Author: Staff Reports

OP-ED: Dr. Mimi Syed, a board-certified emergency medicine physician, is an assistant clinical professor at University of Washington and Washington State University. She is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Dr. Syed served in Gaza from August 8 to September 5, 2024, and December 3 to December 31, 2024, at both al-Aqsa Hospital and Nasser Hospital. An Open Letter to Representative Marilyn Strickland Dear Representative Marilyn Strickland, I am writing to you again because I am deeply disappointed as your constituent. I am an emergency physician who has served twice in Gaza. After you repeatedly refused…

LACEY, Washington — Local constituents banged pots and pans outside of Rep.Marilyn Strickland’s (D-WA) Lacey office on Friday, July 25. Their goal is to raise awareness of the empty pots and pans the Palestinian people of Gaza are also banging in protest of their deliberate starvation by Israel as the last supplies of food have run out. Local pediatrician Dr. Emily Antoon-Walsh stated, “Of the over 100 people known to have already died from malnutrition, over 80 of them are children. We know that children die first in famine. Infant formula has run out and our colleagues are watching their…

TACOMA — The Kingdom of Eswatini (known as Swaziland until 2018) is a tiny (approximately 1.2 million population) landlocked African country, mostly surrounded by South Africa, with 20% of its border a mountainous border with Mozambique. The country was administered as a high commission territory by the U.K. from 1903 until it became independent in 1968. Issues affecting Eswatini’s quality of life include a weak and worsening economy, the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world, climate challenges, persistent food insecurity and poverty.  Hunger in Eswatini The Global Hunger Index 2024 reports a 37% decrease in Eswatini’s GHI score over the…

TACOMA — Children make up nearly 35% of Cambodia’s population, and 48.7% of these children (ages 0-17) live in multidimensional poverty. Children have the right to an education, but many schools in Cambodia are structurally and hygienically inadequate. Around 10% of Cambodian children do not go to school and 45% of children ages 5-14 have to work to support their families. When faced with work at such a young age, going to school becomes a challenge. ISF Cambodia’s (Indo-China Starfish Foundation) mission is to tackle child poverty in Cambodia through education, community development and sport.   The idea for ISF…

GEORGETOWN, Canada — Tanzania, located in the northeast of Africa, is considered a mountainous and thick-forested country known for its renowned national parks and game reserves. The routine vaccination program in Tanzania is something that has been improving over time. Immunization Program Overview Keeping up with the vaccination program in Tanzania has been of the utmost importance and is a major part of improving the lives of all those residing in the country. Tanzania established their vaccination program, The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), in 1975 After the introduction of Health Sector Reform (HSR) in 1996, the EPI was made a subsection…

In 1959, the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which defines children’s rights to safety and protection, education, health care, shelter and nutrition. Three decades later, in 1989, global leaders made a historic promise to the children of the world by adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child — an international commitment to protect one of the world’s most vulnerable groups. Yet, despite these entrenched rights, children throughout the world, particularly girls, live in conditions where their rights are violated and their basic needs go unmet with few opportunities to…

TACOMA — On September 7, 2023, the Government of the United States of America announced a $44.6 million joint investment into sustainable growth in Malawi, through the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) new partnership with Pyxus Agriculture Malawi. In Lilongwe, Malawi, USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman made the announcement of a partnership focused on increasing economic growth in the country through inclusive and sustainable methods. Included in the total $44.6 million is $14.6 million from the U.S. Government, as well as a maximum of $30 million from Pyxus, a Malawian-registered company based in the U.S. The investment is set…

TACOMA — The historically vibrant country of Afghanistan is home to over 40 million people, holding significance for its geographical role in the Silk Road. The south-central Asian country is notable for its history of political conflict and military rule by the Taliban. In 1979, Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan in support of the Afghan communist government which was against the anti-communist Muslims. In 1992, when the Soviet-supported Afghan government collapsed, the Taliban captured various provinces from their grips, gaining traction to spread their teachings and interpretations of the Qur’an. Even today, under Taliban rule, women are denied universal human rights…

TACOMA — Togo, a small West African nation, has quietly achieved remarkable milestones in the battle against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). These diseases often afflict the world’s most vulnerable populations, and Togo has emerged as a beacon of hope, becoming the first country to eliminate four NTDs. The WHO shed light on Togo’s triumphant journey recently, rewarding them for their relentless efforts to eradicate guinea worm, lymphatic filariasis, sleeping sickness and trachoma, offering a testament to what dedication, education and promoting access to clean water can accomplish. Successfully Eliminating 4 Neglected Tropical Diseases in Togo Guinea Worm – Guinea worm, also…

TACOMA — Benin is a West African country with 77 communes. It shares its borders with Togo to the west and Nigeria to the east, and it’s located on the Gulf of Guinea. Human trafficking is a significant issue in Benin, with the country being a major source of trafficking victims for the Republic of the Congo. Since 2018, Benin has been classified as a Tier 2 country in the Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP), which uses the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) as a guideline to assess human trafficking levels and efforts to combat it. Looking Into…