Blog

Aspergillosis on the microscope

First WHO-led global initiative to systematically prioritize fungal pathogens

Fungal infections cause major morbidity and mortality in healthcare systems worldwide. According to the Global Action for Fungal Infections (GAFFI), 300 million people worldwide suffer from a serious fungal infection each year, with over 1.5 million of them dying from their infection. Nevertheless, in many places around the world, the prevalence and true burden of these diseases is unknown. Moreover, clinicians find very few treatment options for their patients. As a result, endemic regions and Read more…

By Romina Rios, ago
Image planet and holding hands

Global Health Financial Architecture: Where we are and where we want to go

Reflections from the Global Health Summit, Berlin 2022 Global health is characterized by necessity. Worldwide, the needs of people greatly surpass our ability to meet those needs, and even the most ambitious goals don’t envision a future in which health promotion, protection, and medical assistance will reach every single person in the world when they need it. According to the latest published study regarding the availability of resources for health, the 2019 national health workforces Read more…

By Josefina Nuñez Sahr, ago
REAPYC meet up

Alcohol is public health – Insights of the Regional European Alcohol Policy Youth Conference

This summer, during the last week of July, the 3rd Regional European Alcohol Policy Youth Conference (REAPYC) was celebrated. The summit, organized by the Youth Health Organization (YHO) in partnership with the Youth Work Ireland, took place in Tullamore, Ireland, after being postponed both in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of our colleagues here at the Global Health Next Generation Network were invited to share our expertise and work with young Read more…

By Neus Rosell, ago
Surgical needs

Surgical Need in LMICs: The Hidden Burden

With this rapid shift of global disease burden to injuries and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), it remains important and necessary to turn global health attention towards developing intervention programmes and implementation strategies in prevention, early detection and timely intervention. However, there is still an enormous gap in the treatment options because only limited attention is being focused on surgical, obstetrical and anesthesia care, particularly in the context of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite the obvious need, there is presently no coordinated research or funding strategy to support the development of surgical and trauma care in LMICs, as opposed to the strategies that exist for infectious burdens such as HIV, TB and/or malaria.

By Eleleta Surafel Abay, ago
Celebrating pride in Spain

Celebrating Pride: fighting for a country-wide transgender law in Spain

Today is June 28th, which means that the world celebrates Pride Day one more time with people commemorating diversity and human rights nearly everywhere. In Spain, the festivities almost fall on the same date of the first anniversary of the approval of the so-called “Trans Law” project. The project for a decree, passed on June 29th last year, aims at improving LGBT+ people’s experience in society, especially trans people. Here, we will discuss its local Read more…

By Almudena Sanz Gutierrez, ago

Monkeypox, the dangers of stigma and new epidemics

We are still trying to recover from collective fatigue and exhaustion as a result of an ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and, recently, a new disease made headlines across the globe. Monkeypox, a disease caused by a virus closely related to smallpox and which results in a milder smallpox-like disease, was diagnosed in a patient in the United Kingdom who had recently travelled to Nigeria, where the disease is endemic. Soon, an outbreak would be confirmed when Read more…

By Ismael Ibarra Nava, ago
Palais des Nations

Governance in Global Health: the role of the youth at the World Health Assembly

The World Health Organization- the one that so commonly has starred in the news in recent years- connects countries, people and partners on the global scale for the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. We all know, at least to some extent, about its role in this globalized world that finds itself fighting against a big, ever-changing and dynamic set of health threats. These range from global pandemics to neglected Read more…

By Almudena Sanz Gutierrez, ago

The Clock is Ticking: Beyond the International Mother Earth Day

In 2009, the United Nations adopted a resolution at the General Assembly. Declaring April 22nd as the International Mother Earth Day. The purpose of the document was to promote harmony with nature and earth. It was also to reflect the interdependence of human beings, as the steward of mother earth, and other living beings and the planet. After all,  we only have one planet that we live on, right? After more than a decade since Read more…

By Michelle Nhat Ly T. Reyes, ago
Planet B

There is no planet B

1. Environmental health is a multisectoral problem, which requires coordination and cooperation among the many different sectors in order to improve the lives of millions of people. Although humans have been aware of the crucial relationship between human health and the environment for millennia, there still is a tendency to separate health and environmental issues and deal with them independently. To protect the environment, promote human health, and practice sustainable development, this attitude must be changed. Despite global efforts made in recent decades, air pollution, water contamination, substandard waste management and lack of sanitation services, in addition to negative impacts of climate change, continue to pose environmental public health threats, especially in developing countries.

By Eleleta Surafel Abay, ago
Syrian refugees

Non-communicable diseases in refugee-hosting countries

The Syrian population is the largest refugee population in the world. Many of these refugees live in Turkey, which is the country that has welcomed the biggest amount of them. As refugees, Syrians have access to all basic social services, including healthcare services, but they still encounter many challenges. While Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs)- especially Diabetes Mellitus type II and hypertension – are the leading burden of disease for Syrians, the turkish health system focuses on infectious diseases. The integration of a new framework in their healthcare system with a baseline profile of the NCDs is crucially needed.

By Ángela Amorós Molina, ago