From being a largely unknown pathogen, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is now almost a household word – and a fearful one for families with infants and young children at risk. But new solutions, such as long-acting monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and maternal vaccination, both recently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), could dramatically alter the […] Continue reading ->
Last week, stakeholders gathered in Bangkok for the first-ever Regional Congress on Self-Care in the Asia-Pacific to discuss the importance of interventions and policies within the region. Throughout the proceedings, it was gratifying to see how increasing awareness and support for self-care is resonating regionally – as well as at national and global levels. WHO […] Continue reading ->
This week, experts and policymakers are convening at the Union’s World Conference on Lung Health to discuss tuberculosis (TB), the world’s deadliest and most neglected infectious disease. Since the turn of the 20th century, over one billion people have died from TB – a death toll greater than that from malaria, smallpox, HIV/AIDS, cholera, plague […] Continue reading ->
US President-elect Donald Trump railed against “globalists” during his election campaign, and his victory will have serious ramifications for global health – particularly for action against climate change, scientific institutions and regulatory bodies, United Nations agencies and sexual and reproductive health. 1. Climate denial “We will drill, baby, drill,” Trump told the Republican National Convention […] Continue reading ->
In 2021, I lost a close friend to tuberculosis (TB), the world’s most lethal infection. But I cannot say anything else about this friend, where I met him or when we became close.  The stigma surrounding tuberculosis is too impenetrable and, unfortunately, it would not be fair to my friend’s family. Still, for me, his […] Continue reading ->
There is an urgent need for Africa to develop local manufacturing capabilities for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) so as to reduce reliance on imports, enhance healthcare outcomes, and stimulate economic growth. But innovative technologies and international partnerships can help stimulate African pharma growth, revolutionize API production, and ensure self-sufficiency across the continent in a post-pandemic […] Continue reading ->
This World Food Day (16 October), Chile provides solid evidence that mandatory warning labels that target products with high salt, sugar, saturated fat and calories have reduced consumers’ appetite for unhealthy products. Worldwide, countries are grappling with diets increasingly composed of ultra-processed products, which are associated with obesity and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).  The proliferation […] Continue reading ->
Ten years ago, global health leaders came together to agree on the first-of-its-kind international Consensus Framework for ethical collaboration between patients’ organizations, healthcare professionals, and the pharmaceutical industry in support of quality patient care. Since then, the Framework has been adopted across countries worldwide and embedded in international initiatives. This Global Ethics Day, under the […] Continue reading ->