In 2024, the world reached an alarming milestone: the hottest global temperatures ever recorded. Floods, heat waves, tropical storms, hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires are affecting everyone, everywhere, with devastating consequences. But behind the headlines of environmental catastrophe lies a quieter crisis: the health impacts of climate change on women, families and newborns, and the health […] Continue reading ->
Medical institutions were the last hope for Afghan girls and women seeking higher education since the Taliban banned schools and universities for women “Why do you torture us every day? Just give us poison and end it all,” a heartbroken Afghan medical student told Taliban forces, expressing the despair of thousands of girls whose dreams […] Continue reading ->
On the International Day of the Girl Child, new HPV vaccine is hailed as a lifesaver Across Africa, too many women are still dying from cervical cancer – a disease that is almost entirely preventable with HPV vaccines. For too long, these vaccines have been out of reach for many girls across the continent. But […] Continue reading ->
Israelis in southern and northern Israel huddled in shelters under missile and rocket fire from Gaza’s Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia. Palestinians in northern Gaza were being forced to relocate away from yet another incursion of Israeli tanks into densely populated urban areas, including Jabalia refugee camp. Lebanese in southern Lebanon fled at a thickening […] Continue reading ->
Pregnant women with disabilities in Malawi face a myriad of challenges, despite several policies and an Act stipulating the need to respect disability rights, including in health service provision. BLANTYRE, Malawi – When Lynes Manduwa miscarried, nurses in the gynaecology ward at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) ganged up and confronted her husband. “They confronted […] Continue reading ->
With the number of new mpox cases continuing to rise, and many more potentially undetected, African countries affected by the latest outbreak are racing to mobilize funds and urgently deploy medical countermeasures, including vaccines. But as the current epidemic unfolds, there is an undeniable feeling of déjà vu. Global efforts are falling short of what […] Continue reading ->
Nearly a year after new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk promised a fresh start for abortion rights, following his election victory in October 2023, reform efforts have stalled as campaign promises collide with the realities of coalition politics in a divided Poland. Poland is amongst only four countries worldwide to have restricted abortion rights in […] Continue reading ->
By the time they turn 20 years old, nearly a quarter (24%) of adolescent girls who have been in a relationship will have experienced physical or sexual violence from their intimate partner, according to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) published Monday found. Even though the prevalence of violence among teenagers largely parallels […] Continue reading ->
After experiencing the distress of caring for a loved one with advanced cervical cancer, Edna Maloya vowed to take proactive measures to ensure that her family and friends would be protected. “I was my cousin’s caregiver. I can’t take chances with cervical cancer,” says Maloya, who lives in Blantyre, Malawi’s second largest city. She happily […] Continue reading ->
The Gambia’s parliament voted by a substantial margin on Monday to uphold a ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), defeating a Bill by conservative lawmakers and religious leaders. Thirty four of the 53 MPs voted against the Private Members’ Bill introduced by MP Almameh Gibba from the Alliance for the Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), […] Continue reading ->