The End Is in Sight : Tackling a Neglected Tropical Disease in a Global Pandemic
Community-led efforts have helped the fight to eradicate Guinea worm disease.
By Emeline Wuilbercq
ADDIS ABABA, April 29 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) Okello Aballa Ognum regularly has to walk deep into the jungles of southwest Ethiopia to treat the water ponds that harbor a debilitating parasitic disease.
Painstakingly, he measures the water volume to determine how much chemical treatment to use against copepods, the tiny water fleas that carry the Guinea worm larvae.
If ingested by humans, the larvae can grow up to a meter long before emerging through the skin, leading to serious disability and amputation in the worst cases.
Women Lost $800 Billion in Income in 2020 Due to COVID-19: Report
Women are overrepresented in sectors hit hard by the pandemic, the Oxfam research found.
By Sophia Sun
LONDON, April 29 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) The COVID-19 crisis cost women around the world $800 billion in lost income in 2020, Oxfam said on Thursday, as it demanded steps to tackle gender inequality.
Women, overrepresented in low-paid, precarious sectors like retail, tourism, and food services, lost more than 64 million jobs last year, said the charity, a 5% total loss, compared to a 3.9% loss for men.
The pandemic has dealt a striking blow to recent gains for women in the workforce, said Oxfam Executive Director Gabriela Bucher, in a written statement.
Melina Mara/The Washington Post/Pool/AP NewsDemand Equity
13 Key Quotes From President Joe Biden’s First Speech to Congress
The president has never been more optimistic about the prospects of the country.
Why Global Citizens Should Care
The annual address to Congress is a chance for the president to relay his priorities and rally support. Many of the policies highlighted by Biden support the United Nations’ Global Goals. You can join us in taking action on the Global Goals here.
President Joe Biden laid out a vision of the United States that overcomes the COVID-19 pandemic, confronts the climate crisis, and reduces inequality in his first address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.
‘Hear Our Cry’: South Africa s LGBTQ+ Activists Demand Action Amid Homophobic Attacks
President Ramaphosa condemned recent violence on Freedom Day, but activists say it s not enough.
Why Global Citizens Should Care
LGBTQ+ communities globally face stigma, prejudice, and violence every day around the world. In the mission to achieve the UN s Global Goals and end extreme poverty, the world is held back from progress while communities continue to be marginalised. Join the movement by taking action here to help end discrimination and violence, and achieve equality.
As South Africa celebrated Freedom Day this week, President Cyril Ramaphosa used the opportunity of his national address to call on South Africans to condemn homophobia, after a spate of homophobic murders rocked the country and sparked nationwide protests.
A Hunger Crisis Is Looming for 31 Million People in West Africa
Nearly 10 million children under five years old are acutely malnourished across West Africa.
Why Global Citizens Should Care
Conflict, worsening economic conditions, and the COVID-19 pandemic have left millions of the world’s most vulnerable people hungry and at risk of food insecurity. The United Nations’ Global Goal 2 calls on countries to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. Join the movement and take action on the issue here.
A UN agency has said 31 million people in West and Central Africa may not have enough food to eat in the coming months, thanks to an “explosive mix” of rapidly increasing food prices, conflict and insecurity, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.