Archive for category: Health

Information and stories on health topics.

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HIV/AIDS in Mali: ARCAD Santé PLUS Makes Care Accessible

HIV/AIDS in MaliHIV/AIDS remains West Africa’s most pressing health challenge. Mali’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 1.1% is quite high for West Africa and the country is one of the few African nations where new infections are rising. Mali is both one of the 10 poorest countries in the world where they are on a list of 37 very poor and very indebted countries. It relies heavily on foreign aid. Many Malians struggle to access HIV/AIDS testing and treatment due to stigma and discrimination. Other challenges are difficult access to health facilities and scarcity of follow-up at community level. Yet, amid these challenges, a homegrown organization is working to address HIV/AIDS in Mali, one community at a time.

A Crisis of Access and Awareness

Approximately 62% of Malians living with HIV/AIDS know their status. Among those who test positive in Mali, 56% are on antiretroviral therapy (ART), with 48% on ART achieving viral load suppression. It helps people living with HIV/AIDS stay healthy, live longer and reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others.

On February 28th, the U.S. decided to suspend funding to FHI360, a global nonprofit organization that is based in North Carolina. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Country Office and the Executive Secretary of the High National Council for the Fight against AIDS organized this meeting and made this decision. To this, the Malian government went on to distribute 120 million CFA francs ($212,000) to associations to help them continue their activities and reduce the drawbacks of the suspension.

ARCAD Santé PLUS: A Community-Focused Response

ARCAD Santé PLUS is an NGO founded in 1994 in Bamako. Led by Dr. Aliou Sylla, ARCAD Santé PLUS (formerly ARCAD-SIDA) focuses on community resilience and access to health, providing technical support, community research and advocacy. This is particularly for people living with HIV/AIDS and vulnerable populations.

The services they offer include prevention and care initiatives, including capacity building for community leaders on sexual health and rights. ARCAD Santé PLUS seeks to bring communities together to identify and address their health needs, contributing to a world free of HIV/AIDS.

The organization runs CESAC, otherwise known as the Centre for Listening, Care, Activities and Advice. It originated in 1996 which was Mali’s first dedicated HIV clinic. It receives support from the Global Fund which ARCAD Santé PLUS leads. HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care and programs specifically for children, adolescent girls and women are some of the health services they provide.

More specifically, ARCAD Santé PLUS’ clinics provide prevention kits and PrEP, testing for HIV/AIDS, treatment of opportunistic infections, initiation and monitoring of ARVs, community-based ARV distribution, self-support groups, harm reduction, research and advocacy.

A Major Step Forward in 2024

In March 2024, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (The Global Fund), the government of Mali, ARCAD Santé PLUS and Plan International Mali signed three new €102 worth of grants. These grants support the fight against AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) and strengthening health systems over the 2024-2026 period. 

About 96,600 people will receive HIV/AIDS and TB treatment through grants by 2026 to prevent significant numbers of new HIV/AIDS infections, including mother-to-child transmission.

The grants will also be used to improve testing coverage and success rates, focused on decentralized care for drug-resistant TB between 2023 to 2025. This will scale up prevention activities for hard-to-reach populations and strengthen the capacity of community-focused organizations.

Progress Is Possible

Naturally, the path to ending HIV/AIDS in Mali is not without obstacles. Funding disruptions, conflict and persistent stigma continue to challenge the national response. However, organizations like ARCAD Santé PLUS reflect that community-focused, patient-centered care can make a meaningful difference despite these difficult circumstances. ARCAD Santé PLUS is proof that continued investment in local solutions can fight against HIV/AIDS in Mali.

– Joy Kohol

Joy is based in Muncie, IN, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Eliminating the Pests That Spread Infectious Diseases in Taiwan

Infectious Diseases in TaiwanPoor sanitation and a naturally wet climate create a fertile breeding ground for pests such as mosquitoes and rodents, which sometimes carry infectious diseases. With a number of different large scale efforts, the Taiwan CDC also encourages citizens to take proper measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. This primarily comes in the form of taking out trash, emptying water containers and keeping one’s home clean. In most cases, these diseases are only spread via infected pests and not from person to person. Taking away the types of environments that the pests can thrive in means a lower disease rate. Here is more information about the diseases impacting Taiwan and the efforts to combat them.

Hantavirus

Hantavirus is one of many infectious diseases impacting Taiwan that stems from rodents. There were a total of 44 infections between 2017 and 2026 – most of which were found on the northern part of the island in or near New Taipei City. One can become infected by simply breathing in or coming into contact with infected rat feces, urine or saliva. Symptoms include elevated body temperature, muscular pain, nausea and diarrhea. However, the mortality rate for this strain in Asia is much lower than in other parts of the world with only one confirmed death over that span. Although still rare, a deadlier and more common strain of the disease is also found in the southwest part of the United States.

Two Taiwanese men in their 70s were infected with the virus in 2026. A man who died in January was immunocompromised and had other preexisting conditions. A couple of the rats found near his house tested positive for the virus.

Environmental protection agencies respond to incidents such as these by setting traps and exterminating areas with confirmed cases of the virus to help limit its spread. Yearly numbers have always been low, but between 2022 and 2025, there were no more than four total cases each year.

By not leaving out food and keeping one’s area free of clutter, homeowners automatically put themselves in a better position to protect themselves from infestation. The use of gloves and a mask to clean up rat droppings has helped to curb the infection rate as well.

Chikungunya Fever

Infected mosquitoes that originate from China and south East Asian countries have found their way into Taiwan due to increased rainfall and typhoons. Although chikungunya fever has a low mortality rate, people who contract the disease experience joint pain throughout the body, fatigue, nausea and headache. It takes an average of four to eight days for symptoms to appear and about a week to recover.

There are an average of well under 100 infections each year in Taiwan, but in 2019, there were 107. These mosquitoes thrive in pockets of stagnant water like rain barrels, potted plant holders and gutters. In response to the uptick in infections, the government imposed a fine of up to $7,500 TWD for any person who leaves open water containers out in public. Although there have been fewer cases in following years, 2025 saw the highest number of cases since 2019 at 46. By implementing these measures, it has made eliminating the spread of diseases impacting Taiwan that involve mosquitoes much easier.

The government places ovitraps in a variety of infested areas to help determine the number of mosquitoes that carry the disease. An ovitrap is a shallow bucket of water in a shaded area, which is specifically used to count the number of mosquito eggs that appear over time. After data is collected, the areas that need attention are sprayed with insecticide. After the spike in infections for 2019, 2020 saw a grand total of three.

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is another example of a disease that mosquitoes, both native and foreign to the island, are known to spread. Unlike the other two, dengue fever is primarily found on the south end of Taiwan which shows that the risk for diseases from pests extends to all parts of the island. Dengue fever is much more common. Primary symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain and pain behind the eyes. Around 1% of cases can develop into severe dengue in which the person has difficulty breathing due to plasma leakage. Older adults with weaker immune systems are at a much greater risk to have this happen.

The number of cases varies significantly from year to year depending on several factors like weather patterns and how much the population has achieved herd immunity. Migrant workers from other countries like the Philippines and Vietnam bring the infection from their home country into Taiwan, increasing the overall rate of the disease impacting Taiwan. It is estimated that the vast majority of baseline cases of mosquito-related diseases originate in other south east Asian countries.

The government has also stepped in to teach people about the seriousness of the disease and how to stay healthy. There is a widespread awareness campaign about how to prevent infections around one’s home as well as protection methods one can use outside the home like covering up skin with light colored clothing.

Just like Chikungunya Fever, there are large-scale efforts to set ovitraps and collect data for the purposes of determining which areas to spray. In 2023, there were 26,706 total cases, but in 2025 there were less than 300. About 44 people died of the disease in 2023, and each year less than 1% of people die from Dengue Fever. The CDC also made surveillance of the disease widely available with more than 430 hospitals signed up to report data about the disease.

Conclusion

There are many other infectious diseases in Taiwan that are transmitted by rodents or mosquitoes besides the three discussed in this article. While herd immunity is attainable through vaccination and widespread recovery from infection, there will always be new variants and other external factors, such as climate, that cause brand new spikes in infection. However, by continuing with the collective effort to curb the spread on the part of both the Taiwan CDC and the Taiwanese citizens, the country will be a much healthier place for both citizens and visitors alike.

– Logan Hessek

Logan is based in Northglenn, CO, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Treatment Access and Awareness for HIV/AIDS in Guyana

HIV/AIDS in GuyanaIn 2024, 40% fewer people acquired HIV and 54% fewer died from AIDS-related causes than in 2010. Many countries around the world have invested extensively in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with one country making notable progress despite the many obstacles it faces: Guyana.

Guyana is a country in the northeast region of South America, with a population of 878,674 as of 2022, largely centered on and around the Caribbean coastline. It was until the recent discovery of offshore oil reserves one of the poorest countries in South America, a socioeconomic effect which still impacts the country today in regard to government resources and public health.

Medical hospital infrastructure for instance was, until the most recent decade, a costly and difficult expense. Accessing necessary health treatment required a challenging trip to the capital city, Georgetown, often taking more than half a day to complete and having a disproportionate impact on low-income patients in terms of health and accessibility. Here is more information about HIV/AIDS in Guyana and what some are doing to address it.

International and Governmental Efforts

Recent strategic investments by the Government of Guyana, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have helped expand the region’s health care network. These ongoing efforts from international support organizations will, by 2027, open five more “smart” hospitals in the country which will provide far more expansive and high-quality healthcare access than ever before.

Similarly, the Universal Health Voucher Programme (UHVP) was a 2025 initiative by the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Health, aimed at improving healthcare service accessibility to all of Guyana’s citizens by providing each member of the public a $10,000 health voucher and reduced costs for valuable medical tests. The current president of Guyana, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, launched the UHVP with the goal of improving Guyanese healthcare and especially through improved health monitoring and early addressing of health conditions.

Critically Affected Populations

Research shows that HIV is still among the leading public health challenges in Guyana and the Caribbean, largely due to the combination of HIV/AIDS solutions lacking full accessibility and awareness in everyday life in Guyana.

There are an estimated 11,000 HIV/AIDS cases in Guyana, a prevalence of 1.5% among the population, and new cases have risen by 19% since 2010. This is compared to the global average of HIV/AIDS, which among adults aged 15–49 sits at around 0.7%, or less than half of Guyana’s HIV impact.

In 2017, the Global Fund approved an HIV grant of $4,539,985 to the Guyana Ministry of Health, lasting from the beginning of 2018 to the end of 2020. The proposed grant program targeted an epidemic of diverse and vulnerable populations, those being “men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers, transgender people, miners and loggers,” according to the Global Fund Technical Review Panel (TRP). The program worked to assess and implement a coordinated variety of strategies to address these populations and treat any and all HIV/AIDS cases more broadly, building upon recent efforts by Guyana on aiding key populations and with the goal of eliminating HIV/AIDS and addressing detrimental social and economic impacts the epidemic creates.

Eliminating HIV/AIDS in Guyana

Guyana has made significant progress in its efforts to eliminate HIV/AIDS, though has not managed to meet its optimistic 95-95-95 targets completely. These goals mean for 95% of persons living with HIV to know their disease status, for 95% of persons with HIV/AIDS to have active treatment, and for 95% on treatment to have viral suppression aid. As of the National AIDS Programme 2023 Annual Report, Guyana has reported 94%, 72%,and 87% respectively, showing substantial improvement from a decade prior but without the 95% benchmarks being met which would signal an effective and complete eradication of the epidemic.

However, HIV infections are certainly not yet a settled case in the country. The year 2024 saw almost 500 new HIV infections recorded, with many of them being preventable, according to Guyana’s Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony. Guyana provides free nationwide testing and treatment services for HIV/AIDS, which is why this increase is so hard to explain by conventional resource explanations.

Studies assessing young people’s knowledge of HIV/AIDS and their views on sexual behavior and contraceptives in Guyana may help explain why. Almost a quarter of teenagers ages 12-14 years old were sexually active, jumping to more than one-third of teenagers for ages 15 or older. Just two out of every five of these groups utilized condoms and other measures, reflecting attitudes toward HIV/AIDS prevention affected by a lack of public knowledge and importance due to age and educational and religious teaching on these contraceptives. Guyanese cases ages 15-24 accounted for 14% of the 580 new HIV/AIDS infections recorded in 2023, and HIV prevalence for the age group rose from 0.2% to 0.3%, suggesting the problem is increasing despite measures being taken.

Actions by the Guyanese Ministry of Health

Rates of HIV/AIDS have stayed constant throughout the country as well, suggesting that the increased health accessibility reforms by Guyana’s government have not had the intended effect in the country. The Government of Guyana already funds every test, HIV tablet, ARV and viral load test, in contrast to most other developing countries which tend to rely on international financing for HIV/AIDS healthcare support.

The Government of Guyana additionally introduced PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) pills in 2019 through the Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), pills which are highly effective in treatment for HIV/AIDS, but which have been largely ineffective due to a lack of public awareness. Research shows that PrEP awareness in Guyana exists largely through media sources, whereas PrEP access is significantly less commonly prescribed by a health care provider. 

Many are concerned about limited access, side effects, and inadequate provider engagement in PrEP and other HIV/AIDS treatments, illustrating a lack of success in providing sufficient awareness efforts by the Guyanese government. However, more than half of the research participants also expressed a willingness to use PrEP, and more than three-quarters expressed a willingness to recommend it to their peers.

Final Thoughts

HIV/AIDS efforts in Guyana have been moderately successful, particularly in expanding healthcare access and treatment potential. Continued problems exist with spreading accurate information and reducing the systemic barriers present to current health care inaccessibility in Guyana, yet greater provider training, routine PrEP integration into medical spaces and targeted community outreach to improve public perception and access can combat it.

– Matthew Hecomovich

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

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Addressing HIV/AIDS in Bahrain

HIV/AIDS in BahrainAs a country with a mix of Islamic and Western influences, Bahrain finds itself in a unique position. This blend is a result of a large migration of foreign nationals into the country. More than half of the country’s population is made up of foreign nationals. 

HIV/AIDS in Bahrain

According to a report, 237 cases of HIV were recorded in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Transmission through sexual contact was more common in foreign nationals, accounting for 45.7% of cases, while drug abuse was the predominant cause for Bahraini citizens, making up 38.8% of cases of HIV/AIDS in Bahrain.

There is also a large, underreported sex trafficking industry in Bahrain. While sex workers exist in almost every country, their legality in some nations makes it easier to do HIV testing. However, in a country like Bahrain, where sex work is illegal, and authorities arrest women for participating in sex work, it becomes rather difficult. 

Currently, sex workers receive testing for HIV/AIDS in Bahrain only after authorities arrest them, which means that there is probably a huge number of untested HIV-positive individuals. Additionally, there might be many sex workers who do not receive testing out of fear of arrest, and many people who have contracted the disease without knowing it.

Public Attitudes About HIV

According to a study that Janahi et al conducted, which includes the knowledge, risk perceptions and attitudes of 1,038 Bahraini adults, misconceptions towards HIV do exist in the region. 

About 60% support patient isolation and 52.4% see HIV as a divine punishment. Meanwhile, 84.4% of people believe that religion plays a role in limiting the spread of disease. These misconceptions require attention to create a society that makes people less hesitant to get HIV testing, as people fear their family and friends shunning them just for being HIV positive.

A report by the Journal of Bahrain Medical Society states that “The HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the health care sector has not been studied in Bahrain, most probably due to the low prevalence of HIV and AIDS in our country.”

Efforts That Bahrain is Making

The National AIDs Programme, which has been a GCC-sponsored health initiative since 1987, provides free antiretroviral therapy, which is commonly known as ART, for patients who are recorded as positive with HIV. Before the National AIDs Programme, the government did not have a central plan to combat AIDs as there was no approved drug back then. Treatment back then mostly relied on palliative and supportive care. The free therapy has seen success with 68% receiving free healthcare in the year 2021, a notable increase from 33% in the year 2015. However, Bahrain must make efforts to create a population that is ready to undergo HIV testing, to make steady improvements in the crisis.  

The Free ART treatments has been a success with many patients receiving free healthcare, and this is the reason why HIV/AIDs in Bahrain doesn’t lead to poverty. The Kingdom of Bahrain also claims that the global definition of global poverty does not apply to the country, as there are no people living below the poverty line, but a United Nations report ranks Bahrain third in poverty among GCC countries, making one doubt everything the country claims.

Concluding Thoughts

Public attitudes and laws make it difficult to record and diagnose cases. However, the National AIDs programme has been successful in treating patients, although more progress is needed to address widespread ignorance.

– Adil Sayyad

Adil is based in Mumbai, India and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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AI Tools Outperform Clinicians in Rwanda Study

AI Tools Outperform Clinicians in RwandaThe potential of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to offer affordable health advice to low-income countries has been outlined in a new study. Researchers described the work as the first evaluation of its kind and found that five large language models (LLMs) significantly outperformed local doctors and nurses in Rwanda when responding to hundreds of clinical questions.

The tools, including Google’s Gemini-2 and ChatGPT-4o, delivered responses at a cost 500 times lower per answer and still outperformed clinicians when responding in the local language, Kinyarwanda. The research team included academics from Rwanda and the U.K. and noted a lack of previous research around how LLMs perform in low-income countries. The questions tested were randomly selected from thousands supplied by community health workers across four Rwandan districts and evaluated using a rubric of expert-rated metrics.

Study Suggests AI Tools Outperform Clinicians in Rwanda

Community health workers across four Rwandan districts supplied thousands of clinical questions, and researchers randomly selected around 520 for the test. Experts then evaluated the responses using a rubric of rated metrics. The other tools measured — o3-mini, Deepseek R1 and Meditron-70B — each scored significantly higher than local clinicians.

According to the research team, the study aimed to evaluate the ability of LLMs to generate safe, high-quality and cost-effective responses to real questions posed by frontline health care workers in a low-resource setting. The team concluded that LLMs can provide high-quality, on-demand clinical advice to community health workers that outperforms local experts, even in low-resource, non-English language settings.

The researchers designed the study to simulate a situation in which a community health worker seeks telephone advice from a general practitioner or senior nurse and accepts the first response offered. Despite the headline finding, the authors acknowledged the study does not fully reflect the complexity of day-to-day clinical practice, as real-life situations often involve back-and-forth conversations. They suggested future studies examine how AI tools perform in extended clinical conversations.

Gates Foundation Funds AI Roll-Out

The Gates Foundation funded the Rwanda study and has led efforts to deploy and research large language models in Sub-Saharan Africa. In January 2026, the foundation announced a $50 million joint investment with OpenAI to deploy AI tools supporting primary care workers across 1,000 clinics, starting in Rwanda.

In February 2026, the foundation also launched the Evidence for AI in Health initiative with the Wellcome Trust and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, committing $60 million to projects in low- and middle-income countries.

The three-year project will support researchers evaluating LLMs in clinical settings, AI tools that read diagnostic scans and models that predict disease risk or prioritize patients for follow-up based on their medical history. Priority will go to technologies designed for resource-limited settings.

Looking Ahead

The growing interest in these projects reflects the economic challenge of delivering universal health coverage in low-income countries. A recent World Bank analysis suggested that achieving universal health coverage requires about $60 per capita in low-income countries, compared with around $17 per capita in current government and donor funding.

Global aid cuts have increased pressure on health budgets, making the search for affordable approaches to care more urgent. The study highlighted that AI tools can outperform clinicians in Rwanda. Indeed, the investments that followed suggest that AI tools may offer one pathway toward bridging that gap in resource-limited settings.

– Lawrence Dunhill

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

Photo: Flickr

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Volunteer Nurses in Honduras

Volunteer Nurses in HondurasAs of 2024, almost 63% of people in Honduras lived in poverty. The main reasons for such a high poverty rate are extreme food insecurity, lack of access to basic services, climate disasters and violence.

Particularly in the city of La Ceiba, poverty is at a severe high of almost 93%. Located on the northern coast of Honduras, La Ceiba has a population of about 285,000 people. If 93% of these people are living in poverty, then about 265,000 people are in poverty in just one city in Honduras. The city experiences common hurricanes and flooding, which exacerbates the poverty rate.

A Broader View

The nonprofit A Broader View sends volunteer nurses to La Ceiba to assist in public hospitals. The organization was founded in 2007 and runs volunteer programs in 32 countries around the world. Since its founding, A Broader View has raised and donated more than $4.5 million to partners in need and has had almost 70,000 volunteers.

The Premedical and Student Nurse program in La Ceiba sends volunteers over the age of 17 to work in public hospitals and clinics. These volunteer nurses in Honduras work alongside local doctors to help the largely understaffed facilities. Volunteers assist with basics such as charting patients, cleaning and bandaging wounds and taking vitals. No experience is required to participate in the program. Spanish immersion lessons are offered to those interested. Volunteers are asked to bring several pairs of scrubs, a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, masks, gloves and pens. La Ceiba has limited availability of supplies and cannot provide these basics to each volunteer. Volunteers are housed on-site and work eight-hour shifts Monday through Friday. Program lengths range from one week to 12 weeks.

Volunteer Nurses in Honduras

The Borgen Project interviewed Nancy Crane, a volunteer nurse who went to Honduras in 2017. In January of that year, La Ceiba experienced major flooding that affected thousands of people. September and October 2017 saw heavy rain and frequent flooding. Nancy went to La Ceiba in September 2017 as a volunteer nurse for 12 weeks with A Broader View. Her motivation for going was a desire to move into the nursing field. She had no prior experience, and A Broader View provided hands-on experience. Nancy was placed in Hospicentro Okens in the emergency room four days a week and at a small local clinic one day a week. She was placed in a homestay with a man who taught her Spanish in her free time.

Nancy told The Borgen Project that her expectations for her time in La Ceiba were to do more observing, handle basic first aid and take vitals. She quickly learned that it would require a lot more patient care than she had prepared for, as well as tasks that do not take place in U.S. hospitals. Nancy was the only volunteer at Hospicentro Okens and was welcomed by everyone, even though her Spanish was not perfect.

“When they heard that I was from the U.S., they actually called me ‘Doctor,'” she said. She was surprised by this since she had no experience or training. Hospicentro Okens was very limited in resources. Nancy recalled some of the more basic tasks she had to complete to help with hospital functioning. “At the emergency room where I worked, they do not have computer systems to log people in, and so we actually would have to sit down in our free time and create lined paper so that we could have people sign in,” she said. She also had to cut and sterilize gauze to be used as needed.

Poverty in La Ceiba

When asked about poverty in La Ceiba, she described walking 10 minutes through flooded streets to reach the emergency room each day. The clinic she worked in was in the most impoverished part of La Ceiba. “When I would go there, there would be hundreds of people lined up to come in to the un-air-conditioned ER, and there are dogs running in and out,” she said. She described it as “organized chaos.” The only running water at the clinic came in through the kitchen window during rain and flowed into a barrel, serving as the only fresh water available.

When patients came in for care that required supplies the hospital or clinic did not have, they were sent to the medical store to buy the supplies themselves before returning for treatment. Nancy described all of the people seeking care as very patient and accepting of the quality care they were receiving. She recounted a man who arrived having a severe heart attack in an open-back jeep with no gurney — he had to walk himself to the entrance.

Nancy also recounted what happens when no surgeons are available. The osteopathic surgeon only comes in once a week, so if someone had a broken limb, doctors would clean it, remove all the bone pieces, clean them, put the clean bones back and stitch it up. The patient would then wait in that condition for one to six days until the surgeon returned.

Nancy also spoke about the severity of diabetes in Honduras. Most people do not have access to whole foods or blood pressure devices, which causes a large number of people to require amputations.

Nancy greatly valued her time as a volunteer nurse in Honduras and later went to school in the U.S. to become a nurse. She volunteered at a clinic in Guatemala in the fall of 2018 and hopes to return to Honduras in the future.

Healthcare in Honduras

Since 2017, several organizations have worked to improve health care in Honduras. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) worked with the Honduran Ministry of Health to improve the quality of one of the main public hospitals in Tegucigalpa. In September 2024, UNOPS announced a plan to upgrade and construct six operating rooms not currently in use. As of December 2025, Hospital Escuela now has four stretcher elevators to better transport staff and patients. A Temporary Equipment and Sterilization Center was also handed over to the hospital to provide more space during construction and to ensure proper sterilization of medical supplies.

On March 13, 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa announced a $46.5 million five-year bilateral health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The Department of State will provide $29.5 million over the next five years to help the Honduran health care system address HIV/AIDS and other noncommunicable diseases. The Honduran government commits to increasing its health spending in HIV and global health security by $16.8 million. The MOU gives Honduras greater national autonomy over its health care system and integrates U.S.-funded frontline health care and laboratory workers into the national health workforce.

Looking Ahead

Volunteer nurses in Honduras still play a critical role in supporting the health care system. Several organizations beyond A Broader View send volunteers to the country. With limited local staff available, volunteer nurses provide immediate, short-term care and relieve pressure on local nurses. Volunteer programs also bring critical supplies that Honduras lacks. In the years since Nancy Crane volunteered in La Ceiba, funding has increased and more volunteer nurses have helped support the health care system for those living in poverty.

– Kaitlyn Crane

Kaitlyn is based in Rohnert Park, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Fighting Back: Cholera Vaccine Shortages in Bangladesh

Fighting Back Against Cholera Vaccine Shortages in Bangladesh Bangladesh’s battle against cholera has been long-standing and complicated by various factors, including limited access to clean water and Bangladesh’s high population density. With the rise in funding cuts to global aid, there has been a significant increase in vaccine shortages in Bangladesh. However, with the implementation of certain countermeasures, the fight against cholera vaccine shortages shows promise.

The Cholera Cycle

The prevalence of cholera in Bangladesh has been estimated to be around 100,000 cases per year.

This is due to a number of different factors, including Bangladesh’s rainfall season, where there is an increase in floods and droughts.

As cholera is transmitted by consuming contaminated food and water, the increase in rainfall in Bangladesh every year creates a cycle of increasing and decreasing cholera infections. Typically, this is addressed with vaccination protocols such as the mass oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaign that was put in place for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

However, with continuous cuts to funding across the globe, the availability of vaccinations has been on a steady decrease, making vaccination campaigns like the mass OCV campaign for the Rohingya people a challenge to replicate.

In response to most cholera outbreaks, there is a two-dose protocol in vaccination schemes. Due to funding cuts, the number of doses usually provided in these schemes has been reduced by international organizations that provide vaccinations. This reduction to only one dose has been an attempt to mitigate the impact of the limited global supply.

The Global Response to Low Vaccination Stocks

The vaccine shortages in Bangladesh, as with other countries, have been slowly receiving pushback from global actors such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. As of February 2026, the global supply of cholera vaccinations has increased to sufficient levels for vaccination programs to resume. Bangladesh is set to receive 10.3 million doses.

Furthermore, the cholera vaccination shortages in Bangladesh have only provided incentives to promote secondary countermeasures against cholera outbreaks. Campaigns such as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), which aim to provide safe water and sanitation, have already been in existence for more than a decade.

Cholera is spread by contaminated food and water. With a shift in focus to efforts that promote sanitation and clean water, alongside proper vaccination protocols, the battle against cholera in Bangladesh can continue.

Looking Ahead

The cholera endemic in Bangladesh has always been one of Bangladesh’s biggest health challenges, with around 3,000 deaths occurring annually. This is a problem that continues to persist, especially with the instability caused by vaccine shortages. Despite this, with vaccination campaigns in Bangladesh resuming, the fight against cholera outbreaks resumes with renewed momentum.

– Bernice Attawia

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

Photo: Flickr

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3 Ways the US Fuel Blockade Challenges SDG 1 in Cuba

SDG 1 in CubaMotivated by a desire for the island’s government to change regimes, U.S. President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14380 on January 29th, 2026, authorizing the imposition of heavy tariffs upon oil provisions sent to Cuba and delivering a huge blow to the progress made toward SDG 1 in Cuba. 

The island is one of Latin America’s poorest countries and had already been struggling with an energy crisis before Trump’s tariffs were put into place. With 12% experiencing unemployment and an astonishing 89% living in extreme poverty, Cuba’s citizens are suffering under the weight of food shortages and medicine shortages, blackouts and poor wages. 

While the island has long endured social problems, as of 2026, the poverty rate has soared by 49% since 2025, with the island now suffering from blackouts, a lack of drinkable water and outbreaks of mosquito-borne and hygiene-related illnesses, creating a nation-wide poverty crisis that is driving 78% of people living on the island to make emigration plans. Here are three ways that the U.S. fuel blockage on Cuba is threatening the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1: no poverty in Cuba: 

1. Debilitated Healthcare System 

Cuba’s hospitals are unable to function effectively due to frequent power outages, leading to thousands of patients awaiting surgeries that are unable to be performed without sufficient water and electricity. Despite relying on generators during the reoccurring blackouts, hospitals and other important institutions are grappling to optimize the few hours of electricity provided each day, with laboratories shortening their workdays from five to two hours every week in order to preserve fuel.

A spike in hygiene-related and mosquito-borne illnesses, which the heaps of rubbish now piling on the streets of Cuba have caused, is putting the healthcare system under further strain. The Cuban Government responded to the fuel shortage with rationed waste collection in an attempt to save fuel, resulting in garbage piles being burned as citizens desperately scramble to get rid of the piles of waste marinating in the streets.

Health officials report that the flux of stagnant water left inside discarded waste has led to an increase in reproduction of the Aedes aegypti species. With a large number of vectors swarming inside homes and public areas, the transmission of mosquito-borne illnesses has drastically increased, resulting in countless new cases of diseases like chikungunya, which causes significant pain and often debilitating symptoms in patients.

Rubbish piles further raise concern, as parents struggle to monitor their children in streets filled with waste that can cause serious health issues if consumed out of hunger or inhaled during a burning. With so few resources available, hospitals struggle to care for their rapidly increasing number of patients.

2. Grid Collapse

A preexisting energy crisis, which the fuel blockade has made worse, has left schools with no choice but to reduce the number of classes delivered to students each day, resulting in online classes and even cancellations, and businesses unable to operate, forcing them to shut down and leave workers unemployed. 

A cessation of fuel deliveries to the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant has led to frequent breakdowns and left the island powerless in the resulting outages. Without power for lights and technological devices, schools and businesses  are unable to run as usual. However, it is speculated that, due to the crumbling public transport system, attendance would be low even if there was power. With a lack of fuel affecting the everyday commutes of students and workers alike, and a high prevalence of blackouts, the Cuban workforce is  paralyzed, leaving countless unemployed and jeopardizing SDG 1 in Cuba. 

The interruption to studies has even prompted students at the University of Havana to conduct a sit-down protest in March, angered by officials’ lack of action when the U.S. first began enforcing the blockade. A rare occurrence, the protest was responded with force, until Higher Education Vice Minister Modesto Ricardo Gomez called off university security, claiming their voices had a right to be heard and taken seriously.

3. Limited Access To Clean Water 

A water shortage caused by frequent blackouts over the island has left Cubans panicked. Due to fuel shortages, the island is experiencing voltage fluctuations. This causes delays in pumping schedules and damages to machinery, thus affecting the regular delivery of clean water to citizens. With no reliable access to clean drinking water, citizens have resorted to collecting water from tanker trucks and relying on aid vessels for supplies. 

The lack of clean water is leading to an increase in hospital patients, with people suffering from dehydration in the summer heat. Low water supply also means there is little to be spared for showers and cleanliness, leaving citizens vulnerable to illnesses due to poor hygiene and unsanitary food. There is very little water that can be boiled to wash dishes or cook food, therefore creating an environment where sickness can thrive.

Here is some information about aid being delivered to combat the poverty crisis in Cuba:

The Nuestra América Convoy

In 2015, the United Nations developed a 2030 vision, outlined by 17 SDGs, the first goal being no poverty. While the U.S. fuel blockade threatens to impede SDG 1 in Cuba, there are several organizations taking action to help citizens. The Nuestra América Convoy, for example, mobilized hundreds of volunteers from more than 30 countries to deliver aid to the island in the form of critical medical and food supplies. 

Aiming to aid, and stand in solidarity with, the citizens of Cuba, the delegation of Cuban Americans partnered with the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, National Lawyers Guild and U.S. Peace Council to visit Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras and Parque Maceo, which is one of the more affected parts of Cuba. 

On March 21st, the group delivered around 20 tons of humanitarian aid to a drop point in Havana, providing significant humanitarian relief to the Cuban people. Now returned from their trip, having successfully helped hospital patients and residents of the area, volunteers plead for change and emphasize that the blockade will only make the situation in Cuba, as well as the island’s relationship with the U.S., worse.

The US’s Offer of Aid

While Cuba’s leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, had previously rejected the offer, Cuba is now accepting the U.S. government’s $100 million in humanitarian aid. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has met with Pope Leo XIV to discuss the delivery of aid to Cuba, planning to distribute the provisions through the Catholic Church. The Cuban government claims it will accept assistance from the U.S., but explains that the island’s citizens may be confused by an offer of help by the same government that has made the poverty crisis significantly worse.

Achieving the United Nations’ SDG 1 in Cuba is critical to saving countless lives, as well as improving the living conditions of the island’s 10,899,951 residents. These three consequences of the U.S. fuel blockade, however, are not only delaying, but drastically reversing the progress made towards achieving this goal. The aid that volunteers are delivering to the island helps counteract these issues, but it is unclear whether it will be enough to combat the ever-growing poverty rate in Cuba.

– Ruby Fraser 

Ruby is based in Cannes, France and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Telemedicine: Health Care access for Afghan Women

Health Care access for Afghan WomenAfghanistan, a country beset by constant, unequivocal political unrest, faces a time of profound inequality. When the Taliban reasserted control over the country in August 2021, a cascade of reactions found the country’s health care system on the verge of collapse. In the first half of that year alone, Taliban forces attacked health care facilities, leaving 12 health care workers dead and damaging more than 25 buildings.

The impact on Afghan women has cut the deepest. Now lacking almost all fundamental rights, health care has taken a backseat. Not a single woman received screening for any cancer form and less than 10% received screening for sexually transmitted infections. Even where diagnosis is possible, treatment for these demographics remains virtually inaccessible. 

Barriers to Health Care Access for Afghan Women

These obstacles to health care access for Afghan women are not accidental but structural. The Taliban’s governance has systematically dismantled the conditions in which women can safely seek and receive medical attention. At the center of this is the Mahram Policy, which requires female health workers to be accompanied by a male guardian at all times outside the home.

On December 21, 2022, women were banned from working with NGOs nationwide, except in health care. Yet the requirement for them to be chaperoned now hinders their ability to provide and receive adequate health care. Even when women reach a facility, barriers persist; whether they would like to or not, male doctors can scarcely provide the necessary care except in life-threatening conditions. 

Additionally, medicines are in short supply and the financial burden of travel pushes families to impossible decisions, leading women to disregard their health and rely on traditional cures. 

The Organizations Still Showing Up

Despite the deteriorating environment, the international humanitarian response has been remarkable. In 2024 alone, nearly one million patients, 65% of whom were women and children, received primary care across 47 implemented health facilities. Alongside these infrastructural changes, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has upgraded equipment, improved staff competency and educated hospitals on mass-casualty incidents. 

Through expanding services into urban areas, organizations like the ICRC are pivotal in improving access to health care and alleviating difficult living conditions in Afghanistan. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has equally refused to retreat. Operating across eight provinces, MSF has seen the number of patients it treats double in the last three years. 

The organization prioritizes the most acute needs: emergency trauma care, maternal health and malnutrition. In 2024 alone, the organization admitted more than 400,000 emergency patients and assisted in more than 45,000 births. Despite attacks from the Taliban, the remaining feeding center and trauma facility in Kunduz have become vital for Afghanistan’s health care infrastructure.

What makes these organizations so significant is not just the scale of their operations but the conditions under which they persist. They hold together the health care system in a place of such turmoil, despite uncertain funding, restrictions on female staff and the collapse of broader public health systems. 

Telemedicine: A Bridge No Wall Can Close

Among the most promising developments for Afghanistan’s health care system is the expansion of telemedicine. When physical access is blocked by Taliban restrictions, a mobile phone may still get through. Telemedicine is being pursued by many organizations and charities, with evidence of its impact.

The Central Asia Health Systems Strengthening project connected seven tertiary care facilities with 14 secondary care facilities across the region. The project enabled more than 6,000 teleconsultations and delivered 52 e-learning sessions to more than 2,000 health staff. A tele-ICU service running from 2020 to 2023 provided the same number of teleconsultations to nearly 1,600 patients. 

This began as a response to COVID-19 before expanding into neonatal, pediatric and surgical critical care. Researchers found that increased consultation frequency was associated with reduced patient mortality, demonstrating clinical applicability. 

Arian Teleheal

Dr. Waheed Arian grew up in Afghanistan during the Soviet conflict, sheltering in cellars from rockets and bombs. Later, his family fled to Pakistan, where he contracted malaria and tuberculosis in a refugee camp. He arrived in the U.K. at 15 with $100 in his pocket, went on to study medicine at Cambridge and is now the founder of Arian Teleheal.

Founded in 2015, Arian Teleheal began by connecting Afghan hospitals to a global network of volunteer specialists via smartphones and tablets. As expensive medical systems are inaccessible to medics in these low-resource settings, this enables medical personnel and patients to receive appropriate care by being routed to a network of more than 150 international volunteers. The results have been unparalleled, with a three-year study finding that Arian Teleheal’s volunteers have helped care for thousands of patients. 

The organization has also since partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide emergency, mental health and psychosocial support to people in need across the globe.

Final Remarks

Initiatives such as these show great promise for those in need in Afghanistan, who face a health care system rocked by political repression, stripping the right to provide medical care freely. As humanitarian organizations struggle to fill the gap, telemedicine is emerging as a quiet revolution. Where Taliban restrictions try to block the door, a smartphone may still get through.

 – Juliette Dall’Aglio

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

Photo: Flickr

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Health Action in South Sudan

Health Action in South SudanAmylia Deng’s sense of purpose and drive to make an impact emerged at a young age. As a naturally observant adolescent, she keyed in on the challenges around her, especially those affecting women and children, and she knew she wanted to be a part of that change. Growing up in South Sudan and Kenya gave her a unique perspective. Exposure to both environments shaped her worldview — one experience rooted in resilience and community, the other established with opportunities and possibilities.

Health Action in South Sudan

As CEO of Health Action in South Sudan since January 2019, Amylia Deng has dedicated herself to driving lasting impact. She helped enroll more than 200 children back into school, opening doors to children and families faced with financial, structural and social barriers. Deng said that many families cannot afford school fees or live in areas where schools are inaccessible. “There are also cultural factors where education is not always prioritized. Some children are forced into labor or early marriage instead of being in classrooms,” she said.

According to recent United Nations (U.N.) data, South Sudan has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. Around 70% of adults cannot read or write, approximately 84% of girls over the age of 15 are illiterate, and an estimated 2.8 million children are not in school.

Even before she fully understood it, Deng identified as an activist, author and had a flair for fashion. Writing became her way of processing and telling stories, activism became her voice and fashion allowed for self-expression. All three combined, allowing her to communicate who she is and what she stands for.

Representing South Sudan on a Global Stage

As a diplomat working within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in South Sudan and author of two books — Even After the Darkest Moments and Rising from the Ashes — her journey has led her to represent South Sudan on the global stage. In 2022, she founded Amylia Cosmetics. In 2024, she was crowned Miss International South Sudan.

When asked what challenges she has witnessed as a South Sudanese woman that still drive her work today, Deng said she witnessed limited access to education, early marriages, lack of opportunities and societal expectations that often silence women’s potential. She personally experienced instability and moments where she had to navigate systems that were not built to support young women. These experiences continue to drive her work because she knows what it feels like to have potential but limited access.

Deng said access to education is still one of the most urgent needs. Beyond that, there is a strong need for economic empowerment, health care and protection from gender-based violence. She emphasized that women and children need systems that not only support survival but also create pathways for growth and independence.

According to a statement by U.N. Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Anna Mutavati, approximately 5 million women and girls in South Sudan need help, with half requiring gender-based violence services.

The 2025 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey for South Sudan showed that 19% of children are stunted, only 42% attended primary school and 43% of women were married before age 18.

Deng said she would want the world to understand that South Sudan is more than a challenge. It is a country full of resilient, talented and ambitious people who, despite difficult circumstances, continue to rise, create and hope for a better future.

The challenges and responsibilities Deng carried early on had an impact on her life’s trajectory. They forced her to grow quickly and shaped her mindset. The roots of her drive and resilience, however, came from the strength of the women around her and her family.

From a global perspective, Deng said the international community should play a supportive but respectful role when partnering with local leaders and organizations in improving access to education in developing countries, rather than imposing solutions. She mentioned investment in infrastructure, teacher training and sustainable economic education programs as critical. Most importantly, she said those efforts should focus on long-term impact rather than short-term visibility.

A Crown as a Catalyst for Health Action in South Sudan

In many ways, Amylia Deng has become a bridge between the two worlds of hardship and possibility that originally influenced her. For her, the crown is not just an achievement but a duty and an honor to make an impact.

“Success is impact,” Deng said. “Changing lives. Creating opportunities where there were none. Building something that outlives me. It is not just about personal achievement. It is about how many people I can bring up with me.”

In closing, Deng expressed that young people, especially girls, growing up in difficult situations, do not have to let their environment determine their future. “You may start with less,” she said, “but you are not less. Stay focused, believe in your vision even when no one else does. Do not be afraid to take up space. Your story matters. You have the power to change not only your life, but the lives of others.

– Erin Sian Mongillo

Erin is based in North Haven, CT, USA and focuses on Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr