Stuck Between Faith and Politics: Why Sierra Leone’s Safe Motherhood Bill is Still in Limbo 19/08/2026 Abdulai Gbla FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – For nearly two years, Sierra Leone’s Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Care Bill has been stuck in a political and social tug-of-war that has little to do with the technical business of passing a health law. Instead, the country is wrestling with who gets to define reproductive health in the country: […] Continue reading -> US Assumes Control Over Global Anti-Abortion Geneva Consensus Declaration, Affirms Religious Groups 17/08/2026 Kerry Cullinan The United States has assumed the secretariat of the Geneva Consensus Declaration (GCD), a global anti-abortion initiative launched by Donald Trump’s administration weeks before he was voted out of office in 2020. Hungary took over the secretariat after Trump was voted out, but the US rejoined the initiative in January 2025, a week after Trump […] Continue reading -> Global Reduction in Unvaccinated Children, But Impact of Funding Shortage Is Yet to Hit 15/07/2026 Disha Shetty Nearly 90% of infants globally received at least one dose of a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine in 2025, while around one-third of girls globally received at least one dose of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer. This is according to the annual World Health Organization (WHO)-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization […] Continue reading -> A Regional Approach to HPV Vaccine Design Can Advance Equity and Cervical Cancer Elimination 13/07/2026 Marco Cavaleri HPV vaccines have transformed cervical cancer prevention, but the next generation of vaccines must better reflect regional disease patterns, including the HPV35 genotype prevalent in Africa. The recent WHO Global Status Report on Cancer paints a sobering picture. Among the many challenges, human papillomavirus, or HPV, is one of the world’s most serious infectious causes of […] Continue reading -> From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Facing Threats to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights – Some Countries Show A Way Forward 03/07/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The dramatic global health budget cutbacks in services for maternal and reproductive health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have produced 17 million unintended pregnancies, and more than 34,000 preventable maternal deaths in just the first year since cuts were made. That recent assessment by French and Washington DC-based analyses, was cited by Guyana’s UN Ambassador […] Continue reading -> African Women’s Rights Charter Faces Challenge from Conservatives 26/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Human rights and legal experts have urged African governments not to buy into a draft charter being incubated by conservatives that will undermine the rights of women and girls. Conflict, repressive laws and harmful cultural and religious practices conspire to undermine the health and safety of African women, girls and sexual minorities. Now, one of […] Continue reading -> US and Russia Vote Against UN Political Declaration on HIV/ AIDS 24/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan The United States and Russia were part of a group of eight countries that voted against the United Nations (UN) Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which was adopted by 149 votes at the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Tuesday afternoon. Israel, Burkina Faso, Burundi, North Korea, Niger and Senegal also voted against the declaration, while there were […] Continue reading -> Midwives: The High Return Investment That’s Not Being Made 18/06/2026 Anna af Ugglas, Lwazi Manzi, Chikusela Sikazwe & Rajat Khosla A return on investment of 16:1 should be irresistible. So why does midwifery keep losing the budget fight, and what would make funders and finance ministers finally move? When a young mother in Mtendere, Lusaka, began bleeding heavily hours after delivering her baby, her life was in grave danger. Three midwives assessed her immediately, recognised […] Continue reading -> Saving Women From Bleeding to Death After Giving Birth 12/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Every year, around 27 million women bleed excessively after giving birth, and almost 43,000 die – yet there are new ways for this to be detected and treated. This is according to a series on maternal health published in The Lancet on Friday by the United Nations Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
US Assumes Control Over Global Anti-Abortion Geneva Consensus Declaration, Affirms Religious Groups 17/08/2026 Kerry Cullinan The United States has assumed the secretariat of the Geneva Consensus Declaration (GCD), a global anti-abortion initiative launched by Donald Trump’s administration weeks before he was voted out of office in 2020. Hungary took over the secretariat after Trump was voted out, but the US rejoined the initiative in January 2025, a week after Trump […] Continue reading -> Global Reduction in Unvaccinated Children, But Impact of Funding Shortage Is Yet to Hit 15/07/2026 Disha Shetty Nearly 90% of infants globally received at least one dose of a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine in 2025, while around one-third of girls globally received at least one dose of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer. This is according to the annual World Health Organization (WHO)-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization […] Continue reading -> A Regional Approach to HPV Vaccine Design Can Advance Equity and Cervical Cancer Elimination 13/07/2026 Marco Cavaleri HPV vaccines have transformed cervical cancer prevention, but the next generation of vaccines must better reflect regional disease patterns, including the HPV35 genotype prevalent in Africa. The recent WHO Global Status Report on Cancer paints a sobering picture. Among the many challenges, human papillomavirus, or HPV, is one of the world’s most serious infectious causes of […] Continue reading -> From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Facing Threats to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights – Some Countries Show A Way Forward 03/07/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The dramatic global health budget cutbacks in services for maternal and reproductive health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have produced 17 million unintended pregnancies, and more than 34,000 preventable maternal deaths in just the first year since cuts were made. That recent assessment by French and Washington DC-based analyses, was cited by Guyana’s UN Ambassador […] Continue reading -> African Women’s Rights Charter Faces Challenge from Conservatives 26/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Human rights and legal experts have urged African governments not to buy into a draft charter being incubated by conservatives that will undermine the rights of women and girls. Conflict, repressive laws and harmful cultural and religious practices conspire to undermine the health and safety of African women, girls and sexual minorities. Now, one of […] Continue reading -> US and Russia Vote Against UN Political Declaration on HIV/ AIDS 24/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan The United States and Russia were part of a group of eight countries that voted against the United Nations (UN) Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which was adopted by 149 votes at the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Tuesday afternoon. Israel, Burkina Faso, Burundi, North Korea, Niger and Senegal also voted against the declaration, while there were […] Continue reading -> Midwives: The High Return Investment That’s Not Being Made 18/06/2026 Anna af Ugglas, Lwazi Manzi, Chikusela Sikazwe & Rajat Khosla A return on investment of 16:1 should be irresistible. So why does midwifery keep losing the budget fight, and what would make funders and finance ministers finally move? When a young mother in Mtendere, Lusaka, began bleeding heavily hours after delivering her baby, her life was in grave danger. Three midwives assessed her immediately, recognised […] Continue reading -> Saving Women From Bleeding to Death After Giving Birth 12/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Every year, around 27 million women bleed excessively after giving birth, and almost 43,000 die – yet there are new ways for this to be detected and treated. This is according to a series on maternal health published in The Lancet on Friday by the United Nations Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Global Reduction in Unvaccinated Children, But Impact of Funding Shortage Is Yet to Hit 15/07/2026 Disha Shetty Nearly 90% of infants globally received at least one dose of a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine in 2025, while around one-third of girls globally received at least one dose of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer. This is according to the annual World Health Organization (WHO)-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization […] Continue reading -> A Regional Approach to HPV Vaccine Design Can Advance Equity and Cervical Cancer Elimination 13/07/2026 Marco Cavaleri HPV vaccines have transformed cervical cancer prevention, but the next generation of vaccines must better reflect regional disease patterns, including the HPV35 genotype prevalent in Africa. The recent WHO Global Status Report on Cancer paints a sobering picture. Among the many challenges, human papillomavirus, or HPV, is one of the world’s most serious infectious causes of […] Continue reading -> From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Facing Threats to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights – Some Countries Show A Way Forward 03/07/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The dramatic global health budget cutbacks in services for maternal and reproductive health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have produced 17 million unintended pregnancies, and more than 34,000 preventable maternal deaths in just the first year since cuts were made. That recent assessment by French and Washington DC-based analyses, was cited by Guyana’s UN Ambassador […] Continue reading -> African Women’s Rights Charter Faces Challenge from Conservatives 26/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Human rights and legal experts have urged African governments not to buy into a draft charter being incubated by conservatives that will undermine the rights of women and girls. Conflict, repressive laws and harmful cultural and religious practices conspire to undermine the health and safety of African women, girls and sexual minorities. Now, one of […] Continue reading -> US and Russia Vote Against UN Political Declaration on HIV/ AIDS 24/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan The United States and Russia were part of a group of eight countries that voted against the United Nations (UN) Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which was adopted by 149 votes at the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Tuesday afternoon. Israel, Burkina Faso, Burundi, North Korea, Niger and Senegal also voted against the declaration, while there were […] Continue reading -> Midwives: The High Return Investment That’s Not Being Made 18/06/2026 Anna af Ugglas, Lwazi Manzi, Chikusela Sikazwe & Rajat Khosla A return on investment of 16:1 should be irresistible. So why does midwifery keep losing the budget fight, and what would make funders and finance ministers finally move? When a young mother in Mtendere, Lusaka, began bleeding heavily hours after delivering her baby, her life was in grave danger. Three midwives assessed her immediately, recognised […] Continue reading -> Saving Women From Bleeding to Death After Giving Birth 12/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Every year, around 27 million women bleed excessively after giving birth, and almost 43,000 die – yet there are new ways for this to be detected and treated. This is according to a series on maternal health published in The Lancet on Friday by the United Nations Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
A Regional Approach to HPV Vaccine Design Can Advance Equity and Cervical Cancer Elimination 13/07/2026 Marco Cavaleri HPV vaccines have transformed cervical cancer prevention, but the next generation of vaccines must better reflect regional disease patterns, including the HPV35 genotype prevalent in Africa. The recent WHO Global Status Report on Cancer paints a sobering picture. Among the many challenges, human papillomavirus, or HPV, is one of the world’s most serious infectious causes of […] Continue reading -> From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Facing Threats to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights – Some Countries Show A Way Forward 03/07/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The dramatic global health budget cutbacks in services for maternal and reproductive health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have produced 17 million unintended pregnancies, and more than 34,000 preventable maternal deaths in just the first year since cuts were made. That recent assessment by French and Washington DC-based analyses, was cited by Guyana’s UN Ambassador […] Continue reading -> African Women’s Rights Charter Faces Challenge from Conservatives 26/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Human rights and legal experts have urged African governments not to buy into a draft charter being incubated by conservatives that will undermine the rights of women and girls. Conflict, repressive laws and harmful cultural and religious practices conspire to undermine the health and safety of African women, girls and sexual minorities. Now, one of […] Continue reading -> US and Russia Vote Against UN Political Declaration on HIV/ AIDS 24/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan The United States and Russia were part of a group of eight countries that voted against the United Nations (UN) Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which was adopted by 149 votes at the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Tuesday afternoon. Israel, Burkina Faso, Burundi, North Korea, Niger and Senegal also voted against the declaration, while there were […] Continue reading -> Midwives: The High Return Investment That’s Not Being Made 18/06/2026 Anna af Ugglas, Lwazi Manzi, Chikusela Sikazwe & Rajat Khosla A return on investment of 16:1 should be irresistible. So why does midwifery keep losing the budget fight, and what would make funders and finance ministers finally move? When a young mother in Mtendere, Lusaka, began bleeding heavily hours after delivering her baby, her life was in grave danger. Three midwives assessed her immediately, recognised […] Continue reading -> Saving Women From Bleeding to Death After Giving Birth 12/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Every year, around 27 million women bleed excessively after giving birth, and almost 43,000 die – yet there are new ways for this to be detected and treated. This is according to a series on maternal health published in The Lancet on Friday by the United Nations Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
From Waiting Room to Labour: How Task-Shifting in Nigeria is Saving Lives 08/07/2026 Bashar Abubakar A Task Shifting/Task Sharing investment in Kano State in Nigeria is empowering community health workers and improving maternal and newborn outcomes KANO, Nigeria – It is antenatal day at Gwale Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the suburbs of Kano, the capital of the state by the same name and the second biggest city in […] Continue reading -> Facing Threats to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights – Some Countries Show A Way Forward 03/07/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The dramatic global health budget cutbacks in services for maternal and reproductive health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have produced 17 million unintended pregnancies, and more than 34,000 preventable maternal deaths in just the first year since cuts were made. That recent assessment by French and Washington DC-based analyses, was cited by Guyana’s UN Ambassador […] Continue reading -> African Women’s Rights Charter Faces Challenge from Conservatives 26/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Human rights and legal experts have urged African governments not to buy into a draft charter being incubated by conservatives that will undermine the rights of women and girls. Conflict, repressive laws and harmful cultural and religious practices conspire to undermine the health and safety of African women, girls and sexual minorities. Now, one of […] Continue reading -> US and Russia Vote Against UN Political Declaration on HIV/ AIDS 24/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan The United States and Russia were part of a group of eight countries that voted against the United Nations (UN) Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which was adopted by 149 votes at the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Tuesday afternoon. Israel, Burkina Faso, Burundi, North Korea, Niger and Senegal also voted against the declaration, while there were […] Continue reading -> Midwives: The High Return Investment That’s Not Being Made 18/06/2026 Anna af Ugglas, Lwazi Manzi, Chikusela Sikazwe & Rajat Khosla A return on investment of 16:1 should be irresistible. So why does midwifery keep losing the budget fight, and what would make funders and finance ministers finally move? When a young mother in Mtendere, Lusaka, began bleeding heavily hours after delivering her baby, her life was in grave danger. Three midwives assessed her immediately, recognised […] Continue reading -> Saving Women From Bleeding to Death After Giving Birth 12/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Every year, around 27 million women bleed excessively after giving birth, and almost 43,000 die – yet there are new ways for this to be detected and treated. This is according to a series on maternal health published in The Lancet on Friday by the United Nations Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Facing Threats to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights – Some Countries Show A Way Forward 03/07/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The dramatic global health budget cutbacks in services for maternal and reproductive health and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have produced 17 million unintended pregnancies, and more than 34,000 preventable maternal deaths in just the first year since cuts were made. That recent assessment by French and Washington DC-based analyses, was cited by Guyana’s UN Ambassador […] Continue reading -> African Women’s Rights Charter Faces Challenge from Conservatives 26/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Human rights and legal experts have urged African governments not to buy into a draft charter being incubated by conservatives that will undermine the rights of women and girls. Conflict, repressive laws and harmful cultural and religious practices conspire to undermine the health and safety of African women, girls and sexual minorities. Now, one of […] Continue reading -> US and Russia Vote Against UN Political Declaration on HIV/ AIDS 24/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan The United States and Russia were part of a group of eight countries that voted against the United Nations (UN) Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which was adopted by 149 votes at the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Tuesday afternoon. Israel, Burkina Faso, Burundi, North Korea, Niger and Senegal also voted against the declaration, while there were […] Continue reading -> Midwives: The High Return Investment That’s Not Being Made 18/06/2026 Anna af Ugglas, Lwazi Manzi, Chikusela Sikazwe & Rajat Khosla A return on investment of 16:1 should be irresistible. So why does midwifery keep losing the budget fight, and what would make funders and finance ministers finally move? When a young mother in Mtendere, Lusaka, began bleeding heavily hours after delivering her baby, her life was in grave danger. Three midwives assessed her immediately, recognised […] Continue reading -> Saving Women From Bleeding to Death After Giving Birth 12/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Every year, around 27 million women bleed excessively after giving birth, and almost 43,000 die – yet there are new ways for this to be detected and treated. This is according to a series on maternal health published in The Lancet on Friday by the United Nations Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
African Women’s Rights Charter Faces Challenge from Conservatives 26/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Human rights and legal experts have urged African governments not to buy into a draft charter being incubated by conservatives that will undermine the rights of women and girls. Conflict, repressive laws and harmful cultural and religious practices conspire to undermine the health and safety of African women, girls and sexual minorities. Now, one of […] Continue reading -> US and Russia Vote Against UN Political Declaration on HIV/ AIDS 24/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan The United States and Russia were part of a group of eight countries that voted against the United Nations (UN) Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which was adopted by 149 votes at the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Tuesday afternoon. Israel, Burkina Faso, Burundi, North Korea, Niger and Senegal also voted against the declaration, while there were […] Continue reading -> Midwives: The High Return Investment That’s Not Being Made 18/06/2026 Anna af Ugglas, Lwazi Manzi, Chikusela Sikazwe & Rajat Khosla A return on investment of 16:1 should be irresistible. So why does midwifery keep losing the budget fight, and what would make funders and finance ministers finally move? When a young mother in Mtendere, Lusaka, began bleeding heavily hours after delivering her baby, her life was in grave danger. Three midwives assessed her immediately, recognised […] Continue reading -> Saving Women From Bleeding to Death After Giving Birth 12/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Every year, around 27 million women bleed excessively after giving birth, and almost 43,000 die – yet there are new ways for this to be detected and treated. This is according to a series on maternal health published in The Lancet on Friday by the United Nations Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
US and Russia Vote Against UN Political Declaration on HIV/ AIDS 24/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan The United States and Russia were part of a group of eight countries that voted against the United Nations (UN) Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which was adopted by 149 votes at the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Tuesday afternoon. Israel, Burkina Faso, Burundi, North Korea, Niger and Senegal also voted against the declaration, while there were […] Continue reading -> Midwives: The High Return Investment That’s Not Being Made 18/06/2026 Anna af Ugglas, Lwazi Manzi, Chikusela Sikazwe & Rajat Khosla A return on investment of 16:1 should be irresistible. So why does midwifery keep losing the budget fight, and what would make funders and finance ministers finally move? When a young mother in Mtendere, Lusaka, began bleeding heavily hours after delivering her baby, her life was in grave danger. Three midwives assessed her immediately, recognised […] Continue reading -> Saving Women From Bleeding to Death After Giving Birth 12/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Every year, around 27 million women bleed excessively after giving birth, and almost 43,000 die – yet there are new ways for this to be detected and treated. This is according to a series on maternal health published in The Lancet on Friday by the United Nations Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Midwives: The High Return Investment That’s Not Being Made 18/06/2026 Anna af Ugglas, Lwazi Manzi, Chikusela Sikazwe & Rajat Khosla A return on investment of 16:1 should be irresistible. So why does midwifery keep losing the budget fight, and what would make funders and finance ministers finally move? When a young mother in Mtendere, Lusaka, began bleeding heavily hours after delivering her baby, her life was in grave danger. Three midwives assessed her immediately, recognised […] Continue reading -> Saving Women From Bleeding to Death After Giving Birth 12/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Every year, around 27 million women bleed excessively after giving birth, and almost 43,000 die – yet there are new ways for this to be detected and treated. This is according to a series on maternal health published in The Lancet on Friday by the United Nations Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Saving Women From Bleeding to Death After Giving Birth 12/06/2026 Kerry Cullinan Every year, around 27 million women bleed excessively after giving birth, and almost 43,000 die – yet there are new ways for this to be detected and treated. This is according to a series on maternal health published in The Lancet on Friday by the United Nations Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts