Archive for category: Health

Information and stories on health topics.

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EU Fights Against AIDS in Eastern Europe

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For the last decade, the European Union (EU) and other organizations and coalitions like the United Nations (UN) have delivered significant results in treating and preventing AIDS-related illnesses in the developing world. For example, according to the World Health Organization, (WHO) deaths from AIDS in Ethiopia have decreased by over 45%. In countries like Zimbabwe and Botswana, this number is over 60%.

Unfortunately, over the same timespan, there has been a considerate increase in the rate of deaths from AIDS in Eastern Europe. Even though the number of cases of HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe is lower than in African nations, any percentage increase is great cause for concern. As a result, many are urging the European Union to review their objectives and to improve treatment and prevention of this disease in not only developing countries, but Eastern Europe as well.

In Ukraine, there has been a 144% increase in the number of AIDS-related deaths, and in Belarus, it was an 1100% increase. These startling statistics have led many to criticize the European Union in their decision to concentrate funding for response to HIV/AIDS in developing countries instead of Eastern European nations. The majority of EU funding for the treatment and prevention of AIDS currently goes to developing countries.

Due to the rise in infections of AIDS in European Nations over the last decade, however, various organizations are placing pressure on the European Nation to review the appropriation of funding that goes to fight this disease, especially in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia.

In addition to inadequate funding for middle-income countries like Ukraine for HIV/AIDS response, there exist many problems in directly dealing with this increasing disease crisis. Many of these countries have religious taboos of HIV, since many times people relate sexually transmitted diseases to promiscuous sexual practices. In addition to this stigmatization, since many cases of disease transmissions are due to unsafe drug use and needle sharing, the government will have to exhibit courage and make a stance in supporting sterile needle programs for drug users. This type of support is unheard of in many religiously conservative countries.

Many affirm that it is important for the European Union to recognize that it is also important to invest in middle-income countries, because they also struggle with infectious diseases like those in developing countries. The stigma and discrimination that the people living in Eastern Europe face may even make it harder for them to receive treatment. Nevertheless, the increase in HIV transmissions in any part of the world is unacceptable as the international community attempts to treat, prevent, and cure HIV/AIDS and many other diseases in the world.

– Rahul Shah

Sources: PANCAP, EurActiv
Photo: IPS

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International Health Institutions Changing the World

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The needs and rights of the world’s poor come in all shapes and sizes. For decades, aid organizations have used their funds, manpower and resources to mobilize corrective programs for these vulnerabilities. Health organizations in particular play a critical role serving the world’s poor by employing a wide range of expertise to aid in mitigating international health concerns. These organizations believe that all people deserve the dignity of regular, healthy meals, and to have access to basic and affordable medical treatment. Here are four top international health institutions that stand out:

World Health Organization

The WHO is probably the best-known health institution in the world. Established in 1948 as the United Nations’ global health authority and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Health Organization leads the world in public health statistics, public health policy, emergency response, and research. The WHO is probably most visible in disaster relief and immunization programs, which reach tens of millions of people. Their experts also publish health and wellness guidelines and work with UN-member states to promote these guidelines for maximum impact. WHO workers also keep close tabs on achieving Millennium Development Goals and other international standards to ensure that progress promised is progress made. Overall, the World Health Organization continues its work as the world’s leading international health coordinating and authoritative body.

Oxfam International

While the World Health Organization’s focus is all-encompassing with regard to international health standards and policy, Oxfam International has a more targeted approach on relief and development. Headquartered in Washington, D.C. with advocacy offices in Brussels, Geneva, New York, Brasilia and Addis Ababa, Oxfam has a much heavier focus on advocacy and emergency response initiatives. Oxfam focuses its development, emergency assistance, campaigning, advocacy and policy research to empower the global poor to exercise their economic rights and right to development. And like many international organizations, they have Hollywood Ambassadors that bring star power to the cause. One of Oxfam’s most notable campaigns is Health & Education for All, which pushes for clinics and schools to be built in post-conflict communities by partnering with local actors and mobilizing the necessary resources. The relief and development agency’s programs aim to empower those living in poverty to exercise their rights so that they can live lives of dignity.

GAIN Alliance

In contrast to Oxfam’s mission of advocacy and emergency response and the World Health Organization’s all-encompassing approach to international health issues, GAIN Alliance has a much more precise mission: provide nutritional foods to malnourished communities all over the world. GAIN operates in more than 30 countries, just over half of them in Africa. Its work centers on healthy aid provisions for more than 667 million people, half of which are women and children. Projects to improve nutrition in poor communities address maternal and infant nutrition, large scale food fortification and supporting local agricultural initiatives to be more market-friendly and nutritious.

UNICEF

While not specifically an international health institution, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) makes critical contributions to improved global health. Its work invariably encompasses investing in improved health outcomes for infants and young children in chaotic environments and emergency situations. The nexus of UNICEF and better health outcomes for children is clearly visible in its efforts to provide adequate, nutritious meals to 180 million children under the age of 5 who suffer physical and mental impairments as a result of malnutrition and stunted growth. Further, UNICEF aligns its health initiatives with many of its focus areas, which include programs focusing on HIV prevention, child protection, promoting gender equality and basic education. UNICEF has made great strides in its health programs, underlining UNICEF’s mission to foster children’s holistic development and protection.

– Zach Crawford

Sources: World Health Organization, Oxfam International Health and Education for All, GAIN Alliance 2011-2012 annual report, TIME Magazine
Photo: United Nations

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United Cerebral Palsy

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The goal of nonprofit group United Cerebral Palsy is to provide a “life without limits” for people with disabilities. By working with its 100 affiliates, the organization is able to help people all over the world become more independent productive citizens. Founded in 1949 by a group of parents of children with cerebral palsy, United Cerebral Palsy evolved into an organization devoted to anyone with a disability.

United Cerebral Palsy does not focus on how a person acquired a disability; rather, they will reach out to all types of people, whether the disability is due to aging, accident or the person was born with an ailment. Some of the disabilities the group works with are cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, physical disabilities, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

This organization is proud to claim affiliation with about 100 groups in its quest to aid the disabled. These affiliates are vital to the cause and provide services such as housing, therapy, assistive technology training, early intervention programs, individual and family support, social and recreation programs, community living, state and local referrals, as well as employment assistance and advocacy. Without the help of its affiliates, United Cerebral Palsy’s outreach would be severely limited.

By focusing on the future, United Cerebral Palsy will impact even more lives. The organization teams up with other groups to develop new technologies and methods for improving the lives of those with disabilities. For example, United Cerebral Palsy is working to ensure that children unable to use their vocal cords can still communicate with innovate new voice technology.

Another resource United Cerebral Palsy provides is just as important as new technology. The group acts as a support group for friends and family of people with disability and offers forums for people to discuss and ask questions about a disability affecting his or her family. United Cerebral Palsy has a branch in each state and affiliates around the world as no one with a disability need go without the independence and wellbeing that he or she deserves.

– Mary Penn

Sources: United Cerebral Palsy, Charity Navigator
Photo: United Cerebral Palsy Cleveland

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Access to Clean Water and Sanitation, Water for the World

Congressmen Ted Poe (R-TX) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) recently introduced an important piece of legislation that may drastically improve the opportunity for every person in the developing world to access to clean water, toilets, and better hygiene practices.

The Water for the World Act of 2013, introduced by these two congressmen, is a bill that is trying to ensure that the world’s abject poor receive the attention they need from the United States in the attempt to seek improvements in clean water access and hygiene. It is important to note that this act does not seek to create new agencies or programs, but to improve the efficiency of existing programs. The emphasis is not on higher dollar amounts, but more strategic approaches in trying to improve the lives of the world’s poorest people.

Worldwide water sanitation holds important implications for those suffering in precarious conditions, as well as the global economy. The World Bank notes that water sanitation and hygiene programs are a great return on investment: For every $1 spent, $4 is returned in economic productivity, which contributes greatly to the world economy. If people do not have to worry about access to clean water, they can spend more time becoming educated, caring for their families, and contributing to both their economy and the worldwide economy. This would amount to over $220 billion being added to international trade each year.

Improvements in water sanitation, access, and hygiene that the Water for the World Act will try to effect will also significantly reduce transmissions of diseases such as pneumonia. Indirectly, rates of education will improve, as less people worldwide will suffer from malnutrition and diarrheal disease due to dirty water. As literacy rates increase, the rising middle class in developing countries will fight for more transparent and accountable governments. More responsible governance around the world is a key objective of U.S. foreign policy, but it cannot ever be realized if world populations are without access to clean water and sanitation.

Global water, sanitation, and hygiene programs currently constitute less than 1% of the budget of the United States Agency for International Development. Due to the bipartisan leadership of Poe and Blumenauer, their act will place a greater focus on enhancing the capacity of the U.S. government to provide for the world’s poorest, a much needed shift in policy which will stretch this 1% to help more people around the world.

– Rahul Shah

Sources: Huffington Post, WASH Advocates, USAid

Mini Blood Banks Save Lives in Remote Locations

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A basic tenet of medical care – transfusing blood – is often unavailable in the developing world, but a cutting-edge blood transfer system called ProBlood is making live-saving red blood cells available even in the most remote locations.

ProBlood is an innovative system that acts a mini blood bank in a pack, allowing red blood cells and plasma to be separated for immediate use in critical situations where there is no blood centrifuge center available. Every day across the world, situations arise when someone is at risk of dying simply because they do not have access to a blood transfusion. Natural disasters, rescue operations and remote maternity clinics are just a few of the reasons ProBlood’s makers, Hemacon, developed a solution. ProBlood makes it possible for separated blood to be transferred, whereas in the past only whole blood was available. Hemacon designed ProBlood to be an alternative to traditional high g-force blood centrifugation, which allows the blood to be processed with less stress on the red blood cells.

Gravity is all that is needed to get the ProBlood system into gear. The whole blood donation is pulled by gravity through a leukocyte reduction filter, which removes potentially harmful blood-borne diseases and white blood cells. The plasma is then separated from the blood over a hollow fiber separation filter system, leaving the patient with access to plasma with high quality clotting factors. An entire unit of donated blood can be separated in under an hour using ProBlood, which quickly delivers safe red blood cells and plasma to critical patients, without the need for electricity or extensive handling.

ProBlood systems include a donor blood bag, needle, filter and processing component to separate the red blood cells and plasma, allowing them to be immediately administered or temporarily stored in a blood bag. With this system, patients around the world will have rapid access to high quality blood on a consistent basis. Each blood bag can also be stored up to 42 days if refrigerated, furthering increasing the availability of blood.

Hemacon’s mission to create ProBlood stemmed from some staggering statistics: more than one third of all maternity mortalities in developing nations are directly linked to hemorrhaging. Add in the complex logistics of providing safe blood to remote locations, and this statistic became a problem that Hemacon couldn’t ignore. Hemacon stepped in to help these mothers and drastically increase their access to a safe blood supply.

Finding blood donors is a problem in itself, with less than 0.25 percent contributing to blood supplies in the developing world, as compared to 5 percent donating blood in the Western world. By creating the ProBlood separation system, Hemacon has opened up a vital piece of the medical toolkit to the world’s poor. Hemacon is also developing blood separation systems to provide blood specially for pediatric anemia patients and for use in neonatal care. Additionally, patients requiring preplanned surgeries with expected high blood loss can use the ProBlood system for an autologous blood donation, which uses the patient’s own blood to combat blood loss during surgery. This process not only minimizes the risks for patients in surgery, but also allows the autologous blood donation to be collected quickly, safely and easily on site with the ProBlood system.

– Georganne Hassell

Sources: HighBeam Research, Hemacon
Photo: USA Today

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Perkins School for the Blind

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Perkins School for the Blind is an international association that originally started off as a school for the blind. But as time passed, more disabilities were taken care of at the schools. Founded in the United States, today it has grown into an international organization that reaches out to children and adults with disabilities all over the world.

In poverty stricken areas, people with disabilities are the least of the bread-winners’ concern. In a typical family, employment is preferred to education at an early age, and a visually/hearing impaired child or adult is often seen as just an extra mouth to feed. They are marginalized by their own society and family. That is where Perkins International comes in. Perkins International has branches all over the world, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, giving necessary aid and care to people with disabilities.

Perkins International breaks its work down into four branches: education, advocacy, information and technology, and leadership development. Perkins not only provides education for children with disabilities all over the world, but also works to train the teachers who will assist said children. With advocacy, Perkins International hopes to help children and adults with disabilities achieve recognition and equal treatment, as well as increase awareness about this often under-represented population.

Perkins International also brings new technology to the disabled in the form of their “Perkins Braillers®”, which helps the disabled read and write in Braille, a tactile print language that is accessible to the visually impaired. Finally, Perkins encourages local leadership, by training members of the local community to teach and lead a literacy program for the disabled. The leadership initiative, also known as the Educational Leadership Program, and the Institutional Development Program, also encourages and employs adults with disabilities. This is not only a great economic move, but also gives hope to young disabled children, especially from poverty stricken areas, that they can lead the future as well.

Today the individual branches of Perkins International all over the world can celebrate many triumphs, and it’s these small victories that can lead to larger ones. Whether it is successfully teaching one visually-impaired child how to read Braille, or holding a Braille Cup to encourage reading, learning, and a healthy dose of competition in a school for visually- and hearing-impaired children, the important thing is that children’s lives are being positively impacted.

– Aalekhya Malladi

Sources: IDP

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5 Global Poverty Solutions

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You’ve heard about the problems, but what are global poverty solutions? In fact, there are many:

1. Clean Water and Sanitation

A lot of people in the developed world take clean water and sanitation for granted. We do not realize at times how lucky we are that we don’t have to travel miles to get access to clean water, or drink seemingly safe water only to later find out it was contaminated. Improving water quality and overall sanitation are steps already being taken by non-profit and non-governmental organizations like UNICEF, etc. In fact, UNICEF’s Clean Water Campaign is attempting to do just this: help bring clean and safe tap water to people in developing and third world nations. The potential for a high impact is definitely present: just 5 U.S. dollars can provide clean tap water for one child for 200 days. Cleaner water and safer sanitation lead to healthy and fit children who are able to learn and go to school.

2. Healthcare and the Elimination and Prevention of Diseases

Similar to clean water and sanitation, proper healthcare can also help children and adults be vigorous enough to better take care of their families and work, or pursue education. Many potentially deadly diseases can be averted very simply: for example, one can greatly increase one’s chances of avoiding malaria simply by sleeping inside a mosquito net. Many charities are actively trying to save lives simply by sending nets to poverty stricken families in Africa. Vaccinations and inoculations prevent children from getting easily treatable diseases. Some very treatable diseases go unnoticed and/or untreated in families living in extreme poverty because they are often ignored, not recognized as illnesses, or treatments can’t be afforded. By eliminating and preventing easily treatable diseases, we give a chance to millions of children who otherwise might die of easily treatable maladies.

3. Education

Again, access to basic education is also perhaps something those in developed nations take for granted. Young children living in extreme poverty often have no choice but to seek employment when they reach a certain age in order to help the family financially. They often forgo an education for many reasons: for some, it’s a lack of nearby schools, for others, it’s simple economic necessity, and then there are some who cannot attend school because a lack of proper sanitation and clean water has left them with health problems; these children are unable to learn and perform well in school. Education is a positive feedback cycle in which children who receive an education are able to bring more money home for their families, thereby allowing other children to go to school rather than work. Education empowers people not only economically, but also spiritually and intellectually, potentially leading to a cyclical liberation of the poor.

4. Encouraging Local Innovation

Encouraging local innovation is a great solution to poverty because it stimulates the economy of poverty struck areas as well as supporting self-sufficiency. Some great inventions are currently coming out of Africa; some of them are simple solutions to problems only those living in extreme poverty face. Regardless, this is an eventual result of education, and if encouraged and fostered, it will result in a brighter future for those actively fighting poverty. Organizations like the African Innovation Foundation take it upon themselves to release the potential of individuals in poor African nations who would otherwise go unnoticed.

5. Eliminate Corruption

Eliminating corruption is an extremely significant move in the fight against global poverty. If it’s the higher up officials who hoard money, and prevent aid from going where it is most needed, it will hold back individual countries from eliminating diseases, educating the young, and making clean water accessible to the general population. Additionally, corruption can often result in lax law enforcement, which allows poor nations to become breeding grounds for extremist, sometimes terrorist groups. Eliminating corruption, therefore, would be taking a very big step towards eliminating poverty in general.

– Aalekhya Malladi

Sources: Clean Water Campaign, Netting Nations, Nets for Life Africa, Nothing But Nets, African Innovation Foundation
Photo: The Guardian

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Prenatal Sprinkles Offer Easy Solution to Malnourishment

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According to the Hunger Project, a non-profit organization that works to end global hunger, “malnutrition occurs when the variety or quality of food is insufficient to support proper development and health.”

Roughly 15 percent of babies born in developing countries are of low birth weight due to maternal malnutrition, and even those born at a healthy weight are at risk for malnutrition due to insufficient breastfeeding. Malnutrition causes one-third of global child deaths, perpetuated as undernourished women give birth in low-resource settings.

When a malnourished woman gives birth to a low-birth weight baby that has already been affected by her mother’s malnourishment, the child will suffer from a compromised immune system and will most likely stay malnourished, even when she reaches reproductive age. Her child, too, will be born malnourished, and the cycle of malnourishment will continue.

Seeking to break the cycle of malnourishment, the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada is developing a daily microencapsulated micronutrient powder through its affiliate SickKids.

Called “Prenatal Sprinkles,” this powder contains iron, folic acid and calcium. Pregnant and lactating women in poor areas can simply sprinkle their food with this supplement in order to combat malnutrition.

Prenatal Sprinkles will help to combat anemia during pregnancy, which often leads to premature birth, and preeclampsia associated with hypertension, which often causes maternal and fetal death.

Prenatal Sprinkles can potentially lower maternal hypertensive disease related mortality by 20 percent and preterm birth by 24 percent. Previously, supplements could not contain both iron and calcium due to poor absorption, but Prenatal Sprinkles contain differential time-release nutrients that increase iron and calcium absorption and prevent calcium-iron interaction. They also have a smooth texture and a pleasant flavor, making them palatable for malnourished women.

The Hospital for Sick Children is partnering with companies in the private sector in order to finance the production of Prenatal Sprinkles, but the projected cost of mass production is very low for the supplement.

Though Prenatal Sprinkles are not yet in wide circulation, they offer a simple and cost effective solution to malnutrition, a problem that cannot be solved by food aid alone.

– Katie Bandera

Sources: Sprinkles (R) 60mg Fe for Pregnant and Lactating Women, Issues: Malnutrition
Photo: Girls’ Globe

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Project Concern International

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Project Concern International (PCI) is an organization which seeks to to prevent disease, improve community health, and promote sustainable development worldwide. PCI was founded in 1961 by Dr. James Turpin after saving the lives of two children suffering from pneumonia while working in a Tijuana clinic. This experience inspired the young doctor to go on and forever change the lives of millions. PCI envisions a world in which resources are abundant and shared, communities are capable of providing for the basic health and well-being of its members, and children and families can achieve lives of hope, good health and self-sufficiency. PCI conducts its work through field offices in host countries where directors can live in the area and get an intimate understanding of local needs.

Working in 16 countries, PCI hopes to reach at least 5 million people per year with its services. Overtime, PCI has expanded its reach through increased funding: from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to government grants to the Starbucks foundation, PCI has a well rounded list of supporters. PCI’s ultimate goals include addressing the root causes of poverty and poor health; working with the community to leverage their assets, capabilities and goals to create community-inclusive solutions; implementing holistic solutions; cultivating long-standing relationships with community leaders, investors, and stakeholders to catalyze the impact of aid spent; and developing tools which measure the long-term success of such programs. PCI addresses poverty through programs focused on women’s empowerment & poverty, children’s health, disease prevention, food & water programs, and disaster relief & recovery. Between 2013-2016, PCI hopes to reach over 10 million people worldwide and become a leader in building community capacity, resilience and self-sufficiency.

In addition to its programs worldwide, PCI also has a series of initiatives to further promote its goals. These intiatives include: Women Empowered, Legacy, Who Cares? and SHE.

  • Women Empowered: Established in May of this year, Women Empowered is an initiative in support of women’s equality, human rights and success. PCI believes that women are the solution to poverty, poor health and vulnerability and that through WE, women can attain social and economic empowerment. WE programs are currently being implemented in Guatemala, Bolivia, Botswana, and Malawi. One such success story comes from Maweta in Zambia. After raising six children of her own, Maweta returned to parenthood to raise her grandchildren after their parents died from AIDS. Without a steady source of income, Maweta struggled to provide for her grandchildren. After attending a community orientation hosted by PCI, Maweta began mobilizing women in her community to form a self-help group. Nine months later, Maweta has learned how to read and write, perform basic accounting and save $60 by selling mangoes to her community. Maweta has since received a loan to start a small business. Maweta buys food in bulk, repackages it into smaller quantities and sells these to her village. Since starting the business, Maweta has been able to provide for her grandchildren’s basic needs and education.
  • Legacy: PCI’s Legacy Programs focus on maternal/child health and nutrition, as well as economic empowerment. As the name suggests, ‘Legacy’ for PCI means consistent and compassionate commitment to the communities involved. These programs include: Well Baby clinics, Ventanilla de Salud (VDS), Casa Materna, and the Street and Working Children Program. Ventanilla de Salud (VDS) targets at risk immigrant populations near the border, by providing basic health and community services, while these families are waiting for service at the Mexican consulate. VDS has reached more than 41,000 people with health education information and nearly 20,000 with HIV/AIDS prevention messages. However, the VDS program suffers from a lack of funding and has been scaled back by more than 25 percent.
  • Who Cares?: An online campaign which celebrates, recognizes and encourages those who are giving back to the greater good. Who Cares? provides volunteers with the opportunity to network, share stories, or just get motivated about a cause. Who Cares targets the youth and young adults because they believe that the ability of today’s youth to mobilize others is huge, yet largely untapped. In addition, Who Cares provides tools to help the youth mobilize others and make their efforts pay off.
  • SHE: SHE, which is short for Strong, Health and Empowered, is a group of ambassadors who dedicate their time to PCI’s projects across the globe. These ambassadors work within the community to promote women’s empowerment and find innovative solutions to ensure that women lead strong, healthy lives.

To learn more about PCI’s work, explore PCIglobal.org for more info.

– Kelsey Ziomek

Sources: PCI Global, The San Diego Foundation, Washington Global Health Alliance, Coronado Eagle

Toxic Waste Causing Health Problems in Asia

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A study by Mount Sinai researchers lead by Kevin Chatham-Stephens, MD, exposes a largely under-reported health threat to people living in India, Indonesia and the Philippines: toxic waste. The result of this waste is the loss of 829,000 years of healthy lives in 2010, when the study was conducted. These numbers are as staggering as good health years lost to malaria and air pollution in the countries studied. In 2010, people prematurely lost 1.45 million healthy years due to air pollution and 725,000 years were lost because of malaria. Given that toxic waste is the third major cause of loss of good health years, it should no longer be overlooked.

The types of toxic waste people living in India, Indonesia and the Philippines are exposed to include lead, asbestos and chromium. Currently, about 8 million people are exposed to these “industrial pollutants,” which means they are highly susceptible to developing cancer, anemia or heart disease.

An even bigger concern is the effect toxic waste has on children and pregnant women, a demographic that makes up two thirds of the studied population. Dr. Chatham-Stephens explains, “If a woman is pregnant, the fetus may be exposed to these toxic chemicals… the prenatal to early childhood period is the time when individuals are very vulnerable to some toxic exposures, such as lead’s impact on the developing nervous system.” This is extremely pressing since a projected 35 million additional people are likely to be affected by toxic waste sites not included in the study.

However, now that policy makers are aware of this research, they will be better prepared to implement solutions. The removal of toxic waste from sites near communities will drastically improve the number of healthy years lived by the population in that area. As other studies have discovered, one of the keys to alleviating poverty is improving quality of life and healthcare. Once developing countries decrease toxic waste, it is likely that human wellbeing will improve and thus effect economic growth.

– Mary Penn

Sources: Mount Sinai Hospital
Photo: Sci Dev Net