TACOMA, Washington — On December 11, 2020, the FDA gave the first emergency authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. Ten days later, the EU did the same. The rest of the world has since joined the effort to vaccinate their populations against the novel coronavirus in hopes of stopping the spread with vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sinovac, Sinopharm, AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech. Since the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, the international community has been scrambling to solve the logistical challenges of vaccine distribution. Unfortunately, many countries, especially low-and-middle-income nations, do not have the infrastructure needed to transport…
Author: Yuki
SEATTLE, Washington — Over the last several decades, global poverty levels have been dropping. According to World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, over a billion people have escaped impoverishment since the 1990s. The amount of people living on less than $1.90 a day decreased by 68 million between 2013 and 2015. However, COVID-19 impacts global poverty inextricably, especially for those vulnerable to slipping back into or already living in extreme poverty. Previous Predictions Now Obsolete Estimates made for future poverty rates as of last year are now inaccurate, and pre-coronavirus predictions for a steady decline in global poverty over the next…
SEATTLE, Washington — With more than 150,000 dead from COVID-19, Brazil is struggling against both the social and economic impacts of the novel pandemic. Evidence shows that COVID-19 is more detrimental to areas with higher rates of poverty and/or reliance on labor jobs. Strong leadership and policies are also crucial to effectively countering the virus, which explains why Brazil has been so hard-hit. The HEROS Act could be a key player in poverty in Brazil during COVID-19. Poverty in Brazil One-quarter of Brazil’s population lives in poverty, lacking access to healthcare because they cannot afford health insurance. Inadequate healthcare has…
SEATTLE, Washington — On Aug. 4, all eyes were on Lebanon when a massive explosion occurred in the port city of Beirut. The cause of the explosion seems to have come from a large amount of stored ammonium nitrate. The explosion ultimately resulted in 203 deaths, 6,500 injuries, $15 billion in property damage and left an estimated 300,000 citizens without homes. Overarching Impact For a state in the midst of several crises, most notable is the ongoing economic decline in Lebanon. The impact of the recent explosion was devastating. This, coupled with the current COVID-19 pandemic raises concerns for Lebanese citizens…
SEATTLE, Washington — The coronavirus pandemic has shown a spotlight on public health issues and the importance of investing in public health research. Public Health Insight is a Canadian-based organization devoted to “modernizing the public health.” Through knowledge translation and communication of public health principles using a podcast, videos, social media and more, PHI seeks to inspire community action and bridge the gap between public health research and the average person. Recently, The Borgen Project conducted an interview with Gordon Thane, one of the co-founders of PHI, to learn more about the work it is doing to “make public health…
SEATTLE, Washington — Energy poverty—a problem outlined by the lack of access to safe, efficient energy sources in order to provide heat to households and maintain energy services—is currently emerging as a crisis in Europe. Energy poverty is a rising issue with the spread of digital technologies and the gap between those who have access to the necessary energy and those who do not. In Europe, this problem is affecting populations disproportionately due to varying approaches by each country and its institutions. In Belgium, Spain and the U.K., energy poverty is being addressed through segmentation from several systems, the government…
SEATTLE, Washington — When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Kashmir, a disputed Himalayan territory divided between India, Pakistan and China, the population quickly exhausted resources and time. Once official aid ran out, though, local volunteers stepped up. When COVID-19 struck in March 2020, Kasmir’s people had already been subject to months of curfews, lockdowns and restrictions on communication. India, since stripping Jammu and Kashmir of semi-independent statehood in August 2019, has kept active troops in the region. It also restricted internet access in the region. Like many locations around the world hit the hardest by the pandemic, Kashmir suffers from a…
SEATTLE, Washington — For families in Cameroon, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on nutrition. For children, the lack of trade between regions has led to increased rates of acute malnutrition, which has been made worse by the ongoing pandemic. However, numerous organizations have gone to Cameroon and other developing nations to distribute essential supplies to fight malnutrition and prevent COVID-19 transmission. To help countries end acute malnutrition and slow the spread of COVID-19 in developing countries, Helen Keller International programs are working to increase vitamin A supplement output and collaborating with other organizations. New Programs during COVID-19 Since…
SEATTLE, Washington — South Africa is in the midst of an economic crisis. Its lockdown was among the earliest and strictest in the world. As a result, the country managed to keep its coronavirus death toll to only around 15,000. However, it has had adverse effects on the economy. International assistance to South Africa is helping the situation. The International Monetary Fund is providing the South African government with loans. Economic hardship Annual GDP is projected to drop 7% this year as the lockdown forced businesses to close and caused layoffs. However, international organizations have started to aid the government.…
SEATTLE, Washington — Like the rest of the world, COVID-19 hit Honduras in early 2020 and left the country with a crippled economy and a public health crisis. As a reaction, a caravan from Honduras set course for the United States in October. The migrants hope to acquire better employment opportunities and living conditions. Caravans have become increasingly popular in recent years as Latin American countries face turmoil and hardship, causing their citizens to flee in pursuit of a better life. However, this effort is dangerous and often futile. Officials and organizations are stepping in both to promote the migrants’…