Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy may significantly increase the risk of childhood overweight or obesity, according to a major European study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the ”la Caixa” Foundation. The findings, published in Environment International, are based on data from over 37,000 mother-child…
Increasing physical activity between the ages of 45 and 65 may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, while a sedentary lifestyle could accelerate brain changes linked to the condition, according to a new study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. The findings underscore the importance of promoting exercise as a preventive public…
During sleep, the brain must achieve a delicate balance: disconnecting from sensory input to allow restorative functions, while remaining alert enough to wake if danger arises. How does it sort through external stimuli – particularly sounds – during sleep? Scientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the Institut Pasteur have studied how the brain…
Global leaders yesterday pledged more than US$ 9 billion in support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, at the Global Summit: Health and Prosperity through Immunisation held in Brussels. The commitments bring Gavi significantly closer to its US$ 11.9 billion target for its next strategic period (2026–2030), but a funding gap remains. Co-hosted by the European…
Cells depend on the precise reading of DNA sequences to function correctly. This process, known as gene expression, determines which genetic instructions are activated. When it fails, the wrong parts of the genome can be activated, leading to cancers and neurodevelopmental disorders. Scientists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) have identified two proteins that play…
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that progress in reducing tobacco use is under threat as the tobacco industry adapts and intensifies efforts to interfere with national policies. Releasing the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025report at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin today, WHO called for urgent action to protect hard-won gains and…
The Uganda Network on Law, Ethics and HIV/AIDS (UGANET) has sounded the alarm over severe funding shortfalls for HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria in Uganda’s 2025/26 national budget. While the overall health sector budget has nearly doubled from UGX 2.946 trillion to UGX 5.87 trillion, critical disease programs remain heavily dependent on external funding, with…
The HPV vaccine is now reaching millions of girls around the world. Here’s why that matters. 20 June 2025 by Priya Joi Girls sitting in a classroom in Bangladesh. Credit: Gavi/2023/Ashraful Arefin The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is one of the most impactful tools in global health, and protects millions of women from cervical cancer.…
Since the pandemic caused immunisation rates to plunge, diphtheria cases have spiked in Nigeria. Health workers like Maryam Umar are racing to bring the population’s immune defences back up to par. 18 June 2025 by Ekpali Saint On a hot Saturday afternoon in May, Maryam Umar left her small drug store in Bosso Low-Cost, a…
Grand Challenges Nigeria (GCNg) has awarded seed funding to ten pioneering health innovation projects aimed at improving maternal, newborn, and child health across Nigeria. The funding marks the outcome of its inaugural Request for Proposals, titled “Advancing Innovative Solutions for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health.” Following its official launch in November 2024, Grand Challenges Nigeria…