Native American communities lashed by COVID-19, worsening chronic inequities
December 16, 2021, 6:10 am

Native American communities lashed by COVID-19, worsening chronic inequities

Indigenous people-Native American/Pixabay

The Xinhua reported that The Guardian has said, the COVID-19 pandemic has deepened disparities in infrastructure, education and health care in the United States.

Josh Arce, president of the Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA), told the British daily in a recent interview, challenges affecting indigenous groups ranged from health inequities to inadequate infrastructure. And nearly all of these problems were worsened by the pandemic.

The chief of one of the largest Native American-run non-profits, said, Native Americans were disproportionately affected by COVID-19, dying from the virus at twice the rate of white Americans.

He said the health infrastructure in Native American communities, provided through the Indian Health Service, is often substandard, with hospitals and other medical centers generally under-resourced and understaffed.

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Meanwhile, Native Americans are more likely to be uninsured, adding another barrier to tackling complicated health challenges.

With "sky high" rates of suicide among Native American teenagers, the president also worried the poor mental health condition and limited resources to address such issues were deteriorating amid the pandemic.

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Arce added that economic challenges such as poverty, affecting one out of three Native Americans, and high unemployment rates are also chronic concerns in Native American communities.

Source: xinhua

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”