More lives are being lost to climate change every year than in the Holocaust and World War II, warned US Special Climate Envoy in an address before World Health Assembly delegates In a precedent-setting move, the UN’s annual Climate Conference of Parties (COP28) scheduled for 30 November – 12 December in Dubai will have a […] Continue reading ->
In a strong statement against the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the violence and calling for an immediate halt to Russian attacks on health facilities. Russia and Syria floated a resolution that made no mention of the Russian aggression, and which failed to find any support among […] Continue reading ->
The messiness of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution and the growing challenge of climate change emerged as key challenges at the World Health Assembly (WHA) on Tuesday in discussions on resolutions on preparing for future pandemics in Geneva. Representing 47 countries in the African region, Tanzania underscored the importance of greater equity and access to technology […] Continue reading ->
The 76th World Health Assembly turned political even before formal the proceedings began, with the decision to exclude Taiwan. The island was seeking an observer status, something that it had held previously between 2009 and 2016, with the support of the United States and others. But its inclusion was strongly opposed by China which maintains […] Continue reading ->
Pregnancy is most often a cause for celebration of a new life and a new addition to the family. But for the women who walk into Garima Malik’s clinic in New Delhi, it is a very different story. Some cry. Others appear angry, irritable or frustrated. Usually, the cause is domestic violence – pregnancy is […] Continue reading ->
As much as 99% of the world population breathes in air with pollution levels higher than WHO’s permissible limits. The majority of the world’s most polluted cities are in South Asia. Air pollution is linked to higher rates of miscarriages, pregnancy complications and stillbirths, affecting women’s reproductive health. The pandemic is always on the back […] Continue reading ->
As the Glasgow Climate Conference winds to a close, the final COP26 declaration appears destined to contain watered-down language on fossil fuel phase-out, and no clear way forward for the $100 billion in finance needed by low-income countries. Against that landscape, Médecins Sans Frontières Dr Maria Guevara talks about why health is the elephant in […] Continue reading ->
GLASGOW – Conversations on the health impacts of the climate crisis have grown this year at COP26 – the United Nation’s annual climate conference, now in its 26th year. Experts hope that this increase in conversation will lead to greater awareness about the health crisis exacerbated by the climate crisis and lead to concrete action in […] Continue reading ->
Disha Shetty, an Indian climate and health journalist, will be reporting for Health Policy Watch from the Glasgow Climate Conference (COP 26). She provides a birds-eye view on the conference here: Climate and health activists fear that the bold action needed at the crucial United Nations climate conference, COP26, which began on Sunday, is unlikely […] Continue reading ->
Most people die at home in Gadchiroli, a remote, heavily forested district in central India that is among the country’s least developed areas and reaching the nearest clinic can take several hours on foot. After a death, relatives often bury or cremate their loved ones in the fields. When the first COVID-19 wave arrived in […] Continue reading ->