Zambia is facing a severe economic crisis marked by high inflation, increasing poverty and a heavy debt burden that is straining both its fiscal stability and progress in health outcomes. By 2020, the country's external debt reached United States dollars (USD) 12.7 billion, representing 108% of the ...country's gross domestic product (GDP). In 2020, Zambia sought assistance through the G20 Common Framework and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Extended Credit Facility (ECF), securing a USD 1.7 billion loan over 5 years. IMF loans, however, come with austerity measures that prioritise fiscal discipline but could potentially exacerbate social inequalities. These measures, which include increasing consumer taxes on goods and services (value added taxes - VATs), electricity tariffs and fuel prices, disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, raising concerns about their long-term effects on essential services, especially accessible and good quality healthcare services.
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This article provides an in-depth analysis of the Global Fund's strategic initiatives in resource mobilization and recovery amid global economic fluctuations and geopolitical challenges. It highlights the Fund's successful conversion of pledges and innovative financing models that ensure sustainable... funding for combating HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. The discussion extends to the Fund's rigorous recovery processes and advocacy efforts to bolster its visibility on international platforms. Additionally, it explores the impact of economic constraints on health funding and the potential of emerging markets and technologies. Performance metrics and health impact assessments underscore the Global Fund's critical role in advancing global health objectives. This analysis offers stakeholders valuable insights into the complexities of global health financing and the Global Fund's adaptive strategies in response.
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For this report, the Task Force commissioned
additional background papers on health taxes to
update the evidence, assess short-term revenue
potential, and understand the role of health taxes
in the current era of multiple crises. We find that
health taxes continue to be underutilized despite th...e
powerful impact they have in reducing preventable
death and disease — a particularly glaring act of
neglect in a world that has experienced a massive
pandemic.
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In 21st century capitalism, financial markets reign supreme. The elevation of investing, trading, and speculating as a way of making profit has shifted economic power towards institutional investors and enhanced the power of financial capital. Financialisation has introduced uncertainty in the commi...tment to public provision of goods and services. The behaviours of corporations focus more on profit for shareholders and senior executives to the detriment of wages, worker protections, livelihoods, and impact on prices and the environment. The practices of this financial system
pose major challenges to public health and planetary health equity through the influence on social inequality, climate change, and health outcomes. The aim of this Viewpoint is to expand the understanding of the commercial determinants of health to explicitly include the financial system and present key plausible pathways via which the financialisation of advanced economies influences public health and planetary health equity.
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The Malaria Ministerial Conference, co-hosted by WHO and the Government of Cameroon on 6 March 2024, brought together more than 400 stakeholders, including Ministers of Health and senior representatives from the African countries hardest hit by malaria, global health leaders, scientists, civil socie...ty and other partners. The pivotal meeting sought to leverage political commitment, scientific innovation and community engagement to reshape the trajectory of malaria control in high burden African countries, and beyond.
At the end of the meeting and in the weeks that followed, Ministers of Health from the 11 “High Burden High Impact” African countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania) signed the Yaoundé Declaration, pledging their “unwavering commitment” to the principle that “no one should die from malaria given the tools and systems available.” Success in reducing malaria morbidity and mortality will hinge on efforts by countries to translate this political commitment into actions and resources that will save lives.
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This malaria education poster by Children for Health uses clear, child-friendly language to raise awareness of malaria and promote its prevention. Using simple language and engaging visuals, it informs children and caregivers about key facts, symptoms and protective behaviours, such as using insecti...cide-treated nets and seeking timely treatment. Designed for use in schools and communities, the poster supports health education initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of malaria in endemic regions by encouraging children to play an active role in preventing the disease.
Accessed on 20/06/2025.
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The Malaria Partners International Webinar Series highlights the vital importance of education in the fight against malaria. The series provides a variety of educational resources, which have been created and curated by Malaria Partners International and its global partners. Key webinars address cri...tical topics such as the intersection of malaria and climate change, the impact of the pandemic on malaria control efforts, and the challenges of protecting vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. The series also highlights advances in malaria diagnostics, using case studies such as the Ghana Microscopy Project, and provides foundational knowledge on malaria transmission and prevention. By fostering awareness and knowledge sharing, these webinars support global efforts towards malaria eradication.
Accessed on 01/07/2025.
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CommCare is a trusted platform in 130+ countries that supports reliable offline data collection, real-time monitoring, and improved service delivery. Its no-code app builder allows easy creation of custom tools with advanced logic and multimedia. CommCare ensures strong data security (HIPAA, GDPR, S...OC 2) and offers case management to track clients over time. Scalable from pilot to national levels, it empowers governments and NGOs to enhance program impact and data-driven decisions.
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Malaria No More is a non-profit organisation dedicated to eradicating malaria, a preventable and treatable disease, in our lifetime. Through innovative partnerships, advocacy and data-driven solutions, Malaria No More works globally to ensure access to prevention tools, diagnostics and treatment, pa...rticularly in vulnerable regions. Malaria No More focuses on high-impact campaigns, technological innovation and policy engagement, collaborating with governments, health organisations and private sector partners to accelerate progress towards malaria eradication and save lives.
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Diabetes poses an increasingly serious health challenge in Africa. Currently, 25 million adults aged 20–79 are living with diabetes, and this figure is projected to increase by 142% to 60 million by 2050 — the highest regional increase worldwide. However, 73% of cases remain undiagnosed, and hea...lthcare spending is the lowest worldwide at just USD 10 billion (1% of global expenditure). In 2024, diabetes caused 216,000 deaths and had a significant impact on maternal health, affecting 1 in 7 births due to hyperglycaemia during pregnancy. Nigeria, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have the highest case loads. Without urgent intervention, the diabetes burden will continue to grow, putting further strain on already limited health systems.
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If not properly managed, diabetes can lead to a wide range of serious health complications. These include retinopathy (eye damage), nephropathy (kidney damage), neuropathy (nerve damage) and damage to blood vessels. This increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, foot ulcers, infections and amputa...tions. Early diagnosis and consistent management through medication, a healthy diet, regular exercise and routine check-ups are critical to preventing or delaying these complications. Improving outcomes and reducing the long-term impact of diabetes in low-resource settings requires patient education and community health support.
Accessed on 17/07/2025.
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La Stratégie intégrée de communication pour la lutte contre le paludisme au Sénégal (2016) vise à renforcer la prévention et la prise en charge du paludisme par des actions de communication efficaces. Elle combine plaidoyer, mobilisation sociale et communication pour le changement de comporte...ment afin d’augmenter l’utilisation des moustiquaires imprégnées, le recours au traitement précoce, la chimio-prévention saisonnière et l’aspersion intradomiciliaire. Le document définit les objectifs, les messages clés, les cibles, les canaux de communication (comme la radio, la télévision, les activités communautaires) et les mécanismes de suivi-évaluation. L’accent est mis sur la coordination nationale et locale pour harmoniser les actions, renforcer l’adhésion des communautés et garantir un impact durable sur la santé publique au Sénégal.
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The Gaza Strip is experiencing one of the most severe food security crises globally, with the entire population of approximately 2.1 million people now facing crisis-level food insecurity or worse (IPC Phase 3+). As of May 2025, more than one in five Gazans—about
470,000 people—are at risk of s...tarvation (IPC Phase 5: Catastrophe), while over half are classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). This marks a significant deterioration compared to just one month earlier and reflects the impact of a comprehensive blockade that has
restricted all humanitarian and commercial supplies since early March. Vital goods have been depleted, food prices have skyrocketed by over 3,000 percent in some areas, and coping mechanisms have all but collapsed, forcing many to scavenge for food or go without entirely. Acute malnutrition has reached serious levels and is projected to worsen, particularly in North Gaza, Gaza, and Rafah, where critical levels are expected between May and September 2025.
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The Gaza Strip is experiencing one of the most severe food security crises globally, with the entire population of approximately 2.1 million people now facing crisis-level food insecurity or worse (IPC Phase 3+). As of May 2025, more than one in five Gazans—about
470,000 people—are at risk of s...tarvation (IPC Phase 5: Catastrophe), while over half are classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). This marks a significant deterioration compared to just one month earlier and reflects the impact of a comprehensive blockade that has restricted all humanitarian and commercial supplies since early March. Vital goods have been depleted, food prices have skyrocketed by over 3,000 percent in some areas, and coping mechanisms have all but collapsed, forcing many to scavenge for food or go without entirely. Acute malnutrition has reached serious levels and is projected to worsen, particularly in North Gaza, Gaza, and Rafah, where critical levels are expected between May and September 2025.
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Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases) and mental health conditions (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders) are the world’s leading cause of preventable illness..., disability, and death. This report examines the dangers posed by current and rising rates of noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions (NMHs) in South America, beyond their health risks, by demonstrating their considerable negative impact on economic growth. An analytical model was developed that projects the macroeconomic effects of NMHs over the period 2020–2050 in ten South American countries: Argentina, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The results showed that the macroeconomic impact of NMHs in South America indicates significant economic shortfalls resulting from NMHs. Overall, the total GDP loss due to NMHs in South America amounts to USD 7.3 trillion (2022 international USD) over the period 2020–2050
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Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are chronic medical conditions that are not spread from person to person. Unlike infectious diseases, which are caused by bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens, NCDs are typically long-lasting and result from a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and... behavioral factors. NCDs are the leading cause of death worldwide and responsible for over 70% of global deaths each year. Over 80% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (WHO). Noncommunicable diseases pose a serious threat to global health because they are widespread, costly, largely preventable, and responsible for the majority of deaths worldwide. Reducing their impact requires coordinated efforts in prevention, early detection, and healthcare system strengthening, particularly in lower-income countries. The Toolbox on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) can play a vital role in strengthening Global Healthcare systems by providing centralized, reliable, and up-to-date health information and resources like clinical guidlelines, education material as well as tools for prevention and health promotion.
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The report provides an update on the cholera outbreak in Haiti as of January and February 2024. A total of 79,411 suspected cases have been reported, with 4,608 confirmed cases and 1,172 deaths across all 10 departments. The most affected regions include Ouest, Centre, Artibonite, and Nord, with chi...ldren aged 1-9 being the most impacted. Despite a recent decline in reported cases, underreporting due to security issues remains a concern. Response efforts include coordination meetings, epidemiological surveillance, case management, WASH interventions, vaccination campaigns, and community engagement. However, logistical challenges, insecurity, and funding shortages are hindering effective response efforts.
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This report describes the results of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LAO PDR) National WASH Survey 2021. The survey examined water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and waste management services, as well as climate resilience, in Lao PDR health-care facilities. The survey reveals that while... most facilities (70%) have basic water services, there are significant gaps in the delivery of sanitation, hygiene and health-care waste services, and few facilities are climate resilient, despite a majority being impacted by extreme weather events. Based on these results, the report presents a monitoring framework and national- and HCF-level measures to further enhance WASH services and climate resilience in the country.
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Este artículo analiza un grupo particularmente vulnerable a la pandemia de la COVID-2019: las personas privadas de libertad (PPLs). Con base en el análisis del Censo Carcelario de 2019, presentamos la situación actual de las PPLs y las condiciones de los establecimient...os penitenciarios de Bolivia, con énfasis en los aspectos que impactan en la salud. Posteriormente, identificamos los principales factores estructurales detrás de la mayor vulnerabilidad epidemiológica y sanitaria de las PPLs, no solo a la COVID-2019, sino a epidemias en general. Diferentes instituciones involucradas en el combate de la pandemia desarrollaron recomendaciones para su prevención y tratamiento en contextos carcelarios. Considerando estas recomendaciones y los datos de la situación de las PPLs de Bolivia, desarrollamos propuestas de reformas políticas y legales para reducir la vulnerabilidad epidemiológica de esta población. Argumentamos que, mientras algunas son sencillas de implementar, muchas se enfrentan a obstáculos estructurales para su ejecución, demandando reformas profundas en la política carcelaria y el sistema penal.
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Responding to COVID-19: Highlights of a Survey in ETHIOPIASummary•Almost all Ethiopiansknow about COVID-19 and basic understanding about transmission and the importance of regular hand washing is high. However, a sizeable minority seek more information, which may help address some misconceptions o...n avoidance and ‘cures.’•There is strong support for government response and high levels of trust in information coming from governments.•Ethiopians believe that COVID-19 will be a big problem for their country and that they would be seriously impacted but personally feel at relatively low risk.•Family and friends play an important role in conveying local information.
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