As 2025 unfolds, the fight for women’s rights is confronting unprecedented threats. Hard-won rights for women and girls are being rolled back at an alarming pace, from restricted access to abortion care in the United States to Afghanistan’s silencing of women in public life and Iraq’s introduction of a law allowing girls as young […]
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Compassion Amidst Conflict: The Vital Role of Social Helpers for Elderly Women in Ukraine
February 2025 marked three years since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine which has deeply affected the country and its people, leaving widespread hardship and destruction in its path. Elderly women, who represent over 60% of Ukraine’s aging population, are among the most vulnerable groups impacted by the conflict, yet their plight remains […]
Union Budget (2025-26) and comprehensive primary healthcare system: Another lost opportunity?
The Union Budget 2025-26, driven by a vision for developed India by 2047, has evoked mixed response across sections. In her speech, the finance minister emphasized that a developed nation is essentially its people, and acknowledged that high-quality, affordable, and comprehensive healthcare is indispensable to development. However, this idea has long been enshrined in […]
Global trends in maternal care call for a decolonization approach
Self-managed abortion, or abortion self-care, is when a pregnant person obtains an abortion without supervision by a healthcare professional. Safe abortion self-care requires: Access to accurate information on the dosing, timing, how to manage pain, and when to seek further help; Access to medicines of reliable quality; Confirmation of success, and options for contraception. Abortions, miscarriages and births at home have a […]
Second Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Tanzania: Urgent Response and Public Health Interventions
Introduction On January 20, 2025, a joint statement by Her Excellency Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, confirmed an outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) following the detection of a positive case among 26 tested samples. The […]
Confronting the Neglect and Normalization of Chagas Disease in Bolivia
When speaking with American and Bolivian doctors, global health students, and public health advocates alike about the persistence of Chagas disease in Bolivia, I frequently hear statements like, “there’s just not enough education on the disease” and “people don’t know how to protect themselves from it.” But, how do we know what people know, […]
Polio beyond a medical problem
Polio—a disease that was once believed to be close to eradication worldwide—has reemerged in Pakistan compared with previous years, according to World Health Organization. The country reported 70 cases of poliomyelitis due to wild poliovirus 1 in 2024. This emerging situation impacts decades of global and national progress. Vaccination drives are under obstruction, with […]
Building Bridges: How Community Leaders Foster Mental Health in Crisis Situations
Introduction In the northeastern part of Myanmar, a place where the ongoing violence and conflict are still present, an extraordinary group of volunteers emerged as a beacon of hope. Despite the communication, transportation and challenges such as own trauma, these volunteer leaders have taken the role of providing the Mental Health Psychosocial Support […]
Ten Low-Cost Interventions to Provide Mental Health Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Mental health challenges are a growing concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with over 75% of those needing mental health treatment receiving no treatment at all. Limited resources, stigma, and a lack of trained professionals make addressing these issues difficult. Many LMICs face multiple, overlapping crises, such as war, economic decline, and pandemics […]
To succeed, Kenya should learn from other social health insurance reforms.
Kenya has recently taken a major step towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by introducing the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). SHIF replaces the National Hospital Insurance Fund and is intended to provide more comprehensive access and coverage. While social health insurance can help countries attain UHC, international experience suggests that implementing such reforms is […]