shelf prosthetic socket technology.” This allows for a more streamlined fitting process and increased portability. It makes the technology accessible to more rural communities.

The company Amparo, in partnership with the Global Disability Innovation Hub at University College London, deployed the Confidence Socket in Kenya as part of a clinical trial. The aim was to evaluate its effectiveness. It was later found that participants in the study had improved mobility after being fitted with the Confidence Socket. 

Despite some later complaints about decreased comfort, the Amparo Confidence Socket notably increased users’ access to prosthetic services. It also supported improved mobility outcomes.

Going Forward

The Amparo Confidence Socket has the capacity to truly revolutionize the experience of amputees in Kenya. There is still room for improvement in the comfort and long-term use of the Amparo Confidence Socket in Kenya. However, its introduction, along with its flexibility in transportation and fit, has the potential to revolutionize the lives of Kenyan amputees.

– Bernice Attawia 

Bernice is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Village Health Workers Close the Immunization gap in Lesotho

Immunization gap in LesothoIn Lesotho’s mountain communities, a missed vaccine is often not just a missed appointment. It can result from distance, transport costs, difficult terrain or uncertainty about where services are available. That is what makes the immunization gap in Lesotho both a poverty issue and a health issue. During the Ministry of Health’s nationwide measles-rubella campaign in October 2025, village health workers helped reduce these barriers by going door-to-door. They directed parents to vaccination points and helped health teams reach children who might otherwise have been missed.

A Campaign Built Around Outreach

Lesotho began preparing early for the October 2025 campaign. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the national drive ran from Oct. 20–24, followed by mop-up efforts from Oct. 25–27 in low-coverage areas. The campaign was expected to reach 196,308 children ages 0–59 months through four interventions: measles-rubella vaccine oral polio vaccine, vitamin A and deworming tablets.

The WHO also said 85 participants joined training beforehand, including district health officials and representatives from the education and local government sectors. This campaign also built on earlier progress. According to the UNICEF Lesotho Annual Report 2024, measles-containing vaccine first-dose coverage rose from 84% in 2023 to 93% in 2024. The same report stated that UNICEF supported the administration of 12,564 measles-rubella vaccines in hard-to-reach areas during Africa Vaccination Week. It also highlighted media partnerships and outreach efforts to improve vaccine confidence. 

How Village Health Workers Closed the Gap

Lesotho’s immunization gap has narrowed because village health workers performed practical, local work that a central system alone could not. First, they went house-to-house. The WHO’s reporting from Qacha’s Nek stated that village health workers explained the importance of immunization directly to families and guided them to vaccination sites.

In places where households are scattered across steep terrain, door-to-door outreach helps families who might otherwise miss the campaign entirely. This approach is crucial for those who do not know where to go, when vaccinators will arrive or who cannot risk a difficult trip without clear information.

Second, they helped build trust. The WHO reported that in Mokhotlong, health teams used patient dialogue and accurate information to speak with parents who were initially hesitant about vaccination. Village health workers were central to that effort because they were known in their communities and could speak as trusted neighbors rather than as distant officials.

Third, they noticed who was missing. A Gavi VaccinesWork report described how a village health worker in Leribe realized that a mother’s children had not appeared at a temporary vaccination point and alerted nursing staff. That follow-up uncovered a deeper problem: the family had fallen behind on routine childhood vaccines because the mother could not afford the $1.50 medical booklet or the roughly $1.60 return fare to Motebang Hospital. The case showed how village health workers do more than spread information. They help health teams identify children whose absence is tied to poverty rather than refusal.

Why Poverty Keeps Children at a Distance

The Leribe case shows why the immunization gap in Lesotho is tied to poverty. According to the World Bank, Lesotho’s unemployment rate was at 30.1% in 2024 and about 45.7% of the population lived on less than $3.00 per day. In that context, even minor health-related costs can become real barriers to routine care. For families living that close to the edge, access is shaped not only by whether vaccines are available but by whether reaching them is affordable.

Partners Supported Local Action

Lesotho’s Ministry of Health led the campaign, but local efforts were strengthened by external support. Gavi, the WHO and UNICEF provided financial and technical support for planning, implementation and monitoring. UNICEF’s 2024 annual report also stated that it developed community-based health policies and standardized training toolkits for village health workers, helping strengthen care quality at the community level.

The campaign showed that inclusion matters. A December 2025 VaccinesWork report stated that Lesotho printed 400 braille information packets ahead of the campaign, the first time the country’s immunization system had made vaccine information available in braille. According to the same report, 110,733 children under 5 received the measles-rubella vaccine, polio drops, albendazole and vitamin A during the Oct. 20–24 campaign. 

This matters because closing the immunization gap in Lesotho is not only about delivering vaccines. It is also about making sure information reaches parents in forms they can use.

Final Remarks

Lesotho’s October 2025 campaign did not erase every structural barrier in a single week. The immunization gap in Lesotho is still shaped by poverty, geography and the limits of routine service delivery. But the campaign showed what progress looks like in practice: village health workers who know which households have young children, local chiefs opening their homes as vaccination sites and health teams that follow up when children do not appear. 

In mountain communities where exclusion can happen quietly, this kind of community-based effort makes health care more accessible to families who are most likely to be missed. If Lesotho continues investing in village health workers, outreach and inclusive communication, more children from low-income families will be far less likely to be left behind.

– Tom Basu

Tom is based in Buckinghamshire and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Rawpixel

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Improvements in Maternal Health Care in Timor-Leste

Maternal Health Care in Timor-LesteTimor-Leste is a Southeast Asian country that constitutes half of the island of Timor. The country has a population of around 1.4 million and struggles with a relatively high poverty rate of more than 40%. Furthermore, structural challenges in the Timorese health care system have reportedly led to poor maternal health outcomes.

A lack of qualified specialists in maternal health care has partly explained how Timor-Leste has come to experience one of the highest mortality rates for new mothers in the Southeast Asian region. The rate stands at 195 per 100,000 births. However, a host of developments, both in national health planning and community organization efforts, have driven improvements in maternal health care outcomes.

Technology in Health Care: Liga Inan

Liga Inan, translated as “connecting mothers,” is a phone-based application first developed and implemented in the mid-2010s. The application facilitates communication between pregnant and postpartum mothers and their respective health care professionals specialized in maternal care. Its use was associated with increased staffing at birth and prompt postnatal care. Furthermore, this has led to its broader adoption within the public health network.

Upskilling: An Australian Training Program

In 2023, a dozen Timorese midwives and a nurse participated in a five-week training program in Queensland, Australia. The stated aim was to improve knowledge of maternal health care and, ultimately, reduce high maternal mortality rates. The participants were shown to possess improved knowledge and competence in several areas of maternal health care, including some emergency care, such as resuscitation.

One study showed that this type of upskilling could enhance knowledge in Timorese maternal health care if repeated. It sheds light on the impact of residential programs and provides a proven, effective framework.

Crisis Management: Mobile Maternity Clinics

The effects of humanitarian crises are felt acutely by the most vulnerable members of society, especially pregnant women. Following severe flash flooding in 2021, a collaboration between the Timorese Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) erected mobile maternity centers. These centers support displaced mothers and their children. 

This targeted support represents a strong prioritization of maternal health care in crisis planning and response procedures.

Prioritization in National Health Planning

Beyond crisis management and individual programs and organizations, Timor-Leste has solidified its commitment to improving maternal health care by integrating it into its national health planning. The country’s National Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030 prioritized “maternal care” and set specific targets for maternal health care. As such, Timor-Leste can continue making progress in maternal health care beyond spontaneous efforts. 

Conclusion

The case of maternal health care in Timor-Leste demonstrates that a country with a high relative poverty rate and structural barriers in its health care system can make significant progress. This can be achieved through targeted, informed state planning, effective mobilization of community partners and leveraging new medical technologies.

– Phoebe Lang-Clapp

Phoebe is based in Montréal, Québec, Canada and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 Facts About the Fight Against HIV/AIDS in Suriname

HIV/AIDS in SurinameLocated on South America’s Northern coast, the small country of Suriname holds a diverse population. While its public health landscape faces challenges in 2026, the country has emerged a regional leader in integrated care, bridging the gap between remote interior communities and urban centers. According to the World Bank, almost 26% of the population lives below the poverty line. These rates increase in the more interior regions with limited basic infrastructure.

Poverty is often a driver that increases vulnerability to HIV/AIDS infection, simultaneously creating significant barriers to accessing treatment. Despite this, the fight against HIV/AIDS in Suriname continues, with the understanding that social stigma can be as much a hurdle as access to medical care.

1. Expansion of Treatment Coverage

A steady growth in antiretroviral therapy (ART) access turns the tide of the fight against HIV/AIDS in Suriname. According to UNAIDS, it allows the treatment coverage rate to reach 70% of people living with the condition in Suriname by 2026.

Data from the HIV/AIDS Industry Outlook indicates the treatment coverage by the nation achieves an average year on year increase of 1.6 points. Continuing on this path upwards, the Ministry of Health has reaffirmed the commitment to meet the UNAIDS global targets for HIV care through decentralized testing and community based clinics.

2. Progress in Pediatric Health

In 2026, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate for those aged 10-14 is expected to drop to 60 people, an 8% decrease compared to 2021 according to the Suriname HIV/AIDS Industry Outlook. Since 1995, the rate has had a staggering 13.1% year-on-year decline in pediatric prevalence. Health experts have attributed this success to the integration of prenatal HIV screening and improved preventions of mother to child transmissions (PMTCT) services.

3. Community-Led Support Systems

Poverty often acts as a barrier for those in rural Suriname. Treatment requires consistent clinical visits and access to pharmacies, and limited household income can make the cost of travel to centers prohibitive. The fight against HIV/AIDS in Suriname continues in community-led organizations like the Double Positive Foundation. The provision of psycho-social care and “peer buddy” support, and ensuring treatment reaches impoverished populations is led by advocates such as Ethel Pengel. 

This acts as a beacon of light within socioeconomic barriers such as family rejection and social stigma. Walking beside young women and girls ensures that they remain in the healthcare system following a diagnosis.

4. State-Sponsored Medication Access

The Suriname Ministry of Health has provided HIV inhibitors at no cost to patients since February 2005. It sustains this through a financial partnership with the Global Fund, a worldwide partnership providing 26% of all international financing for HIV programs. In 2026, “person-centered care” is at the forefront of medical health; ensuring the treatment of other chronic conditions alongside HIV.

5. The 95-95-95 Path to Recovery

The recovery of Suriname relies on reaching the UNAIDS global targets: 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed receive ART, and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression. 

Looking Ahead

While funding remains a challenge, Suriname is ensuring regional Caribbean partnerships to maintain a steady supply of biomedical interventions. By prioritizing long-acting preventions, HIV/AIDS no longer defines this nation’s future. 

– Celine Dib

Celine is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Clinics on Wheels: Improving Health Care in Punjab

Health Care in PunjabImproving the health care infrastructure in Punjab, Pakistan, is a challenge. For instance, access to health care may demand long waits in queues that can take away a day’s work and earnings, making it unfeasible. Structural problems are common. There is not enough investment, many constraints on resources and access to essential medicines and equipment is limited.

Urban slums pose a particular challenge to improving health care infrastructure in Punjab. The Punjab Urban Slum Survey, conducted by the Punjab Bureau of Statistics, notes that roughly 7.2 million people reside in urban slums across the district. These urban slum dwellers make up a significant portion of the 128 million people in Punjab.

According to the Punjab Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2019-2020, this portion of the population may be characterized as having more limited access to preventive and curative health services. The PDHS also showed that only 57.2% of slum dwellers can access health facilities.

Improving Health Care Infrastructure in Punjab

The Clinics on Wheels program is improving the health care infrastructure in Punjab with free, quality health care provision. Launched in 2024 by the Punjab provincial government, the initiative sees mobile clinic vans serving underserved residents who have no access to basic health care in densely populated urban settlements.

The main aim of Clinics on Wheels is to reach those living in densely populated urban areas and remote regions where there are significant barriers to accessing health facilities. The mobile clinics aim to eliminate the barriers of distance, cost and availability, ensuring that timely medical services and a suitable health infrastructure are put into place in Punjab.

There are about 244 Clinics on Wheels operating across the district. Most of the vehicles, 202 of them, are mobilized for transporting medicines and staff to those in need. In addition, about 42 carry mobile ultrasound facilities. Initiatives offered include doctors, diagnostics and medicines delivered at the community level, as well as free medicines delivered to the doorsteps of underserved residents.

Tangible Results in Improving Health Care in Punjab

Dr. Ehsan Ghani, Chief Executive Officer of the District Health Authority Rawalpindi, said that the mobile clinics have resulted in timely diagnoses and provide an effective referral system that ensures complex cases reach major hospitals promptly. He added that each van is staffed with a vaccinator who administers missed or incomplete vaccines to children in the field, helping to bridge the gap between the growing population and immunization needs. According to Ghani, this has improved vaccination rates and supported progress in the fight against diseases such as polio.

Ghani has said that with expansion, Clinics on Wheels has the potential to bring health care services to even more people across Punjab. In January 2026, it was announced that the Punjab government would involve the private sector in the project to improve its performance.

Looking Ahead

The goal of equitable health care infrastructure is that no citizen has to go without medical provision and Clinics on Wheels offers a practical solution to make the transport of doctors and medicines accessible. The campaign has been promoted as care that reaches every doorstep, providing services regardless of income or location.

Improving health care infrastructure in Punjab through initiatives such as Clinics on Wheels may help reduce the health care burden and improve overall health outcomes for Punjab’s population. Clinics on Wheels sits alongside other health care initiatives, including the CM Insulin Program, which offers free insulin for children with Type 1 diabetes, and the Chief Minister’s Children Heart Surgery Program, which offers cardiac surgeries for children. Together, these programs reflect ongoing efforts to expand health care access across Punjab.

– Suneel Mehmi

Suneel is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Fighting Stigma: Poverty and Leprosy in Bangladesh

Leprosy in BangladeshBangladesh is a South Asian country bordered by India and Myanmar, with a population of more than 177 million. Some 18.7% of the population lives in poverty, due in part to neglected tropical diseases such as leprosy, which limit individuals’ ability to work and access education.

The bacteria Mycobacterium leprae cause leprosy, a chronic infectious disease. The disease mainly affects skin cells and can cause permanent disabilities when people do not receive timely treatment or detection. Bangladesh ranks fifth highest in the world for the number of leprosy cases, so eradicating the disease in the country is a priority, especially since people can be completely cured of it.

Leprosy is a disease that creates stigmatization against those affected, making employment difficult. Combined with medical costs, this creates a high correlation between leprosy and poverty. Areas with poor living conditions and food insecurity also tend to have an increased risk of contracting leprosy, highlighting the relationship between leprosy and poverty.

The eradication of leprosy will improve the livelihood of millions, not just in Bangladesh but also in the other 120 countries still affected by the curable disease. Tropical diseases tend to be neglected from the global health agenda and usually cause stigma. This article will discuss the impact of fighting stigma and how leprosy and poverty can be reduced together.

The Leprosy Mission in Bangladesh

The Leprosy Mission in Bangladesh (TLMIB) is a nonprofit organization focused on the eradication of leprosy in North Bangladesh. With a focus derived from six key values — compassion, justice, integrity, inclusion, humility and collaboration — its work has supported the livelihood of those with leprosy and helped them regain their dignity.

Since 2007, TLMIB has set up 700 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in North Bangladesh, a step toward long-term, sustainable change. Leprosy and poverty were seen by the organization to go hand in hand, and these SHGs allowed those impacted to access food and find community with others who share similar experiences, especially as leprosy is widely discriminated against.

SHGs have group deposits, which encourage positive financial habits and help members rebuild their lives together. Since 2007, SHGs across the region have grown, with members integrating back into society with less stigma and fewer financial problems. This is significant when considering leprosy and poverty, as it shows that if leprosy is prioritized, many people’s livelihoods can change, enabling them to move to a life above the poverty line.

U.N. Initiatives and Government Aims

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh has committed to eradicating the disease through the Zero Leprosy Initiative by 2030. The initiative aims to eradicate the disease, prevent disability and remove stigma.

Additionally, the government has decided to increase the number of disability centers in the country and integrate them into the existing health care system. Policymakers have also suggested earlier diagnosis and skills training for people affected by leprosy, both to remove stigma and directly address the link between leprosy and poverty. The Persons with Disabilities’ Rights and Protection Act, implemented in 2013, drives this focus on leprosy in the country.

The United Nations (U.N.) has worked with Beatriz Miranda-Galarza to raise awareness of leprosy. Miranda-Galarza has coordinated the BRIDGES and SARSHE projects in Indonesia and Brazil, strengthening the dialogue around leprosy in the disability movement. This work supports efforts against stigma and helps build better lives after the disease, again highlighting the link between leprosy and poverty.

Looking Ahead

Nonprofits such as TLMIB and the work by the government of Bangladesh demonstrate that leprosy and poverty can be reduced together by removing stigma and prioritizing long-term, sustainable change. These efforts make independence accessible to people with disabilities, allowing them to learn positive financial habits and build stable lives.

Although Bangladesh still needs to reduce leprosy cases, the progress so far points to measurable change across the country. Chile recently became the first country in the Americas to completely eradicate leprosy, showing that the goal is achievable for other countries committed to the cause.

– Caitlin Cooper

Caitlin is based in Aberdeen, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Barriers to Surgical Research in Developing Regions

Surgical Research
Access to safe and effective surgical care is central to global health. Progress in this area depends on strong research systems, yet many low-resource settings struggle to build them. Understanding the different barriers to surgical research in developing regions highlights the limits to innovation and how stakeholders can improve outcomes worldwide. Without targeted efforts to strengthen research capacity, these gaps will continue to widen global health inequalities.

Limited Funding and Infrastructure

Limited and inconsistent funding remains a major obstacle. Surgical research requires financial support for equipment, personnel and long-term studies. Many governments and institutions must prioritize immediate patient care, which reduces available resources for research initiatives.

Infrastructure gaps also restrict progress. Many hospitals operate without reliable electricity, sterile environments, or modern laboratory facilities. These conditions make it difficult for researchers to run controlled studies or collect consistent data, which weakens the overall quality of research output.

Shortage of Trained Personnel

A shortage of trained researchers and surgical specialists continues to slow advancement. Healthcare professionals often manage high patient volumes, leaving little time for research. Training programs and mentorship opportunities also remain limited in many regions.

Migration further intensifies this challenge. Skilled professionals frequently move to higher-income countries in search of better opportunities. This trend erodes local expertise and impedes the development of long-term stability in research ecosystems.

For example, according to Stanford University’s Medical Journal, an estimated six billion people on the planet do not have access to cardiac surgical care due to a shortage of trained personnel, resources, and other limiting factors. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery reported that in places such as Africa, there is one cardiovascular surgeon per four million people. 

The data found in this study is focused on the shortage of trained personnel specifically in cardiac medicine; however, a lack of personnel and resources is universal among several types of surgical research and care. 

Access to Equipment and Materials

Reliable access to high-quality equipment remains essential for surgical research. Many facilities rely on outdated or poorly maintained tools, which limit precision and consistency in experiments.

These gaps directly reinforce the various barriers to surgical research in developing regions, particularly when researchers cannot access tools that ensure accurate, repeatable results. Researchers often depend on specialized instruments that can withstand repeated use while maintaining accuracy. Without access to comparable tools, researchers face difficulties when attempting to replicate or validate findings.

Regulatory and Data Challenges

Regulatory systems in many regions lack clarity or consistency. Researchers often encounter delays during approval processes due to limited institutional capacity or unclear guidelines. Ethical review boards may lack sufficient staff or standardized procedures, which slows research progress.

Data collection also presents ongoing challenges. Limited digital infrastructure reduces the ability to store, manage and analyze information effectively. A study in The Lancet Global Health emphasizes the need to strengthen data systems to improve both surgical care delivery and research capacity.

Emerging Solutions and Global Collaboration

Global partnerships continue to support research development. International organizations and academic institutions now collaborate with local teams to provide funding, training and technical expertise. These partnerships help strengthen local capacity while promoting knowledge exchange.

Technology also creates new opportunities. Mobile data tools and telemedicine platforms enable researchers to collect and share information more efficiently. These solutions help overcome infrastructure limitations and support more inclusive research environments.

Addressing these challenges requires sustained investment, stronger policies and continued collaboration. When stakeholders commit to these efforts, they can expand research capacity, reduce disparities and improve surgical care for communities worldwide.

– Kelly Schoessling

Photo: Wikimedia Commons