Posts

,

Top 3 Diseases Impacting Burkina Faso

Diseases Impacting Burkina Faso
The World Bank has reported that more than 40% of the people in Burkina Faso live in poverty. In general, developed countries have longer life expectancy rates as these nations have higher standards of living, better access to health care and other resources that influence health. Statistics from 2018 place the life expectancy in Burkina Faso at 60 years. According to data from 2019, the top three diseases impacting Burkina Faso are malaria, lower respiratory infections and neonatal disorders. Malnutrition, air pollution and inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities made up the top three risk factors that influenced both death and disability in Burkina Faso in 2019.

Top 3 Diseases Impacting Burkina Faso

  1. Malaria. Malaria, transmitted through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito, is endemic in Burkina Faso — the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that Burkina Faso had 12.4 million malaria cases and more than 29,100 malaria-related deaths in 2020 alone. In 2018, according to the Ministry of Health, malaria caused 66% of deaths among children under 5. Burkina Faso forms part of the 10 sub-Saharan African countries with the highest burdens of malaria, the WHO reports.
  2. Lower respiratory infections. These types of infections include pneumonia, bronchitis and tuberculosis. Air pollution, common in developing countries, can contribute to lower respiratory infections and overcrowded environments allow for these diseases to spread faster. Specifically, in 2020, the World Bank reported 46 cases of tuberculosis per 100,000 people in Burkina Faso, down from 70 in 2000.
  3. Neonatal disorders. According to the WHO, most neonatal mortalities occur in developing countries. Furthermore, “neonatal infections are primarily bacterial in origin and include pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis.” UNICEF data indicates that the neonatal mortality rate in Burkina Faso in 2020 stood at 26 deaths per 1,000 live births while the infant mortality rate stood at 53.

Other Diseases Impacting Burkina Faso

Another disease impacting Burkina Faso is HIV/AIDS. In 2021, UNAIDS notes 88,000 HIV infections among adults and children in Burkina Faso. In particular, UNAIDS noted 6,100 HIV cases among children between the ages of 0 and 14. Particular groups are most at risk. In 2017, sex workers had an HIV prevalence rate of 5.4% while the prevalence rate for prisoners stood at 2.2% and 1.9% for men who have sex with men.

Initiatives to Reduce the Impact of Diseases in the Country

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has partnered with Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Health since as early as 1991. Initially, the CDC provided support to address polio outbreaks across the nation. The CDC then expanded its efforts to cover other diseases preventable through immunization, such as measles and meningitis. The CDC set up an office in Burkina Faso in 2016, “focused on strengthening the country’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats and to strengthen the country’s capacity in surveillance, laboratory systems, workforce development and emergency management,” a CDC factsheet says.

All in all, the CDC has given 17 million doses of polio vaccines and 2.4 million doses of measles vaccines to children under 5 in Burkina Faso. The CDC has also provided support to immunize more than 12 million Burkinabe people against meningitis. “National diagnostic capacity” across laboratories now allows lab technicians to test for a minimum of 40 pathogens., including “10 priority pathogens.” These priority pathogens include influenza, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV.

The fight against diseases impacting Burkina Faso is one of the country’s priorities. The country has made progress in terms of health, but, continued aid is necessary to further strengthen the healthcare system and implement preventative disease control measures.

– Elena Luisetto
Photo: Flickr

Clean Water in the Dominican Republic

Clean Water in the Dominican Republic
Near the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic lies the poverty-stricken city of Independencia, where potable water is not a reality. Only 15% of inventoried water systems practiced chlorination in 2020, which has posed threats to human consumption. The poorest communities in the Dominican Republic rely on government-run faucets that provide a stream of contaminated water. When residents consume the bacteria-filled water, they increase their risk of contracting an illness.

Dominican residents frequently report water discoloration and odors which has led to an increase in bottled water consumption. Cholera and waterborne disease result from the lack of proper water treatment. Diarrhea is a common health complication that, left untreated, leads to the death of many island inhabitants. In 2017, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported 13,803 suspected cholera cases on the island of Hispaniola. In poverty-striken areas such as Independencia, there seems to be no option but to drink contaminated water, even with the consequences in mind. However, some efforts exist to provide clean water in the Dominican Republic.

The Impact of Natural Disasters

Natural disasters such as hurricanes and tropical storms that damage crops and destroy sewage systems have frequently ravaged the Dominican Republic. In 2017, Hurricane Maria affected much of the Caribbean, making recovery difficult due to a lack of resources. Damaged pipelines spread contaminated water, which left residents at risk of waterborne diseases. Natural disasters are the most significant contributor to the Dominican Republic’s water crisis, as bacteria destroy and corrupt pipelines. Feces and animal carcasses contaminate the water tanks, producing a toxic mixture of water, dirt, and animal materials that the community will likely ingest. Moreover, using polluted water for recreational purposes also infects the users.

Bottled Water

Because the poorest communities struggle to find clean water, they often turn to bottled water. Purified bottled water is beneficial for various tasks such as washing dishes, watering vegetation and brushing teeth. Consuming bottled water can better prevent infections. In the communities of the Dominican Republic, 40% of households spend roughly an eighth of their income on water. Unpurified water impacts those with weak immune systems the most. Children suffer from diarrhea and vomiting because of non-chlorinated water. In Batey Nueve, the community’s residents share water from the running free water tank. However, the water is not treated, which has led to widespread ingestion of contaminated water.

Civilians of the Dominican Republic find that their water is at unsafe levels causing acute health risks. Residents live in environments where people normalize waterborne diseases. With annual natural disasters damaging the sewage systems, more-and-more people are left with contaminated water that is actively impairing them. For many families, the only solution is to purchase bottled water. However, some do not have the income to consistently buy purified water, leading them to endanger their health by consuming tap water.

Efforts to Provide Clean Water in the Dominican Republic

Founded in 2008, the nonprofit Surge for Water invests in impoverished communities to help with water sanitation solutions. In 2016, Surge volunteers installed 45 water tanks, that improved water storage for almost 170 people in Baidoa. The organization subsequently provided 16 water filters which allowed 97% of their community to have purified water. Waterborne diseases such as cholera can be preventable when sanitation is prioritized.

Communities in the Dominican Republic are experiencing potable water scarcity, placing residents at risk of infection. Charities and organizations have implemented measures to provide clean water in the Dominican Republic and help Dominican residents prevent health complications. The CDC advises using treated or bottled water for consumption and recreational use when traveling to the Dominican Republic. With government efforts to keep sewage systems clean and to practice chlorination, communities will suffer fewer health complications due to water sanitation. A clean cup of water can be a life-changer for those that struggle to find it.

– Yv Maciel
Photo: Flickr

The Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Indonesia

The Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Indonesia
Indonesia is an island country off the coast of Southeast Asia, and the fourth-most populous country in the world, with nearly as many inhabitants as the U.S. The Human Development Index has classified Indonesia as a middle-income country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also stated that COVID-19 poses a significant threat to Indonesia. Below are six facts about the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Indonesia.

6 Facts About the Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Indonesia

  1. The pandemic is forcing more people to live in poverty: According to Channel News Asia, as many as five million Indonesians dropped below the poverty line in September 2020, and this number has likely increased further since then. Before COVID-19, Indonesia was making great strides to alleviate poverty. Between 1998 and 2018, the poverty rate fell from 24.2% to 9.66%. During those first few months of the pandemic, poverty has risen by 1.8% and has likely risen higher since.
  2. Past instances of the economic downturn in Indonesia have disproportionately hit the poor: In 2005 and 2006, a global increase in the price of fuel and rice disrupted the Indonesian economy. In this time, the wealthiest 10% of the population experienced only a 0% to 5% decline in expenditure. Meanwhile, the decline for the most impoverished 10% experienced 9% to 12%. The impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Indonesia will likely be similar. Low-income families in Indonesia have had to pawn off essential items, and are often unable to receive healthcare. This means that diseases, injuries and infections hamper their productivity.
  3. Indonesian pharmaceutical companies are running scams involving COVID-19 testing: According to the Indonesian police, as many as 9,000 passengers in a single airport received testing kits that employees of a pharmaceutical company washed in order to reuse rather than new kits, which are necessary for proper testing. Since these kits came from a huge public pharmaceutical company, it is likely that many thousands more received improper test kits. The motive for the scam was financial gain. False test results and unsanitary test kits will spread the disease further and continue to exacerbate poverty.
  4. Malnutrition is an especially serious problem: Indonesians already suffered from malnutrition before the pandemic, resulting in more than seven million stunted children under 5 years of age, according to UNICEF. With the advent of COVID-19, malnutrition has only worsened. The Center for Indonesian Policy Studies suggests that food imports have decreased an estimated 17.11%, and the difficulty of importing food products means that children may not receive vital nutrients for development. According to UNICEF representative Debora Comini, childhood illness and death will escalate without substantial efforts to combat malnutrition.
  5. There is a visible solution to malnutrition: Lawrence Haddad of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) says that fortification can mitigate the problem of malnutrition. Fortification is the addition of key nutrients to staple foods such as wheat and rice. Fortification is also inexpensive, especially if it occurs in bulk. The problem is that there are more than 100,000 independent rice millers in Indonesia, most of who are unaware of fortification. Haddad says that “advocacy and education efforts” are the key to engaging the private sector to help curb malnutrition and reduce the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Indonesia. As such, GAIN has undergone efforts for practical instruction on fortifying key foods such as vegetable oil.
  6. The Indonesian government is taking serious measures to combat COVID-19: As of January 2021, regulations have passed that require the fortification of vegetable oil with Vitamin A. If observed, this regulation will reduce malnutrition, even if the country remains limited in food supplies. In March 2021, the Indonesian government ordered more than 20 million COVID-19 vaccines, which are key to resuming productivity and alleviating poverty. However, many of the COVID-19 vaccine companies distribute their supply through a private vaccination program. This means that low-to-middle-income countries may not yet have access to vaccines.

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven dangerous for Indonesia, but various public and private efforts are helping alleviate the situation.  Still, foreign aid will help ensure the recovery from the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Indonesia.

– Sawyer Lachance
Photo: Flickr

, ,

Examining the Threats to Global Health

Threats to Global Health
Mankind can often feel a state of invincibility. This might be due to ignorance or denial that one could become sick, but global health is constantly experiencing threats. Some of the biggest threats to global health include pollution, diseases and fragile locations. For people who live in developed and booming economies, this may mean nothing. However, those living in poverty are often in direct contact with the threats that can sometimes be fatal.

Air Pollution

Air pollution is one of the most widespread pollution problems and kills nearly 7 million people a year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nine out of 10 people breathe in contaminated air.

The most common forms of air pollution are smog and smoke. Smog can come from factories, industrial areas or vehicle emissions. The worst cases of smog often occur in major cities that have large populations. For example, several of the most highly polluted cities in China because of the population density and a large number of factories. Xingtai, named the most polluted city in the world, has a population of nearly 7 million.

Smoke is also a common air pollutant largely due to the large population of smokers. Inhalation of heavily polluted air can cause stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Diseases

Noncommunicable or noninfectious diseases are illnesses that do not transmit from one person to another, and in fact, people cannot transmit them at all. They include a wide number of disease but some of the most significant ones are stroke, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. The World Health Organization recognizes noncommunicable diseases as one of the biggest threats to global health. Air pollution can cause some forms of diseases, but environmental factors, lifestyle choices or genetics cause noncommunicable diseases.

According to WHO, noncommunicable diseases are the leading cause of death in the world as well as one of the biggest causes of poverty. In fact, 15 million people who have died from noninfectious diseases were living in poverty. This is often due to poor sanitation conditions as well as the inability to receive proper health care to treat said conditions.

Fragile Locations

Fragile locations are places that have poor sanitation, famine, drought or conflict (war or corruption). Living in fragile locations can lead to several complications especially due to poor health care. Often countries that have high unemployment and poverty rates are fragile locations. This is because the fragility of areas can put a risk on people’s health that may disable them or put them on the streets. Living in fragile locations can also increase the risk of developing noninfectious diseases.

Poverty

Nearly 36 percent of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty. When dealing with global health threats, a vast majority of those in need of care either cannot afford it or access it. People living in poverty frequently face the challenges of poor economic stability, poor or nonexistent health care and a weak education system. lack of education in developing countries can also lead to recklessness when caring for those with diseases, both noninfectious and infectious. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, ODPHP, strategies that aim to increase the economic mobility of families may help to alleviate the negative effects of poverty.

Organizations’ Help on Global Health

The CDC closely monitors and researches global health threats and ways to prevent and respond to them. Whenever there is a serious global health threat, the CDC is on the front line to aid in recovery, however, aid is not always helpful. According to the CDC, 70 percent of the world’s countries report that they are not prepared to face an outbreak. However, the world can do its part to prevent air pollution by smoking less and relying more on economically friendly means of travel. Although people cannot alter genetics it is important to avoid factors that may cause noninfectious diseases. For those in fragile locations, organizations like the CDC and WHO are attempting to provide aid and support to those in need.

Threats to global health are everywhere. Some threats are inevitable but others are man-made. It is important to regulate and reduce people’s ecological footprints so global health can experience improvement as a whole.

– Sarah Mobarak
Photo: Flickr

, , ,

The Impact of Coronavirus On the Global Economy

Impact of Coronavirus
Over the past several months, the outbreak of the fast-spreading pandemic of coronavirus or COVID-19 has taken the world by storm. In efforts to stop the pandemic from spreading and provide aid to the sick, many countries are closing borders and imparting quarantine policies on citizens. Not only is the coronavirus taking lives, but it is also heavily impacting the global economy in terms of billions of dollars. 

Efforts to Curb COVID-19

Currently, the WHO has reported 234,073 confirmed global cases and 9,840 deaths from the coronavirus. This pandemic is extremely contagious and spreads through respiratory fluids, which is why it is important to cover the mouth when coughing and washing hands frequently. The CDC recommends washing hands every hour for at least 20 seconds.

International governments are also closing borders and canceling flights to slow the impact of coronavirus. Further, people from CEOs to politicians and regular citizens are promoting social distancing. All over the world, authorities are telling people to only leave home when necessary like to buy groceries, travel to work, exercise or receive medical care. In Jordan, curfews exist that are punishable with jail time if people do not abide by them. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is asking retired doctors and medical professionals to help fight the outbreak.

Organization Action

Organizations are also taking action to fight the outbreak. Organizations like the Gates Foundation, Wellcome and the Mastercard Impact Fund are contributing large sums to support economically impacted communities. The Gates Foundation and Wellcome have donated up to $50 million, and the Mastercard Impact Fund has committed up to $25 million. The CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, has announced the company will donate to “groups on the ground” that are in specific contact with those ill. Specific to the Gates Foundation, its initial donation is a part of the $100 million it has committed to help fight the outbreak and provide aid relief.

Additionally, the co-founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma, has donated $14.4 million to help develop a vaccine to reduce the impact of coronavirus. Ma has provided $5.8 million to support two Chinese government research organizations in tackling vaccine production. The rest of the funds are going towards prevention protocols. According to the latest CDC situation report, the first vaccine trials are in progression. Furthermore, the WHO has set up an international study in many countries to compare different treatments.

Impact on the Global Economy

From a financial standpoint, the pandemic is slowly weakening the global economy and will continue to do so until the situation is under control. So far, the impact of COVID-19 is billions of dollars of government money to go towards aid needs, prevention technology and protection measures. Estimates determine that the impact of coronavirus will have cost nearly $2 trillion by the end of 2020. However, some countries like the U.S. are already receiving billions of dollars in bailouts.

With an abundant amount of action per nation, generous donations and hard-work from medical professionals, it is the hope of many that the pandemic will soon take a more positive turn. It is important to take adequate measures to stay safe during the pandemic. Safety precautions allow a slower spread and provide medical professionals and the health care system time to reduce the impact of the virus. Additionally, these measures will aid in providing therapeutic resources and developing vaccines. 

– Sarah Mobarak
Photo: Flickr

, ,

10 Facts About Life Expectancy in Mali

10 Facts About Life Expectancy in Mali
In 2020, the country of Mali will celebrate its 60th anniversary of independence from French colonial rule. However, since 1960, Mali has had a tumultuous history filled with numerous civil wars, coups and failed revolutions. Despite these setbacks, Mali is making strides to improve the quality of life for its citizens. Here are 10 facts about life expectancy in Mali.

10 Facts About Life Expectancy in Mali

  1. According to the CIA World Factbook, the life expectancy of a citizen of Mali is 60.8 years on average or 58.6 years for males and 63 years for females. This puts Mali at a rank of 206 out of 223 countries for life expectancy. These 10 facts about life expectancy in Mali will explain why.
  2. Mali reported 43 births per 1,000 people in 2018, the third-largest figure in the world. Many expect the country’s population to double by 2035. This has led to overcrowding in the capital city of Bamako. In response, the World Bank has begun to invest in the infrastructure of Malian cities via performance-based grants for communities.
  3. Despite this massive population growth, Mali suffers from extreme infant and child mortality, which adversely affects life expectancy in Mali. In 2015, 114 out of 1,000 Malian children died by the age of 5. Recently, organizations like WHO and UNICEF have begun to sponsor community case management initiatives that focus on improving health conditions in impoverished areas. Areas where these initiatives occurred, such as Bamako’s Yirimadio district, have been able to reduce child mortality rates to up to 28 deaths per 1,000, about a quarter of the national rate.
  4. In Mali, the maternal mortality rate is very high. The U.N. estimates that there are 630 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. This is partly because only one in four births in Mali have someone with proper birthing training, but deep-rooted societal attitudes that restrict women’s rights may also be a cause. According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, an organization fighting against maternal mortality in Mali, child marriage and female genital mutilation are both common in Mali, which both cause higher risks to the mother during birth. The organization has called upon the Malian government to “meet its national and international commitments and take the necessary steps to reduce maternal mortality.”
  5. The leading cause of death in Mali is malaria, which accounts for 24 percent of deaths in the country. To address this, the Malian government has partnered with global organizations such as the CDC to distribute anti-malarial medications during the country’s late autumn rainy season, in which most cases of malaria appear. This partnership was established in 1995 as part of the CDC’s global initiative to stop diseases in other countries before they can reach the U.S.
  6. Illnesses that often stem from a lack of access to clean water, such as meningitis and diarrheal diseases, cause a significant number of deaths in Mali. Twenty-three percent of the population of Mali overall and 35.9 percent of the rural population lacks access to clean drinking water, and 78.5 percent of rural Malians lack access to proper sanitation. This leads to the spread of the diseases mentioned above. An organization called Charity Water has invested over $9 million to give rural Malians access to clean water and sanitation by building wells and pipe systems, allowing Malians to tap into the country’s rich aquifers for clean drinking water.
  7. Malnutrition causes 5 percent of deaths in Mali. According to the World Food Program, 44.9 percent of the country live in poverty, which is a significant cause of food insecurity. To combat this, programs like the World Food Program have been working on distributing nutritious meals to Malian families, as well as setting up long-term programs to create infrastructures such as roads and dams.
  8. HIV and AIDS cause 3 percent of deaths in Mali. Although HIV infections in the country have risen by 11 percent since 2010, deaths from the disease have gone down by 11 percent in the same period. Efforts by the CDC and other organizations have focused on treating HIV to prevent victims of the disease from going on to develop AIDS, as well as improving blood safety measures.
  9. Mali suffers from a significant shortage of physicians, with 0.14 physicians and 0.1 hospital beds per 1,000 people, compared to 2.59 physicians and 2.9 beds in the U.S. Despite that, the country has recently taken significant steps forward on providing universal health coverage via a $120 million initiative from the government, which will focus on training more doctors, broadening access to contraceptives and improving care for the elderly.
  10. Eighty percent of Mali relies on agriculture for a living. Although Malian farmers have been fighting soil degradation and lack of access to modern equipment, initiatives like Feed the Future have been working to improve conditions for Malian farmers. As a result, Mali poured $47.34 million into its agriculture industry in 2017.

As these 10 facts about life expectancy in Mali show, life expectancy in Mali is significantly lower than in other parts of the world, but the country is making strides forward to combat illness and poverty. With help from the global community, Mali is moving forwards towards a brighter future.

– Kelton Holsen
Photo: Flickr