Category Archives: Challenge

COVID-19 in Southeast Asia: all eyes on Indonesia

Traffic in Jakarta has decreased significantly after the Indonesia government has restricted population mobility to reduce the spread of COVID-19, 4 July 2021. ANTARA FOTO/Hafidz Mubarak A/aww. Juli 15, 2021 4.14pm WIB Teguh Haryo Sasongko, Perdana University With the exception of Singapore, Southeast Asian countries have recorded unprecedented spikes in daily case numbers and deaths duringContinue reading “COVID-19 in Southeast Asia: all eyes on Indonesia”

After a horrific COVID wave, India’s health system is now overwhelmed by a different virus

Rajesh Kumar Singh/AAP December 7, 2021 11.13pm GMT GVS Murthy, Indian Institute of Public Health After a deadly second wave of COVID-19 overwhelmed hospitals in India earlier this year, the country is battling yet another viral outbreak. Hospitals are struggling to treat dengue, a viral disease that spreads through the bite of the Aedes aegyptiContinue reading “After a horrific COVID wave, India’s health system is now overwhelmed by a different virus”

Africa’s free trade area offers great promise. But only if risks are managed with resolve

Citrus orchards in South Africa. Kenyans buying South African oranges pay a heavy price due to import duties. Shutterstock May 26, 2021 7.10pm BST John Luiz, University of Cape Town For all its stutters and missteps, there can be little argument that the European Union (EU) has largely lived up to its ambitious billing: to createContinue reading “Africa’s free trade area offers great promise. But only if risks are managed with resolve”

COVID-19: a new challenge for clean cooking progress in Kenya

Cooking on solid fuels exposes people to toxic pollutants. JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP via Getty Images March 24, 2021 2.45pm GMT Suzanne Bartington, University of Birmingham; Jessie Pinchoff, Population Council, and William Robert Avis, University of Birmingham Over 90% of the 238 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa’s informal settlements, rely upon solid fuels for cooking, heating,Continue reading “COVID-19: a new challenge for clean cooking progress in Kenya”

Afghanistan: Girls at increasing risk of child marriage

From UN News The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has received credible reports of families in Afghanistan offering daughters as young as 20 days old for future marriage in return for a dowry. In a statement released on Friday, the agency’s Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, said that she was “deeply concerned” over reports that child marriage is on the rise.   Even before the latest political instability, UNICEF’s partners registered 183Continue reading “Afghanistan: Girls at increasing risk of child marriage”