The COVID-19 pandemic has refocused attention on many health inequalities, not least those related to gender. Globally, men and women are thought to be infected with COVID-19 in roughly equal numbers. But, overall, men are 40% more likely than women to die from COVID-19 and almost three times more likely to require admission to an […]
Tag: WHO
Wuhan Coronavirus : Should we trust social media ?
The recent outbreak of novel coronavirus, known as 2019-nCoV, originated from China, has driven enormous public attention. So far, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 4593 confirmed cases of coronavirus globally and 106 deaths (1). The overall situation regarding the coronavirus spread is fluid. Considering its high level of infectivity and […]
Bridging the access gap for treatment of diarrhea
This week, the global public health community welcomed the World Health Organization’s decision to include co-packaged oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc on its Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc). This new global normative guidance is an important and enabling step toward improving access to first line treatments for children with diarrhea. This […]
Human experiments and ethics – Global Health matters.
Global Health can serve as an incubator to facilitate understanding of trans-disciplinary best practice approaches. The WHO is demonstrating its new approach to global health with swift action for basic research standards. Responding to the international scandal on targeted genetic intervention in humans,the WHO Director General talks about gene having unintended consequences and that the […]
“Youth in Principle, Not on Paper or in Policy” – Primary Health Care & Universal Health Coverage
Just over a month ago, one of the most critical health events of the year took place in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Global Conference on Primary Health Care (AA40) marked the 40th anniversary of the Declaration of Alma Ata (1978), a visionary document that articulated a path forward towards health equity grounded in primary health care […]
Toxic masculinity: a poor excuse for poor global health
In 1978 the relatively unknown Australian Ken Warby fitted his boat, the Spirit of Australia, with a military surplus Westinghouse jet engine bought at an auction, and went on to set the world water speed record reaching 511 kilometres per hour. The record has lasted for 40 years; dozens of people have died chasing their […]
Poised to strike: global plan to tackle snakebite demands urgent action
Imagine it is twilight and you are walking back to your village after a long day working in the fields. Suddenly you feel acute pain in your calf. Out of the corner of your eye you see a flash of movement: a snake. Was it a cobra? A viper? Or a less harmful species? You […]
The WHO essential diagnostic list: a tool for the future.
Prof Adrian Newland on what the WHO essential diagnostic list mean for the future . The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In Vitro Diagnostics (SAGE-IVD) was set up in 2017 to develop a list of essential diagnostic tests to complement the essential medicines list that has been available for over 40 […]
Equitable access to global health and development internship
Julia Symons and Brian Adams examine the importance of equitable internship in global health and development in light of the recent World Health Assembly resolution. In May, the World Health Assembly – the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO) – passed a resolution committing the organization to reform of its internship programme. Crucially, […]
The fight against NCDs: multi sectoral convergence as a ‘best buy’
The recently concluded 71st World Health Assembly brought a spotlight on NCDs. Dr Lisa Murphy and Dr. Lujain Al-Qodmani discuss the NCD dialogues at the 71st WHA and what this means for global health . Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and the burden they have on populations and health systems across the globe, have been a recent […]