The crisis we are currently experiencing is affecting every person on the planet. COVID-19 is impacting our lives, our local neighbourhoods, and the global community simultaneously. However, it has also inspired us to act — locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally — to support everyone in need and show that we are ready to look out for each other. If COVID-19 is teaching us that viruses don’t respect borders, it’s also true that solidarity doesn’t either — and this is where...
COVID-19 is having severe effects on high- and low-income countries alike. But there’s fear about what impact the virus could have in lower income countries that may be less equipped to tackle the pandemic. As of 6 April, there were 1,879 confirmed cases in low-income countries globally, but that number is likely an underestimation. To help keep people living in lower income countries healthy and safe, major global health organisations are stepping up their efforts to fight the spread of...
It’s no secret that water is vitally important; it is one of the absolute essentials for life. And its impact extends far into other important issues — including issues that impact poverty. Here are four such issues where poverty and water intersect: Health Proper hygiene is one of the best ways we have to ward off preventable diseases. The current COVID-19 pandemic is driving this point home stronger than ever, as hand-washing is one of the best tools we have in slowing...
Dr. Richard Sezibera is the former Health and Foreign Minister of Rwanda. Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is set to double by 2050. Already, 60% of the population is below the age of 25. This is a huge opportunity for our continent, but it can also be a ticking bomb if we don’t invest and harness the power of this demography. What better ways are there than to start investing in them from an early age? Primary health care should remain our biggest...
Gender inequality affects women and girls in a multitude of ways, including access to health services. When it comes to vaccines, the overall news is positive: globally, boys and girls are immunised at similar rates. However, there are variations from region to region, and this doesn’t account for specific health needs based on sex. HPV is one of the most pressing gender-specific diseases that can be prevented with a vaccine. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a key player in preventing...
Vaccines are one of the most crucial modern health tools. They save up to 3 million lives every year — equal to the population of Rome — and they have the potential to save an additional 1.5 million. There’s no denying the importance of vaccines, but children worldwide are continuing to miss out on this vital tool. Vaccines can save an additional 1.5 million lives, thanks to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Here are five challenges that are preventing vaccination, and what...
This year our campaigners are fighting to raise awareness about the power of a tiny but mighty health intervention: vaccines. Vaccines are a critical and cost-effective intervention that have the ability to promote good health, boost economies, and reduce poverty. That’s why it’s essential that we fully replenish Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance — a global organisation fighting to make sure everyone, everywhere has access to life-saving vaccines — this coming June. This February, our teams in the United Kingdom and the...
On February 28th, the Nigerian government confirmed the first case of coronavirus in Nigeria — marking the first case in sub-Saharan Africa. While health authorities at state and federal levels are taking action to isolate and contain the virus, this incident is a reminder that diseases do not recognize or respect borders, especially in our interconnected world, and strong, well-resourced healthcare systems are necessary for outbreak preparedness. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s public health system is under-resourced and overwhelmed, resulting in poor health...
This is the second post in a series about how we ensure children are learning in school. We kicked off with an overview of the evidence pointing to a global learning crisis and how we can solve it. Now, we’re looking into global progress in access to education, and where there is still room for improvement. Improving education is critical to our mission of ending poverty: if everyone completed secondary education, we could cut the number of people living in...
Since the beginning of the year, the spread of coronavirus has dominated the news, and for good reason. So far, the virus has infected over 84,0000 people worldwide and killed about 2,900. In a new development, Nigeria confirmed the first case of coronavirus in sub-Saharan Africa on 28 February. The virus was brought by an Italian citizen working in Nigeria, who is currently stable with no serious symptoms. It comes as no surprise that coronavirus has now reached sub-Saharan Africa, but...