Know Yourself

A door to door campaign drive to encourage the people of Kenya to get an HIV/AIDS test has started. There is a large resistance in Kenya to receive an AIDS test, this is because even taking the test can be considered being sexually promiscuous. However many people are dieing because they do not know that they even have HIV and are not receiving the proper medication to fight the disease. Their goal is to reach 1 million people and have them be tested in hopes to catch some of these diseases that are going untreated and to lift the stigma that is attached to getting tested. If they reach the goal of 1 million people it would be a significant increase to the 700,000 that have come since the clinic's program was installed in 2004. Currently in Kenya about 7-8.5% of the adult population is HIV/AIDS infected, however because many do not get tested the numbers are not the complete total. This campaign, called Jitambue Leo or 'Know yourself', will hopefully help those who need it and allow others to relieve the social stereotype of getting tested.

-Sara Frodge

Source: BBC News

UN Food Summit

The UN Food and Agriculture Summit in Rome was designed to address the facts and real problems of hunger. The hope was to see the world's industrialized countries come to the conclusion that this was a top priority and pledge high amounts of money to eradicating poverty. Unfortunately, the 192 nations that attended did not approve the $44 billion dollars annually to agricultural development aid to the UN. The only Group 8 leader to attend was Silvio Berlusconi of Italy. The summit was deemed a failure, although pointed out by Oxfam spokesperson you cannot solve poverty in a single meeting. The only question then is when is it going to be solved.

-Sara Frodge

Source: Seattle Times

Vaccine costs go down

The vaccine that helps prevent children from contracting Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b), diphtheria, whopping cough, tetanus and hepatitis b, has fallen 22% in cost due to the demand and need by developing countries. This shot is routinely given to children in developed countries, however the high prices have left millions of children in developing countries out of reach of the vaccination. The recent drop in price was $.50 per dose, which will lead to $55 million dollars in savings for GAVI in 20120. GAVI buys and distributes vaccinations to developing countries. They said that this drop in price is due to the higher demand, the industry understands the markets regardless if it is rich or poor. The projected amount of doses that they will now be able to buy of this vaccine will go from 50 million in 2009 to 120 million in 2010.

-Sara Frodge

Source: Reuters India

The End of Poverty?

A new film by Philippe Diaz called The End of Poverty?, came out this month. This film focuses on Africa and Latin America, giving the hard facts of why people are in poverty. It touches on the fault at colonialism, racism, industrialization and modern industrial development. It is designed to inform and inspire. There are many programs that were "designed" to help aid poverty stricken countries, but in reality perpetuated the wealth of the few in industrialized countries. This movie will shed light on the fault that the industrial world has, and the improportionate amount of wealth that we consume. Hopefully this will open the eyes to many on the necessity to act; a great way is to call your senators!

Go to http://www.theendofpoverty.com/ to read about the movie and see the trailer.

-Sara Frodge

Source: The End of Poverty

Clean toilets are cool

The solution to ending poor sanitation has been found: toilets. Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organization makes a very convincing argument for the importance of toilets and how to use them to help reduce poverty, particularly in India. The problem he outlines is that sanitation, and toilets, are not cool. People do not aspire to buy a toilet, but instead a flat-screen. However, the natural response to feces and other insanitary smells and objects is the body's natural defense against diseases. No one likes to be told that they are dirty, however it is necessary to clean up when living conditions are in such close proximity. His goal through WTO is to help fund, make and maintain public toilets in India. Diarrhea is a major killer of the world's poor, but by improving conditions such as toilets, there will be a reduction in those infected and dieing, reducing a factor of poverty. They have a launch program on trains, trading advertising space for maintaining the public restrooms. Harmony between business, poverty reduction and sanitation.

-Sara Frodge

Source: Reuters

Kenya's Rice Harvest Exemplifies Success

The lowlands in Western Kenya have been transformed by government investments in agriculture and serves as a model to other nations. The farming provides year round work and a bountiful food supply to people once dependent on direct food aid. This week's U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization's summit in Rome will undoubtedly look to Kenya as successful model for agricultural reform. It is a powerful and self evident concept that there is more to gain by enabling the people of impoverished regions to feed themselves.

Source The Associated Press

~Seth DiGiacomo

President Obama Appoints Rajiv Shah The New Head Of USAID.

The deployment of foreign aid is a key component to the administrations security and diplomatic foreign strategy and Dr. Rajiv Shah seems capable of delivering. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said "he has a record of delivering results in both the private and public sectors...and developing innovative solutions in global health, agriculture and financial services for the poor." Dr. Shah fills the 10 month long position void and the administration is hopeful of a quick Senate approval.

Source The New York Times

~Seth DiGiacomo