Despite over $1 trillion in aid allocation over the past 50 years, many African countries remain trapped in cycles of donor dependency that undermine long-term growth and development. This model, though well-intentioned, has encouraged foreign dependence, weakened local ownership, suppressed innovation, and resulted in significant resource allocation inefficiency. In today’s era of reduced funding, […]
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Deafness is not an infectious disease but a global health priority
Introduction The UK Government’s 2025 Spending Review has struck another blow to global health research. Beyond the reduction of the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) budget to 0.3% of Gross National Income, it has introduced a new prioritisation in what is funded: activities related to global health security and ODA contributions to multilateral institutions. This […]
Lost in the shadows: the hidden mental health crisis among tribal women in India
There is a common belief—especially among urban populations—that those living close to nature enjoy better mental health. But our experience in the tribal communities of Dangs district in Gujarat, India, tells a different story. Despite its scenic beauty, Dangs—a small tribal district with around 2.8 lakh people—faces deep socio-economic challenges such as poverty, low […]
Sex education in India: An elephant in the room
It is a Wednesday afternoon, and the ‘Moral Science’ class is about to begin. Miss Seema walks in and announces, “We are going to have a special class today for the girls, and all the boys can go play outside.” There were giggles, suppressed laughter on some faces, and genuine curiosity on others. It […]
Oral Health Is a Public Health Crisis — So Why Is It Missing From Refugee Care?
Despite growing attention to universal health coverage and migrant health equity, oral health remains systematically excluded from global refugee health strategies. This blog explores the implications of this gap, drawing on my clinical experience in India, health systems research in Tajikistan, and policy analysis in the United States. I argue that oral health is not a […]
Is it wise to have an integrated ayurveda-modern medicine course?
Ayurveda, India’s traditional medicine, has historically been open-minded and inclusive. In the ancient and medieval times, it collaborated actively with the traditions of alchemy and Unani to incorporate into its knowledge-base whatever appeared true and useful. The Charaka-Samhita, a 2000-year old classic on which Ayurveda is based, expressly upheld humility and openness in the […]
What’s in your EquiTree? Exploring approaches for enhancing equity in health policy and systems research
If you committed to do one thing this year to enhance equity in health policy and systems research, what would it be? This was the question posed to participants at an organised session in the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR) in Nagasaki[i] last November. Despite growing calls for equity and inclusivity in […]
Say the “F” word: Famine and the Need for a Collective Voice in Sudan
When famine becomes unspeakable, hunger becomes invisible. In Sudan, silence and data gaps deepen a crisis that demands collective action. Famine Unsaid Since the Sudanese conflict began in April 2023, saying the “F” word – “Famine” – in the country, let alone responding effectively, has been a largely unmet challenge. In December 2024, the […]
Young people, food delivery, and corporate influence: It’s time for the public health research community to back youth leadership
We are facing a global nutrition crisis, with an estimated 93 million children (5-14-years) and 81 million young people (15-24-years) living with obesity. As food environments become increasingly shaped by corporate influence, particularly through digital platforms, the autonomy of young people is being redefined. Australia appears to be one of the first countries globally […]
Nursing in India: Between Care, Stigma, and the Struggle for Professional Respect
As a doctoral student learning about respect and dignity in maternity healthcare, I set out this blog drawing on my nursing and midwifery education in India, where I witnessed and experienced objectification, sexualisation and social degradation of nursing professions and practitioners. Rather than receiving compassionate nursing education, my classmates and I confronted sexual harassment, […]