WHO To Shrink its Geneva Headquarters Down to Just Four Programme Divisions – With Health Systems a Key Pillar

22/04/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

A new, and near final iteration of WHO’s reorganization will shrink its programme divisions even further than previous drafts – from 10 to only four – with health systems emerging as one key pillar of the revamped organization. At the same time, disease control departments and preventive health teams – such as health promotion and […] Continue reading ->

Why 3.5 Billion People Lack Basic Oral Care—and What Needs to Change

13/04/2025 Maayan Hoffman

Half of the world’s population has no access to any kind of oral care and lives with untreated oral disease every day, according to Dr. Habib Benzian, a dentist and professor of epidemiology and health promotion at New York University. “There’s no other disease group that affects so many people,” Benzian said. In fact, oral […] Continue reading ->

Recent Aid Cuts Jeopardize 40% Reduction in Maternal Mortality Since 2000

08/04/2025 Sophia Samantaroy

Maternal mortality rates have dropped by 40% since 2000, largely due to improved access to essential health services. But WHO officials warn that the recent, deep cuts to international aid could be as disruptive as the COVID-19 pandemic, if not more so, to a woman’s chances of surviving pregnancy and childbirth. And in 2023, more […] Continue reading ->

Halving Deaths from Air Pollution is Central Aim of WHO Conference

24/03/2025 Sophia Samantaroy & Elaine Ruth Fletcher

CARTAGENA, Colombia – A tour bus emits a cloud of black diesel smoke in front of Cartagena’s glittering white conference center. It is a vivid reminder that from the hottest tourist destinations to the slums of Latin America, Asia and Africa, nine out of ten people on the planet breathe dangerously unhealthy levels of air […] Continue reading ->

‘I Cried Every Day’—How a Noma Survivor Turned Tragedy Into Triumph

15/03/2025 Maayan Hoffman

“There is ability in disability,” says Mulikat Okanlawon, a Noma survivor from Nigeria. Okanlawon shared this message on a recent episode of the Global Health Matters podcast with Dr. Garry Aslanyan. The episode was one of two focused on the real-life experiences of people living with neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Noma primarily affects children. The […] Continue reading ->

Big Pharma Issues Global ‘Call to Action’ to Address NCD Crisis

11/03/2025 Kerry Cullinan

Almost five million lives could be saved annually if low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) invested 1% more of GDP in public healthcare spending – and used at least 40% of this to prevent and treat non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This is according to Airfinity research commissioned by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), […] Continue reading ->

Juggernaut of Overweight and Obesity is ‘Monumental Societal Failure’

04/03/2025 Kerry Cullinan

More than half of all adults and a third of children and adolescents will be overweight or obese by 2050 unless urgent action is taken, according to the most comprehensive global analysis to date, published by The Lancet to coincide with World Obesity Day on Tuesday. This poses an “unparalleled threat of premature disease and […] Continue reading ->

Common US Infant Formulas Are Laden with High Levels of Added Sugars

03/03/2025 Sophia Samantaroy

Most infant formulas in the United States contain a high percentage of added sugars instead of natural lactose, “jeopardizing” infant health and development, says researchers at the University of Kansas in a new analysis of commonly marketed formulas. “Infants may consume upwards of 60 grams of added sugars per day, or the equivalent of two […] Continue reading ->

Vanishing Memories: Tanzania’s Elderly Battle Dementia in Silence

25/02/2025 Kizito Makoye

GEITA, Tanzania —The first time 78-year-old Hadija Kisanji got lost on her way home, neighbors found her sitting under a baobab tree, staring blankly at the dusty road. When they asked where she was going, she whispered, “I think I live nearby.” That was three years ago. Today, Kisanji barely remembers her own name. She’s […] Continue reading ->

On 20th Anniversary of Framework Convention: New Tobacco Products, Social Media, and Illicit Trade Pose Big Challenges

25/02/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

Global tobacco use prevalence has dropped by one-third, and there are now an estimated 118 million fewer tobacco users in the world today, as compared with 2005, said Dr Adriana Blanco Marquizo, Head of the Secretariat, on Tuesday. She was speaking at a WHO press conference marking the 20th anniversary of the WHO Framework Convention […] Continue reading ->