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Young (and occasionally less young) researchers, mostly from LMICs, present their views on global health issues.
Three decades ago, the Lady Health Workers (LHW) program was launched in Pakistan to bring primary health services to communities, a flagship program by the Government of Pakistan. Local women were recruited and trained to provide basic maternal and childcare, family planning, immunizations, and health education at people’s doorsteps, as refle...
“For he who has health has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.” – Owen Arthur The preceded quotation by Owen Arthur, captures the intrinsic link between health and a person’s potential. It highlights health not merely as the absence of disease but as a foundational pillar for a fulfilling and productive life. Internationally, this...
On 29 July 2025 in Brasília, the Government of Brazil, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), opened the 2025 Global Conference on Climate and Health. The event, held just months ahead of COP30 this November, marked the first time a future UNFCCC COP Presidency has led the glob...
Breastfeeding is a proven, cost-effective public health intervention essential for infant survival, nutrition, and development. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside complementary foods for up to two years or more. Despite clear...
Last month, I had the privilege to present at the 33rd International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP) World Congress, held in Vienna, Austria. The event brought together global experts, including researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and advocates—to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and collaborate on strategies to address su...
In India, motherhood is celebrated with devotion—songs are sung, blessings are showered, and a woman is often told she has been ‘reborn’ after giving birth. But what if, amid all the rituals and reverence, she is drowning in an invisible storm? What if, while the world rejoices in the arrival of new life, she is silently battling thoughts ...
Tucked away in the Eastern Himalayas between China and India, Bhutan is quietly leading by example in areas the global health community continues to debate – climate resilience, commercial and social determinants of health, and health promotion. Unlike louder voices on international platforms, Bhutan rarely makes headlines, but it certainly des...
The fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) got underway in Sevilla, Spain on the 30th June amid warnings of extreme heat. And indeed by Tuesday afternoon the temperatures were hitting 44 degrees and the five kilometers from the venue to my hotel suddenly seemed a very long way to travel! While the heatwave made the ...
Across most Universities, students are perceived as recipients of instructions – they are taught, tested and certified. But the Planetary Health Report Card (PHRC), founded in 2019, flips this dynamic. Students like Abdulsalam from Usman Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) in Nigeria, are now leading a structured needs assessment of their univers...
