The world is currently undergoing the severe impact of climate change. In recent years, this has become one of the most significant global health concerns and chances are this is just the beginning. Moreover, the climate crisis is just part of the current planetary health (or as the UN likes to frame it, ‘triple planetary’) crisis. In more a...

 “A just society is that society in which ascending sense of reverence and descending sense of contempt is dissolved into the creation of a compassionate society.” ― B.R. Ambedkar, Annihilation of Caste On April 14, 2024, India commemorated the birth of B.R. Ambedkar, a Dalit jurist who was pivotal in drafting the Indian constitution. His ...

During my PhD coursework in 2013, I had my first (academic) exposure to the interconnection between human health, environment, and development. At the time, I had to make a field visit to the site where some of the 10,000 families residing in slums at the banks of Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad were rehabilitated – read violently evicted and reloc...

These days, it’s rare to come across a story of international consensus. However, during the 67th session of the Commission of Narcotic Drugs (CND) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna, member states reached an important agreement.  Resolution 67/4, adopted by consensus at CND67, aims to enhance the availability of...

What are the hidden costs of war, and who suffers the most as a result? The horrible reality of war has an impact on millions of youngsters worldwide. The psychological and emotional effects of war are typically more subtle but no less harmful than the physical hazards. One in six children worldwide, according to Save the Children, resides in ar...

The recent EV4GH Annual Board Meeting, hosted at the Nagasaki University from 3 to 8 March 2024, stands out as a significant milestone shaping the trajectory of the network’s future endeavours. The Governing Board and the EV4GH Secretariat came to Nagasaki, Japan for the occasion. Virtual participation was facilitated for EV4GH secretariat membe...

All around the world, International Women’s Day (IWD) (8 March) is usually a commemoration and celebration of achievements of women and a source of encouragement to the younger generation. In my country, however, this year IWD is taking place against the grim backdrop of increasing femicide.  Last month, we also already ‘celebrated’ a ‘D...

COVID-19 exerted diverse pressures of unimaginable proportions on lives and livelihoods, especially among vulnerable populations across the world. As the global economy was struggling, socio-economic inequities deepened, thrusting many vulnerable populations further down the poverty line. But the situation was even worse in developing countries ...

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in India, who are women, act as a conduit between the healthcare system and the community. Multiple academic and popular writings have highlighted their significant work during the COVID-19 pandemic under dire circumstances amidst immense threats to their safety and lives. The existing literature addres...