Half of women cannot make decisions about their reproductive health and bodily autonomy

In the lead up to 2025 World Health Day, it is important for us to review why almost half of women are not able to make decisions pertaining to their own reproductive health and bodily autonomy.

Is long-acting HIV treatment as good as taking daily pills?

(L to R) Dr Ishwar Gilada, Dr Jurgen Rockstroh, Gujarat CM B Patel

Treatment for people living with HIV (antiretroviral therapy) is lifesaving and revolutionary as it has made HIV akin to any other chronic disease. It has been proven that those who are on treatment and remain virally suppressed, live healthy and normal lifespans - comparable to those without the virus – and there is zero risk of any further HIV transmission from them.

[video] CSW69 | Are we on track on gender equality and human right to health?

Right to safe abortion cannot be dislocated from human rights

[हिंदी] Abortion is a human right. Yet, abortion-related stigma - rooted in patriarchy, misinformation, and control - continues to restrict access, fuel legal persecution, and force people into unsafe conditions in several countries. This Global Day of Action to Destigmatise Abortion, there is a stronger call for an end to criminalisation, medical gatekeeping, and harmful cultural narratives that shame and silence people who undergo abortions.

Catapulting funding crisis into opportunity by getting on track to end TB and tobacco use

The funding crises forced upon by the US government on several low- and middle-income countries is an opportunity in disguise to improve programme efficiency and outcome and invest optimally in health and development responses from domestic coffers.

How can we leave those behind who are at higher TB risk?

A female migrant worker who lives in an urban slum in India’s national capital Delhi lost both her children to TB. When the best of standard TB diagnostics and latest treatments are available (and also made in India), even one TB death is a death too many. Over 1.25 million people died of TB worldwide in 2023, as per the latest WHO Global TB Report 2024. Every TB death is a reminder that we could have done better to prevent, find, treat TB and support those dealing with the disease.

Danger of substandard and falsified medical products is real and growing

[watch AMR Dialogues] [हिंदी] In 2017, a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), "A study on the public health and socioeconomic impact of substandard and falsified medical products," showed that 10% of medical products in low- and middle-income countries were substandard or falsified, indicating substantial under-recording and a much larger problem confronting us.

CSW69 side event: Are we on track to deliver on gender equality & human right to health?

watch the recording

#CSW69 Side Event panel discussion on "Are we on the right track to deliver on gender equality and human right to health?" will be held on 18th March 2025.

• In-Person participants, scan QR code to register or click here
• Venue: Stimson room at the NY Bar Association, 42 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036. USA.

[video] Connecting the dots: Substandard and falsified medical products and Antimicrobial Resistance

Is patriarchy petrifying governments to deliver on gender equality?

[हिंदी] Despite a legally binding treaty and several other declarations, agreements and promises on gender equality and human rights, governments have failed to keep the promise. Gender inequality is not caused by natural calamities but by deep-seated patriarchy, which has sinister links with capitalism, privatisation, religious fundamentalism and militarisation.

Change happens when gender inequality survivors join hands to stop TB

Before 2025 World TB Day I spent a day accompanying TB affected street activists (TASA) - women who help find more TB among homeless women and female migrant workers in urban poor localities of India’s capital Delhi and link those in need to public services.

AMR Dialogues | Connecting the dots: Substandard and falsified medical products & Antimicrobial Resistance

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), substandard and falsified medical products affect people all around the world. At least 1 in 10 medicines in low- and middle-income countries are substandard or falsified.

#EndLeprosy pathway is through stopping stigma against affected persons

[हिंदी] Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) is a chronic infectious disease caused by a slow growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. But stigma and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy is propelled by us - human beings. This stigma is not only manmade, but is also unjustified, violates human rights and is a result of being blind to the fact that leprosy is curable.

[video] Gender equality is key to Africa's future

[video] Beijing+30 | No more waiting, deliver on the Beijing Declaration now | SHE & Rights

SHE & Rights | Beijing+30 | No more waiting, deliver on the Beijing Declaration now

 

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The fifth session of SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity & Rights) will be organised on the theme: "Beijing+30 | No more waiting, deliver on the Beijing Declaration now" in lead up to the upcoming 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) and International Women's Day.

With only 70 months left to end AIDS why is the urgency missing?

[watch the video] The global AIDS response is not only off-the-target but also slipping by leaps and bounds in some countries and for some communities.

Urgent and accelerated HIV service delivery with equity and rights is critical to end AIDS

[हिंदी] No one needs to get newly infected with HIV or die of AIDS-related illnesses because we have scientific evidence-based tools and proven approaches to prevent any further spread of infection or avert any untimely death due to AIDS. But despite this, over 1.3 million new people were diagnosed with HIV and 630,000 died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2023 globally.

[video] Gendered response to #endAIDS is key

[video] Urgent and accelerated HIV service delivery is key to #endAIDS

SDGs warrant breakthroughs not breakdowns in development financing

[हिंदी] Decisions of US President Trump have precipitated a funding crisis in  many low- and middle-income countries for health and development programmes, including lifesaving medicines and disease prevention and surveillance initiatives. But development financing was not in a good spot even before Trump’s election as US President for another term.

Right wing policies threaten gender equality and health security

Young people call for all sexual and reproductive health services including safe abortion rights 

Donald Trump’s presidency is likely to have far-reaching consequences for sexual and reproductive health, bodily autonomy and human rights worldwide. He has already withdrawn USA’s financial support to the UN health agency World Health Organization (WHO), and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will no longer share its invaluable expertise with the WHO. Also all ongoing (as well as future) projects funded by US Agency for International Development (USAID) have been put on immediate hold. Many of these are lifesaving health programmes, including those directly related to sexual and reproductive health services.

Nepal leads the world with largest pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products

Pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products are a proven and cost-effective way to prevent tobacco use among children and young people, encourage tobacco users to quit and increase awareness of deadly diseases caused by tobacco. That is why size and pictorial graphics matter because pictures say a thousand words. Nepal government decided this week to go for the largest pictorial health warnings globally on all tobacco products (100% on the front and 100% on the back packaging).

A world without leprosy is a public health and human rights imperative

Leprosy (also known as Hansen’s disease), once feared as an incurable disease, is now treatable with modern medicine. When diagnosed early and accurately, and treated early with right medicines, it is not disabling too. But leprosy-related stigma and discrimination continues to cause havoc in lives of people affected with leprosy and blocks access to care even today.

[video] People affected by leprosy demand a life with dignity and rights, without any stigma, discrimination

[video] Shantidan Leprosy Colony visit of WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Mr Yohei Sasakawa

[video] While bus tyre gets repaired, unstoppable MrYohei Sasakawa speaks with CNS on the roadside: #EndLeprosy

[video] Persons affected by Leprosy & WHO #EndLeprosy Goodwill Ambassador Sasakawa address a press conference

[video] Jagannath Leprosy Colony visit of WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Mr Yohei Sasakawa

[video] EXCLUSIVE: WHO Goodwill Ambassador Mr Yohei Sasakawa speaks with CNS

[video] Jaatni Leprosy Colony visit of WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Mr Yohei Sasakawa

[video] Press conference on launch of Global #EndLeprosy Appeal 2025

[video] Global Appeal 2025 launched to end stigma and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy