-
Editor's Choice
Hepatitis: Liver inflammation causing severe disease and cancer worldwide
Kwame Mensah (Accra, Ghana) lived with a secret for 15 years. At 32, routine blood tests before surgery revealed shocking news: chronic hepatitis B infection. His liver was already showing…
Read More » -
Editor's Choice
Hendra virus infection: Rare emerging zoonosis causing severe disease in horses and humans
Veterinarian Dr. Lisa Thompson (Brisbane, Australia) remembers the terror of September 1994. Two racehorses in the suburb of Hendra developed severe respiratory illness. Within days, 19 more horses fell sick.…
Read More » -
Health
Heatwaves: Heat and hot weather lasting days with significant societal impact
Dr. Sophie Mercier (Paris Emergency Medicine Director) will never forget the summer of 2003. The morgue overflowed. Hospitals ran out of beds. Bodies piled up in refrigerated trucks. Elderly residents…
Read More » -
Editor's Choice
Healthy diet: A foundation for health, well-being, optimal growth and development
Maria Santos (São Paulo, Brazil) thought she was feeding her family well. She worked two jobs to afford what she believed were nutritious foods. Her shopping cart filled with brightly…
Read More » -
Editor's Choice
Health workforce: Availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of health workers
Dr. Grace Mwangi (Kenya’s Chief Nursing Officer) stared at the empty nursing station. The rural hospital 200 kilometers from Nairobi needed 25 nurses. They had 7. Three more resigned last…
Read More » -
Editor's Choice
Health technology assessment: Systematic evaluation of health technologies and interventions
Dr. Chuma Okafor (Nigeria’s Director of Health Technology Assessment) faced an impossible decision. A pharmaceutical company promoted an expensive new cancer drug claiming miraculous results. Media reported “breakthrough cure.” Desperate…
Read More » -
Featured
Health taxes: Levies on products with negative public health impact worldwide
Finance Minister Abebe Desta (Ethiopia) remembers the fierce debate. His government proposed increasing taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, and sugary drinks. Tobacco companies warned of job losses. Beverage manufacturers threatened to…
Read More » -
Featured
Health systems governance: Processes and structures overseeing healthcare systems
Minister of Health Dr. Adebayo faced a crisis. Nigeria’s health budget had doubled, yet maternal mortality remained stubbornly high. Medicines intended for rural clinics disappeared. Hospitals built with foreign aid…
Read More » -
Editor's Choice
Health security: Minimizing danger from acute public health events worldwide
Dr. Amara Okafor will never forget the phone call that changed everything. As Nigeria’s district health officer, she’d seen countless patients with fever. But this was different—three villages reporting severe…
Read More » -
Editor's Choice
Health promotion: The process of enabling people to increase control over health
Rosa lived in a low-income neighborhood in Bogota where diabetes rates were three times the city average. Her mother had diabetes. Her sister had diabetes. Rosa seemed destined for the…
Read More » -
Editor's Choice
Health promoting schools: Creating healthy settings for learning and living
Principal Elena Martinez walked through her school’s gates and barely recognized it. Two years ago, garbage piled up in corners, bullying was rampant, students bought chips and soda from vendors…
Read More » -
Featured
Health laws: How governments turn health promises into binding commitments
When Thailand’s government promised universal healthcare in 2002, many citizens were skeptical. Politicians had made grand health promises before that vanished after elections. But this time was different—the government passed…
Read More » -
Editor's Choice
Health impact assessment: Judging how policies affect population health
City planners in Jakarta proposed a massive highway expansion to ease traffic congestion. Engineers presented impressive diagrams showing faster commute times and economic benefits. Everyone celebrated—until Dr. Sari stood up.…
Read More » -
Editor's Choice
Health financing: Making healthcare affordable and accessible for everyone
Maria collapsed at home with severe chest pain. Her husband rushed her to the nearest hospital in their small town outside Manila. The emergency room doctor took one look at…
Read More » -
Editor's Choice
Health equity: Ensuring everyone can reach their full health potential
Amara was born in a wealthy urban neighborhood with excellent hospitals nearby. Her mother received prenatal care from day one, delivered in a modern facility, and Amara got every recommended…
Read More »
