The coronavirus has inflicted catastrophic circumstances worldwide. Hence, the charity Tearfund has set a challenge for those wanting to raise money and awareness for people living in poverty in poor countries who will be most affected by the virus. The challenge is to climb the equivalent height of the UK’s four highest mountain peaks by using their stairs at home. Miriam Smart, 19, from Kent, participated in this challenge by climbing up and down her stairs 110 times a day over two weeks.
Miriam was supposed to be spending three months in Zambia, however, the coronavirus outbreak meant she was unable to travel out there. Miriam still wanted to help people in some way from her home during the lockdown. Hence, she decided to take on Tearfund’s challenge.
Tearfund, a Christian-based charity, has already provided and distributed 17,560 hygienic protective equipment, 2,350 food parcels and 220 water stations worldwide. However, there is still a long way to go to help people living in poverty, a crisis which is now heightened by the coronavirus. People living in poor countries are already at a disadvantage due to their country being unable to afford to put safety measures in place. It is almost impossible for families, many of whom share single-roomed homes and lack water, to wash their hands and socially distance.
The charity wrote on their website, “living in poverty is a hard mountain to climb. But, by tackling this challenge you will be with them every step of the way.”
During Miriam’s climb, she posted regular updates on Instagram for her followers who are supported her to watch her journey.
Countries living in poverty are thought to be more vulnerable if exposed to the virus. This is due to the close proximity of their living conditions with many families living in single-room homes and lacking access to clean water and hygiene products. This makes abiding by the World Health Organisations (WHO) advice on social distancing and regular hand washing difficult to comply with.
Furthermore, the access to health care for countries in poverty is also limited. Across the African continent during the peak of coronavirus there were as little as 20,000 critical care beds to support those who catch the virus; in context, this will provide 1.7 people a bed to every 100,000 people. Malawi had 25 ICU beds for a population of 17 million. As for Bangladesh, their 1,100 ICU beds was to cover a population of over 160 million. African countries healthcare budgets averages at an allowance of $12 per person, compared to the UK health budget of $4,000 per citizen, per year (according to the Organisation for Economic Corporation Development).
The Guardian wrote in an article that ten African countries have no ventilators at all. These statistics are worrying, due to the conditions these countries live in, it is easier for COVID-19 to spread more easily and quickly.
In a video posted on Instagram Miriam explained, “we are very privileged in this country to have such good healthcare, to have such good sanitation, we have a house to live in, we have food to eat every day and we have money to spend and jobs to go to and working from home. But so many people in the world do not have all those privileges.” She continued, “(for example) the Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh; these people have been forced out of their country and they’re in these little shelters or tents and are so crowded, the virus spreads so quickly in those areas and now they have just been hit by the cyclone.”
COVID-19 has caused huge devastation to countries’ economies. The US and UK economies are struggling due to the lockdown limiting people working and the lack of circulation of money in the economy, along with government in the UK paying out 80% to furloughed workers. If large economies such as the US and UK are struggling, countries in Africa, Latin America and Pakistan, India and Bangladesh are set to suffer a huge economic decline. Statistics display it is thought that more than a third of jobs in Africa could be lost due to COVID-19.
Miriam wrote on an Instagram post, “Lockdown has prevented thousands of people, already living in extreme poverty, from getting a sustainable income.”
The challenge is a great way to make the most of lockdown and do something positive for those in poverty. The charity is aiming to raise £50,000 which will help supply 16,667 families with a month supply of hygiene products and 3,049 families with hygiene training and food support for three months, according to Tearfund’s website. Miriam has raised a grand total of £1,771 from sponsors; a spectacular amount raised for a crucial cause.
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