Drew Aiken
Living in the world. Humanitarian. Advocate for health, human rights and equality. Documenting experiences and observations.
Democratic Republic of Congo
An overview of one year
-Masisi, DRC 2021
I have spent a number of years in sub-Saharan Africa (most of my life since 2014), but my time in DRC in 2020-2021 was unlike anything I have ever known. Among some, mentioning Congo may evoke negative guttural reactions, due to the prolonged conflict, and since Congo is normally only mentioned on western news . . .
My First Mission
in Malawi
(photo: Outside of Blantyre, Malawi)
From September 2019 until earlier this month (July), I was on my first mission working with MSF (Doctors Without Borders) in Malawi, a small landlocked country in southern Africa. Malawi (formerly Nyasaland) has been independent from British rule since 1964, after which the country . . .
10 Things I've learned in Dakar
10 Choses Que J'ai Appris à Dakar
This year I've moved to Dakar, Senegal to study French and see the world a bit. It's a big and welcome change from Washington DC. Here are some photos and 10 things that I've learned so far (in English and French) :)
Île de Ngor
One: Don't ever wear white pants.
Ne portez jamais un pantalon blanc.
UN Human Rights Committee: Denying Undocumented Migrants Access to Essential Health Services Violates the Right to Life
This blog was first posted on the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law blog
Photo credit: selangorkini.my
Recently the United Nations Human Rights Committee made an important ruling, finding that the Canadian government violated the rights of an undocumented immigrant for denying her access to . . .
The Mental Health Implications of Gender Discrimination in the Workplace
This article is a re-post from the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown Law Center blog
To anyone who has experienced gender or other forms of discrimination, in the workplace or outside, it is likely unsurprising that pay disparity—one of the clearest markers of discrimination –is linked . . .
A Zanzibari Dream
Zanzibar is a picturesque, mystical place with exquisite beaches and turquoise waters. Swahili is the most commonly spoken language and many people practice Islam, though people with different religious beliefs seem to coexist entirely peacefully and with ease. We were told that most Zanzibari Muslims are Sunni. Zanzibar is an ‘ . . .
More Travels Through Southern Africa
Zambezi Region, Kongola
The Zambezi Region, Kongola
Namushasha, on the Kwando River. As Andrew points out, photos never show that the sun at sunset is red, not yellow or white.
The Zambezi Region of Namibia is the strip that juts out in the northeastern corner of the country. Until 2013, the region was called the Caprivi Region, a namesake of . . .
Cover image credit: http://Drew Aiken
