When nursing graduates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) receive their hard-earned diplomas, they’re no longer cheered on only by proud family members and university faculty. “The recruiters pitch up on the nurses’ graduation day in our country,” one delegate told me at the recent World Health Assembly (WHA). It’s a striking image: nurses, newly […] Continue reading ->
Climate change is perhaps the greatest threat to human health. In a warming world, with changing and unpredictable weather patterns, its effects are all around us. In 2022, Pakistan experienced the worst floods in the country’s history, placing much of the country under water and giving way to a fivefold increase in the country’s rate […] Continue reading ->
With the first-ever malaria vaccines rolling out across Africa and a next-generation tuberculosis (TB) vaccine in testing, scientific advances are driving an unparalleled expansion of vaccine development. But vaccines in development don’t become immunizations that protect our health without concerted efforts by global initiatives like Gavi, the vaccine alliance, that help bring these life-saving products […] Continue reading ->
Amid a huge global push against sexual and reproductive health and rights, some of the foremost global experts in the field are calling on the World Health Assembly to protect these hard-won rights. All the authors are listed below. Progress on comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and its connected goals of gender […] Continue reading ->
In December 2021, as the COVID pandemic continued to rage, WHO Member States established an Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to draft an international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPPR). The outcome of the negotiations is to be presented at the 77th World Health Assembly, which will meet next week in Geneva. Over the […] Continue reading ->
Sixteen leading scientists and manufacturers involved in vaccine development and production worldwide issue an urgent call for a pandemic accord that can be a ‘win-win for all.’ The full list of authors is available below. Health misinformation was not invented during COVID-19 but was certainly brought to a higher, more malevolent  and destructive pitch during […] Continue reading ->
Ghana outlawed alcohol promotion by celebrities back in 2015, but a music promoter is challenging government in court to fight for his ‘right’ to advertise various brands. Predatory commercial exploitation that encourages harmful activities has been identified by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the two main crises threatening the health […] Continue reading ->
Pharmacogenomics research in Africa transcends mere regional healthcare improvements: it represents a pivotal step in addressing pressing global health challenges and propelling medical science forward for all.  A revolution is sweeping through the field of medicine, redefining how we approach the treatment of diseases. Africa must not be left behind in this transformative journey. Pharmacogenomics, […] Continue reading ->