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…

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…

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.

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.

Women in the Frontlines: A Decisive Accelerator of Global Health and other SDGs

Gender is a social construct that often intersects with, but differs greatly from, biological sex. It refers to the socially constructed norms, roles, behaviours, attributes and relations that a given society considers appropriate for women and men. These invariably affect the social and economic responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access to and control over resources, as well as decision-making opportunities. Gender equality is a human right that is crucial to the achievement of a global society Read more…

Las Kellys: occupational health self-organized fight

Occupation being one key determinant of health, insufficiently compensated employees impose challenges both for the industry and for the whole society. The burden they hold seems to be multifaceted as it falls disproportionately on workers who are further disadvantaged in society. Las Kellys is a group of hotel room cleaners that have organized themselves to fight for better working conditions in Spain. Through their successes, they have been a mirror of an access to health problem in the country, as well as an example on how approaching an issue with an intersectional approach can work under a self-organized movement.

Health Footprint

The Omicron Variant

A new variant on the scene The world has yet again faced another variant of COVID-19. The Omicron variant was first detected in South Africa and Botswana in November 2021 and, according to many scientific researches and public health projections scientists, it will soon enough become the dominant variant to wreak havoc on our health systems. Even with mass vaccinations, and boosters at play, it seems that the race to herd immunity against COVID-19 is Read more…

Comprehensive Cleft Care in Low and Middle Income Countries

Comprehensive Cleft Care: The Key to Holistic Cleft Treatment in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

In recent years, refinements in surgery, along with a better understanding of psychological, dental, nutritional and vocal needs of children born with cleft lip and/or palate, have greatly improved their quality of life. Comprehensive Cleft Care (CCC) is the integration of essential treatments beyond surgical care in cleft management, inclusive of nutritional counseling, orthodontic and general dental/oral care, speech therapy and psychosocial support. The fundamentals of cleft care are primarily dictated by the needs of patients and their families, as well as the capacity of healthcare facilities. Community based practitioners and primary care units make up the backbone of healthcare systems in LMICs. Therefore, early outreach activities remain the core of treatment goals in such settings.

africa concept map

Religious perspective on health: why western practitioners miss the mark in African public health

Effective public health interventions must be dynamic, extending beyond a clinical purview to address health inequities between the global north and south. Global health “involves many disciplines within and beyond the health sciences” and, therefore, should be able to account for and meet the needs of local populations by stepping out of the western biomedical perspective. However, when dominant institutions and NGOs are rooted in western culture, intervention design often fails to account for the Read more…

HIV Stigma

HIV: The Paradigm of Inequality- Renewed Pride, Same Stigma

June is the Pride Month to celebrate the LGBT community and today, June 28th, cultures across the world celebrate the Pride Day, commemorating the Stonewall riots which occurred 52 years ago in New York City. The fight for LGBT rights has seen several victories since then, but it is far from over. It still needs to be renewed and continue to face injustice. Last month, I came across some news that made me reflect upon Read more…