Archive for category: Health

Information and stories on health topics.

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Wood-Burning Stoves in Mexico

Wood-Burning Stoves in Mexico
Many people in Mexico continue to cook meals over open fires or inefficient stoves using wood and other polluting fuels. In 2019, Gold Standard estimated that about 20% of the country’s population used firewood for cooking. New, more efficient wood-burning stoves in Mexico can reduce smoke exposure and firewood use while respecting local cooking traditions.

The Health Risks

Daily exposure to smoke from open fires can contribute to serious respiratory and cardiovascular illness, with women and children often facing the greatest exposure. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that about 2.1 billion people cook using open fires or inefficient stoves fueled by polluting fuels, and household air pollution was responsible for an estimated 2.9 million deaths in 2021.

Energy Inefficiency and Deforestation

Open fires can also be energy inefficient, requiring families to purchase, harvest and transport more firewood. Where wood is harvested unsustainably, this can contribute to forest degradation and adds time and cost for households.

The Tlecuil-Alessia Stove

The Tlecuil-Alessia stove offers an efficient, smoke-reducing solution to this problem. Alessandro Mendoza-Galina, a permaculture expert, developed it in Malinalco with support from Fundación Comunitaria Malinalco. The traditional tlecuil hearth inspired the design and it uses an insulated combustion chamber, three comals and a fume extractor.

In deprived, rural areas, gas or electricity stoves are not a good solution due to lack of financial resources and infrastructure. The Tlecuil Stove still relies on the firewood families are accustomed to using, but its innovative design requires much less of it. The enhanced efficiency of the insulated combustion chamber reportedly reduces firewood consumption by 67%, allowing families to save time and money. Esther, a participant in the Tlecuil program, explained that thanks to the new technology, where her family used to have to make 10 trips for firewood, they now only need to make two. With smoke funneled out of the kitchen, the harmful side effects of smoke exposure are reduced too. A 2007 study of Patsari stoves in Michoacán found that average kitchen carbon monoxide levels fell by 66% and fine particulate matter levels by 67% after installation.

Community and Tradition

The Tlecuil program is community-focused. Workshops are in place for participants, allowing local women to come together and cooperate in the learning process. They learn how the oven functions, how to use it and its various health and environmental benefits. Next, with financial and operational support, families build their own Tlecuil in their home, meaning the oven is suited to their individual needs. Once the ovens have been built and the construction left to dry for 15 days, participants meet again to compare and share observations, techniques and food.

The program’s founder, Mendoza-Galina, is a strong believer in protecting tradition and indigenous customs. The ovens cater to centuries-old cooking techniques, allowing families to eat the same food, prepared the same way as before, but this time with less indoor smoke and lower firewood use.

The Tlecuil-Alessia approach combines efforts to reduce household smoke and firewood use with respect for local community and cooking traditions.

– Amelia Krone

Amelia is based in London and focuses on Technology and Solutions, and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Expanding Access to Twice-Yearly HIV Prevention in Eswatini

HIV Prevention in Eswatini
Eswatini is expanding access to lenacapavir, an injectable medication that provides six months of protection against HIV. In December 2025, Eswatini became one of the first African countries to offer the medication as an alternative to daily HIV-prevention pills. The World Bank estimates that 54% of the population lived below the lower-middle income poverty line of $4.20 per day in 2025, measured in 2021 purchasing-power-parity dollars. By reducing the number of doses people must remember, lenacapavir could strengthen HIV prevention in Eswatini and make protection more manageable for people facing financial, geographic or social barriers.

A Continuing Need for Prevention

Eswatini has made considerable progress against HIV. UNAIDS reported that annual new infections declined from approximately 21,000 in 2000 to 4,000 in 2023. Even so, UNAIDS Data 2022 estimated that 27.9% of adults ages 15 to 49 were living with HIV in 2021. The burden is also unequal. According to UNAIDS, HIV prevalence among young women and girls ages 15 to 24 was 70% higher than among young men in the same age group in 2023. These disparities demonstrate why expanding HIV prevention in Eswatini remains important, particularly for women and young people.

How Lenacapavir Works

Lenacapavir is a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, that helps prevent HIV in people who do not have the virus but may be at risk of exposure. Clinical trials found the medication to be highly effective, leading the World Health Organization to recommend it for HIV prevention in July 2025. Unlike oral PrEP, which is generally taken every day, lenacapavir is administered by injection once every six months. This schedule may help people who have difficulty taking or privately storing daily medication because of transportation barriers, unstable living conditions or fear of HIV-related stigma.

Introducing Lenacapavir Across Eswatini

Eswatini began offering lenacapavir in December 2025 through five clinics located across all four regions of the country. The Ministry of Health, the Global Fund and other partners support the rollout. In fewer than four months, approximately 2,750 people received the injection. The government and its partners aim to expand access to 204 health facilities across the country by the end of 2027. This expansion could bring the medication closer to low-income residents who may face transportation costs or lose income when traveling long distances for health care.

Expanding Choice for Women and Young People

Lenacapavir may be particularly valuable for women and young people who face stigma or unequal power within their relationships. Some people may find it difficult to store daily PrEP pills privately, while others may be unable to negotiate condom use with a partner. Because the injection is administered only twice per year, it could provide a discreet option that does not require medication to be taken at home every day. Offering several prevention methods allows individuals to select the option that best fits their circumstances and may help more people remain protected over time.

Partnerships Supporting Access

Eswatini’s rollout is part of a broader partnership between national governments, the Global Fund, the U.S. government and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. In April 2026, the Global Fund and the United States expanded their commitment to long-acting HIV prevention, establishing a joint goal of providing lenacapavir to 3 million people by 2028. The Global Fund is also working with manufacturers to increase the supply of more affordable generic versions. These efforts could help prevent the cost of the medication from limiting access in Eswatini and other countries where communities with the greatest need often have the fewest health care resources.

Looking Ahead

Eswatini’s lenacapavir rollout is still in its early stages, and its long-term effect on new infections will depend on reliable funding, public awareness and continued access through local clinics. However, the strong early participation and planned expansion to more health facilities offer encouraging signs. By giving people a highly effective alternative to daily medication, the program could help reach individuals who have not previously used PrEP. Continued investment in HIV prevention in Eswatini may protect more people while helping the country move closer to ending HIV as a public health threat.

– Jessica Miller

Jessica is based in Toronto, Ohio Jefferson County, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 NGOs Providing Cardiovascular Disease Care

Cardiovascular Disease Care
An estimated 75% of cardiovascular disease deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Insufficient and expensive health care and education prevent people from accessing care and early diagnosis, increasing their vulnerability. However, these five NGOs are working to address the gaps and improve cardiovascular disease care in the most affected areas.

World Heart Federation

The World Heart Federation is an international NGO working to raise awareness of the symptoms, treatment and prevention methods for cardiovascular diseases. The organization has trained more than 250 health care professionals and advocates, who work regionally to raise awareness.

World Heart Day on Sept. 29 is its flagship campaign and has reached 2 billion people. The website offers fact sheets and fliers that can be posted or printed to educate communities.

Alongside this, the federation runs regional initiatives like Colours to Save Hearts in Mozambique. The initiative used coloring to educate children about the symptoms and prevention methods for rheumatic heart disease. In the first year, it reached 60,000 children, 600 teachers and 50 health care professionals across 24 schools.

Chain of Hope

Chain of Hope helps children access cardiovascular disease care, working since 1996 to perform life-saving operations for those across Africa, the Caribbean, parts of the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Through a referral program, Chain of Hope connects local physicians with partner hospitals to fly children out, receive treatment and recover with host families.

Alongside these operations, Chain of Hope supports local clinics by providing the training and equipment needed to provide cardiac care. In Jamaica, Chain of Hope has facilitated treatment for 400 children since 1996, and in Egypt it funded two operating theaters and 12 ICU beds to start the Aswan Heart Centre.

UMID

UMID is an Uzbekistan-based NGO working to improve the lives of diabetics in the country. Since diabetes doubles the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, UMID’s prevention work is vital to both diabetes and cardiovascular disease care.

Partnering with the Ministry of Health, UMID organizes conferences on the treatment and prevention of diabetes. On behalf of 948 members, UMID has ensured increased medical access and taught individuals to self-monitor in the family clinics of Tashkent.

Their most recent campaign, in partnership with the National Programme, is Combatting Heart Attack and Stroke. It focuses on early diagnosis and implementing cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease care programs.

Indonesian Heart Association

Established in 1957, the Indonesian Heart Association is a research-based NGO working to develop doctors’ expertise and improve national cardiac care for patients. The association now accounts for more than 2,500 vascular specialists across the country.

Foundational to its research are 14 working groups, which explore different aspects of cardiovascular disease care to discuss at conferences with national and international experts. One can largely separate the groups into:

  1. Disease factors (hypertension)
  2. Technological treatment (echocardiography, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology)
  3. Demographic focus (pediatric and women’s cardiology)

In July 2026, an association scientific gathering brought together more than 2,500 local delegates and 17 international experts. Indonesian Heart Association and American Heart Association representatives also discussed future collaboration, including plans to scale the association’s Training Village and expand access to American Heart Association training programs.

Since there are currently only 2,500 cardiologists and 400 interventional specialists to treat Indonesia’s 280 million people, this training would be a significant step forward.

Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery

Organized by Emergency, the Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery in Sudan is one of only a few completely free cardiac surgery hospitals in Africa and the only one in Sudan. Since 2007, the center has been visited by 91,501 patients and performed 10,261 life-saving surgical interventions. Alongside the center, Emergency runs five other clinics, which have been visited by a combined 581,440 patients.

The Salam Centre primarily treats valvular complications caused by rheumatic heart disease, helping patients manage and treat this long-term condition. Unlike wealthier regions where rheumatic fever is effectively eradicated, Sudan’s poor health care facilities and restricted hygiene systems mean 1 in every 1,000 people is affected, particularly young people, who make up 56% of the center’s patients.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has worsened health care access, increasing cardiac vulnerability. Since April 2023, there have been 217 attacks on health care facilities, leaving 37% of them non-functional as of April 2026. The World Health Organization reported that 21 million people lacked access to health services.

Despite this, the Salam Centre continues to operate, and Emergency has opened more of its satellite clinics to continue to support the vulnerable.

– Elizabeth Holden

Elizabeth is based in Kent, United Kingdom and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Gaza’s Health System: From Emergency Response to Recovery

Gaza's Health System
Since the outbreak of hostilities on Oct. 7, 2023, Gaza’s health system has faced what the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA) describes as a “systemic collapse,” severely undermining its capacity to meet the population’s basic health needs. The conflict has damaged health facilities, degraded services, created shortages of medical supplies and fuel and severely constrained health care personnel’s delivery of care.

As of August 2026, 35 of the 57 hospitals and field hospitals, and 146 of the 233 primary health care facilities, were partially or fully operational, according to the World Health Organization’s HeRAMS assessment. Despite these extraordinary restrictions, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has maintained primary health care services wherever possible by adapting its operational model, expanding mobile health teams, and establishing temporary health facilities.

Emergency Medical Teams Fill Critical Gaps

In Gaza, Emergency Medical Teams, international and national professional health teams coordinated through the World Health Organization (WHO) response, have helped provide surge capacity while local services remain severely constrained. Their role is not to replace Gaza’s health system but to help keep essential services functioning while local capacity remains severely constrained. Comprising more than just doctors and nurses, these teams are self-sufficient mobile units that also include logisticians, water and sanitation specialists, and administrative staff. In Gaza, Emergency Medical Teams are responding to high levels of injury and illness alongside the local health workforce. As of April 15, 2026, 23 Emergency Medical Team partners were supporting 36 active teams in Gaza, comprising 72 international and 310 national personnel. According to the World Health Organization, Emergency Medical Teams had provided 4,288,220 general medical consultations, 65,056 emergency surgeries and treatment to 272,483 critical trauma patients from January 2024 through March 2026.

Primary Health Care Keeps Essential Services Accessible

When the capacity of hospitals—which constitute only one part of the broader health system—is severely constrained, primary care centers, health posts, mobile teams and temporary facilities become key avenues for ensuring access to care. From June 8 to 14, 2026, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East reported 70 mobile medical teams working through 28 medical points alongside six health centers and four temporary health centers. During that week, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East health personnel provided 73,165 medical consultations, including maternal care, physiotherapy, laboratory services and vaccinations.

Rebuilding Gaza’s Health System Requires More Than Hospitals

Rebuilding Gaza’s health system will require more than just repairing damaged hospital buildings. The health system also relies on medical equipment, pharmaceutical supply chains, electricity and fuel, laboratories, ambulances, referral systems and trained health care personnel. Meanwhile, damage to water and sanitation infrastructure increases public health risks, while a lack of rehabilitation equipment and specialized services can lead to long-term disability. A 2026 qualitative study based on interviews with health care workers found that future reconstruction efforts should incorporate local expertise, workforce development, emergency preparedness and stronger coordination among health stakeholders.

From Emergency Care to Long-Term Recovery

One can already see he transition from emergency response to recovery in services such as rehabilitation. The Limb Reconstruction Center at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis originated on June 1, 2026, and provides orthoplastic surgery, physiotherapy and limb reconstruction services for patients with complex conflict-related injuries. The center has access to 16 World Health Organization-funded beds and dedicated operating theater sessions twice a week.

According to the Humanitarian Situation Report, such services demonstrate why the recovery process does not end when a patient leaves the emergency department; serious injuries may require surgery, rehabilitation and long-term medical support. These interventions should not be viewed merely as simple wound care. Long-term recovery also requires ongoing attention to chronic diseases, mental health, maternal and child health, rehabilitation and medical follow-up. Therefore, the goal is not simply to restore individual buildings, but to rebuild a health system capable of providing continuous and comprehensive care to the population.

Health Care as a Foundation for Recovery

In conclusion, Gaza’s health crisis cannot be addressed through emergency medical aid alone. Immediate intervention is essential, but long-term recovery requires re-establishing the systems that enable the day-to-day functioning of health care services. This requires the rehabilitation of facilities, the reconstruction of supply chains, support for health workers, the re-establishment of referral and ambulance networks, the expansion of primary health care services and investment in rehabilitation, mental health and public health infrastructure. Rebuilding health services for Gaza is also part of rebuilding daily life. Access to reliable health services can help people manage chronic conditions, recover from injuries and maintain maternal, child and mental health services. These conditions can contribute to people’s ability to return to education, work and community life.

– Ömer Valyozoğlu

Ömer is based in İstanbul, Türkiye and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Ovarian Cancer Gaps in LMICs

Ovarian Cancer in LMICs
On May 8, 2026, people around the world marked World Ovarian Cancer Day, an annual campaign focused on raising awareness of ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, there are low rates of awareness of ovarian cancer in LMICs, otherwise known as low and middle income countries, making this campaign particularly important.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Ovarian cancer poses a significant threat as a gynecological cancer, with many cases diagnosed late due to vague symptoms such as bloating and difficulty eating. These symptoms are often mistaken for other conditions. The day unites health care professionals, advocacy groups, survivors and communities to promote education and fundraising.

#NoWomanLeftBehind Theme

The 2026 theme, #NoWomanLeftBehind, differed from previous years. According to the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, fewer than 20% of women receive a stage I diagnosis, even in high-income countries like the United Kingdom and the United States. Outcomes and access to recommended treatment vary significantly between countries. This theme emphasizes equitable ovarian cancer outcomes, regardless of location or socioeconomic status.

Global Health Issue

Ovarian cancer remains a major global health issue. About seven in 10 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer die within five years, the highest death-to-diagnosis ratio among the four major women’s cancers. Global cases may rise by 53% by 2050. In lower-middle-income countries, cases are projected to rise by 82%, while cases in low-income countries are projected to rise by 151%.

World Ovarian Cancer Day

In response, leaders from ovarian cancer advocacy organizations worldwide established World Ovarian Cancer Day in 2013. The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition now leads the annual initiative, collaborating with more than 200 partner organizations, from grassroots patient advocacy groups to national health organizations, to promote earlier diagnosis and equitable access to care for women globally.

#ReachForTheScars Campaign

As part of the #NoWomanLeftBehind theme, the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition promoted the #ReachForTheScars campaign. This campaign highlighted the real experiences of women with ovarian cancer, generating 58 million impressions, reaching 164 countries and receiving more than 47,000 social engagements. Global partners, including the World Economic Forum, Union for International Cancer Control and Zentalis, also helped increase visibility. These figures demonstrate the campaign’s global reach and engagement.

The 2018 “Every Woman Study” Findings

In 2018, the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition conducted the Every Woman Study. The goal was to address the evidence gap and identify ways to improve survival and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer. With more than 1,531 women in 44 countries participating, it was the largest-ever global survey of women with ovarian cancer at the time.

The study showed more than two-thirds of respondents had never heard of ovarian cancer or knew little about it before diagnosis, and about nine in 10 respondents experienced multiple symptoms before receiving a diagnosis.

Additionally, access to genetic testing varied dramatically by country, with more than 80% of women who had two or more relatives with ovarian cancer not receiving genetic testing before their diagnosis.

The Every Woman Study – LMIC Edition

Following the 2018 results and the expected rise in ovarian cancer cases, the Every Woman Study: Low- and Middle-Income Edition launched in August 2021. It was a joint initiative between the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition and the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. The goal was to document the experiences of women with ovarian cancer in LMICs on a large scale.

Believing that the original 2018 study was not representative enough of lower-income countries, research was conducted on 2,446 participants across 22 LMICs, including regions such as South Africa, India and Jamaica. Participation occurred through interviews and surveys, with results examining factors like knowledge of ovarian cancer, route to diagnosis, treatment, financial impact and emotional support.

Finally completed in 2025, the study found that only about one in four women had heard of ovarian cancer and knew something about it before diagnosis. Additionally, around three in four women said that ovarian cancer affected their family’s finances, with 29.4% stating that their household income fell below what they needed to live on.

Access to genetic testing and advanced treatments like PARP inhibitors was also limited among participants. Furthermore, one in three women reported traveling more than two hours to reach their treatment center, illustrating yet another barrier to accessing treatment.

Next Steps

The Every Woman Study shows that closing ovarian cancer gaps requires more than awareness alone. Better access to diagnosis, treatment, genetic testing and support is essential, especially in LMICs. As World Ovarian Cancer Day continues to bring global attention to these disparities, its 2026 message, #NoWomanLeftBehind, serves as a reminder that every woman deserves a chance at better care, no matter where she lives.

– Diya Rajkumar

Diya is based in Redmond, Washington, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Diego González Rivas is Fighting Poverty With a Mobile Surgery Unit

Mobile Surgery Unit
Diego González Rivas is a doctor from Galicia, Spain, who has become globally recognized for his skills as a thoracic surgeon. With 15 years of experience, his surgical feats have garnered him attention. González Rivas is the first doctor in the world to successfully perform uniportal anatomical resections using VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery). He addresses lung cancer, tumors and other life-threatening health complications. Equally impressive as his work is his dedication to sharing his knowledge, resources and skills through education and a mobile surgery unit.

Diego González Rivas Foundation

The Diego González Rivas Foundation is the catalyst for taking González Rivas’ skills to the next level. Alongside international collaboration and the support of six partners, the foundation attributes much of its success to the work of director Carla Salgado Fernández. Fernández has supported the financial growth of the foundation, raising money to continue their work in hospitals and their research in the latest science. A key component in González Rivas’ philosophy and the success of the mobile surgery unit is to keep incisions as small as possible. Thus, patients experience faster recovery times and a decreased risk of infection.

Taking Skill and Success Global

González Rivas expanded his efforts by making it possible to bring “advanced surgery to remote regions” where people live without access to adequate healthcare. The mobile unit aims to deliver advanced thoracic surgery to areas where hospitals may lack the equipment and resources necessary for complex procedures. By providing free surgical care in underserved settings, the foundation aims to reduce barriers to specialist treatment.

The mobile surgery unit has demonstrated how innovation in surgery can bypass geographic and socioeconomic barriers and how the collaboration of surgeons and new technologies can improve quality of life.

Research and Surgical Innovation

Separate from the mobile surgery program, the foundation lists artificial vision, augmented and virtual reality, nanotechnology and robotic surgery among its research and development areas. These projects explore technologies that may improve surgical precision, training and treatment. The foundation’s mobile unit is equipped to perform minimally invasive Uniportal VATS procedures in underserved settings.

Success in Ghana

In Ghana, González Rivas’s team and the mobile surgery unit have witnessed great success. In a region where thoracic surgery is “practically non-existent,” González Rivas and his team provided the “only hope for many people.” They were able to save lives, many of whom faced no alternatives. The team treated patients with conditions including aspergilloma and pneumothorax, demonstrating that complex minimally invasive thoracic procedures can be delivered through the mobile unit.

The mobile surgery unit has expanded access to specialist thoracic care for patients treated during its missions in Ghana and has also supported collaboration with local medical teams.

– Stella Corbin

Stella is based in Newark, Delaware, United States and focuses on Good News, Technology and Solutions, and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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What Nepal Flooding Reveals About Global Aid Importance

Nepal Flooding
Following the melting glacier that caused floods and destruction across the Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading regions in Nepal in late August, the country now faces the monumental task of recovery: managing a high death toll, continuing search-and-rescue efforts for those still missing, and tackling massive infrastructure damage, while supporting a population facing homelessness, hunger and urgent medical needs. Tragedies such as Nepal flooding demonstrate why international assistance and aid are vital for global development and support.

Nepal’s Floods

As of Sept. 11, authorities had recovered 1,385 bodies and approximately 5,130 people remained missing following the Nepal flooding. Search-and-rescue efforts continue, but relief now focuses on the 93,000 Nepalis affected in its aftermath. Those most severely affected lived in the low-lying Rasuwa district, along the banks of the Trishuli River, a community already impacted by an earthquake in 2015. The flood damaged roads, schools, power districts and water systems across the northern districts, including Rasuwa. Flash floods swept away 32 bridges and 25 roads, leaving many communities stranded. Those in Nepal who faced poverty prior to the flooding now endure significantly worse conditions.

As Stephane Hallegatte and Marianne Fay write in “Natural Disaster, Poverty, and Inequality,” “…many of these impacts of natural disasters accrue disproportionately to poor households…[and] poor households take longer to recover from disasters, and are more likely to face long-term consequences.”

Following a natural disaster of this magnitude, international aid is crucial, especially to help those already in poverty, who now face food and job insecurity, housing insecurity and health risks.

What International Aid Has Provided

Financial Supplies: Monetary support is essential following a disaster, allowing the government to rebuild, lead relief efforts, and provide support for citizens with essential supplies. The Red Cross and the World Bank are among the organizations that provided financial support to Nepal, along with aid from China and the United States, among others.

Personnel: More manpower, from search-and-rescuers to medical staff, is essential after a disaster. The United Nations and Doctors Without Borders, along with South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States, have all provided human support.

Supplies: Following a disaster like the Nepal flooding, medical supplies, hygiene kits and other essentials are often distributed to citizens. The World Health Organization (WHO) sent medical supplies and tents for emergency shelter. The World Food Program (WFP) used drones to send food to communities cut off from services, and UNICEF sent emergency kits with hygiene items, medical supplies and other essentials.

Why Is International Aid Important?

As of Sept. 11, rescuers had saved 13,676 people following the Nepal flooding. This highlights the impact of international aid—countries and international organizations providing financial support, technical expertise, medical and other essential supplies, and infrastructural reconstruction. Nepal flooding exemplifies international cooperation.

– Madalyn Youngbauer

Madalyn is based in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States and focuses on Good News, Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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The Fight Against Tuberculosis in Timor-Leste

Tuberculosis in Timor-Leste
To much of the developed world, tuberculosis may seem like a distant threat. In 2024, however, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 10.7 million people developed TB worldwide and 1.23 million died from the disease. The WHO South-East Asia Region accounted for 34% of global TB cases, making it central to efforts to reduce the disease burden. Recently, efforts have increased to combat tuberculosis worldwide.

Why Tuberculosis in Timor-Leste is So Prevalent

The circumstances facing this small Southeast Asian nation demonstrate the challenges surrounding tuberculosis in Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste is a small, ethnically diverse country on the Malay Archipelago, about 400 kilometers north of Australia. Following the 1999 referendum that began its transition from Indonesian rule, Timor-Leste has struggled with extreme poverty, with an estimated 44% of the population living on less than three dollars a day.

When a person becomes seriously ill in Timor-Leste, location and income limit options. About 70% of the population lives in rural areas. That means in order to get to a hospital, a would-be patient must make a journey of several hours, most likely on foot. With a lack of paved roads and a steep, mountainous environment, travel can be taxing. Accounting for the intense heat of the dry season and the flash floods of the rainy season, the trip becomes almost impossible for an ill person to endure. For many Timor-Leste citizens, reaching a hospital when illness strikes is not a realistic option. These barriers help explain why access to tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment remains challenging in Timor-Leste.

Efforts to Address Health Care Access in Timor-Leste

Since the pandemic, a time when many nations became attuned to the state of their health care systems, some organizations implemented efforts to fix this issue in Timor-Leste. In 2020, for example, the IOM—a branch of the UN’s migration offices—developed a program to train health care workers in Timor-Leste to use new diagnostic technologies. The program aimed to strengthen tuberculosis diagnosis and build the skills of health care workers in Timor-Leste. In 2024, IOM reported its successes: they had trained six radiographers, 60 medical doctors, and three laboratory technicians to detect tuberculosis with sophisticated new technologies, as well as educating 700 health care workers on tuberculosis diagnostic guidelines, according to an article on their website. These figures represent improvement, but the fight will not end without help from allies abroad.

International Efforts Against Tuberculosis

Combatting tuberculosis in Timor-Leste requires support. By providing the resources necessary to make health care accessible, hundreds of lives can be saved every year. With this in mind, on June 11, 2026, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire) and Todd Young (Indiana) officially reintroduced the End Tuberculosis Now Act. The bipartisan bill would make tuberculosis elimination a U.S. foreign-assistance priority and strengthen coordination around research, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Senator Young stated: “Tuberculosis is preventable, treatable and curable, yet it continues to claim far too many lives around the world. The End Tuberculosis Now Act will strengthen efforts to expand access to diagnosis and treatment, support the development of new tools and vaccines and improve our ability to detect and respond to future infectious disease threats. By helping countries combat tuberculosis before it spreads further, we can save lives, strengthen global health security and better protect Americans from emerging infectious diseases.”

It remains to be seen whether Congress will pass the bill. The legislation is one example of international policy efforts aimed at reducing the global burden of tuberculosis.

– Madison Hoar

Madison is based in Birmingham, AL, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Fighting the Spread of HIV/AIDS in Antigua and Barbuda

HIV/AIDS in Antigua and BarbudaAlthough HIV prevalence in Antigua and Barbuda is relatively low compared to several other countries in the Caribbean, HIV remains an important public health concern. They are currently holding at a prevalence rate of 1.1% of the adult population. Here is more information about HIV/AIDS in Antigua and Barbuda.

Addressing HIV/AIDS in Antigua and Barbuda

The government continues to invest in preventative and combative measures to ensure HIV prevalence remains low. One way that the government is doing this is through the AIDS Secretariat, which provides numerous services such as, “advocacy, counselling, development of materials, educational and training sessions, free male and female condoms, free and confidential HIV testing, information to the public, [and] research assistance,” as listed on its website.

These services are the foundation of Antigua and Barbuda’s efforts at controlling the spread of HIV, focusing on awareness and education on how to prevent catching the disease, as well as what actions to take. The AIDS Secretariat’s mission is to develop and then implement research on managing HIV, allowing the increase in cases to remain low over the past few decades. The efficiency of this system is reliant on the engagement of the community, as well as the resources that are now available, such as free testing and condoms.

Economic Concerns

Regardless of there only being a slight increase in the estimated prevalence, Antigua and Barbuda’s Social Systems Board is concerned with the consequences of reduced life expectancy, productivity and education. Continued importance is placed on prevention and treatment, especially on the young adult population, aged 15 to 24. This group is at a higher risk for obtaining HIV as they are in their prime years of productivity and labor, according to the Social System Board’s website.

Contracting an illness which affects the immune system generates a risk of becoming more susceptible for additional illnesses, weakening the body. Antigua and Barbuda’s Social Security Board has concerns with a negative economic impact as “persons affected may suffer repeated and prolonged illnesses, imposing great costs on households and national health systems.”

This threatens social systems financially as they are funded by the labor force or the investments that it brings. Workers may require prolonged absences from work based on their compromised health status, adding pressure to insurance and benefits provided by employers. 

Reductions in workplace participation and an increase in health care costs weakens the financial relationship between the economy and Social Systems.  

A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) from 2018 indicates lacking secondary and tertiary health services, with only a “186-bed facility in Antigua” and “one clinic and hospital in Barbuda.” This highlights challenges the country may have when meeting broader health care needs.

New and Incoming Strategies

The improvement to these clinics and hospitals is claimed to be ongoing in the same report, visible in the new steps that the Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031 implemented. This is a community-and-people focused approach according to UNAIDS, shifting emphasis away from responding post-infection, and focusing on the social and structural changes needed to reduce contraction risk. The goal in this strategy is sustainability, rather than fighting an uphill battle, the aim is to find a long-term solution.

While the provision of services is incredibly helpful for countries struggling with the spread of HIV/AIDS, the new strategy outlines that the primary focus will be greater access to services by introducing resources for self-care and community-led models. The strategy consists of consultations with community members who are both at risk or have already contracted HIV.

The initiative aims to take their experiences and knowledge in order to create the plan that will be impacting these communities for the next five years. The information of the consultations will allow UNAIDS to separate their priorities into result areas or opportunities for progress.  In doing this, countries will have the ability to sustain treatment on their own instead of relying on the donor-and-partner system.

If this initiative meets the 2030 HIV targets, it could avert 3.3 million new HIV infections globally, according to research by UNAIDS.

Looking Ahead

Reducing HIV/AIDS infection rates in Antigua and Barbuda will lead to strengthened communities by improving public health, and protecting employment and Social Systems. Community-led care could be a promising strategy to maintain Antigua and Barbuda’s low risk status while improving the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS.

– Angelica Ciaravino

Angelica is based in Toronto, Canada and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Maternal and Child Health Crisis in Nigeria

Child Health Crisis in Nigeria
The West African country of Nigeria is classified as a ‘high burden’ country due to it disproportionately high rate of maternal and child mortality. According to UNICEF, Nigeria accounts for 10% of global maternal deaths, despite representing only 2.4% of the global population. UNICEF also reports that the mortality rate for children under 5 in Nigeria stands at 12.8%.

Despite these challenges, U.S. Maternal and Child Health (MCH) funding—defined as targeted government assistance to promote maternal and child health abroad—has decreased. Tracking data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) shows that U.S. MCH funding to Nigeria fell from $50 million in 2017 to $33.25 million in 2023, representing a 35% decline. A 2026 study in Health Policy and Planning estimates that the abrupt withdrawal of USAID health funding could increase maternal mortality by 45% on average among populations in need across six vulnerable West and Central African countries, with Nigeria experiencing the largest absolute increase — more than 300 additional maternal deaths under the study’s model. Here is more information about the maternal and child health crisis in Nigeria and what is being done to address it.

How US MCH Funding Saves Nigerian Lives

Reduced funding directly affects health care delivery in Nigeria’s rural communities. The African Health Report documented the case of Aisha Yusuf, a 28-year-old woman in labor who nearly lost her baby while traveling 18 miles to a hospital because a local clinic lacked delivery equipment. An anonymous health care worker at the receiving hospital reported that a single staff member often cares for dozens of patients per shift, frequently without electricity. Yusuf’s experience reflects broader systemic issues in Nigeria’s local health care facilities, namely lack of equipment, resources and staff. 

These operational insufficiencies highlight the critical role of international assistance in reinforcing local health care systems. Yusuf’s experience illustrates the kinds of health-system gaps that maternal and child health investments can help address. Consistent U.S. MCH funding provides essential resources to equip local clinics, ensuring they can deliver safe and reliable care to expectant mothers.

Securing US Interests Through Health Investment

In addition to direct health outcomes, MCH funding supports U.S. security and economic interests. Regarding security, Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa, with more than 240 million residents—a figure projected to reach 370 million by 2050. World Bank President Ajay Banga stated that a failure to invest in this demographic, particularly through health care initiatives like MCH, could weaken Nigeria’s state capacity. This capacity represents the government’s ability to distribute resources, implement policies and serve citizens. Weakened state capacity increases the risk of instability, conflict and migration crises, which can directly affect global security.

From an economic perspective, healthier populations are better positioned to participate in education, employment and economic activity. Over time, stronger human capital and economic growth can expand consumer demand and create opportunities for trade and investment with the United States. Economic models indicate that a larger middle class increases domestic purchasing power, creating a stronger market for U.S. goods and services. Consequently, current MCH investments help build a stable international consumer base that supports U.S. economic competitiveness and trade development. 

Actionable Solutions to Maternal and Under-Five Mortality

A study in Health Policy and Planning suggests that a 1% increase in the Nigerian government’s health care expenditure can address the maternal and child health crisis in Nigeria and lead to a 37% reduction in the country’s maternal mortality. U.S. MCH funding to Nigeria can help achieve this 1% increase, especially if U.S. foreign policy hones the following critical strategies.

Targeted Strategies for Maternal Health

  • Infrastructure and Medical Equipment: Funding should support the planned implementation of essential health care infrastructure and trained personnel. According to obstetric guidelines, countries should have at least five emergency obstetric care facilities per 500,000. These facilities must remain open 24/7 and have staff trained to administer uterotonic drugs for hemorrhages and basic neonatal resuscitation. The Tropical Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that all 36 Nigerian states have fewer than four facilities per 500,000, with major metropolitan cities like Ibadan only reporting 1.2 facilities per 500,000.
  • Prenatal Vitamin Distribution: Providing continuous access to multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) is a highly cost-effective intervention. At an estimated cost of $4 per pregnancy, these vitamins can save more than 600,000 maternal lives.
  • Broad Economic Sector Funding: Long-term maternal health correlates with overall economic development. A 32-year study spanning 152 countries found that higher gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is directly linked to lower maternal mortality. Consequently, funding should also target higher education, technological innovation, transportation networks like rail links, and stable power infrastructure.

Targeted Strategies for Child Health

  • Legislative Support for Nutritional Initiatives: Passing and supporting the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act of 2026 (H.R. 9583) would establish a $150 million annual fund from fiscal years 2026 to 2030. This fund would also scale low-cost interventions, including MMS, in high-priority nations like Nigeria. Large-scale data from 14 low-income nations indicates that MMS significantly reduces infant mortality, particularly among malnourished mothers.
  • Treating Preventable Diseases: Pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria remain the three leading preventable causes of under-5 mortality in Nigeria U.S. assistance can expand the distribution of essential medicines, including prescription antibiotics like amoxicillin, intravenous fluids and artesunate.
  • Preventive Malaria Care: Expanding access to intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnancy (IPTp), including sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, through routine antenatal care can help reduce malaria-related risks for pregnant women and their infants.

Looking Ahead

To change Nigeria’s trajectory as a ‘high burden’ country, consistent U.S. MCH assistance must be administered to bridge local health-system gaps and equip rural facilities. This requires prioritizing cost-effective interventions like MMS, expanding the distribution of basic treatments like intravenous fluids, and building routine antenatal clinics. Such investments in Nigerian MCH will yield substantial benefits beyond health clinics, namely regional stability, protected global security and improved conditions for human capital development and economic growth. Securing the health of mothers and their infants ultimately transforms Nigeria’s humanitarian vulnerability into the foundation of Nigeria’s future stability and prosperous international trade partnerships. 

– Caid Campbell

Photo: Unsplash