Pakistan struggles to make progress against polio
Child malnutrition and vaccination refusals are hindering Pakistan’s effort to battle polio, and the health community is seeking new ways to address the problem. Despite authorities’ backing for an ambitious vaccination program last year, the number of cases in 2011 actually …
“Alarming malnutrition” in Sudan conflict zones: UN
Malnutrition is stalking civilian populations in conflict zones inside the Sudan and Sudanese authorities should end restrictions on United Nations’ staff ability to travel to the affected areas, says UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos. Clashes between Sudanese security forces …
Today is National Global Human Trafficking Awareness Day (NGHTAD), a a day of awareness and vigilance for the countless victims of human trafficking across the globe. Yet President Obama announced that this year, and every year hence forth, January will be known as National Slavery …
Over the past few years I have written a number of posts on the issue of gender-based discrimination resulting in infanticide, especially regarding the heartbreaking case of India’s alarming rate of ‘missing girls’. As mentioned in my posts Indian Infanticide Causing A Population Imbalance,
Vietnam aims to improve minority education
With the support of aid agencies like UNICEF, Vietnamese authorities are working to provide primary education in minority languages as part of an effort to promote development and economic growth. Vietnam has 53 ethnic minorities that constitute 13% of the overall population and …
This holiday season I find myself daunted by how to help children in need. Looking at my End of Year Review, there is so much that we need to do to meet the needs of children across the globe and here at home. However, regardless of …
One in seven girls in developing countries is married before their 15th birthday, usually against her will. Across the globe, more than 60 million girls find themselves innocent victims as child brides, despite the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child stipulation that 18 is the minimum age for …
It is that time of year again; for many the chill of winter has set in, and as we bundle-up with something hot by the fire, we think about giving to others. Regardless of your religious beliefs, the holiday season reminds us to give back to our communities and others …
In the wake of recent shocking cases of child abuse and neglect such as the Penn State cover-up scandal, the infamous Casey Anthony murder trial and the ongoing global abuse investigations of Catholic Priests, the issue has become headline news. Sadly, most cases of abuse both across the globe and …
Family planning efforts in Pakistan
Efforts to promote family planning in Pakistan are struggling against the reality that many women are simply not in a position to make such decisions. Pakistan has the regions highest fertility rate with an average of four children per …
Imagine having no country to call your own. For an estimated 12 million people around the world, that is a daily fact. Individuals who are not considered nationals of any country have no written rights. This means no access to health care, no chance to vote, no property of your …
Every 90 seconds a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth. That’s 1,000 girls and women a day, more than half a million women every year. Additionally, more than 1 million babies are stillborn each year because their mothers could not access the proper medical care. And yet experts say more …
The issue of exclusive breast-feeding for the first year has been an area of confusion for many mothers in developing nations, especially following the marketing practices of many formula companies to push products in a misleading manner, an issue about which I have previously written.
However, for mothers who …
This past weekend we saw the commemoration of the 63rd anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, via the celebration of International Human Rights Day on Saturday. While the day was established to be a celebration of our freedoms, many continue to live without their basic rights. Those who …
Malaria vaccine is a medical breakthrough
The first-ever malaria vaccine, which was shown to cut the risk of infection by half among children in sub-Saharan Africa, is listed among the top 10 medical breakthroughs of 2011 by TIME magazine. Results from the ongoing trial …
