In August 2025, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali removed all taxes and customs duties on feminine hygiene products. Now, Guyana’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva calls on other countries to follow suit.    In most developing countries male condoms are distributed freely. Free access to condoms is a globally recognized harm reduction strategy in public health.  […] Continue reading ->
Ministries of health, funders, and technical partners need to make regular smart reviews of Essential Medicines Lists the norm. As global health faces unprecedented challenges – from pandemic recovery to a changing political landscape –  resources are disappearing on a massive scale, and every healthcare dollar must work harder than ever before.  Many countries are […] Continue reading ->
This week, the world marks World Antimicrobial Awareness Week and malaria parasites, though often forgotten, are part of the range of microbes preventing us from achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of Good Health and Well-being. Malaria remains an immense public health burden, especially in Africa. It mainly affects the poor, and remains an immense health […] Continue reading ->
Africa is continuing to make progress in meeting its Universal Health Coverage (UHC) targets (part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals). Countries like Rwanda and Ethiopia are two examples of African countries making exemplary progress. Kenya, Ghana and South Africa are also among those making significant progress towards realising this dream. However, there is […] Continue reading ->
On 25 September, world leaders will gather at the United Nations for the Fourth High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). It comes at a pivotal moment: funding for global health has plummeted, while NCDs like heart disease, cancer and diabetes continue to claim 75% of all lives lost worldwide. This amid recent efforts to water […] Continue reading ->
In a 4 September message,  the WHO/HQ Staff Association called for an Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA), now due to take place on Monday, 22 September. The message acknowledged what many staff were feeling: profound change, deep uncertainty, and a heavy personal and professional toll. Their statement flagged key concerns raised by many WHO staff about […] Continue reading ->