The world is living through an unprecedented evolutionary time that will affect how multilateralism and international relations work. More than ever, the direct effect of foreign policy on the health of citizens is highlighted, but perhaps no more so than in the case of Iran. While the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected […]
Category: BMJ Global Health
COVID -19: Why are people dying alone?
Amongst the news and social media noise relating to COVID-19 there is a persistent, heart-breaking narrative, of patients who have died alone and families unable to say goodbye. This runs contrary to our cultural beliefs and values, yet in recent months it has become the norm. In this blog I (HC) write from my […]
Trial and error in the battle against COVID-19 in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo
This blog is a part of # COVID19Africa Series. Click for French version. The first line of health care is not only the primary level of care, it also ensures coordination of care and of patient information. However, in the DRC, its role seems to be in tatters due to the Congolese government’s ill-coordinated and ineffectively […]
Disruption as an opportunity: giving rise to a global ethos for planetary health
Life as we know it has, for millions of people around the globe, been put on-hold because of the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic. Positive consequences so far recorded include unpolluted skies, cleaner waterways and thriving wildlife.1 Meanwhile, some richer nations have begun to question their socio-economic priorities. This is an opportunity to think carefully how we […]
COVID-19: Opportunities for cities to advance planetary health
COVID-19 is a stark reminder of the deep interconnections between natural systems and human health. For decades, scientists have raised concerns about urban sprawl changing natural ecosystems and increasing contact between animal species and humans: the perfect scenario for a zoonosis. Add to the mix characteristics associated with cities, such as air pollution, high […]
COVID-19 in Guinea: The first line of health care in South and North get ready for action!
This blog is a part of # COVID19Africa Series. Click for French version. Despite the rhetoric and the experience gained during the Ebola epidemic, the implementation of these (hard) lessons learned in the Guinean health system still leaves a lot to be desired. Although all Ebola treatment centres are still in place, the number of […]
COVID-19 in Mauritania: Has the battle already been won?
This blog is a part of # COVID19Africa Series. Click for French version. Does COVID-19 seem like a bad dream in which a significant number of people worldwide are killed, and drastic lockdown measures have a profound impact on the daily lives of millions of citizens? In our region, the virus is also affecting some […]
The 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games & COVID-19
The 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games has been swiftly rescheduled to July-September, 2021 due COVID-19; however, this political decision was based on the conviction that “vaccines will definitely appear.” Multiple health threats have already presented around 2020 Olympics. First, the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) such as measles and rubella pose as significant health […]
Decentralized response to COVID-19 in Nepal
The world is battling with COVID-19 and each country is embracing shared but distinct strategies. COVID-19 presents additional challenge in low- and middle-income countries like Nepal, where the health system is often not adequately prepared to manage the epidemic. Facilities for hand washing and infection prevention at health facilities are minimum requirements and are […]
COVID-19 in Kurdistan: Health system vulnerabilities in a fragile setting
As of May 01, 2020, The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq has confirmed 381 COVID-19 cases and five deaths. The low number in Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) is not dissimilar to trends in The Middle East and North Africa (MENA). However, there are concerns that the numbers might be higher than official […]