Health- how to help solve access to healthcare for widows

/0 Comments/in /by

 

How can widows access healthcare easily?

Universal access to health services has been touted as one of the contributing factors that led to the population explosion in some parts of Africa. People in regions that had access to the road and electricity network could comfortably visit a dispensary or a maternity ward whenever the need arose.

However, the universality of this access is not uniform. Populations living in marginalized areas of rural Africa face a series of challenges that limit their ability to access basic services such as education, health care, and government services. It could be worse. Widows living in these regions, not only have to contend with being regarded as outcasts, but they also have to fight prejudice and discrimination whenever they attempt to access health services. Woe unto a widow if she should ever fall pregnant.

Widows and women in general need access to reliable health services because of the harsh living conditions they have to endure in order to survive. Not only are they overworked and underpaid, but a poor diet predisposes them to many ailments that otherwise they would have fought off. Sexual violence and other forms of Gender Based violence are also prevalent in these marginal communities.

So, widows are always at risk of contracting the HIV virus, psychological trauma, and incurring bodily harm. In addition, they may face sexual violence from the communities they live within. In other cases, widows prefer over-the-counter medication after self-diagnosing and this may lead to health challenges in the future.

Health services also involve psychological assistance for widows suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is a common ailment affecting widows who have been harassed, beaten, and had their property taken away from them. The trauma of these atrocities lives with them afterward and it will take the intervention of a professional counselor to make them recover. Given the scarcity of these professionals, widows may not know what they are suffering from and the PTSD condition may make them think they are “crazy.”

The focus on personal health problems that many widows face in developing nations could be shifted to policymakers. As such, I am going to look at the role of the government in addressing cases such as cervical cancer which is the second most common cancer amongst women under the age of 35 in the world, and the most prevalent cancer in developing countries.

Evidence shows that effective HPV screening programs can promote the early detection of cervical cancers.

The WHO suggests that countries should implement the control of cervical cancer by establishing a national cancer control program, and integrating cervical cancer into primary sexual and reproductive health services.

This obviously is a huge undertaking and the beneficiaries of these services may be women in urban centers. It is therefore important for advocacy groups to keep the government informed about the plight of this forgotten demographic.

Basic interventions at this juncture may include the following;

  • Establishing mobile clinics.
  • Free maternal services.
  • Subsidized treatment programs at government hospitals.
  • Health and hygiene training for widows by healthcare professionals.
  • Preventive interventions such as mosquito nets, emergency contraception, and vaccination.
  • Economic empowerment of widows to help them acquire good nutrition, work in less strenuous circumstances and be able to travel and access health services whenever necessary.

Health challenges for widows are numerous and daunting. But I am convinced that with determination and focus, organizations working with local leaders can find ways to bridge the gap in access to health services for widows.

 

A NEW DAWN IS NEEDED FOR KENYAN WIDOWS

/0 Comments/in /by

 

Kenyan widows deserve a change in policies that will protect them.

As members who are traditionally perceived as being a burden and inauspicious to the family, widows are often relegated to the status of the ‘unwanted insiders.

The ‘triple burden’ that they have to contend with, in the form of the stigma associated with widowhood, severe constraints on access to resources, and sexual vulnerability, makes them one of the most marginalized and vulnerable communities in our country.

This is a stark contrast to their male counterparts, who are not subject to similar socio-economic exclusion within households. The problems that confound widows in Kenya are therefore manifestations of the extreme gender disparities that are inherent in Africa where widowhood is persistently viewed as a social stigma.

The Kenyan constitution defines human dignity as a basic right. To be dignified implies having access to food, shelter, and clothing. It also means that one should be in a position to receive medical, legal, and education services.

Widows in Kenya lack more than half of what it defines to be dignified. In addition, they are tortured, beaten, robbed, shunned, and mocked by a society relentless in ostracizing them.

The new government, therefore, has an obligation to uphold the law and abide by the constitution. This means ensuring that widows access the basic amenities and services due to all Kenyans as alluded to in the constitution.

As The Goat Foundation, we have some proposals that we would like to front which we feel if implemented would guarantee widows some sense of dignity.

 

  1. Pass laws guaranteeing the widow’s right to ownership of land and property of their dead husband.
  2. Rigorous enforcement of this law and punishing of lawbreakers.
  3. Community sensitization and education about the rights of widows.
  4. Offer micro-finance solutions to widows so that they can start small businesses and diversify their income.
  5. A welfare program that caters to the education of widows’ families and access to free medical services.

We are aware that there are existing policies and laws protecting women, and legal guidelines against theft, which is what is perpetrated against widows. The present policies need to be broadened to include all age and income groups amongst the widows. Moreover, Widow Empowerment programs should be sensitive to the needs of different sociocultural groups and cater to minority communities.

If our recommendations are adopted, these measures have the capacity to transform the fortunes of every widow in the country. These are measures that should be applied by national and county governments.

Fortunately, we have female legislators at both levels of government. These upstanding ladies should introduce legislation that expands on my recommendations above. In addition, these leaders should be at the forefront of initiating a national conversation on widows’ plight and their rights in order to lift the social stigma against widowhood.

It is our ardent hope that the new leadership will accord extra time to the rights of the weak and innocent.

 

THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WIDOWED HOUSEHOLDS

/0 Comments/in /by

 

Climate change is affecting widowed households

The Goat Foundation has traversed the far reaches of Kenyan communities visiting widows far and wide. These widows have no access to grain storage facilities or bank account savings. Being dependent on the produce generated on land, it follows that these widows depend on a steady and predictable climate to raise their meager crop and livestock holdings.

A saying goes, when it rains it pours, and climate change brings with it severe and unpredictable weather phenomena. If it isn’t flooding, it is a prolonged drought that completely devastates all vegetation. Crops wither and die, and animals lack food, and simply fall down and die. Poor widows end up with no means of earning a livelihood.

Elsewhere in the world, the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts threaten lives in these front-line communities, driving people from their homes and jeopardizing food sources and livelihoods. All these effects increase the likelihood of more conflict, hunger, and poverty.

The Goat Foundation collects data on the economic situation of widows around the country and we know that they rely on agriculture and natural resources to survive. For these widows, the effects of climate change — shifting weather, limited water sources, and increased competition for resources — are a real matter of life and death. Climate change has turned their lives into a desperate guessing game.

To earn a living, widows are forced to seek work as casual laborers, work as prostitutes or simply stay home and starve. Their children drop out of school as their mothers can no longer afford to pay school fees. Some of these children are then exploited as child workers, sold off in human trafficking, or into prostitution.

In 2010, the United Nations declared that “climate change is inextricably linked to poverty and hunger.” Seventy-five percent of the world’s poor living in rural areas count on natural resources such as forests, lakes, and oceans for their livelihoods, the organization noted. And climate change is playing havoc with those resources.

Here’s how climate change is impacting the families of widows and their children in Kenya:

  • ‌Prolonged droughts devastate food supplies and dry up water sources.
  • ‌Withered crops and starving animals destroy families’ livelihoods.
  • ‌Torrential rains, floods, and landslides flatten or sweep away their homes.
  • ‌Strife can occur within communities, as widows compete for available arable land.
  • ‌Widows’ families become separated, as their children relocate to search for work.

It is therefore a matter of paramount urgency for us who work in aid relief to advocate for the adoption of strict measures to mitigate the risk in global temperatures.

The lack of financial cushioning against emergencies is another factor that we must consider. If widows can be helped to save some income, they will be in a position to withstand the absence of direct agricultural produce.

Lastly, The Goat Foundation also emphasizes the need for diversifying means of agricultural production by practicing climate-smart agriculture so that if one practice, say crop planting, is devastated by floods, widows can rely on goats for food and as a source of income.

 

WHY GENDER INCLUSIVITY ACROSS DEVELOPING NATIONS HOLDS KEY TO ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

/0 Comments/in , /by

Gender inclusion is a concept that transcends mere equality. It’s the notion that all services, opportunities, and establishments are open to all people and that male and female stereotypes do not define societal roles and expectations.

Gender inclusivity across developing nations is the only way to achieve sustainable development goals.

At The Goat Foundation, we are aware that in developing nations, the seeds that cause gender exclusion stem from customary laws and practices, gender stereotypes, and discrimination. We have observed too that ignorance, poverty, and the absence of robust laws and policies to reinforce the equitable inclusion of all genders in matters of development and social policy play a major role in perpetuating exclusion.

Sadly, women and girls have been on the receiving end of gender imbalance across Africa and other developing nations. This has created a situation where women have less opportunity to shape their lives and make decisions than men.

The relationship between gender inclusivity and gender equality is inverse. The higher the recorded adherence to a Gender Inclusive agenda, policies, and culture, the less the gap in gender equality is experienced.

According to the World Bank’s 2012 World Development Report: Gender Equality and Development, closing these gender gaps matters for development and policymaking.

Every aspect of gender inclusivity —access to education and health, economic opportunities, and voice within households and society—directly contributes toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).

For widows, most of whom have been forced into poverty by their communities, access to institutional services such as inheritance, education, and legal counsel still remains a challenge. This inhibits their freedom to participate in economic activity, income generation, education, and policy formulation.

Development across all genders is therefore a process of expanding freedoms equally for all people—male and female. Closing the gap in well-being between males and females is as much a part of development as is reducing income poverty.

It will do this in three main ways:

Women represent over 49 percent of the eligible labor force in developing countries and overall productivity will increase if their skills and talents are utilized fully.

Elimination of barriers against women working in certain sectors such as engineering or occupations like construction work could increase output by raising women’s participation and labor productivity by as much as 25 percent in some countries through better allocation of their skills and talents.

Second, greater control over household resources by women, either through their own earnings or cash transfers, can enhance countries’ growth prospects by changing spending in ways that benefit children.

Finally, empowering women as economic, political, and social actors can change policy choices and make institutions more representative of a range of voices.

For the avoidance of doubt, pursuing gender inclusivity in developing nations is akin to promoting gender equality. This is because, women have been marginalized and discriminated against for too long, and any effort at inclusivity basically refers to including women.

To bring about gender equality through inclusivity, policymakers need to focus their actions on five clear priorities:

  • Reducing the mortality rate of girls and women through GBV and diseases.
  • Eliminating remaining gender disadvantages in education.
  • Increasing women’s access to economic opportunity and thus earnings and productivity.
  • Giving women an equal voice in households and societies, and
  • Limiting the transmission of gender inequality across generations.

In order for these policies to succeed, new or additional action on multiple fronts such as the combination of more funding, coordinated efforts to foster innovation and learning, and more effective partnerships must be undertaken.

To completely assist widows The Goat Foundation advises that partnerships must also extend beyond those between governments and development agencies to include the private sector, civil society organizations, and academic institutions in developing and rich countries.

 

TURNING THE TIDE IN THE STRUGGLE FOR WIDOWS’ RIGHTS

/0 Comments/in /by

Widows bear the brunt of societal stereotypes.

TURNING THE TIDE IN THE STRUGGLE FOR WIDOWS’ RIGHTS

 

African traditional culture was a system that guided the lives of our ancestors in their conduct and relations. In most cases, these traditions that observed cultural norms were the pillar that ensured unity and harmony among communities. With the advent of colonial occupation, the adoption of Christianity, and Western education, most of these cultures were abandoned and forgotten.

However, in the late 20th Century, some of these cultural practices started creeping back. Communities across Africa that were disillusioned by the white man’s ‘civilization’ began retracing their steps to the old traditions that governed them. The sinister aspect that however emerged was the selective adoption and subjective interpretation of these ancient customs. Driven by hard economic times, male-dominated societies moved to consolidate economic production by grabbing land and property in the name of observing cultural norms.

Women, hitherto protected by ancient customs, were exploited, discriminated against, and abandoned by the practitioners of these new bastardized norms.

Culture no longer existed to protect and safeguard societies. Selfish looters selectively adopted and interpreted sections of these ancient customs with a partisan agenda of economic exploitation, domination, and control over women.

One group that was most affected by this neo-traditionalism was the widows. Safeguards that proscribed respect, honor, and protection of widows were abandoned. Any woman whose husband died now faced a revised system of customs that were engineered to sexually exploit them, deprive them of any means of livelihood, grab their property and basically bleed them dry. The idea behind these thugs was to scare the widow away from her husband’s property and send her back to her family.

In cases where a provision was made for widows to remain in their matrimonial home, she was to consent to unspeakable acts of sexual assaults, humiliation, battery, enslavement, necrophilia, and, necromancer.

Looked at objectively, an outsider shudders with dread at the ordeal endured by these women. It was nothing short of diabolical. Activists, international organizations, and national governments could no longer ignore this depravity. Slowly by slowly changes have been taking place and the fiendish fascination with widows’ sexuality abandoned.

Yet among numerous communities, and in societies where the outside world has yet to venture, widows live in terror and male dominance over female livelihoods has mutated into an evil presence that seeks whomever it can devour.

As sad and horrifying as it may sound, these practices dominate societies across Africa. As with all secret societies, communities are afraid to speak against them for fear of retribution. Widows differ silently and a few dare speak on their behalf.

Of late, however, NGOs, religious organizations, local authorities, and activists have made significant inroads into these forgotten corners of the world. Organizations such as The Goat Foundation have realized that the only way they can rescue these widows from the clutches of their male oppressors is through economic empowerment.

Through aggressively targeting vulnerable communities, widows are now being offered incentives to set up businesses and diversify their farming practices. Laws have been changed to guarantee legal ownership of matrimonial property though the implementation has faced difficulty due to entrenched belief in male superiority.

It is a slow and painstaking process in providing education, health services, and economic means to windows. It is hoped that eventually, advocacy and civic education will win over the hearts and minds of rural communities, who in turn will begin to grant widows the dignity of being left alone, or even provided for.

As a keen participant in this effort toward widow emancipation, The Goat Foundation looks forward to the day when men and women will be regarded as equal, in the eyes of every member belonging to these African communities.

A widow looks onto the horizon

Is Africa ready to abandon some of its widow passage rights to uphold the dignity of widows? 

/0 Comments/in , /by

A widow looks onto the horizon

Drum rolls, upbeat music, and people dancing over lit fires. A description of a typical funeral set up among many communities across Africa. Here, death is ‘celebrated’ as a right of passage. People feast, mourn and send off their loved ones to the ‘spirit world’ safely. The loss of a loved one marks the beginning of doom, especially for widows. During this ceremony, they are comforted by their fellow women and surrounded by much love. But as soon as the funeral ends, a new life that may be marked by extreme hardship begins for these widows.

Cleansing rights like drinking the water that was used to bathe their husband’s corpse begin. Others are required to cut off their hair, go to the stream to bathe, and sleep beside their husband’s dead bodies. Among widowed households in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Uganda- widows are forced to participate in sexual cleansing. This means widows must have unprotected sex with their husband’s brother or other relatives, or with a professional village, cleanser to ‘remove the impurities that have been ascribed to her.

According to MS Magazine, widows in the South Eastern part of Nigeria go through a period of isolated confinement. This ranges from 8 days to 4 months after their husband dies. ‘In this period, the widow is not allowed to leave her room and her hair is completely shaved. She is expected to sit on the floor and wail at the top of her lungs every morning and is not allowed to take a bath or change her clothes till the body of the deceased is buried.’

The prejudices against widows are embedded in the African culture. While there are some positive customs, the negative ones overweight the good in the intention of the positive customs. It is important to note that these cultures contribute to the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS among the widow communities and the belief that widows should be treated inhumanely through generations.

While many may argue that widows can choose to not participate in such customs, these rites and practices intersect with the economic freedom of widows. They control their ability to be accepted and own property rightfully from their husbands. Failure to participate in these activities calls for banishment and dispossession of their property.

The only way widows across rural Africa can unlearn these practices is through economic empowerment. If they are rightfully given opportunities for wealth creation, they can leave these practices behind and stand on their own financially.

A man with microphones infront of him

THE RATIONALE FOR CAUSE CAPITALISM

/0 Comments/in , /by

Cause Capitalism is a call to action for corporate organizations to exercise deliberate social compassion by proactively pledging humanitarian assistance to communities around them. Between seeking to maximize profits, fulfill shareholder expectations, and secure the cheapest production factors, corporate executives find little time for exercising deliberate programs to benefit the communities around which they operate. I am aware that multinational corporations no doubt bring massive investment to developing countries.

Foreign direct investment and new technologies introduced by multinationals spur GDP growth and the growth of different micro industries. Multinationals are also beneficial for developing countries in terms of bringing employment opportunities and new technologies that spill over to domestic firms. Furthermore, multinational companies often benefit from government subsidies, which could in the future be linked to investment in local firms. 

However, as it has been widely documented, some of these multinational corporations migrate their business to third-world countries for more nefarious purposes than what’s advertised.

In industrialized nations, labor laws and unionization have kept wages relatively high and protected employee rights. Companies are required to provide health benefits, paid vacation, and ensure anti-discriminatory practices. Companies are additionally mandated to observe strict environmental protection activities such as cleaning their effluent, proper disposal of waste, and cleaning up after industrial accidents. 

Uncomfortable with these stringent supervisions and faced with the prospect of reduced profits, most companies relocate to third-world countries where laws are lax or non-existent. With deep corporate pockets and sleek PR campaigns, these organizations receive licenses to operate in regions where access to cheap labor and raw materials is guaranteed. 

Companies in the least developed countries feel less obligated to observe social responsibility. Having paid their way to the highest government echelons, these corporations launch lucrative businesses that stash 99% of their profits abroad in tax havens, while delegating a minuscule amount of their earnings to local projects as initially envisaged.

Multinational companies look to reduce their liability in regions where they operate through the practice of outsourcing. Outsourcing takes place when a company hires or contracts another company, which is not related to the first, to do some type of work. Outsourcing work decreases the liability of the multinational through the contract of the work. The contract states that if there is to be any liability at all in the contract, the liability will be shared by both the principal and the contractor.

Another way in which these multinational corporations minimize liability is through renegade regime regulation. Multinationals can use the jurisdiction of one state to protect themselves from the jurisdiction of another. These companies use this to their advantage by seeking “refuge” in certain states, so-called secrecy havens. 

Liability reduction has given international companies the ability to be unaccountable and reckless in business practices. In the past, these megacorporations have been untouchable through the use of contracts, lack of policy enforcement, and basic corporate organization. The difficulty arises when placing responsibility on these companies as most are to be held accountable under national laws. With the wide scope of the actions of multinational corporations and their transnational nature, it is no wonder that national law cannot deal with these issues. 

One way to keep these conglomerates liable for all the actions that they undertake. That solution is international law. In four applicable ways, the international community can start holding the right people accountable for the activities that they undertake.

Communities must also be appraised of their environmental rights, labor rights, and social protection rights.

There have to be mechanisms by civil society and local non-profit organizations to recognize companies that show deliberate social responsibility and environmental protection. Conversely, lawbreakers and irresponsible exploitative practices must be called out and highlighted. Robust legal institutions must uphold existing laws so those rogue organizations can account for their practices.

Locally, independent multi-stakeholder committees must be encouraged to oversee the company’s activities and supervise adherence to laid down regulations. National governments should tax these multinational companies and use these funds for environmental protection purposes and as insurance against disasters such as oil spillage. Community advocacy and local participation in legislative frameworks are encouraged too because the voices of local communities are best placed to indicate the failure or success of investment strategies.

Given the rampant abuse of power, privilege, and position by some companies, it is not only fair but logical that we urge these corporations to contribute a percentage of their gross income to a charitable cause. multinational corporations can partner with a non-profit with the aim of supporting a worthy cause such as housing, water, sanitation, environmental clean-up, or food for impoverished communities. This will not only paint these companies in a positive light but will effect real change for communities in these countries.

In most third-world countries, their citizens no longer rely on governments for the provision of basic social infrastructure. Given the massive wealth and influence wielded by multinational companies, it can be competently argued that societies can depend on these corporations to bring about social and economic change, and by doing so escape the delineating label affixed on them such as “The Evil Corporations,” “Tax Evaders,” or “Exploitative Capitalists.”