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Known unknown Plastics, the evidence shows, are a threat to human health from womb to grave – The Lancet

Here's the CNN summary of Lancet's global health study. John Gilmartin

Lancet have evaluated the effects of official development aid cuts at USAID as well as several other major donor organizations.  The short answer, Devastating. Millions of deaths especially among children under five. If these estimates are close to correct, we will witness a new holocaust.  In my experience reading estimates of deaths caused by various catastrophic events, the early estimates will be lower than the actual deaths.

Dear Cathy, I feel deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Dr. William Foege, a true giant of global public health and one of UNICEF's greatest champions. Kul Gautam

The new US approach focuses on direct funding to governments which agree either to co-financing deals or to separate deals, such as an agreement on mineral extractions in Zambia.  The shift avoids moving funds to or through NGO implementing partners.  It will be interesting to see how these attempts work out and whether they result in actual new commitments to health programmes by the target governments, and whether they manage to circumvent the complex bureaucratic systems of ministries of finance that have stymied previous efforts to move funds efficiently. Tom U.S. Cuts Health Aid and Ties It to Funding Pledges by African Governments Stephanie Nolen,  The New York Times, January 15, 2026 Click here for the article The Trump administration has signed agreements with 16 African countries providing over $11 billion in health aid over five years, replacing the previous USAID system. 

For the past several decades, my favorite New York Times columnist, Nick Kristof, has been writing how each passing year has been the best ever for children and humanity, often citing UNICEF statistics.

The Free Birth Movement: Guardian and New York Times Investigations Reveal Dangers Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne, The Guardian, November 22, 2025 and December 3, 2025; Jessica Grose, The New York Times, December 3, 2025 Click here for the Guardian's main investigation Click here for the Guardian's Irish case report Click here for the NYT opinion A year-long Guardian investigation reveals the Free Birth Society (FBS), founded by former doula Emilee Saldaya, has been linked to baby deaths worldwide after radicalizing mothers through content promoting births without medical assistance.

Check out this article: A new study reveals that current lung cancer screening guidelines may be missing most cases, prompting calls for changes to detect the disease earlier.   John https://wapo.st/48n94HE  

An interesting critique of the America First Global Health Strategy - The Lancet "The world still faces dire health threats that countries cannot fight alone without the infrastructure and medical solutions (eg, research and technology, data and monitoring, market shaping, and procurement) that only an international coalition can sustainably provide. The America First Global Health Strategy is a missed opportunity to mobilise that collective response to today's changed geopolitical, technological, and epidemiological circumstances". Kul

 Gl obal Health Leaders Urge Fewer Agencies Amid Funding Crisis By Stefan Anderson – Health Policy Watch Click here for the article Summary At the World Health Summit in Berlin , global health leaders called for a sweeping consolidation of international health institutions, describing the system as overly fragmented, duplicative, and unfit for purpose amid an escalating funding crisis triggered by the withdrawal of U.S. aid under Donald Trump. Executives from WHO, the Global Fund, Gavi, and others acknowledged that the loss of billions has exposed long-standing flaws — heavy donor dependence, overlapping mandates, and inefficient competition among agencies. Peter Sands of the Global Fund said bluntly that “there are too many underfunded institutions,” while Gavi’s Sania Nishtar urged that “this fragmentation and duplication really needs to come to an end.” Global health assistance has fallen 21% between 2024 and 2025 , largely due to a 67% drop in U.S. financing , cutting $...

  The 'Accra Reset': Time’s up for the legacy aid system Sara Jerving // Devex // 01 October 2025 Click here for the article Summary Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, supported by African leaders and global partners, has launched the “Accra Reset,” a bold initiative to move beyond the legacy aid model toward health sovereignty and equitable global cooperation. First endorsed in August at the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit, the Reset has now expanded to include climate resilience, food security, and economic growth. Backed by over $1 billion in pledges from African development finance institutions and private banks, it aims to create new governance, financing, and business models rooted in national ownership. The Reset proposes moving beyond global goal-setting (like the SDGs) toward practical business models and financing systems, including pooled pledges, strategic “deal rooms,” and the SUSTAIN initiative to strengthen health systems with domestic resources and pri...

NPR / Goats & Soda, September 26, 2025 Click here for the article See also " Kennedy says US reject s..." shared by Kul Gautam Click here for the 'zero draft' of the resolution  dated 13 May 2025 Summary The article reports that U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the United States will reject a new U.N. political declaration on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health. He objected to what he called “destructive gender ideology” embedded in the language, and claims the declaration goes beyond the U.N.’s proper mandate.  Despite U.S. dissent, the declaration has strong global support. Because of the U.S. objection, the measure will not be adopted by consensus but will instead go to a vote in the General Assembly in October 2025. Quotes “We cannot accept language that pushes destructive gender ideology … [or] claims of a constitutional or international right to abortion.” ( The Guardian ) “The unity we saw today proves that most...

  RFK isolates the US completely from the global consensus reached by the world's top health experts. Once a leader in global health, the US under DJT and RFK has now become a pariah.  How sad! Kul Kennedy Says U.S. Rejects Global Health Goals Andrew Jacobs The New York Times Published Sept. 25, 2025; Updated Sept. 26, 2025 Click here for the article Summary U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the United States will reject a U.N. declaration on chronic diseases, arguing it overlooks key issues and aligns with policies that he claims promote abortion and “radical gender ideology.”

  Why I’m Still Optimistic About Global Health Bill Gates TIME / LinkedIn, September 23, 2025 Click here for the article Summary Bill Gates argues that despite shrinking budgets for global health, the world has achieved remarkable progress: child mortality has been halved since 2000, and with continued investment and innovation, deaths could be halved again over the next 20 years. Advances in malaria prevention, maternal vaccines, and long-acting HIV treatments show that eradication of major diseases is within reach. Gates stresses that donor countries must sustain or increase funding, while low-income nations need debt relief and stronger domestic prioritization of health. He highlights the Global Fund’s lifesaving impact and pledges $912 million from the Gates Foundation over the next three years. For Gates, the paradox of the moment is clear: funding is shrinking while science is accelerating—but with leadership and commitment, the world can ensure every child grows up heal...

By Sara Jerving Click here for the article: Devex Summary The Trump administration has unveiled its new “America First” global health strategy, shifting emphasis from NGO-led aid delivery toward bilateral agreements with governments, coinvestments, and private-sector and faith-based partnerships.

Shared by Tom McDermott Drastic cuts to an already fragile social safety net in the US are looming. The article points to the absence of a right for children's access to health care in the US as a key reason.

More than 30-year difference in life expectancy highlights health inequities

Article shared by John Gilmartin This is great news, long long overdue, very low cost, heat stable, simple, now is time to move it through field testing.  

Article shared by John Gilmartin The lead editorial for this week's Lancet. Issued today John Click here for the article Summary The Lancet strongly criticizes Donald Trump's administration for implementing policies that significantly harm public health both in the United States and globally. It highlights key decisions such as the withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Agreement, the shutdown of USAID programs, and a freeze on $3 trillion in federal grants and loans, which jeopardized Medicaid and halted global health initiatives. Additionally, research institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) faced severe restrictions, including stop-work orders and communications blackouts. This led to the suppression of health data, including the first non-publication of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report in 60 years. The administration also restricted the use of certain terms ...

Opinion: Shifting humanitarian health rules will save lives in conflict Mukesh Kapila Click here for the article in DEVEX Excerpts: "Humanitarians recognize that business-as-usual is failing. But what to do? The emergency health sector offers a window into understanding the prevailing malaise and necessary adaptations." “Rebuilding respect for health as a bridge to humanity requires policymakers to avoid its instrumentalization for partisan or nationalistic interests.” "Health care has moved into the crosshairs of warring parties. This reflects fraying of the long-standing consensus behind health as a common global good and its weaponization for other objectives, be it pandemic-related competition for essential medical products, or as a tool for border and migration controls. "The health sector can help by reorienting itself. This can start by remembering that health care is mostly provided by local doctors and therapists with knowledge and motivation to best serve...