Archive for category: Health

Information and stories on health topics.

, ,

In-Home Health Care Strategy: Reducing Elderly Poverty in Norway

Elderly Poverty in NorwayThe Norwegian health care system is often cited as one of the most efficient, accessible and patient-oriented nationwide health services available. In 2024, the Scandinavian country’s universal health care structure earned a number five ranking in the World Index of Healthcare Innovation, a measure the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity uses to assess health care quality for 32 high-income nations.

With world-class infrastructure and prestigious credentials, Norway’s exemplary health care system offers a template for socialized coverage that neighboring countries often look to adopt. Despite its strengths, Norway’s health care system faces challenges that could leave its aging population in the margins. Fortunately, Norway’s ever-advancing welfare technology offers promising solutions. Here are the upcoming challenges older Norwegians face in securing adequate health care and how this relates to old-age poverty in Norway. 

How Norway’s Health Care System Works

Norway’s decentralized health care system allows for a higher degree of municipal management, providing a regionally tailored experience for patients across the country. National and municipal taxes fund Norway’s health care infrastructure: a system of four Regional Health Authorities that cover residents’ health insurance and oversee the country’s 20 hospital trusts.

In 2023, 11% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) accounted for health care spending. As of 2025, around one in 10 Norwegians receives private health insurance. The 2012 Public Health Act reflects Norway’s policy-forward approach to health care by making health a priority in all public service management. A well-integrated blend of national and local oversight for health care services leaves Norwegian residents with a considerable social safety net; however, recent concerns have arisen surrounding the rising costs of sustaining such a system. In particular, elderly poverty in Norway will disproportionately affect the elderly who face low socioeconomic status. 

Strained Health Care Services

As in many other developed countries, Norway’s increasing life expectancy places a significant strain on assisted living facilities that are already understaffed. From 2007 to 2017 alone, demand for nursing services jumped by 18% Per projections, demand could increase in the coming years, as 250,000 more Norwegians older than 80 will add to the country’s population in the next two decades.

Notably, the past decade saw a 37.9% increase in the number of Norwegians ages 67 to 79, a landmark figure. All the while, in the short span from 2015 to 2018, the country’s nursing home availability decreased by 2%. Old age often brings increased vulnerability to isolation and stigma, which can deter individuals from seeking care—heightening risks to both health and financial stability. Unfortunately, discrepancies exist in which Norwegians are most likely to experience these injustices as they age. 

Access to Health Care

Older Norwegians with differing educational attainment and income levels, which are often interdependent, see notable discrepancies in available health care. For example, a difference in life expectancy of up to seven years exists between Oslo’s districts. A 2024 study, highlighting higher mortality rates for elderly patients discharged to under-resourced municipalities, speaks to the social gradient that Norwegian elderly experience. Rural municipalities with populations of 10,000 or fewer, where 17% of Norwegians live, are particularly underserved. Furthermore, a higher educational degree can add four years to the life expectancy of Norwegians 65 or older, compared to those with a lower degree.

Norwegians without a high socioeconomic status may lack the financial stability to afford the costs of living in municipalities with more abundant health care services. Even when they can, only two in five patients living in municipalities with populations of 50,000 or more register for a nursing home within 15 days of requesting one. Clearly, intra-municipality competition for aging services exacerbates regional inequalities in nursing home availability. With such sparse resources, the existing social safety net may not sufficiently protect the country’s aging population from old-age poverty. 

What Elderly Poverty Means for Aging Norwegians

With current levels of competition for nursing home services, elderly poverty in Norway is at risk of increasing in the coming years. As older Norwegians are discharged early from hospitals to underserved municipalities, they may be more likely to require future care. Consistent transitions in and out of hospitals can accumulate costs over time, while the proactive care nursing homes could provide often remains out of reach for elderly people without the means to finance it.

A 2022 study also noted cases in which Norwegian employees took sick leave to care for their elderly parents. Thus, elderly poverty can become generational if aging parents depend on their children to provide the services that municipal health care doesn’t have the bandwidth to. While Norway’s nursing home services are not at a capacity to sustain current and future demand, technological advances in in-home care have the potential to address this shortcoming.

The Path Forward

The future of equal health care and prevention of old-age poverty in Norway is complex, with elderly health care needs differing between rural and urban municipalities. With 38.5% of Norway’s elderly aged 65 and older living alone, local health care services are looking to welfare technology to sustain in-home care as an alternative to nursing homes. Home installments designed to detect signs of distress and enhance autonomy enable older Norwegians to maintain a sense of independence and forgo the transition to a nursing home environment as they age.

While relieving pressure on crowded, assisted living facilities, Norwegian elderly will be able to preserve their financial resources and social networks, promoting personal resilience to otherwise life-disrupting events. In-home aging technology may still be out of reach for some older Norwegians due to socioeconomic discrepancies, but this innovation will play a central role in reducing current and future elderly poverty in Norway.

– Isla Hansen

Isla is based in Spokane, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

9 Initiatives Boosting Progress on SDG 17 in Brazil

SDG 17 in BrazilIn the midst of an arid rural environment, many Brazilians who once struggled with poverty and lack of opportunity are now having support through Brazil’s progress in achieving SDG 17 in Brazil. Communities that were once overlooked are not only gaining access to a steady income but also receiving the long-deserved recognition they deserve.

Brazil’s Sustainable Development Goals

This success story shows Brazil’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 global aims that the United Nations created in 2015  to create a more equitable and sustainable future. This drive emerged as countries around the world faced growing global issues of poverty, changing weather patterns and ecological damage internationally. Each goal addresses a specific priority.

SDG 17 specifically aims for the implementation of “partnerships to achieve objectives.” The government, civilians and the private sector work together to bring economic stability, improve international trading and advance sustainable initiatives for resource allocation. By examining the nine ways that Brazil is advancing SDG 17, one can clearly see its commitments to the cause. 

1. FAO-IDB Brasília Action for Rural Resilience 

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) partnered with Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to launch the Brasília Action for Rural Resilience.

Environmental Ministries from nine Latin American and Caribbean countries, along with civilians, development banks and multilateral organization specialists, joined the effort. They focused on strengthening social protections and promoting policies that improve rural lives and address climate justice. 

By coordinating economic, social and environmental sectors more efficiently, this partnership advances the goals of the SDGs. Two of its major successes include the Sustainable and Inclusive Piauí Project, which enhanced the lives of 210,000 rural families by increasing farmers’ income, expanding access to basic services like water and sanitation, and reducing food insecurity, and the Planting Climate Resilience in Rural Communities of the Northeast project, which boosted rural families’ climate resilience by installing solar-powered irrigation and pushing for low-emission agricultural technique. 

2. The Bolsa Verde Programme

The Bolsa Verde programme combined sustainability and economic development by providing technical training and generating income for rural civilians living in environmentally protected areas. In exchange, civilians actively maintained efforts to protect the surrounding nature. 

Brazil achieved astonishing progress on SDG 17 in this initiative, reducing CO2 emissions by 415 million UAS, four times the program’s cost. Additionally, 51,000 rural families gained proper knowledge on how to sustainably make agricultural practices. 

This example demonstrates how Brazil has turned SDG 17 in Brazil from theory into concrete actions that deliver both environmental and economic benefits to local communities. 

3. Together for Health

Brazil’s national bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) launched the Together for Health initiative, and the Institute for the Development of Social Investment (IDIS) coordinated its efforts. It aims to fundraise to strengthen the Unified Health System (SUS) in Brazil’s North and Northeastern regions. 

Through match-funding, the initiative plans to allocate BRL 200 million to health projects in the region by 2026. So far, the program has issued BRL 96 million and reached 300 cities. 

Brazil faces considerable challenges, especially in the North and Northeastern regions, where hospitals struggle with understaffing and high disease burdens leave many communities underserved due to limited infrastructure. This initiative is aimed at bridging these gaps through funding projects and expanding access to essential services, creating  a more equitable and effective health care system for those who need it most.

4. Catalyst 2030 

Brazil advanced SDG 17 through the “Catalyzing Fund Challenge,” which implements projects to expand clean water access for Brazil’s Munduruku Indigenous people. The initiative installs water filters, educates communities on safe water practices and boosts collective action by tackling the critical lack of clean drinking water that affects many Indigenous households. 

Additionally, three Brazilian B-Corps including MagikJC, Gaia Group and Din4mo jointly created the Organized System for Affordable Housing, a nonprofit that provides social housing to marginalized urban populations. This collaboration raised BRL 15 million through real estate receivables certificates (CRI) on São Paulo’s Stock Exchange. The project clearly demonstrates how SDG 17 in Brazil boosts innovation and tangible solutions to serve both rural and urban communities.

5. IFAD’s 13th Replenishment

This UN fund supports farmers and helps them achieve sustainable, productive capacities. Under Brazil’s leadership, G20 leaders committed to fighting global poverty and starvation to advance social inclusion. So far, Brazil has pledged $13 million USD to IFAD in its three-year work program.

The newest reports confirm that Brazil has successfully reduced hunger, according to the UN Hunger Map, demonstrating solid results from both international and domestic partnerships.

6. Caatinga Restoration Through PPI

Brazil formed a partnership to oversee the regions of Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte and Pernambuco. The government aimed to boost sustainable food production and generate income for nearly 5,000 rural families. 

This collaboration was done as a way of tackling food insecurity in the region, due to the limited resources and degraded land that threaten proper nutrition and the livelihood of rural families. Brazil’s advanced SDG 17 in this case by actively bringing together the private sector, government and local communities, while empowering women in rural businesses in the Caatinga. 

The partnership implemented the Production, Protection and Inclusion (PPI) mechanism, which provided rural families with access to credit, created market opportunities for women in farming, promoted environmental protection and supported sustainable agriculture. 

7. Envision Energy

Brazil and China jointly announced a $1 billion investment from China’s Envision Energy to boost eco-friendly aviation fuel made from Brazilian sugarcane. This collaboration boosts sustainable low-carbon fuel production, as well as promotes innovative energy technologies that target industries and their ecological footprint on the atmosphere. China’s Windey Energy Technology and Brazil’s Senai Cimatec are actively advancing this innovative initiative together. 

8. Brazil-France Amazon Partnership

Brazil and France joined forces to protect the Guyanese and Brazilian Amazon forest by launching a four-year investment program of EUR €1 billion using both public and private funds. Brazil demonstrated its SDG 17 progress by pledging through the partnership to stop deforestation in the Amazon by 2030, while also supporting sustainable development through payments for environmental services, financing and market-based joint frameworks that actively engage both private and public actors. 

9. BNDES Green Investment Lead

To attract foreign investment in sustainable developments, Brazil launched a platform that begins with BRL $5 billion in private sector actions, with a final aim to raise 18 billion reais in investments. Brazil selects initiatives that align with their environmentally focused priorities, including mobility, industry and “nature-based solutions.” The state’s development bank, BNDES, manages the project and leverages the capital to provide funding. This program becomes essential for Brazil’s SDG 17 goals, since it will increase the country’s reputation on environmental governance and bring a collaborative strategy for sustainable development of the nation.

Lessons Learned

These examples summarize what Lula’s administration has actively pursued, showcasing Brazil’s SDG 17 progress in advancing a greener and more equitable future. Indeed, when examining SDG 17 in Brazil, one can see that building partnerships lies at the core of the country’s strategies for achieving its SDG goals. From Indigenous water projects to billion-dollar Amazon agreements, SDG 17 in Brazil demonstrates how the government, local communities and international partners can actively shape a sustainable future. 

By advancing SDG 17, Brazil is addressing poverty inequalities and, through collaborations with the private sector, civilians and government, creating opportunities that promote the sustainable livelihood of marginalized communities. 

– Liz Mendes

Liz is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

5 Diseases Impacting Saudi Arabia

Diseases Impacting Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia’s government has spent much of the last decade trying to promote the nation as a cultural and economic superpower. It has achieved this through massive investment in the tourism sector and by hosting various high-profile sporting events. The Saudi government clearly also prioritizes the population’s health with the latest available figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggesting that 12.8% of Saudi Arabia’s public expenditure is dedicated to public health projects. This is significantly higher than both the global average of 10.8% and the average of 8.3% that Saudi Arabia’s eastern Mediterranean neighbors spend. Despite this, some communicable diseases continue to pose a significant risk to public welfare. Here is information about the diseases impacting Saudi Arabia and the efforts to address them.

 1. Dengue Fever

Dengue fever, which the mosquito-borne Orthoflavivirus causes, can cause high fever, muscle pain and large rashes. Rising average temperatures across the Mediterranean have allowed mosquitoes to spread north from East Africa to the Middle East. This has increased Saudi Arabia’s mosquito population and has contributed to a rise in infection rates since the 1990s. These rates spike each year during the holy month of Ramadan, where this year, more than 122 million worshippers visited the city of Mecca in western Saudi Arabia.

Large gatherings of people from outside the country, who have had no previous exposure to the virus and have therefore built no immunity, can allow it to spread rapidly if they do not take the necessary precautions, such as wearing insect-proof clothing and sleeping under mosquito nets.

The Saudi health ministry has invested heavily in raising awareness of behaviors that prevent the spread of mosquitoes among locals. This helped reduce the number of annual reported infections from 4,266 in 2018 to 1,888 the following year.

2. MERS-CoV

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is one of the most recently identified diseases impacting Saudi Arabia. In early 2025, the Saudi health ministry confirmed nine cases, including two deaths.

MERS-CoV produces flu-like symptoms and infects patients through their respiratory system. Experts believe it has passed to Saudi Arabia’s rural population through contact with dromedary camels, which people widely use for transportation across the country’s deserts.

 3. Meningitis

The Saudi health ministry identified 11 cases of meningitis in March 2025, with the WHO identifying a further 17 in April. In response to this, the Saudi health ministry now requires anyone entering the country to receive a quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine at least 10 days prior to their arrival. At the time, estimates indicated that only 54% of international visitors to Saudi Arabia met the vaccination requirements.

The Saudi health ministry highlighted the importance of vaccination to citizens in its public health campaigns. This complements a post-exposure chemoprophylaxis scheme, in which close contacts of patients receive antimicrobial prophylaxis in order to prevent further transmission.

The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has classified meningococcal meningitis as one of the diseases impacting Saudi Arabia, which poses the greatest risk to British tourists visiting the country. The UKHSA’s current guidance urges tourists travelling to Saudi Arabia to ensure they receiv meningitis vaccinations before they travel.

 4. Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most widely researched diseases impacting Saudi Arabia. Since 2021, Saudi Arabia’s National Tuberculosis Programme has focused on training hospital staff to prevent TB being transmitted between patients, and investing in specialist TB hospitals.

These efforts to curb the spread of the disease have reduced the infection rate from 23 infections per 100,000 people in 2000, to 8.4 infections per 100,000 people in 2023. This meets the targets set out in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3, which focuses on health and well-being.

Despite this success, TB remains more prevalent in Saudi Arabia than in the neighboring United Arab Emirates, and in much of Europe, including the U.K. 

5. Brucellosis

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted to humans through contact with animals such as sheep, goats and camels, and through drinking their unpasteurized milk. Many epidemiologists believe it to be the most widespread zoonotic infection in the world.

Infection rates have dropped in Saudi Arabia over the last 30 years, partially due to urbanization reducing the number of people working in agriculture. Despite this, the disease remains endemic in rural communities.

Antibiotics such as Doxycycline can treat brucellosis, with ongoing humanitarian efforts focusing on supplying these medicines to remote areas.

Future Steps

Internal and external efforts to raise public awareness of vital health practices and improve the supply of treatments to rural communities are combating diseases impacting Saudi Arabia. Recent outbreaks, however, prove that substantial government funding of the health ministry and international co-operation remain crucial to further reducing the threat that communicable diseases pose across the country.

– Billy Stack

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

Photo: Unsplash

, ,

Elderly Poverty in Andorra: Navigating a Rapidly Aging Future

Elderly Poverty in AndorraElderly poverty in Andorra poses challenges, but also opens the door for innovation. By focusing on disease prevention, healthy aging and stronger social protections, the country can reduce health care costs while empowering seniors to stay active and valued. This can only be possible with strategic reforms. Andorra is set to lead Europe in building a sustainable, dignified future and demographic change.

Elderly Poverty in Andorra

 In Andorra, about 22% of retirees – people aged 65 and older — are considered at risk of poverty. That is higher than the overall poverty risk of 13%. Without social benefits, the elderly poverty rate could climb nearly 30%.

Several factors contribute to this elevated risk of elderly poverty. One key issue is inequality in the pension system as many long-term contributors receive contributory pensions below the minimum wage (currently around 1,431 euros each month), whereas non-contributory solidarity pensions can be significantly higher—sometimes even three times as much—creating unfair disparities among retirees.      

Experts have predicted that the elderly age group in Andorra will increase at the quickest rate in Europe due to rising life expectancy and falling fertility. In the absence of improvements, Andorra’s health care and pension spending will likely rise 8.8 percentage points of GDP by 2050 compared to 2022. This increase may severely strain state finances, necessitating changes to other spending, an increase in revenue, or a rise in the national debt. Any nation must make these kinds of adjustments, but a microstate like Andorra, which is more prone to shocks, will likely find it especially difficult. 

Health Care in Andorra

In 2022, adults 65 and older made up 15% of Andorra’s population — among the lowest shares in the EU — but the figure is expected to climb to 37% by 2050, the highest among its peers, U.N. data shows. The shares for residents 80 and older is projected to rise from 4% to 13% in the same period, driving up health care costs, as this age group spends more than three times its population share on care, according to CASS.

Early disease detection and prevention can reduce health care costs, especially as Andorra’s growing elderly poverty requires more care. By promoting healthy aging and expanding prevention programs, like routine checks, the country can improve productivity, extend working years, strengthen pensions and limit medical expenses.

Pensions in Andorra

Andorra’s government is proposing a minimum pension for contributory pensions that is equal to the minimum wage to help address elderly poverty. Prerequisites for the pension are that applicants have contributed to it for at least 40 years and have not chosen to retire early.

On June 1, 2025, the Andorran government chose to boost the pension for low-income retirees and raised Social Security pensions that fell below the minimum inter-professional wage by 3.67%. Individuals who have contributed for at least 25 years will qualify for retirement pensions, and widows’ and widowers’ pensions. The government also offers pensions for illnesses related to work, and disability pensions for both occupational and non-occupational accidents. for common work-related illnesses.

The Takeaway

Andorra’s aging population, while challenging, presents an opportunity for reform and growth. By investing in prevention, promoting healthy aging and aligning pensions with the minimum wage, the country can protect vulnerable seniors, lower the risk of elderly poverty in Andorra, reduce health care costs and extend workforce participation. With smart planning, these measures could turn demographic pressures into sustainable and dignified models, positioning Andorra as a leader in adapting to Europe’s demographic shifts. 

– Joshua Pettis

Joshua is based in Houston, TX, USA and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

, ,

New 6-In-1 Vaccine in Mauritania Can Save Millions of Lives

6-In-1 Vaccine in mauritaniaEach year, nearly four million children aged below 5 die due to infectious diseases. Many of these diseases, such as measles, whooping cough and tetanus, have been largely eliminated in developed countries. However, a lack of vaccination in underdeveloped nations has had serious repercussions for residents who can’t access the medicine.

Difficulties in transporting the vaccine while keeping it at the proper temperature (called the “cold chain” process) and finding enough workers trained to administer it are only a few of the problems that these countries face. The sheer amount of immunizations that children must receive (as many as 30 by the age of 18) only compounds the problem. This puts strain on families to devote time and money to getting vaccinated.

However, scientists have a solution: a 6-in-1 vaccine that costs less and requires less medical assistance, thus eliminating barriers that previously prevented poor countries, like Mauritania from vaccinating. Mauritania and Senegal are the first two developing countries to adopt the 6-in-1 vaccine. Their adoption indicates a promising outlook for disease prevention in poverty-stricken nations.

About the Hexavalent Vaccine

The 6-in-1 (“hexavalent”) vaccine consists of a single shot that contains protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and polio. Before it was first used in the mid-2010s, the World Health Organization (WHO) utilized a similar pentavalent vaccine containing all the same immunizations except for polio, which had to be administered through a separate shot.

The pentavalent vaccine was highly successful, protecting approximately 80 million children annually during its 20-plus-year stint. However, the new hexavalent vaccine may have even greater potential. This is due to its ability to reduce inefficiencies caused by multiple shots and reduce overall storage and shipping costs.

Financial Crisis in Mauritania

Mauritania and its neighbor, Senegal, were the first low-income countries to implement the hexavalent vaccine in July 2025. Both countries experience significant poverty rates. However, Mauritania faces an especially pressing problem: to produce enough crops to feed its population of 5.2 million when less than 0.5% of its land is suitable for farming.

Despite being one of the least densely populated countries in the world, Mauritania faces an alarming hunger crisis compounded by recent flooding and an influx of refugees. In fact, inflation and decreased agricultural productivity are expected to bring an additional 200,000 people into poverty by 2027. As of 2022, food insecurity rates have reached 20%, up 9% from the previous year. An influx of refugees from neighboring countries also burdens Mauritania.

These factors cast a grim shadow over the future of Mauritania. Only 55% of children attend school due to the nation’s severely underfunded education sector. The health care industry is similarly lacking; a recent diphtheria outbreak in a refugee camp underscores the need for disease prevention in Mauritania.

Given its precarious economic and social situation, Mauritania may seem like a losing battle; however, introducing the hexavalent vaccine marks a new chapter in comprehensive aid for struggling countries.

A Helping Hand

Mauritania needs all the help it can get and Gavi is determined to provide it. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a Switzerland-based humanitarian organization responsible for introducing hexavalent vaccines into low-income countries, starting with Mauritania and Senegal. The group is also pushing for greater immunization equality worldwide.

In Mauritania alone, there are more than 35,000 underimmunized children. This results in exponentially higher infectious disease rates and an average lifespan 10 years shorter than that of the U.S. and other developed countries. The discrepancy can be attributed to lower levels of public health funding in impoverished countries like Mauritania. Without financial support, vaccines have also been too expensive to afford.

Katy Clark, a senior program manager at Gavi, expresses her frustration: “It wasn’t fair that high-income countries have had this combination vaccine for more than 20 years, while lower-income countries have had to wait.”

However, thanks to Gavi’s funding, Mauritania can purchase the 6-in-1 Vaccine for $3.00 per dose, which is $1.50 less than it would cost without Gavi’s support. The nation also saves money on labor and packaging, since the vaccine requires one fewer shot than the previous pentavalent and polio combination.

Conclusion

In the past 50 years, Gavi has vaccinated more than a billion children and prevented 40 million casualties from infectious diseases. This number can continue to increase through a strategic approach that prioritizes health care, affordable prices and humanitarian aid.

Global organizations like Gavi and UNICEF can provide targeted support by considering each nation’s specific needs and deficiencies, such as Mauritania’s hunger crisis and low vaccination rates. This approach can greatly improve the livelihoods of those in low-income countries.

The hexavalent vaccine has the potential to aid millions of people worldwide. Its path of trial and success demonstrates how crucial technological innovation is to the future of global health.

– Grace Gonzalez

Grace is based in Oakton, VA, USA and focuses on Business and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

, ,

Diseases Impacting Iran

Diseases Impacting IranIran’s health system faces a complex mix of challenges. Chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure are rising quickly, while infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV and leishmaniasis still threaten vulnerable regions. These health issues are shaped not only by biology but also by environment, economy and access to care. Pollution, economic pressures and health care gaps make the picture even more complicated. From the air people breathe in Tehran to the food on their tables, these risks shape daily life and long-term well-being. Here is information about the diseases impacting Iran and the efforts in place to address them.

1. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

Chronic diseases, especially heart problems, are the most significant health concern. In 2019, cardiovascular diseases caused about 3.6 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and nearly one-third of all deaths. By 2021, CVD was the second leading cause of death and disability, with 4,367 DALYs per 100,000 people.

The IraPEN program, part of a global initiative, targets prevention through primary care. After one year in pilot regions, results showed a reduction in 10-year CVD risk (from 0.198 to 0.177 in men, and 0.119 to 0.109 in women), lower average blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, alongside a drop in smoking among men from 13.8% to 10.5%.

Still, lifestyle-related risks are rising. As of 2021, Iran had around 80 million NCD cases, with women carrying a slightly higher burden. Obesity, diabetes and hypertension are increasingly common. Experts stress raising awareness, healthier environments and stronger prevention programs to address diseases impacting Iran’s population.

Through community health centers and health houses, the program offers free screenings for blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol; provides early cancer detection (cervical, breast and colorectal); and includes health education and counseling on smoking cessation, healthy diet and physical activity.

2. Infectious Diseases

While many have been controlled, some persist:

  • Tuberculosis and HIV: From 2018–2021, a study tracked 25,011 new TB cases, 2.68% also HIV-positive. People with both had longer treatments and lower success rates (65%) versus TB alone (83.4%).
  • Leishmaniasis: Leishmaniasis still affects Esfahan, Khuzestan and Ilam provinces. Among military personnel, 2,894 cases were reported between 2018 and 2022. In southeast Iran, cases peaked in 2021 at 318, compared to 81 in 2018. Classified as a “neglected tropical disease,” it still causes suffering yearly.

Other infections such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, pneumonia, diarrheal diseases and zoonoses remain concerns in Iran and the wider region. These infectious diseases remain among the most persistent health challenges and diseases impacting Iran today.

3. Environmental Health Risks

Air pollution is one of Iran’s deadliest threats, blamed for around 40,000 premature deaths each year. In 2018, treatment costs and lost productivity from PM2.5 accounted for about 3.7% of GDP.

Despite the Clean Air Act (2017), smog still chokes major cities. In January 2025, the government announced plans to relocate the capital, citing Tehran’s deteriorating air quality. Pollution stands alongside infectious and chronic conditions as one of the key issues and health risks impacting Iran.

4. Access to Health Care

Iran faces a “double burden”: chronic disease and lingering infections. According to WHO’s Health at a Glance: Iran (2021), of 514,446 deaths that year, 57% were due to NCDs, 29% from communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions. Medicine shortages and sanctions also undermine health care delivery, worsening the burden of diseases impacting Iran’s health care system.

Poverty significantly deepens Iran’s health challenges. Recent reports estimate that the poverty rate in Iran has hovered around 30% between 2019 and 2024—meaning approximately 25 to 26 million people live below the poverty line. Between 2011 and 2020, the share of Iranians living below the international poverty line rose from 20% to 28.1%. Many low-income households cannot afford nutritious food, safe housing or preventive care, increasing their risk of both chronic and infectious diseases.

5. Government Efforts

Iran has expanded IraPEN and, in 2014, formed the National Committee for NCD Prevention and Control to lead a nationwide response to chronic diseases. The committee, chaired by the Ministry of Health and supported by the Supreme Council for Health and Food Security, coordinates across multiple ministries to integrate NCD prevention into primary health care, promote tobacco control and expand early detection programs. It also monitors national progress toward WHO’s global targets, including reducing premature NCD deaths by 30% by 2030.

Looking Ahead

Chronic illnesses dominate, but infectious diseases and environmental hazards still claim lives and drain resources. Programs like IraPEN show promise, but real progress requires better health care, living conditions, education and infrastructure. Together, these factors illustrate the full scale of diseases impacting Iran and shaping its future.

– Katie Williams

Katie is based in the United Kingdom and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Diseases Impacting Belize: A Story of Progress and Persistence

Diseases Impacting BelizeIn April 2025, news of a measles outbreak spread through Belize City and lines of anxious parents formed around pop-up clinics. Three months later, health officials announced the containment of the outbreak. This was a promising reminder that while diseases impacting Belize are still a serious threat, public health improvements are very real.

Poverty and Health in Belize

Since becoming independent in 1981, tourism has become the largest economic driver in Belize. Over the past few years, notable progress has occurred in reducing poverty with incidence rates falling from 36.5% in 2021 to 22.1% in 2024. Despite this, the intensity of deprivation among those still affected remains unchanged.

According to the Health Care Access and Quality Index, Belize ranks 55 out of 100, demonstrating visible gaps in both availability and quality of care. Rural populations in particular continue to face the greatest hardships with poverty rates as high as 67.9%. Currently, 23% of health care spending comes out of pocket, leaving low-income families struggling to gain access to essential medical services.

Strengthening Belize’s Health System

In spite of challenges, Belize achieved notable public health milestones, showing that progress is possible amidst poverty. Along with the rapid containment of the 2025 measles outbreak, the country was officially declared malaria-free in 2023.

The Belize Ministry of Health, in partnership with PAHO/WHO, launched the Strategic Plan 2025-2034 to strengthen the health system and modernize health care. This decade-long plan tackles key public health challenges to reduce diseases impacting Belize. Building on this framework, officials established public health campaigns to prevent dengue and implemented rapid immunization response teams, strengthening the nation’s ability to contain outbreaks.

These initiatives demonstrate progress towards improved health outcomes and malaria and measles are no longer a threat. However, there are several diseases that continue to pose significant concern, highlighting areas where continued efforts are essential.

Top 5 Diseases Impacting Belize

  1. Dengue Fever: This mosquito-borne infection causes flu-like symptoms which can become fatal. Cases of dengue fever surged more than 260% over the last year, mostly in rural areas where access to health care is limited. Currently, there is no treatment, and prevention is focused on mosquito control through improved sanitation and  public awareness. Better access to medical services and early detection can lower fatality rates to under 1%.
  2. Heart Disease: Heart disease is the leading non-communicable disease in Belize, accounting for 11.27% of total deaths. Poverty and food insecurity prevent access to proper nutrition, resulting in reliance on inexpensive high-calorie foods that fuel heart disease. Better access to medical services and trained providers is key to prevention and reduced mortality rates. Leading the way forward is the HEARTS program that allows physicians to better manage heart disease risk factors like hypertension and diabetes.
  3. Tuberculosis (TB): TB affects 27 people per 100,000 every year. Treatment rates have increased to 80%, but poverty remains a driving factor. Poor nutrition weakens the immune system and increases vulnerability. Limited health care access also delays diagnosis and treatment. The Ministry of Health’s current strategy includes promoting regular checkups and the use of DOTS (directly observed treatment strategy) to improve early detection and diagnosis.
  4. HIV/AIDS: Belize has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in Central America. Only 80% of affected individuals are aware of their status with just 60% receiving treatment. Poverty is a significant social factor as low-income populations face limited access to education, health services and prevention resources. Despite these challenges, progress has been made recently in reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission through improved prenatal testing. 
  5. Kidney Disease: Chronic kidney disease is a serious health threat to Belizeans experiencing poverty. Limited access to nutrition, treatment and prevention resources increase the risks and mortality rate. Currently, less than 4% of affected people are aware of their condition. Efforts like the Capacity Building Project for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Renal Failure are now focused on training providers and educating communities to improve prevention and care.

Building on Progress

With diseases impacting Belize still a major concern, efforts to address poverty and expand health care access are vital. The Cornerstone Foundation is currently a key player in those efforts. Through community-driven programs it is:

  • Providing relief and aid through food assistance programs, health care services and job training. 
  • Supporting government initiatives to provide basic nutrition, clean water and healthy sanitation to underserved areas.
  • Offering health programs that include outreach and education, clinical services, senior support and natural healing initiatives. 
  • Raising awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, supporting prevention and disease management. 

Despite these efforts, and those of other organizations, challenges remain to reduce diseases impacting Belize. Poverty is a key barrier, restricting access to proper nutrition, clean water and quality medical services. By expanding health care access, improving clinics, training health care workers and strengthening immunization and prevention programs, Belize can build on its progress and success.

Persistence and continued effort are essential to ensure health improvements for all communities. The quick containment of the 2025 measles outbreak reminds us that progress is real. Sustained commitment will bring healthier futures to all Belizeans. 

– Tina Kusal

Tina is based in Montrose, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

, ,

Malaria in South Korea: Poverty’s Hidden Role

Malaria in South KoreaMalaria in South Korea is climbing near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the divide between North and South Korea. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) raised a nationwide malaria warning on August 19, 2025. This came after it detected the year’s first mosquito in Korea carrying the Plasmodium vivax parasite.

This strain hadn’t been prevalent outside of military officials since the ’90s. However, officials and citizens are rallying together to fight for accessible health care and transportation options in rural areas.

Malaria’s Borderland Comeback

The return of Plasmodium vivax malaria in 1993 had spread mainly among soldiers stationed along the DMZ. Studies estimate that 60% and 90% of cases during this period were young men in their early 20s performing mandatory service near the northern edge of Gyeonggi Province, alongside the DMZ. These troops often lived outdoors in field conditions, which increased their exposure to infected mosquitoes.

Since then, malaria in South Korea has persisted in the regions surrounding the border, making the borderland a place vulnerable to disease due to its limited resources and health care. Today, rural civilians and military personnel make up most new cases of malaria. Farms and rice paddies serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

As of August 2025, South Korea reported 373 malaria cases and health officials project the number will rise as the peak season continues through September. Since infected mosquitoes refuse to stop at the border between North and South Korea, transmission continues unchecked as they travel into rural South Korean cities.

Rice Paddies: Perfect Breeding Ground for Mosquitoes

Rice paddies provide perfect breeding grounds for Anopheles mosquitoes, the primary sources of malaria in South Korea. Research shows that more than 50% of Anopheles sinensis larvae are discovered in rice paddies near the western DMZ region, including areas like Ganghwa and Paju. These flood-prone plains and rice fields provide an ideal environment for mosquitoes to breed and spread throughout rural South Korea.

Malaria transmission is especially widespread near border villages, such as Wolgot‑myeon in Gimpo‑si and Naega‑myeon in Ganghwa‑gun. This highlights the urgent need for resources to combat the growing health crisis as malaria spreads in these rural communities.

Poverty: The Quiet Catalyst

Poverty, poor housing and health care gaps drive the spread of malaria in South Korea, reminding us that this is not just a mosquito problem. Malaria outbreaks are inequality crises that demand urgent solutions.

  • Health care gaps: Near the DMZ, clinics are far away and few are between the cities lining the border. Residents often face lengthy journeys and high transportation costs to access care. Delays in diagnosis and treatment give malaria parasites more time to spread and multiply.
  • Housing conditions: Underserved households often lack essential resources, needing mosquito nets, materials to seal windows and proper air conditioning. This leaves residents vulnerable on hot summer nights when mosquitoes are more prone to bite.
  • Outdoor working conditions: Farmers and forestry workers labor at dawn and dusk, right when Anopheles mosquitoes bite the most. In rural areas, these work environments are often highly staffed, which can significantly increase the disease’s transmission rate.
  • Elderly poverty: South Korea has one of the highest elderly poverty rates in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and many older residents live in rural DMZ counties. These seniors remain both highly exposed and medically vulnerable due to the lack of support and resources available in rural areas.

The Malaria Trap

Malaria in South Korea not only threatens health but also directly impacts the livelihoods of the rural cities along the DMZ. A review found that families bear most of malaria’s economic burden, accounting for an average of 71% of the total costs, including lost wages and health care expenses. Each infection forces workers to miss days in the fields, reduces wages and drains already limited household resources.

Even under universal health care, costs for medication, hospital visits and transportation weigh heavily on those infected with malaria, as many rural cities don’t have health care facilities available. Although the public transportation system in South Korea is well-developed, vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by transportation costs to health care facilities.

Globally, malaria traps low-income families in a vicious cycle: illness reduces income, limiting access to transportation, health care and medicine, which in turn makes preventing future infections harder. Experts call this the “malaria trap” because it keeps people in a never-ending loop.

Groups Tackling Malaria in South Korea

Tackling malaria in South Korea requires more than mosquito control and pesticides. The fight demands coordinated efforts between government agencies, international organizations and community-based groups. Several agencies and organizations are working to contain malaria near the DMZ, which is proving difficult to change overnight.

  • The Korean Red Cross: The Korean Red Cross operates mobile clinics, health programs and disaster relief services across South Korea. It often fills gaps where access is limited. While it doesn’t focus specifically on malaria, its outreach and emergency services support rural and border communities that would otherwise go without care.
  • Against Malaria Foundation Korea (AMF Korea): Founded in August 2023 in Seoul, AMF Korea is the local arm of the globally acclaimed Against Malaria Foundation. It distributes long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) to high-risk communities. AMF Korea’s cost-effective, data-driven model and grassroots presence in Korea highlight the potential for local-level malaria prevention efforts.

Additionally, the South Korean government has implemented a five-year plan to eradicate the disease. The strategy focuses on ensuring that everyone can access malaria testing and treatment. It also emphasizes monitoring and evaluating the spread of the disease. The plan also aims to build a network linking public agencies, private organizations and the military to coordinate efforts and contain malaria transmission in South Korea.

Conclusion

The resurgence of malaria in South Korea demonstrates that gross domestic product rankings or international borders cannot deter infectious diseases. The parasite thrives wherever poverty leaves people vulnerable, especially near a Korean rice paddy under the shadow of the DMZ.

Local and global organizations have driven significant progress, but expanding access to health care and medicine in South Korea’s rural communities will have the most profound impact. To eliminate malaria for good, South Korea and its partners must continue fighting mosquitoes and the inequality that allows the disease to persist.

– Nicole Fernandez

Nicole is based in Reno, NV, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

, ,

Global Telehealth Network: Increasing Health Care Access

Global Telehealth NetworkAfrica is home to more than 1.5 billion individuals, with approximately 1.29 billion residing in sub-Saharan Africa. While Africa’s population is gradually moving toward more urbanized regions, 56% of those in sub-Saharan Africa live in rural communities. In general, Africans face many struggles with health care, including a lack of infrastructure, facilities, personnel and support.

Health Care Challenges

More than 600 million individuals in Africa lack access to health care services. While Africa contains 16% of the world’s population and 23% of the global disease burden, it only receives 1% of global health expenditures. Africa has the highest disease burden compared to the other continents. Yet, it also has the lowest ratio of health workers to the population.

It carries nearly a quarter of the disease burden on a global scale, yet only holds around 3% of health care workers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa has a mere 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people, compared to 37.6 doctors per 10,000 in Europe. In addition, an estimated deficit of 11.1 million health care employees is projected by 2030, with most of the disparity affecting Africa.

Combined with the excessive burden of disease outbreaks and largely understaffed health care facilities, Africa’s health care systems are overwhelmed and unable to serve its population equitably. Those living in sub-Saharan Africa are notably disadvantaged, with the region having the lowest ratings in well-being and satisfaction with health care services.

With most of Africa’s population residing in rural areas, their access to health care services is even more limited. In response, health organizations have partnered with local governments and introduced telemedicine services.

Telemedicine Services in Africa

Telemedicine involves using apps designed for personal communication devices like tablets and phones to deliver various health care services. Some telemedicine services offer telephonic or face-to-face communication with health care workers, SMS for treatment support or questions and online platforms to view medical records or schedule health consultations. Many companies throughout Africa and beyond are investing and creating these online platforms to better serve their communities, especially those in rural areas with limited access to health care resources.

While telemedicine does support underserved populations, this alone is insufficient to address health care concerns to the fullest extent. A key component of improving the health of underserved populations is prevention. Preventive measures are linked to lower rates of illness and mortality in cancer, chronic disease, mental health, vision, oral health and immunizations. With the combination of telemedicine and effective preventative initiatives, there is hope for improving the health of vulnerable communities.

The Global Telehealth Network

One organization that emphasizes support through telemedicine and prevention is the nonprofit organization, Global Telehealth Network (GTN). GTN was established to improve health care disparities in rural and underserved communities by assisting in health promotion and disease prevention. Volunteer doctors and psychologists for GTN help health care workers in rural areas who face complicated health issues.

The Borgen Project spoke to the President and Chief Medical Officer at GTN, Jack Higgins, about the organization’s telemedicine pilot programs and other initiatives for helping those in rural areas with a lack of access to health care resources.

Higgins said, “Somebody’s health depends as much on where they live, their family history or their cholesterol levels. Basically, by zip code, you can almost predict the average life span for people, because of the inequalities in our society and in Africa, it’s more so because the poverty is even worse. The problems with clean water are even worse and other environmental concerns and sometimes political concerns.”

Access to Medical Professionals

Considering the shortage of medical professionals, especially in rural areas, GTN has specifically focused on those regions. Higgins said, “Uganda and Kenya both have decent health systems in the cities; it’s out in the rural areas where they have almost nothing. And that’s our biggest concentration, connecting them to the people in the cities whenever possible, because they can get consultations without having to go for 10 hours or whatever to see a doctor.” Physicians can treat more patients effectively and efficiently by allowing faster health care services.

Higgins also discussed GTN’s prevention efforts in combination with telemedicine. Higgins said, “It turned out we could do this online in a way that is totally feasible, in that the cost could be much less than it would be if you had to hire a person who’s going to sit there somewhere all the time, whether their patients come in or not. So the hope is that by making preventive care really available to people, it’ll make it easier for them.”

Building Community Resources for Sustainable Health

Despite its efforts in prevention via telemedicine services, Higgins explained that these efforts will grow more effective by providing community resources: “If the kids are drinking dirty water and they’re starving, they’re malnourished, then you’re not going to go very far in terms of really helping that community. So we started partnering with other organizations that have other skills and now we’re developing these community resource centers that can offer a lot of different things.”

GTN has begun building coalitions with rotary clubs and nonprofit organizations to provide services and resources to underserved populations. These include WASH stations, libraries, Climate-smart agriculture training, solar power projects and increased internet access. However, these efforts cannot be fully implemented without proper funding.

Higgins said, “There won’t be enough money coming from the governments to do the job. A combination of philanthropy and NGOs, nonprofits like us can hopefully give them the assistance they need to create sustainable and high-quality health care systems and that’s what we’re about.”

Conclusion

The work of Global Telehealth Network shows that expanding telemedicine alongside community resources can bridge rural health care gaps. However, a lasting impact will depend on strong partnerships and sustainable funding.

– Grace Johnson

Grace is based in Chicago, IL, USA and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

,

African Vaccination Week: Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and South Sudan

African Vaccination WeekThe 2025 African Vaccination Week (AVW), celebrated in April, was themed “Immunization For All is Humanly Possible.” The celebratory week began in 2010 as a World Health Organization (WHO) initiative to promote vaccination and its necessity within global health. The WHO found that in 2023 alone, vaccination saved 1.8 million lives in Africa.

The four goals of this year’s AVW were clear. The first was to reach un-immunized children through better initiatives. The second was to display the benefits of vaccines for African society. The third was to emphasize the importance of vaccines for the health care system coverage. The fourth was to increase immunization through further investment.

Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone, celebrating AVW involved governmental action focused on minimizing national gaps in immunization. Along with support from the WHO, UNICEF and Africa’s CDC, Sierra Leone has received more than $200 million worth of support from Gavi, an international vaccine supplier.

From April 24 through May 2, Gavi assisted Sierra Leone in conducting mobile drives to vaccinate disadvantaged areas. It supplies missed dosages to children and adults, promotes positive campaigns and more.

Ethiopia

Celebrating AVW in Ethiopia began with a commemoration held at the Woreda 03 National Health Center on April 30. An area facing some of the largest historical disparities in immunization, the event was financially supported by the WHO. Among the organizations in attendance were UNICEF representatives, advocates from the Gates Foundation, Save the Children and Ethiopian leaders.

Ethiopia’s State Minister of Health, Dr. Dereje Duguma, gave a speech highlighting the importance of vaccines. Duguma also thanked the volunteer efforts that have resulted in the vaccination of hundreds of children within the Woreda region in the previous six months.

South Sudan

The 2025 AVW marked several significant advances in South Sudan’s efforts toward national immunization. South Sudan is introducing three new vaccines to its standard program this year. Gavi is helping supply South Sudan with Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (PCV), the Rotavirus vaccine and the second dose of Measles-Containing Vaccine (MCV2).

In addition to introducing these immunizations and with support from UNICEF and the WHO, the nation has also launched its “Big Catch-Up” initiative. Targeting 30 counties across South Sudan, the initiative is holding vaccination activities to reach untreated children.

Looking Forward

Across Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and South Sudan, the 2025 African Vaccination Week event focused on immunizing unvaccinated citizens. The AVW’s Pan-African framework has motivated ongoing vaccine efforts and improved overall health care. According to WHO data, since 2011, a cumulative 180 million lives have been saved due to health system improvements, including vaccination.

With continued support from global organizations such as UNICEF, the WHO and Gavi, immunization rates in Africa are expected to keep rising, providing greater safety in an increasingly populated world.

– Piper Aweeka

Piper is based in Alicante, Spain and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr