Celebrating those who courageously stand with public health and human rights despite tobacco industry interference

photo courtesy: HealthTVonline.com

Before world leaders meet at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025 at the High-Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), it is important to underline that the major common risk factor of most NCDs is tobacco and nicotine use. Tobacco is also a major risk factor for deadliest infectious disease TB (and COVID-19). Unless we decimate (or eliminate) such risk factors, how will we deliver on the promises enshrined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030?

Commitment to end tobacco must translate to bold actions on the ground

Commitment to end tobacco must translate to bold actions on the ground, said Dr Tara Singh Bam. He exhorted the new government of Indonesia to sign and ratify the global tobacco treaty (formally called the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control or WHO FCTC) in the interest of the health and wellbeing of its people.

Toxic politics of selling addiction to children

[हिंदी] The same deceptive tricks and tactics are used by industries that profit from getting our children addicted to ultra-processed foods, high sugar products, tobacco and nicotine. Experts from the United Nations health agency – the World Health Organization (WHO) and Corporate Accountability, call for concerted efforts from the governments to put people before profit, and hold industries that do the reverse (prioritise profit over health) accountable.

SHE & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025

Watch 1st Edition of SHE & Rights Media Awards Ceremony 2024-2025 as part of WHA78 Side Event: "Delivering on UHC in an era of pushback against gender equality and human right to health"

Point-of-care health technologies make a difference when deployed at point-of-need

Vaccines (sitting on a shelf) do not save lives, but vaccination does. Only when people can access vaccines and get vaccinated in a people-centred manner, can we yield desired public health outcomes. Same goes for medicines or diagnostics or other disease prevention tools.

A for Accountability and Audit for TB deaths is missing in #EndTB response

When TB is preventable and curable then why over 1.1 million people died of it worldwide in 2023 (as per the latest WHO Global TB Report 2024)? Even one TB death is a death too many. Most of these deaths took place in low- and middle-income countries. Unless we find what went wrong and what we could have done better, how would we ever improve TB programmes in order to avert these untimely deaths?

[video] Audrey Galawu, Zimbabwe | Special Mention Prize | She & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025

[video] Babacar Sene, Senegal | Special Mention Prize | She & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025

[video] Betty Herlina, Indonesia | Special Mention Prize | She & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025

[video] Hamu Madzedze, Zimbabwe | Special Mention Prize | She & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025

[video] Yecenu Sasetu, Nigeria | Special Mention Prize | She & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025

[video] Kalpana Acharya | 3rd Prize winner | She & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025

[video] Catherine Murombedzi, Zimbabwe | 2nd Prize winner | She & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025

[video] Ojoma Akor, Nigeria | 1st Prize winner | She & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025

[video] Delivering on UHC in an era of pushback against gender equality and human right to health

WHA78 Side Event: Delivering on UHC in an era of pushback against gender equality and human right to health

 

Welcome to hybrid Side Event around 78th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) on 22nd May, 3:30pm Geneva/ CEST time (90 minutes duration) on the theme: "Delivering on UHC in an era of pushback against gender equality and human right to health."

[video] Why is 28th May important?

[video] Live Press Conference of 10th Indonesian Conference on Tobacco Control (ICTOH 2025)

Conflicts and crises intensify the need for gender equality and health equity

[हिंदी] Conflicts and humanitarian crises significantly exacerbate pre-existing gender inequalities for women, girls and gender diverse populations, leading to increased vulnerability to sexual and gender-based violence, reproductive health complications, and mental health challenges, alongside reduced access to basic needs like healthcare and shelter and livelihoods.

[video] Lifesaving importance of cancer screening and linkage to care for women with HIV

On May Day, stand with striking community health workers across Asia Pacific

Public service workers from Kerala to Aotearoa demand dignity, fair pay, and labour rights

This May Day, Public Services International calls on unions, allies, and the public across the Asia-Pacific to stand in solidarity with the region’s most vital yet undervalued workers — community health workers. From India’s frontline ASHA workers to New Zealand’s home support workforce, thousands are rising up against exploitation and demanding the recognition and respect they deserve.