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Equal access COVID 19 vaccine

Tackling unequal access to COVID-19 vaccine: solidarity or common sense?

By February 2021, more than 100 million cases and 2 million deaths from COVID-19 have been confirmed since the beginning of the pandemic. While only about 2% of these cases have been reported in Africa, the Americas are leading the global ranking. With this scene, countries have rushed to contribute in a never-before-seen global effort to develop an effective vaccine. In less than a year, more than 70 vaccines were in clinical trials on humans, Read more…

By Antía Figueroa, ago

Capitalism is bad for women

The fight for the liberation of women has spanned centuries, and in modern times, International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of how much more work remains of the struggle. First formally observed over 100 years ago, the internationally commemorated day recognizes the women of New York City who protested for better working conditions in 1908. While quality of life has improved working class women continue to face precarious jobs with poor working conditions, unpaid Read more…

By Kira Grachev, ago
Patients Voices Matter: HIV infected women

Patients’ Voices Matter: HIV infected women in South Africa

The Option B+ PMTCT programme for HIV infected women at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa Background South Africa’s National Department of Health has adopted World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2013 consolidated guidelines on the use of ARVs for treatment and prevention of HIV infection. The guidelines include changes for prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) through Option B+. Option B+ aims to reduce the HIV prevalence rate amongst these women Read more…

By Melanie Bisnauth, ago

Women scientists, let’s make ourselves heard!

THIS POST WAS ALSO WRITTEN IN SPANISH. THE SPANISH VERSION IS FOUND BELOW. When I was little, my grandmother used to tell me and my sisters, “Do research;be researchers to find out the cure to diseases”. Personally, I never understood this. It seemed too difficult and broad of a sentiment that I never thought I could make it happen. She, as with many other women from her generation, did not have access to a higher Read more…

By Elena Marban Castro, ago

World Leprosy Day

Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) is one of the oldest diseases known to humankind, and the first human bacterial pathogen to ever be discovered. Early records with clinical descriptions of the disease, skeletal remains, and genomic studies have allowed scientists to date what is believed to be leprosy as far back as 1500 BC in Egypt, 600 BC in India and 500 BC in China. Later, following Alexander   the   Great’s   exploration   of   Read more…

By Sarah Williams, ago
Air pollution GHNGN

What can you do to stop the impact of climate change on global health?

“Climate change is the greatest public health challenge of the 21st century”- The Lancet Climate change already has an impact on the health of populations everywhere and according to all predictions, this impact will only increase and put a strain on already fragile health systems serving the most poor and vulnerable. As Global Health students, let’s brainstorm together and try to minimise such an impact. Air pollution causes over 7 million deaths each year and Read more…

By Margarida Paixão, ago
global-health

The Trump Administrations Impact on Global Health

During the US presidential elections much of the world was watching hesitantly to see what would unfold. This brought a great deal of reflection over the past four years and what Trump has done during his time in office. While reflecting on this presidency, I have also reflected on the impact the administration has had within the global health world, and how both local and foreign policy has influenced global health efforts. With this in Read more…

By Sarah Williams, ago

International Day for the Elimination of Gender Violence

THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN SPANISH. THE ORIGINAL VERSION IS FOUND BELOW. “In the face of atrocities we have to take sides. The neutral position always helps the oppressor, never the victim.” Elie Wiset Today, November 25th, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Gender Violence, which is considered a serious public health problem and violation of human rights, as stated by the United Nations. This date was chosen in the first Latin Read more…

By Elena Marban Castro, ago

Childhood Development & COVID-19

As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), early childhood development is the period of physical, socio-emotional, cognitive and motor development of children from 0-8 years of age. It is the period in which the architecture of the brain is constantly and rapidly changing, extremely permeable and sensitive to environmental stimuli. This period sets the foundation for the entirety of a child’s life. So, what happens in a global pandemic, when almost all non-immediate childhood Read more…

By Sarah Williams, ago

‘Do you need a hug?’: The Touch test results and human touch in the middle of a pandemic

During this pandemic, one statement has been reiterated: Maintain social distancing. Now that human touch has been taken from us so abruptly, people have started to notice the yearn to give and receive it. Affective touch is crucial for our mental health. In a period in which so many things have promoted its decline, we need it more than ever and yet, we cannot have it. What are our attitudes towards touch? What happens when Read more…

By Laura Bello, ago