Africa’s pharmaceutical industry has mushroomed in the last ten years. But its ability to keep pace with demand is being held back by a number of factors, including a shortage of specialists.
Improving maternal mortality and ending preventable deaths in children are some of the health targets in the Sustainable Development Goals.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Flickr
Health has secured its place as one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. But without clear mechanisms to report, finance or engage other sectors, could more end up as less?
Globally, there are 47 million people living with dementia with an increase of over 20% in the caseload year on year.
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The leading cause of death in the world are a group of illnesses known as non-commmunicable diseases. But a growing body of evidence shows they’re actually social contagions.
Non-communicable diseases were responsible for 38 million (68%) of the world’s 56 million deaths in 2012.
Dave/Flickr
The World Health Organization (WHO) has just released its Global Status Report on Noncommunicable Diseases, the second in a series tracking worldwide progress in the prevention and control of cancers…
By sharing their insights and knowledge, African leaders can improve health throughout the world.
The Aspen Institute/Flickr
Ebola has focused the world’s attention on the challenges of health care in Africa. The continent has 11% of the world’s population but 25% of the world’s disease burden. It also has just 1.3% of the global…
Non-communicable diseases that you can’t catch from someone else such as stroke, high blood pressure and cancer, account for 36.1m deaths worldwide. Put it another way, this is about 63% of all deaths…
Fighting obesity is no kid’s play.
Emilio Labrador
The most comprehensive global study ever undertaken for obesity was just released and the need for serious population-wide action is no longer up for debate. The study’s key findings make for grim reading…
In the last three decades, obesity has increased in almost every country in the world, among adults and children alike.
Great Beyond/Flickr
An new analysis of world population data shows the number of people across the world who are overweight or obese has grown by 28% in adults and 47% in children in the last 33 years. Among high-income countries…
Coke has apparently shared the Olympic ideals since 1928.
Michael Francis McCarthy
What does the Olympics stand for: is it the inspiration for a healthier, sportier community? Or is it just another way to sell junk food and booze to an ever-fatter, ever-drunker population of couch potatoes…
More people live in cities than ever before. We can’t solve problems of sustainability and health without fixing them.
Bill Hertha
The secretary-general of the United Nations’ (first) Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Maurice Strong, famously declared that if our planet is to remain a hospitable and sustainable home for the human species…
Psychological influences on weight problems are extremely important, but are often overlooked.
vistavision
Researchers have been telling us for decades that being overweight is not good for our health. Medical journals are full of articles that link overweight and obesity to just about every disease and illness…
Chronic diseases act as a driver for disadvantage in the developing world, leading to cycles of poverty.
Secom Bahia/Flickr
The eyes and ears of the global health world were firmly fixed on Geneva last week for the 2012 World Health Assembly, the annual meeting of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) member states. One of…
Sydney needs sustainable solutions to keep its growing population happy and healthy.
Franklin Heijnen
Australia’s future population is again under the spotlight. The Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) has just released a new report on Australian population futures. And focus has sharpened…
The Conversation’s health coverage: policy, chiropractic, obesity and medicine.
AAP, Planetc1.com, Puuiki Beach, LJA Kliche
In The Conversation’s first editorial meeting editor Andrew Jaspan explained what he wanted to achieve with the site: a more informed level of debate, based on evidence, research and expert opinion. It…
Interventions that influence different aspects of the food and physical activity environments are needed to tackle obesity among children.
wizardhat/Flickr
This is a shorter version of an article that appears in the latest issue of Perspectives, an opinion-led journal published by Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute. The prevalence of overweight and obesity…
The 2009 CHOGM meeting held in Port of Spain joined the call to put NCDs on the global agenda.
AAP
CHOGM: As the leaders of Commonwealth nations prepare to meet in Perth this week, The Conversation is examining the role of the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) Meeting. In our latest…
An analysis of newspaper reporting about sweet drinks found coverage was largely positively oriented.
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Sugary drinks are very popular, almost entirely unnecessary, and contribute to a number of health problems. Despite such health risks, these drinks are increasingly marketed as healthy with labels highlighting…
Associate Professor in the SAMRC Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA (Priority Cost Effective Lessons in Systems Strengthening South Africa), University of the Witwatersrand