On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic as SARS-CoV-2 disrupted lives across generations, geographies, and social strata. Yet, as I sifted through both Indian and international media, and statements from major public health organizations, one group remained largely overlooked: 1.2 billion young people. True, t...

As every parent knows, communication is  crucial for developing a child’s cognitive abilities, social skills and emotional intelligence.  This has been true since ancient times. But in modern times these skills and traits have become even more important. Indeed, the 21st century requires individuals to collaborate, adapt and express their idea...

The weekly International Health Policies (IHP) newsletter is a flagship knowledge management activity of the IHP network, funded by the Belgian Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD)  and produced out of ITM Antwerp. The IHP network aims to “empower committed groups of global health experts based in the Glo...

    Over the past three decades, South Asia has significantly improved maternal health indicators. Nonetheless, the national policies are yet to acknowledge that women’s health is not limited to maternal health. Addressing women’s health requires us to negotiate with a broader spectrum of factors affecting women and girls, one of which is h...

The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day, “Take the Rights Path”, highlighted the indispensable role of human rights in advancing the fight against HIV. Leaders and communities were called upon to adopt inclusive policies and bold, innovative approaches to eliminate HIV transmission and related deaths by 2030. One of these innovative approach...

As World Disability Day 2024 approaches, the theme *”Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development: The Role of Innovation in Fuelling an Accessible and Equitable World”* highlights the urgent need for inclusive solutions that foster accessibility, equity, and participation for people with disabilities. This year’s focus challenges us to ...

Last week we participated in the 2024 Emerging Voices venture here in Nagasaki, Japan – respectively as an EV from the new cohort and as a facilitator. A visit to FARM UNZEN, a center for equine-assisted therapy in the Nagasaki prefecture, was the backdrop for this article. We were amazed by the innovative use of horses here in Japan. Back in...

India faces both opportunities and significant challenges as it strives to meet SDG 3 targets of “ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages” by 2030, and halving premature mortality by 2050, in line with the recently released Lancet Commission’s Global Health 2050 report. Although India has undertaken ambitious in...

On November 6, the day after the US presidential elections, in the train from Paris to Brussels, I’m looking hard for a silver lining. (That is a mental health lifestyle choice of me, always look for silver linings.) The only one I can come up with is: clarity. Under president Trump, international cooperation in health will serve the interests...