Universal Health Coverage Must Include Rights for All, Experts Urge at Global Forum

As the world marks 30 years since the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on gender equality, global health leaders have called for urgent action to uphold the health and rights of women and marginalized groups — warning that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) cannot be achieved without addressing persistent gender discrimination and structural inequalities.…

Global Disruptions Stall Global Tobacco Treaty Progress, Report Warns

A new report, endorsed by 57 civil society organizations worldwide, warns that global disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and political conflict have significantly compromised the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). These challenges have contributed to an estimated 95 million additional tobacco users who would have otherwise quit…

Uganda Faces Critical Shortages in Reproductive and Child Health Commodities Amid Funding Gaps

Uganda is grappling with significant gaps in funding and stock availability for essential Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) commodities, according to the latest stock status report from the Department of Pharmaceuticals and Natural Medicines (DPNM). The report highlights challenges in family planning, maternal and child health supplies, and the impact of international…

Global NCD Alliance Forum Gathers Experts in Rwanda Amidst Funding Challenges

Kigali, Rwanda is hosting the 4th Global NCD Alliance Forum from February 13-15, bringing together 700 advocates, experts, and ministerial representatives from over 66 countries. This is the first time the Forum will take place in sub-Saharan Africa, a region facing a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) amid concerns over global health financing. The…

Two-Dose Hepatitis E Vaccine Proves Effective in South Sudan Epidemic, Study Finds

A groundbreaking study has demonstrated the effectiveness of a two-dose hepatitis E vaccine during an outbreak in South Sudan, providing a potential lifeline for populations in crisis. The research, led by Andrew Azman, an epidemiologist at the UNIGE-HUG Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and Johns Hopkins University, highlights the vaccine’s ability…