Archive for category: Health

Information and stories on health topics.

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Addressing the Cholera Outbreak in Kenya

Cholera Outbreak in KenyaSince late February 2025, six counties in Kenya have been facing a cholera outbreak. Active transmission is occurring in four counties: Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi and Turkana.

Cholera Outbreak in Kenya

The first cholera outbreak in Kenya started in 1971, with current challenges such as displacement and poor infrastructure in rural and flood-affected areas intensifying the issue. Cholera outbreaks mainly stem from two significant factors: changes in climate and inadequate access to sanitation and clean water.

Changing climatic conditions have been connected to cholera outbreaks, including rainfall variations, temperature and extreme weather events. Some Kenyans living in areas impacted by severe weather, such as floods or drought, experience displacement, leaving many without access to clean water and sanitation. Due to the complexity of these cross-border influences, it is increasingly challenging to manage cholera outbreaks.

Cholera remains a serious concern, with the most recent long-term outbreak in Kenya lasting from October 2022 to September 2024. During this period, more than 12,000 cases were reported, resulting in more than 200 deaths. With the fatality rate exceeding the global expectation of 1%, coordinated actions are essential to preventing the spread of cholera and to reducing the severity of future outbreaks.

Solution

To combat the cholera outbreak in Kenya, volunteers at the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) are leading emergency response efforts addressing flooding. Flood response teams focus on search and rescue operations and providing relief to those affected.

In addition, the KRCS partnered with the Ministry of Health to engage community members in tackling the issue. Initiatives include programs that improve knowledge and access, such as Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) deployed rapid response teams to three counties in Kenya to support local health care workers. Their work includes managing active cases through contact tracing, laboratory diagnosis and water testing. WHO also supplies cholera kits to affected areas, containing testing materials, medical equipment and essential medications. In Nairobi County alone, these kits treated an estimated 1,100 mild and severe cases.

To reduce the burden on health officials ahead of potential future outbreaks, the WHO and the Ministry of Health in 2024 trained and deployed 120 workers to high-risk counties, equipping them with the tools to treat cholera cases.

Conclusion

With recent history showing prolonged outbreaks and devastating weather events, the ongoing cholera outbreak in Kenya highlights the need for urgent and sustained action. Displacement, lack of access to sanitation and clean water, along with insufficient infrastructure, continue to drive the spread of cholera, particularly in rural and underserved areas. However, coordinated efforts from organizations like the KRCS and the WHO offer hope.

Kenya is taking meaningful steps toward managing this crisis through emergency response and long-term efforts. These include community engagement, training health workers and improving water and sanitation systems. Continued support and investment can help Kenya and surrounding countries break the cycle of recurring outbreaks to build resilience against future public health threats.

– Grace Johnson

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

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Diseases Impacting Barbados

Diseases Impacting BarbadosBarbados is a small island nation located in the Caribbean. It is located in the Lesser Antilles, specifically the Windward Islands chain. It has a population of a little above 220,000 people. Barbados is known for being the home country of singer Rihanna, its beautiful, pristine beaches and its rum. However, many diseases are impacting Barbados, making life difficult for its citizens.

Noncommunicable Diseases in Barbados

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death in Barbados. According to the Global Food Research Program, NCDs accounted for 83% of all deaths in 2016. The primary reason for this is the high consumption rate of sugary drinks. Diseases such as obesity are rising in Barbados.

However, the country is taking steps to fight against the prevalence of NCDs. In 2015, the country implemented a 10% tax on sugary drinks, which increased to 20% in 2022. The country also passed the National School Nutrition Policy, which improved the food quality in Barbadian schools, added measures relating to proper physical activity for students and promoted community health.

In 2023, an estimated 6.9% of Barbadians aged 15 and older used tobacco and 67.2% of people in this age group were either overweight or obese. Nearly 43% of the population reported insufficient physical activity. About 34.6% of Barbadian women and 17.1% of Barbadian men were overweight or obese.

Additionally, 24.4% of the population aged 18 and older reported high blood pressure in 2015. And in 2014, 12.2% of the population 18 and older reported having diabetes mellitus.

Infectious Diseases in Barbados

Barbados also deals with infectious diseases such as dengue and chikungunya. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists Barbados as a country with a frequent or continuous risk of dengue. There was a dengue outbreak in the country in 2023-2024, with 3,303 cases. There were also eight confirmed cases of chikungunya in 2024. Diseases caused by mosquito bites (such as dengue and chikungunya) are prevalent across the Caribbean.

Since Barbados is a small island nation, outbreaks of infectious diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika can have particularly big impacts on the country’s health care system and its economic productivity.

Barbados’ economy relies on tourism. An outbreak of infectious diseases might discourage tourists from visiting, causing economic loss for the country and its locals. Diseases impacting Barbados impact not just the country’s public health, but also its economy.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness of Barbados has taken steps to combat these infectious diseases. The ministry engages in public mosquito control and active disease surveillance to prevent/manage outbreaks.

Conclusion

Barbados is currently dealing with both communicable diseases and NCDs. A significant percentage of Barbadians are dealing with obesity. In addition, the country periodically experiences outbreaks of infectious (primarily mosquito-borne) diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. These diseases impacting Barbados might adversely affect the country’s health care, economy and quality of life.

However, the government has programs to fight these diseases. The government has instituted a 20% tax on sugary drinks and implemented school programs promoting proper nutrition and physical activity. It also engages in programs such as mosquito control and disease surveillance to fight infectious diseases.

– Samriddha Aryal

Samriddha is based in Centreville, VA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Guam Fights Maternal Mortality Through Guahan Doula Project

Guahan Doula ProjectThe maternal mortality rate in Guam (a U.S. island territory in Micronesia) is high, mainly due to the lack of obstetric care available on the island. As of 2021, the maternal mortality rate in Guam was 30.4 per 1,000 births. An extreme lack of OBGYN providers is believed to be the cause of the high mortality rates for mothers. The Guahan Doula Project seeks to rectify this gap in care by providing a program in which women can become certified as doulas and assist in pregnancy care.

Lack of Access to Hospitals Restricts Medical Care

Guam has only three hospitals, one of which is located on the Guam Naval Base, which exclusively provides care to those serving and their families. The Guam Regional Medical City, located in Dededo, is a private hospital. This leaves only one public hospital, Guam Memorial Hospital in Tamuning, where most people in Guam can obtain medical care. It is also the only hospital with a labor and delivery wing.

Those residing in the southernmost parts of the island face up to an hour-long drive to the Guam Memorial Hospital. If there are any complications during labor and delivery, the distance may increase the odds of fatality for the mother or baby.

Due to the difficulties accessing health care, the Health Resources and Services Administration deems Guam a Medically Underserved Area. Specialized care, such as obstetrics, is even harder to access. More than half of maternity-related deaths are due to hemorrhage and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. Both are less likely to be fatal with routine, preventative doctor visits.

Provider Shortages

According to OBGYN Dr. Tom Shieh, there are only 6.5 OBGYNs left to handle the delivery of the roughly 250 babies born monthly. This shortage of medical professionals, coupled with the lack of hospitals, undoubtedly increases maternal mortality in Guam.

Guam, with a population of 167,777, has only 6.5 practicing OB-GYNs—far too few to adequately meet the needs of expecting and delivering mothers.

Guahan Doula Project

Bill 318-47 seeks to address the maternal mortality in Guam through certifying doulas. The bill proposes allocating $400,000 to the Bureau of Women’s Affairs’ Guahan Doula Project. Doulas can provide pregnancy care to help fill the gap that the lack of OBGYNs and gynecologists leaves. There are 13 doulas in Guam as of February 2025, but that number would surely increase if the bill passes.

Doulas are not licensed medical professionals in the same way that doctors are. However, they provide support and knowledge of the birthing process that has been proven to reduce maternal mortality rates, shorten labor times and reduce emergency cesarean sections.

More doulas would offer more possibilities of access to care than the Guam Memorial Hospital does alone. Practices can be set up anywhere and don’t need to be based in a hospital. This allows more women the opportunity to receive some pregnancy care before, during and after birth.

Doulas Supplement Maternal Care

Increasing access to prenatal and postnatal care will decrease the rates of maternal mortality in Guam. Medical problems that may prove fatal are more likely to be caught and treated if the expectant woman can be seen by a provider regularly.

– Sydney Uhl

Sydney is based in Vancouver, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Mental Health in the Comoros

Mental Health in the ComorosThe Comoros, an archipelago of three islands in the Indian Ocean located between Madagascar and the southeast African mainland, is facing one of the world’s most silent mental health crises. With only one psychiatrist for 800,000 people, no national mental health strategy and 45% of the population living below the poverty line, access to psychiatric care is minimal. In addition, mental health issues remain heavily stigmatized within Comorian society, often being attributed to supernatural causes, such as jinn (demon) possession or witchcraft.

Lack of Mental Health Policy

The Comorian government has yet to adopt a mental health strategy, legislation or a specific budget for mental health care. This policy vacuum reflects decades of political instability and military coups since the country’s independence in 1975, compounded by pervasive poverty that besets the archipelago. Without a national plan, there is no framework to develop services, train providers or secure international funding for scalable solutions.

Poverty and Mental Health in the Comoros

Mental health care is too costly for most Comorian families. Without insurance systems or government-funded services, families often exhaust their savings on traditional healing or resort to physically restraining relatives with severe symptoms. The economic impact extends beyond individual families, as untreated mental illness reduces productivity, increases school dropout rates and reproduces poverty.

In 2018, the country’s Human Capital Index was only 0.40, suggesting that children born in 2018 will only achieve 40% of their productive potential, a figure partly influenced by preventable health issues, including mental disorders.

Cultural Beliefs and Stigma

Mental illness in Comoros is predominantly attributed to supernatural causes. As a result, many people first seek treatment from marabouts, who use Quranic verses, herbal remedies and amulets. These practices often delay medical treatment and can worsen psychiatric conditions. Women face particular obstacles, as cultural stigmatization often prevents them from seeking help or freely deciding about their treatment. Older people are also vulnerable, with no geriatric mental health support available.

However, organizations like Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) have supported mental health innovation in the Union of Comoros by training community health workers and facilitating psychiatric consultations via mobile phones. To reinforce monitoring and public awareness, the program also deploys tablets for weekly reporting and mobile apps to inform local communities about mental health issues.

Furthermore, youth-led initiatives like the Al Shara Youth Comoros “Moroni hub” based in Moroni, provide safe places for the youth to discuss mental health, challenge misconceptions and empower those affected by mental health issues.

Innoventive Mental Health Alternatives

Several other promising initiatives have emerged in recent years. In 2020, a telepsychiatry project was launched, with three key objectives. First, it helps raise awareness about mental health in Comoros, working to reduce misconceptions and stigma surrounding mental health disorders. Moreover, it also trains health care practitioners to manage conditions, such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Finally, the project facilitates tele-consultations through Skype/Teams, connecting people and health care providers in remote areas with the country’s only psychiatrist and consultants from Madagascar and France. These tele-consultations provide diagnostic guidance and treatment recommendations, helping to mitigate the scarcity of psychiatric specialists.

E-education platforms are also slowly expanding, providing ongoing psychiatric and psychological training for health care workers. Targeted economic investment, especially from the U.S., could help develop these pivotal initiatives and bring mental health care to thousands of Comorians who currently suffer in silence. Addressing mental health care in Comoros requires sustained efforts, cultural sensitivity and international support to build more resilient communities.

– Juliette Delbarre

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

Photo: Flickr

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Improving Women’s Health Care in Africa

Improving Women's Health Care in Africa The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that women disproportionately experience health complications and barriers to health care access compared to men. Globally, both poverty and sociocultural factors hinder women’s ability to receive quality health services and care. WHO identifies these factors as: 

  • “Unequal power relationships between men and women;” 
  • “Social norms that decrease women’s education and paid employment opportunities;”
  • “An exclusive focus on women’s reproductive roles and” 
  • “Potential or actual experience of physical, sexual and emotional violence.”

COWHA’s Mission in Africa

There are organizations globally committed to improving women’s health care. One of these is the Coalition for Women’s Health in Africa (COWHA). COWHA is invested in providing girls and women with equitable access to health care and increasing their well-being. This vision is driven by an approach rooted in knowledge, advocacy and action. This three-pronged approach thrives on a collaboration with organizations in the private sector and holding governance responsible for reimagining and supporting women’s health care. 

In its 2025 Webinar Report, the Coalition for Women’s Health in Africa insists on the necessity of domestic investments, calling African governments to expand access to quality health services for girls and women, ensure financial risk protection and reduce out-of-pocket expenditures for patients and advance equity by making the health care of the most vulnerable and underserved populations a priority.

By adopting and funding these strategic priorities, COWHA can better maximize its impact in countries such as Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. In these regions, special attention goes to providing services and treatment for girls and women experiencing breast and cervical cancer, other noncommunicable diseases and needs related to sexual and reproductive health, as well as maternal and newborn care.

Statistics in Women’s Health Care

Coalition for Women’s Health in Africa reports the rates at which women and girls across the African continent experience health complications. Indeed, according to the report, around 66% of all global maternal deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, 26% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa experience unplanned pregnancies and 65% of all cancer cases in Africa occur in women.

However, the organization’s framework is actively improving women’s health care in Africa and reducing oppressive conditions. Investing in knowledge and research enables COWHA to disseminate integral data on women’s health across Africa. This identifies gaps in care as well as offering life-saving interventions to enhance health outcomes. COWHA engages in conversation with policymakers, amplifying the most pressing health challenges, barriers to access and ensuring that women’s health is a priority.

Looking Ahead

The Coalition for Women’s Health in Africa’s cross-sector collaboration with governments, health care institutions and NGOs enables the implementation of targeted interventions. As a result, COWHA champions improvements in women’s health care that can have long-lasting impacts on the social and living conditions of girls and women across Africa.

– McKenzie Rentie

McKenzie is based in Dallas, Texas, USA and focuses on Celebs and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Solar Energy is Transforming Rural Africa

Solar Energy is Transforming Rural AfricaSolar power is delivering more than just electricity across rural Africa, it provides education, health care access and economic opportunity in communities long left in the dark. In many remote parts of sub-Saharan Africa, sunset often means the end of the day. Without reliable access to electricity, millions of families are forced to live and work in darkness. However, solar energy is transforming Africa by changing that reality. Affordable, off-grid solar solutions are lighting up homes, schools and clinics, offering clean energy where traditional power grids have not reached. These solutions are not just providing light, they are transforming lives.

How SolarAid Is Making a Difference

Founded in 2006, the U.K.-based nonprofit SolarAid is a leading organization working to bring solar lighting to underserved areas. Through its social enterprise, SunnyMoney, it has distributed more than 2.2 million solar lights across Malawi and Zambia. These lights are safe, affordable alternatives to kerosene lamps and candles, which are not only expensive but also harmful to health.

By 2024, SolarAid’s efforts had positively impacted more than 10 million people, helping children study at night and families save money on fuel. In total, its work has helped communities avoid more than $400 million in energy-related expenses.

“When the sun goes down solar light extends the day” said SolarAid CEO John Keane in a 2023 interview with The Guardian. “That means more study time for children, more productivity and less dependence on harmful kerosene.”

Improving Rural Health Care

Solar energy is transforming rural Africa by aiding health care in off-grid communities. Since 2014, Let There Be Light International (LTBLI) has brought solar lighting systems to clinics and homes in rural Uganda. As of 2023, the organization had provided more than 6,000 solar systems to underserved areas.

These solar-powered clinics can now safely carry out nighttime deliveries, store vaccines and provide emergency care. In one example from Kayunga District, maternal deaths decreased by 45% between 2018 and 2022 thanks to better lighting and solar refrigeration for medicine.

Fueling Local Economies

In Tanzania, solar company Mobisol has installed more than 150,000 solar home systems in rural areas. These systems provide power for lighting, mobile phone charging and small appliances, helping people start income-generating activities such as phone charging stations and barbershops. Mobisol’s work has improved the lives of 750,000 people while reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 150,000 tons.

In countries like Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia, d.light is helping families access solar energy through a pay-as-you-go model. Founded in 2007, the company lets users pay in small, mobile-money installments. By 2023, it had reached more than 150 million people globally, including 35 million in Africa.

“Our goal is to transform the lives of a billion people with sustainable products by 2030” said d.light co-founder Sam Goldman in a 2022 interview with Reuters.

Empowering Women and Young People

Solar power is also creating job opportunities, especially for women and youth. In Senegal, the Barefoot College Africa program has been training rural women, many of them grandmothers, as solar engineers since 2012. Known as “Solar Mamas” these women install and maintain solar systems in their villages. So far, more than 1,500 women across 93 villages have received training, bringing electricity to more than 200,000 people.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, youth-led solar startups like Arnergy and Havenhill Synergy are training and employing technicians to install and maintain solar equipment. These growing companies are contributing to both energy access and youth employment in underserved regions.

Looking Ahead

Solar energy is transforming rural Africa by not only providing electricity but also delivering opportunities. From improving health care to supporting education and fueling local businesses, solar power is proving to be a practical, affordable and life-changing solution for communities living off the grid. With millions already benefiting from these programs and more projects underway, solar power continues to shine a path toward lasting development across the continent.

– Tonia Uzor

Tonia is based in Lagos, Nigeria and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Updates on SDG 1 in Ethiopia: Progress Toward Ending Poverty

SDG 1 in EthiopiaDespite ongoing instability in the Tigray region, Ethiopia is steadily advancing in its fight against extreme poverty, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1), which aims to eradicate poverty in all its forms by 2030. This goal includes ensuring equal access to resources, basic services and economic opportunities for all. As one of Africa’s most populous countries, Ethiopia’s progress on SDG 1 is critical for the continent’s development.

Updates on SDG 1 in Ethiopia

The most recent data indicates that Ethiopia is on track in reducing extreme poverty. As of 2024, the proportion of people living on less than $2.15 per day has dropped to 14.01%, according to worldpoverty.io. A decade ago, this figure was much higher. The number of people living under the $3.65 threshold has also decreased significantly—from 72.79% in 2014 to 37.77% in 2024. These numbers reflect consistent efforts to improve access to basic services, employment and rural development. 

Government programs like the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) have played a key role. Established in 2005, the PSNP provides food or cash in exchange for public work to millions of food-insecure households, helping them avoid selling assets during times of crisis.

Public Health and SDG 1

Improved health care directly supports SDG 1 by reducing the financial burden of illness. Ethiopia has made significant strides in maternal health and HIV prevention. For example, new adult HIV infections fell to just 0.08 per 1,000 people in 2022, thanks to expanded education, free testing services and access to antiretroviral therapy. Maternal health has improved due to wider coverage of prenatal services and an increase in skilled birth attendants.

Gender Equality and Poverty Reduction

Gender inequality remains a root cause of poverty, including in the labor force. But there are positive updates on SDG 1 in Ethiopia when it comes to empowering women. In 2023, women occupied 41.3% of parliamentary seats—up from just 2% in 2000. The female-to-male labor force participation rate rose to 87.05%, showing progress toward economic equality.

Still, women – especially in rural areas –  face higher unemployment, limited access to land and greater exposure to unpaid labor. Government initiatives and NGO-led training programs have been essential in boosting financial literacy and entrepreneurship among women. For instance, the Adult and Non-Formal Education Association in Ethiopia (ANFEAE) launched the “Literacy Plus” program in 2008, training more than 6,200 rural women in basic business and income-generating skills.

Responsible Waste Management and Urban Poverty

Ethiopia has also made progress in responsible consumption and production, an important component in fighting urban poverty. Ethiopia now meets its targets for managing municipal, plastic and electronic waste.

In Addis Ababa, TechnoServe’s LIWAY initiative collaborated with the city cleaning agency to launch more than 580 micro-enterprises run by women and youth. These small businesses collected more than 41,800 tonnes of paper and plastic in the year 2023 alone, generating nearly $10 million in revenue while providing regular income opportunities to vulnerable groups. In a related project started earlier, 125 micro-enterprises involving 1,250 members were established; 70% remained active after a year, and half saw a rise in income. By 2021, 117 micro‑enterprises had collected 7,000 tonnes of paper and generated $400,000 in sales, creating employment for more than 2,200 women and young people.

Climate Vulnerability and Poverty

Changing weather remains a challenge that exacerbates poverty. In Ethiopia, erratic rainfall and prolonged droughts damage crops, displace rural families and reduce food security. While the country is making progress in reducing its own carbon emissions, vulnerability to climate-related shocks still poses a serious threat to SDG 1.

Integrating climate resilience into poverty alleviation programs is therefore essential. Projects like the Climate Investment Funds’ $500 million resilience initiative and the expansion of Ethiopia’s early warning systems offer promising solutions. Additionally, Ethiopia’s Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Program, which launched in 2013, has helped rehabilitate degraded land, improve water access, and enhance food security for pastoralist communities in drought-prone areas. Lately, a new financial support for “lowlands livelihood resilience,” continues to scale the drought resilience efforts for about 3 million pastoralists and agro-pastoralists.

Looking Ahead

Updates on SDG 1 in Ethiopia reveal steady progress, especially in reducing poverty, improving gender equality and expanding access to health services. Continued investment in climate resilience, sustainable waste systems and inclusive policies will be key to ensuring that no one is left behind.

– Alexandra Diallo-Scholler

Alexandra is based in Los Angeles, California and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Polio in India: The Impacts of the 2025–2026 GPSAP

Polio in IndiaIndia, in the past, has had a long battle with Polio. Polio mostly affected children in India and the peak was reached in 2000, when 1,600 people were infected, the majority of them children. Back in the ’90s and early 2000s, no matter how many vaccines were created, polio remained a rampant problem in India.

The last known case in India was in Howrah, West Bengal, in 2011. India was officially declared polio-free in 2014 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Polio has affected people in India in both the past and present, with many still living with lifelong complications from the disease, such as paralysis in children.

How It Became a National Issue

Polio in India became widespread due to poor hygiene, including the use of unclean water and limited sanitation infrastructure in rural communities. Contaminated water contributes to unhygienic conditions, often because people live in poverty and environments that harm their health.

Many cannot escape these conditions, surviving on less than $3.25 a day. Statistics show that between 1993 and 2004, India had an average poverty rate of 96.8%, with more than half the population lacking access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities.

How the GPSAP 2025-2026 Will Benefit India

Over the past decade, the country has taken many steps to prevent polio from re-emerging as a major issue. These efforts include making vaccines more accessible, reducing poverty rates and improving access to clean water. The Global Polio Surveillance Action Plan (GPSAP) 2025–2026 focuses on timely detection, allowing cases of polio in specific areas of India to be identified immediately. One strategy for eradicating polio involves stool testing. If a potential virus is detected, the goal is to prevent delays in identifying and responding to cases.

The second step of action involves researching gender differences, specifically, how men and women may experience different symptoms of polio and how these differences could affect them or their children. Participants would be divided by gender and age, with men and women separated and children younger and above the age of 15 for testing. Research suggests that men may be at risk of transmitting polio through sexual intercourse. At the same time, women face an increased risk during pregnancy, especially in areas with limited health care access.

If Polio Is Eradicated, Why Take These Measures?

Although polio has been eradicated in India, it has not been eliminated in all countries. Since a virus causes polio, it can spread across borders through contaminated water, saliva or other bodily fluids. The GPSAP 2025–2026 plan is important because it helps ensure that polio does not return to India. If a case does emerge, strict measures will be taken to prevent its reestablishment in the country.

– Erin Lee

Erin is based in New York City, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Elderly Poverty in Kyrgyzstan: Challenges and Solutions

Elderly Poverty in KyrgyzstanIn Kyrgyzstan, aging often means slipping into poverty — limited pensions, elder abuse, economic hardship and gaps in health care leave many older adults struggling to survive. The average monthly pension is about 10,547 soms (roughly $108), which is significantly lower than the estimated monthly cost of living of 18,000 to 20,000 soms ($180–$200). The minimum pension is even lower at 6,900 soms ($71). HelpAge International reports that nearly one in three elderly people live below the national poverty line, and about 10% live alone with inadequate care. Here is information about elderly poverty in Kyrgyzstan and efforts to address it.

About Elderly Poverty in Kyrgyzstan

One can trace the roots of elderly poverty in Kyrgyzstan back to the collapse of the Soviet Union, which disrupted pensions, healthcare systems and social services across the region. Many seniors today contributed to the workforce for decades but now receive pensions that fail to keep pace with inflation. The country’s fragile economy — which is reliant on agriculture, gold exports and remittances — leaves little room for robust social spending.

Meet Vera Geykina, a 76‑year‑old widow in Bishkek who joined a theater project to raise awareness about elder abuse. Despite being active in her community, her pension barely covers her medication and heating bills. Vera’s story reflects the daily struggles many seniors face in Kyrgyzstan, where public health care access is strained, and personal savings are often depleted within years of retirement.

In rural regions, elderly people often depend on remittances sent by family members working abroad. Migration shifts and economic downturns make these payments unreliable. The World Bank reports that remittances once accounted for more than 30% of Kyrgyzstan’s GDP — underscoring just how dependent households are on this income. However, families often migrate out of necessity, leaving elderly parents behind without consistent physical or emotional support.

Health care poses another severe challenge. According to the UNFPA, elderly Kyrgyz citizens — especially women — face higher rates of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes and arthritis. However, many cannot afford medications or procedures. Rural clinics are often underfunded, lacking specialists or necessary equipment, while private health care remains out of reach for most pensioners.

Solutions

Despite these hardships, there are promising solutions underway. HelpAge International operates community programs offering financial aid, food deliveries, health care access and legal support for older adults. The Kyrgyz government has also introduced pension adjustments, with the latest raising the average pension to 10,547 soms. Additionally, the Babushka Adoption Foundation connects elderly people without families to international sponsors, providing $10 or more per month — nearly doubling some seniors’ minimum pensions.

– Meral Ciplak

Meral is based in Edmonton, Canada and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Health Care in Rural Peru: Students Bridging the Gaps

Health Care in Rural PeruPeru, famous to many for the memorable sites of Machu Picchu, is currently fighting a battle against preventable illness. Hepatitis A, typhoid and malaria are just a number of the diseases common among the citizens of Peru. Beyond that, nearly 12% of the population faces major nutrition-related deficiencies. One of the most widespread is anemia, affecting 40% of children. Some health conditions, however, are even more severe.

Prenatal and maternal care are almost nonexistent and pregnancy complications disproportionately affect indigenous women and those living in rural communities. Despite the severe nature of the health complications, all of them are worse because of the lack of knowledge surrounding the issue and little to no access to medical facilities.

However, a group of pre-med students from Duke University and Boston College partnered with Sacred Valley to create a sustainable but realistic solution for these rural communities. They are training women in these communities to be health advocates by informing them about nutrition, pregnancy protocols and when to seek serious help. These individuals are paving a new path to health care in rural Peru.

The Layers of Translation in Peru

One junior, Catherine May, at Boston College had an especially vital position in this operation. The majority of rural communities in Peru speak the Quechua language. Her role is to translate from English to Spanish so local translators can translate from Spanish to Quechuan. The first level of medical access must be language in these rural communities and fluency in English is a rarity.

May, used her extensive background in Spanish to translate medical advice from doctors in Sacred Valley effectively. In turn, this information is bringing health care to rural Peru by training women to look after the well-being of their community in whatever capacity they can. However basic it may seem, being able to translate medical advice from English to Spanish is necessary in bringing health care to rural Peru.

Training Local Women as Health Advocates

One of the main aspects of this program, which is based in Peru, was training women to look after their surrounding community in a medical capacity. While it was not equivalent to medical training, May said, “training them to provide some sort of security to the towns was making a measurable and impactful change.”

The doctors provide these communities with nutritional information, such as the ideal diet to remove many deficiencies and preventable illnesses. They were also provided with ample information regarding maternal and fetal care. From distributing prenatal vitamins to educational materials on childbirth, they received a well-rounded education on basic first aid care and information.

Addressing Anemia in Children

Due to widespread poverty in rural Peru, most diets rely heavily on potatoes. Vegetables, fruits and meats are considered luxuries and are consumed only occasionally. This lack of dietary diversity has led to widespread anemia.

One of the projects May and her fellow students worked on was diagnosing and treating this anemia in children. They visited several schools and used finger-prick technology to measure hemoglobin levels. Since low hemoglobin causes anemia, the results provided insight into both the presence and severity of anemia cases.

Broader Impact Moving Forward

By training women in these rural communities to stand as health advocates, they’re working toward a more realistic solution. Increasing the accessibility of hospitals and medical facilities would take decades and millions of dollars. However, this form of medical treatment is attainable, affordable and has the potential to make a significant change. The fact of the matter is, these efforts would not have been possible without these students dedicating their summers to advocating, working and translating for the underserved in rural Peru. Peru is finally making progress in medical care, thanks in part to these university students.

Bringing health care to rural Peru means taking a step forward in the world’s journey to poverty reduction. Fewer medical issues mean an ability to focus on resolving other underlying issues, such as a lack of infrastructure and social structure. For now, though, these students and NGOs are taking significant steps to bring realistic and sustainable information-based care to marginalized and rural communities. These programs are vitally important for medical progress and their amplification can potentially transform rural medical care internationally.

– Caroline May

Caroline is based in Denver, CO, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr