Latest news with #communityhealth
Arab News
11 hours ago
- Health
- Arab News
In Uganda, a tougher bicycle offers hope for better health coverage in rural areas
LIRA: The bicycle parked in Lucy Abalo's compound doesn't belong to her. Any one of the hundreds of people in her village can show up and ask to use it. A man might wish to take his pregnant wife for a checkup. A woman might need transport to pick up HIV medication. An injured child might need a trip to a hospital. 'The goodness about this bike,' Abalo said, is its availability to all. She is one of dozens of 'village doctors' in rural Uganda who recently were supplied with the Buffalo Bicycle, so called because its steel parts are reinforced to perform in areas with bad roads. World Bicycle Relief, a Chicago-based nonprofit, promotes the Buffalo Bicycle in remote parts of Africa. It collaborates with governments, non-governmental groups and others who use the bikes to improve access to health services. In Uganda, an east African country of 45 million people, efforts to market the bicycle have focused on supporting health workers like Abalo, who visits people's homes and reports any issues to authorities. As a community health extension worker, or CHEW, she has gained the trust of villagers, who can knock on her door in emergency situations. She said she helps to look after about 8,000 people in the area. And at least twice a week, she is required to report to a government-run health center about 5 kilometers (3 miles) away and assist with triaging patients. Ugandan health authorities acknowledge that one challenge for CHEWs is transportation, part of a larger burden of poverty that can leave health facilities lacking ambulances or even gas to move them. World Bicycle Relief, operating locally as Buffalo Bicycles Uganda, has collaborated with Ugandan health authorities since 2023 to equip 331 CHEWs in two of the country's 146 districts. One is Lira, 442 kilometers (274 miles) north of the capital, Kampala. Bicycles have long been ubiquitous, and many families tend to have one. Cultural norms in northern Uganda don't prohibit women from riding. While the roads in Lira town are paved, dirt paths lead into the heart of the district where farming is the main economic activity. The Buffalo Bicycle is a recent arrival. Many have never heard of it, or can't afford it. Retailing for roughly $200, it is three times more expensive than the cheapest regular bicycle — otherwise out of reach for many CHEWs, who do not yet earn a salary. The bike's promoters cite its durability in rough terrain, needing fewer trips to the mechanic as a way to save money. The Buffalo Bicycle's heavy-gauge steel frame is so strong that it comes with a five-year warranty, said Amuza Ali, a monitoring officer in Lira for Buffalo Bicycles Uganda. Abalo and others told the AP the Buffalo Bicycle felt uncomfortable to use in the beginning, with a braking system that doesn't permit carefree backpedaling. 'When I climbed on it, it wasn't that easy as I thought,' Abalo said. 'I was like, 'I am trying again to learn how to ride.'' CHEWs using the bicycles reported a 108 percent increase in households reached each week, and the time to reach health facilities dropped by nearly half, according to a study published in May by World Bicycle Relief. The study shows that 'mobility is not a luxury in health care' but a lifeline, CEO Dave Neiswander said in a statement released for the report. Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health, has urged the distribution of bicycles to more CHEWs across Uganda, saying front-line health workers save an unknown number of lives each year. Abalo received her Buffalo Bicycle from the health minister last year. One of her neighbors, Babra Akello, said she has used the bicycle at least six times already. The first was for transport to an antenatal checkup. She praised Abalo's willingness to help. The bike has also been used for emergencies. One evening earlier this year, a neighbor's 4-year-old child suffered a deep cut while playing in the dirt. With the child's parents away, Abalo transported the bleeding boy to a facility where he briefly lost consciousness before being revived. 'That bike, not me, saved the life of that child,' Abalo said. 'If that bike hadn't been there, I don't know what would have happened.'
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
In Uganda, a tougher bicycle offers hope for better health coverage in rural areas
LIRA, Uganda (AP) — The bicycle parked in Lucy Abalo's compound doesn't belong to her. Any one of the hundreds of people in her village can show up and ask to use it. A man might wish to take his pregnant wife for a checkup. A woman might need transport to pick up HIV medication. An injured child might need a trip to a hospital. 'The goodness about this bike,' Abalo said, is its availability to all. She is one of dozens of 'village doctors' in rural Uganda who recently were supplied with the Buffalo Bicycle, so called because its steel parts are reinforced to perform in areas with bad roads. World Bicycle Relief, a Chicago-based nonprofit, promotes the Buffalo Bicycle in remote parts of Africa. It collaborates with governments, non-governmental groups and others who use the bikes to improve access to health services. In Uganda, an east African country of 45 million people, efforts to market the bicycle have focused on supporting health workers like Abalo, who visits people's homes and reports any issues to authorities. As a community health extension worker, or CHEW, she has gained the trust of villagers, who can knock on her door in emergency situations. She said she helps to look after about 8,000 people in the area. And at least twice a week, she is required to report to a government-run health center about 5 kilometers (3 miles) away and assist with triaging patients. Ugandan health authorities acknowledge that one challenge for CHEWs is transportation, part of a larger burden of poverty that can leave health facilities lacking ambulances or even gas to move them. World Bicycle Relief, operating locally as Buffalo Bicycles Uganda, has collaborated with Ugandan health authorities since 2023 to equip 331 CHEWs in two of the country's 146 districts. One is Lira, 442 kilometers (274 miles) north of the capital, Kampala. Bicycles have long been ubiquitous, and many families tend to have one. Cultural norms in northern Uganda don't prohibit women from riding. While the roads in Lira town are paved, dirt paths lead into the heart of the district where farming is the main economic activity. The Buffalo Bicycle is a recent arrival. Many have never heard of it, or can't afford it. Retailing for roughly $200, it is three times more expensive than the cheapest regular bicycle — otherwise out of reach for many CHEWs, who do not yet earn a salary. The bike's promoters cite its durability in rough terrain, needing fewer trips to the mechanic as a way to save money. The Buffalo Bicycle's heavy-gauge steel frame is so strong that it comes with a five-year warranty, said Amuza Ali, a monitoring officer in Lira for Buffalo Bicycles Uganda. Abalo and others told the AP the Buffalo Bicycle felt uncomfortable to use in the beginning, with a braking system that doesn't permit carefree backpedaling. 'When I climbed on it, it wasn't that easy as I thought,' Abalo said. 'I was like, 'I am trying again to learn how to ride.'' CHEWs using the bicycles reported a 108% increase in households reached each week, and the time to reach health facilities dropped by nearly half, according to a study published in May by World Bicycle Relief. The study shows that 'mobility is not a luxury in healthcare' but a lifeline, CEO Dave Neiswander said in a statement released for the report. Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health, has urged the distribution of bicycles to more CHEWs across Uganda, saying front-line health workers save an unknown number of lives each year. Abalo received her Buffalo Bicycle from the health minister last year. One of her neighbors, Babra Akello, said she has used the bicycle at least six times already. The first was for transport to an antenatal checkup. She praised Abalo's willingness to help. The bike has also been used for emergencies. One evening earlier this year, a neighbor's 4-year-old child suffered a deep cut while playing in the dirt. With the child's parents away, Abalo transported the bleeding boy to a facility where he briefly lost consciousness before being revived. 'That bike, not me, saved the life of that child,' Abalo said. 'If that bike hadn't been there, I don't know what would have happened.' ___ For more on Africa and development: The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Associated Press
12 hours ago
- Health
- Associated Press
In Uganda, a tougher bicycle offers hope for better health coverage in rural areas
LIRA, Uganda (AP) — The bicycle parked in Lucy Abalo's compound doesn't belong to her. Any one of the hundreds of people in her village can show up and ask to use it. A man might wish to take his pregnant wife for a checkup. A woman might need transport to pick up HIV medication. An injured child might need a trip to a hospital. 'The goodness about this bike,' Abalo said, is its availability to all. She is one of dozens of 'village doctors' in rural Uganda who recently were supplied with the Buffalo Bicycle, so called because its steel parts are reinforced to perform in areas with bad roads. World Bicycle Relief, a Chicago-based nonprofit, promotes the Buffalo Bicycle in remote parts of Africa. It collaborates with governments, non-governmental groups and others who use the bikes to improve access to health services. In Uganda, an east African country of 45 million people, efforts to market the bicycle have focused on supporting health workers like Abalo, who visits people's homes and reports any issues to authorities. As a community health extension worker, or CHEW, she has gained the trust of villagers, who can knock on her door in emergency situations. She said she helps to look after about 8,000 people in the area. And at least twice a week, she is required to report to a government-run health center about 5 kilometers (3 miles) away and assist with triaging patients. Ugandan health authorities acknowledge that one challenge for CHEWs is transportation, part of a larger burden of poverty that can leave health facilities lacking ambulances or even gas to move them. World Bicycle Relief, operating locally as Buffalo Bicycles Uganda, has collaborated with Ugandan health authorities since 2023 to equip 331 CHEWs in two of the country's 146 districts. One is Lira, 442 kilometers (274 miles) north of the capital, Kampala. Bicycles have long been ubiquitous, and many families tend to have one. Cultural norms in northern Uganda don't prohibit women from riding. While the roads in Lira town are paved, dirt paths lead into the heart of the district where farming is the main economic activity. The Buffalo Bicycle is a recent arrival. Many have never heard of it, or can't afford it. Retailing for roughly $200, it is three times more expensive than the cheapest regular bicycle — otherwise out of reach for many CHEWs, who do not yet earn a salary. The bike's promoters cite its durability in rough terrain, needing fewer trips to the mechanic as a way to save money. The Buffalo Bicycle's heavy-gauge steel frame is so strong that it comes with a five-year warranty, said Amuza Ali, a monitoring officer in Lira for Buffalo Bicycles Uganda. Abalo and others told the AP the Buffalo Bicycle felt uncomfortable to use in the beginning, with a braking system that doesn't permit carefree backpedaling. 'When I climbed on it, it wasn't that easy as I thought,' Abalo said. 'I was like, 'I am trying again to learn how to ride.'' CHEWs using the bicycles reported a 108% increase in households reached each week, and the time to reach health facilities dropped by nearly half, according to a study published in May by World Bicycle Relief. The study shows that 'mobility is not a luxury in healthcare' but a lifeline, CEO Dave Neiswander said in a statement released for the report. Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health, has urged the distribution of bicycles to more CHEWs across Uganda, saying front-line health workers save an unknown number of lives each year. Abalo received her Buffalo Bicycle from the health minister last year. One of her neighbors, Babra Akello, said she has used the bicycle at least six times already. The first was for transport to an antenatal checkup. She praised Abalo's willingness to help. The bike has also been used for emergencies. One evening earlier this year, a neighbor's 4-year-old child suffered a deep cut while playing in the dirt. With the child's parents away, Abalo transported the bleeding boy to a facility where he briefly lost consciousness before being revived. 'That bike, not me, saved the life of that child,' Abalo said. 'If that bike hadn't been there, I don't know what would have happened.' ___ For more on Africa and development: The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Buc-ee's flap: See why NC activists are speaking out against state's 1st Buc-ee's location
Despite the cult following travel center chain Buc-ee's has amassed across the country, not everyone is excited about the construction of North Carolina's first location. NC activist group 7 Directions of Service has spoken out against the new location with demonstrations, statements and a 40-page report published May 27, 2025, titled "Buc-ee's Burden: How Mega Gas Stations Hurt Community Health and Wealth." The nonprofit, which focuses on cultural and land reclamation and indigenous leadership, among other things, lists four major issues the organization takes with Buc-ee's on a webpage devoted to NC's Occaneechi Path: Environmental impact - The 7 Directions website states that emissions from the concentration of just 200 running vehicles can create harmful conditions for breathing. With 25,000 estimated daily visitors, 7 Directions warns that the new Buc-ee's travel center will result in an "air pollution hot-spot" in a location that is home to schools and low-income neighborhoods. Threats to a historical indigenous site - "The entirety of the great Occaneechi Trading Path ran from Virginia to Alabama, and a significant section of the path in Mebane, NC is threatened by Buc-ee's," the 7 Directions website states. Unethical workplace practices - 7 Directions cites a Texas court's 2017 ruling against Buc-ee's, in which repayment provisions in employment agreements were likened to "indentured servitude." The website also references employee ratings on job websites including Indeed and Glassdor, which rank the chain "lower than most major corporations, even worse than Amazon." Fossil fuels - "An economy tied to fossil fuels is unpredictable and makes us vulnerable to foreign supply chain disruptions and conflicts," 7 Directions stated in its report. "Renewable sources like solar and wind are more reliable and cheaper, and transitioning to them will help us avoid the worst of the climate crisis." More information on the subject, including the 40-page report, can be found on the 7 Directions website at The Mebane Buc-ee's opening is planned for late 2026 or early 2027. The NC Buc-ee's site is located at 1425 Trollingwood-Hawfields Road, Mebane, NC 27302, near the merger of Interstates 85 and 40. Southern Living reported that the new location will measure in at a sprawling 75,000 square feet, with 120 fueling stations and more than 600 parking spaces planned. Mebane is about 200 miles east of Asheville on I-40. According to Google Maps, it will take about three hours to drive to the new Buc-ee's. The Mebane Buc-ee's will be the state's first location. Currently, the chain has stores in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The Mebane Buc-ee's is one of a list of locations set to open across the country. USA TODAY Network reported that stores will open soon in the following locations: Goodyear, Arizona: June 2026 Benton, Arkansas: September 2026 Ocala, Florida: 2026 Brunswick, Georgia: July 2025 Monroe County, Georgia: Early 2026 Harrison County, Mississippi: 2025 Mebane, North Carolina: Late 2026 or early 2027 Huber Heights, Ohio: April 2026 Boerne, Texas: 2026 San Marcos, Texas: May 2026 Rockingham County, Virginia: 2025 Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@ This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: When does the NC Buc-ee's open? Activists protest NC's first location
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Exploring CVS' Health Services Segment: A Key Growth Engine for 2025?
Healthcare conglomerate CVS Health CVS formed its Health Services segment through a realignment tied to a new operating model adopted in early 2023. In its last reported quarter, the segment contributed more than $43 billion in revenues — up 8% year over year — driven by growth in specialty pharmacy, higher pricing of branded medications and pharmacy drug mix. However, these gains were partially offset by ongoing price improvements extended to pharmacy clients. The segment includes CVS Caremark, one of the leading pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) in the United States, which helps curb drug spend through its solutions without compromising quality care. Starting July 1, Caremark will list Novo Nordisk's NVO Wegovy as the preferred GLP-1 medicine on its largest commercial template formularies. The Novo Nordisk partnership echoes CVS' launch of a low-cost Humira biosimilar via its Cordavis subsidiary, which now leads the U.S. market. CVS will also serve as the first retail pharmacy in NVO's NovoCare pharmacy network, increasing Wegovy's access at 9,000 community health locations. In the first quarter of 2025, CVS Health processed more than $464 million of pharmacy claims on a 30-day equivalent basis, with membership reaching almost 88 million as of March-end. In the healthcare delivery business, growth continues to be led by the performance of Oak Street and Signify Health assets. Still, persistently elevated Medicare Advantage remains a concern for Oak Street Health's growth. Meanwhile, CVS exited the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health ('ACO REACH') program and sold its Medicare Shared Savings Program ('MSSP') business to Wellvana Health, incurring a combined loss of $247 million in the first quarter. Still, analysts continue to remain bullish on the segment, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate indicating a 4.6% increase in Health Services revenues over 2024. The Cigna Group CI is gaining from the strength of its Evernorth Health Services portfolio. Within this, CI reported 14% year-over-year growth in Pharmacy Benefit Services in the first quarter of 2025, mainly from existing client relationships and new businesses. Strong specialty volume growth in Cigna's Specialty and Care Services drove an 18.9% improvement. Organic growth in specialty businesses was supported by higher Humira biosimilar adoption. At Humana HUM, the CenterWell segment, which includes the company's pharmacy, primary care and home solutions operations, reported a 37.5% increase in service revenues in the first quarter of 2025. Humana reduced operating costs in this segment owing to its value creation initiatives and also benefited from more favorable operating trends in the primary care business. Still, HUM saw some of the improvement being offset by the impact of the v28 risk model revision. Year to date, CVS Health shares have surged 49.4% against the industry's 0.2% dip. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research In terms of valuation, CVS is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales of 0.22X compared to the industry average of 0.41X. The stock's Value Score of A further adds to its appeal. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Consensus estimates for CVS Health's 2025 earnings have been trending upward over the past 90 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research CVS stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Humana Inc. (HUM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cigna Group (CI) : Free Stock Analysis Report CVS Health Corporation (CVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
