A method that first developed around polio elimination and matured during the COVID pandemic, is now being tested and used to track a much wider array of emerging disease threats. A unique symposium of scientists and public health experts at the Paris Sorbonne University last week looked at its promise and potential. In April 2020, […] Continue reading ->
The leadership of Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) is under significant global pressure to reverse its decision to close its Access Campaign, with indications that the issue may be raised at the organisation’s general assembly that begins in Geneva on Thursday (27th). The decision has been described as a triumph for technocrats within MSF, who want […] Continue reading ->
Is One Health really an agenda of only the Global North? Panelists at an event last week, hosted by the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Global Health Center, think otherwise. They talked about how developing countries are putting One Health principles into practice to head off future disease outbreaks. One Health is critical to future prevention of […] Continue reading ->
At the 77th World Health Assembly, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, urged nations to prioritize vaccinating “zero-dose” children, particularly those in regions affected by humanitarian crises and complex emergencies. These children have not received any shots, putting them at a higher risk of preventable diseases. “We are scaling up routine immunization and reaching the estimated 14.3 […] Continue reading ->
A new generation of portable molecular testing devices unveiled by the global non-profit FIND on Thursday has achieved accuracy levels previously only attainable in lab testing, a potential game-changer for healthcare in regions with limited access to clinics. These compact devices can test for multiple diseases using cartridges that analyze tissue, blood, or other bodily […] Continue reading ->
GENEVA – The World Health Organization has made climate change its top priority in its four-year work plan adopted at the World Health Assembly this week, but significant gaps in climate health research could hinder the UN health body’s efforts, experts warned at the Geneva Health Forum on Tuesday. Current research on the effects of […] Continue reading ->
Cabo Verde, a group of 10 islands in the Central Atlantic Ocean, was declared malaria-free in January. This milestone makes it one of the 43 countries and territories globally recognised with this certification by the World Health Organization (WHO). Cabo Verde is only the third country in the WHO African region to be certified malaria-free […] Continue reading ->
GENEVA – Partnerships between industry, multilateral organizations, and other stakeholders are essential to overcoming challenges and improving access to innovations. This was the key message at an International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (IFPMA) event on Tuesday evening, held on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva. The gathering brought together representatives from the […] Continue reading ->
As the world grapples with a migrant and refugee crisis of unprecedented scale, with 281m international migrants and 3.5m refugees globally, according to UN agencies, experts are turning to technology, particularly artificial intelligence, in search of solutions. The potential for AI and technology to foster a more equitable and sustainable world has been recognised by […] Continue reading ->
Four well-known heavy metals and chemical pollutants – lead, asbestos, arsenic and cadmium- continue exact a heavy toll on the lives of those in low- and middle-income countries – with lead named a factor in as much as 5 million premature deaths annually from cardiovascular disease, according to one recent estimate. Asbestos, arsenic, and cadmium round […] Continue reading ->