Global Health Initiatives

Pandemics don't start in hospitals. They often start in forests. Neil Vora, MD of Conservation International has spent decades on the frontlines of public health—fighting Ebola, rabies, and leading New York City’s COVID response. But what he wants you to know is this: We can prevent outbreaks before they happen. And it starts with protecting nature. Here are three key insights from Vora’s work: 1/ Deforestation fuels disease. ↳ When we cut down forests, we create new pathways for viruses to jump from wildlife to humans. ↳ Loss of biodiversity leaves behind species that thrive near humans—often the ones carrying harmful pathogens. ↳ Stressed animals, displaced from their habitats, are more likely to get sick and transmit disease. 2/ Prevention beats reaction. ↳ Investing in nature conservation—like protecting and reforesting key ecosystems—reduces spillover risk. ↳ Prevention is more equitable. Outbreak responses often fail to reach the most vulnerable, but stopping them at the source protects everyone. ↳ Brazil’s efforts in the 2000s to curb Amazon deforestation cut rates by 70%, showing that solutions are possible. 3/ One Health is the way forward. ↳ The health of people, animals, and the environment are interconnected. ↳ Indigenous communities have understood this for centuries—science is finally catching up. ↳ Tackling climate change, improving livestock practices, and ending illegal wildlife trade are critical steps. "The tragedy is not a lack of solutions—it's the lack of will to implement them," says Vora. Protecting forests and wildlife isn’t just about biodiversity—it’s about preventing the next pandemic. And the good news? We already know what works. Vora made these points during a conversation with Mike DiGirolamo. You can listen to it here: https://lnkd.in/g3CMhGVq 📷 Rainforest on Madagascar's Masoala Peninsula. By me.

Meet IAS officer Dibyajyoti Parida, who makes pregnancy safer for rural women with free ultrasounds. When Dibyajyoti took charge as District Collector of Ganjam in Odisha, he discovered a glaring healthcare gap 👇 Pregnant women in rural villages had little to no access to essential ultrasound scans. Most diagnostic facilities were concentrated in cities, forcing women to travel up to 75 km for a simple scan. For women like Jhili Rout, who once had to borrow money for an ultrasound, pregnancy came with financial and emotional stress. This changed with Nirikhyana - a free ultrasound initiative launched under Dibyajyoti’s leadership. - 42 government and private clinics now provide up to three free ultrasounds for pregnant women. - A mobile app was developed to track pregnancies in real-time and flag high-risk cases early. - Rural women no longer see ultrasounds as a privilege of the rich—it’s their right to safe motherhood. The results? - Neonatal deaths reduced by 50% in just two years. - Maternal mortality rate dropped from 97 to 69 (2021-24). - High-risk pregnancy detection jumped from 4% to 25%, enabling timely interventions. But Dibyajyoti’s vision doesn’t stop here. The next phase of Nirikhyana involves AI-powered risk detection to identify complications early and save even more lives. By ensuring every pregnant woman gets the care she deserves, this IAS officer is proving that real change begins at the grassroots. More officers like him, and maternal healthcare in India will never be the same again. Have you seen similar stories of government-led innovation making a difference?

We don’t build world-class healthcare alone. Collaboration is the real engine of progress. This week proved it again. When Dr. JW (JONG-WOO) CHOI and his team from Asan Medical Center (AMC) visited Doha, something special happened. They didn’t just tour The View Hospital and the Korean Medical Center. They brought with them decades of experience from one of the world’s most respected hospitals. They shared insights that can’t be found in textbooks. They opened up about what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to patient care, technology, and leadership. Here’s what stood out from their visit: → Shared Learning ↪ Every conversation sparked new ideas. From advanced surgery techniques to patient safety, both teams left with fresh perspectives. → Cultural Exchange ↪ Healthcare is not just science. It’s also about understanding people. The Korean and Qatari teams learned how culture shapes care, trust, and healing. → Innovation in Action ↪ Asan Medical Center’s approach to digital health and connected care is years ahead. Their real-world examples showed us what’s possible when you blend technology with compassion. → Building Bridges ↪ This partnership is more than a handshake. It’s a living bridge—connecting Korea and Qatar, East and West, tradition and innovation. → Raising the Bar ↪ When top minds come together, standards rise. The visit set a new benchmark for what’s possible in international healthcare collaboration. Here’s the truth: No hospital, no matter how advanced, can solve every challenge alone. The best breakthroughs happen when borders disappear and knowledge flows freely. That’s why these visits matter. That’s why we keep building this bridge. Because the future of healthcare belongs to those who work together. And every patient, in every country, deserves nothing less.

5 things you can do today that cut dementia risk by 40%. None require supplements: After diagnosing thousands of dementia cases, I've learned that prevention matters more than any treatment we currently have. The research is clear on what works. What moves the needle: 1/ Protect your hearing ↳ Hearing loss in midlife doubles dementia risk ↳ Use ear protection around loud noises ↳ Address hearing problems early with aids ↳ Your brain works harder when it can't hear clearly 2/ Prioritize sleep quality ↳ 7-9 hours of consistent sleep ↳ Dark, cool room without screens ↳ Address sleep apnea if you snore ↳ Poor sleep prevents brain waste clearance 3/ Move your body regularly ↳ 150 minutes moderate exercise per week (key is moderate) ↳ Walking counts if it raises your heart rate ↳ Resistance training twice weekly ↳ Exercise increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor 4/ Stay socially connected ↳ Loneliness increases dementia risk by 50% ↳ Regular meaningful conversations matter ↳ Join groups, volunteer, maintain friendships ↳ Quality of connections beats quantity 5/ Manage your blood pressure ↳ High BP in midlife damages brain blood vessels ↳ Target less than 130/80 if possible ↳ Diet, exercise, and medication when needed ↳ Small blood vessels feed memory centers Why these work: Each intervention targets a different pathway to brain damage. Hearing loss forces cognitive overwork. Poor sleep prevents toxin clearance. Inactivity reduces brain growth factors. Isolation increases inflammation. High BP damages vascular supply. The compound effect: Doing one intervention helps. Doing all five creates dramatic risk reduction. The earlier you start, the bigger the impact. But it's never too late to begin. What doesn't work: Expensive supplements with marketing claims. Brain training games with limited evidence. Single interventions without lifestyle context. The reality: Prevention requires consistent habits, not quick fixes. But these habits improve your entire quality of life, not just brain health. ⁉️ Which of these 5 areas do you want to focus on first? ♻️ Repost to help others start their brain health journey 👉 Follow me (Reza Hosseini Ghomi, MD, MSE) for evidence-based approaches to cognitive wellness

Nigeria proved mental health care could work. Back in 1954. Dr. Thomas Adeoye Lambo created something extraordinary  at Aro Mental Hospital in Abeokuta. While the world locked patients away in asylums,  Nigeria pioneered community-based treatment. Here's what Lambo's revolutionary approach delivered: 1/ The Aro Village System ↳ 200-300 patients lived with local families ↳ Family members provided daily care and support ↳ Traditional healers worked alongside doctors 2/ The Research Breakthrough ↳ Nigerian patients showed "quick recovery"  ↳ Less chronicity than Western counterparts ↳ Better therapeutic response overall 3/ The Global Impact ↳ WHO validated his findings worldwide ↳ Model replicated across Africa ↳ Still influences care today Most remarkable finding? Schizophrenia outcomes were dramatically better  when treatment honored cultural beliefs. Lambo became WHO's highest-ranking African leader,  Deputy Director General from 1973-1988. His community model worked so well that American  researchers recommended adopting it in 2017. 70 years later, we're still catching up to  what Nigeria figured out in the 1950s. Culture isn't a barrier to mental health care. It's the foundation. ======================== ⁉️ Why did it take us 70 years to learn this lesson? ♻️ Share if you believe in culturally-centered care. 👉 Follow me for more like this (Eric Arzubi, MD).

This paper delves into the potential of digital transformation in reshaping the delivery of efficient, high-quality, and secure #Healthcare. The authors highlight the immense promise digital transformation holds for the development and deployment of new care models. By integrating information, computing, communication, and connectivity technologies, digital transformation can revolutionize clinical care processes. The paper also emphasizes the potential disruptions traditional medicine might face with the entry of digital health care companies. However, it underscores the significant opportunities that arise from innovative partnerships between traditional and digital providers. 1️⃣ Digital transformation's role in healthcare: The paper emphasizes how digital transformation can significantly enhance organizational efficiencies. By leveraging technology, healthcare institutions can transform patient care models, emphasizing patient empowerment and active participation in their health journey. 2️⃣ Potential disruption in traditional #Medicine: With the rise of digital healthcare companies, traditional medical practices are at a crossroads. These digital entities are reshaping consumer expectations and putting pressure on conventional healthcare models to innovate. 3️⃣ Emerging technologies in digital healthcare: Companies in the digital healthcare space are harnessing the power of #ArtificialIntelligence, telemedicine, and blockchain electronic health records. These technologies streamline workflows, reduce errors, and ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes. 4️⃣ The promise of collaborative models: The paper suggests that there's immense potential in collaborative models between traditional and digital healthcare providers. These collaborations can span across various clinical care value-chain activities, offering a more holistic approach to patient care. 5️⃣ Use cases - Diabetes and IBD: The authors present diabetes and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) as practical examples to demonstrate the potential of digital-traditional collaborations. For instance, in diabetes care, digital tools can provide continuous feedback, medication tracking, and provider recommendations, while traditional practices offer diagnostics and routine screenings. The paper offers a comprehensive insight into the transformative potential of digital healthcare. It not only highlights the challenges faced by traditional medical practices but also presents actionable solutions through collaborative models. For anyone keen on understanding the future trajectory of healthcare, this paper provides a roadmap for harnessing the power of digital transformation. 🌐⇢ https://lnkd.in/epr_q3YS ✍🏻 Jon O. Ebbert, MD, Rita G. Khan, MBA, Bradley C. Leibovich, MD. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health. Published:March 25, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpdig.2023.02.006

Google announced that it is funding 15 AI-powered projects (each receiving $3 million in technical assistance, cash support and Google Cloud credits), including #digitalhealth initiatives to improve provider experience and patient access to care. Out of the 15, 8 are related to #healthcare! Here are my favorite ones: 𝐑𝐀𝐃-𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 low-source hospitals with an AI-enabled platform that helps triage patients, primarily regarding respiratory disease and breast #cancer. The platform also helps interpret X-rays and scans and provide test results. 𝐖𝐮𝐪𝐮' 𝐊𝐚𝐰𝐨𝐪 and 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞+𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥 are collaborating to develop a machine learning-enabled tool kit to help midwives in rural areas of Guatemala detect neonatal complications in real-time, such as poor fetal growth and fetal stress during delivery. The tool kit will consist of an ultrasound and blood pressure monitor connected to one's smartphone. 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐲 seeks to develop a smartphone-based tool that utilizes machine learning to help community health providers in Sub-Saharan Africa manage patient information and behavior changes related to #pregnancy and #childbirth. 𝐈𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 with 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 developed a natural language-enabled question-answering service for expectant mothers in South Africa, which provides answers to inquiries and vital health information. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐋𝐚𝐛 will develop a #3Dprinted adapter that processes images using #AI and is compatible with a phone or microscope. The goal is to help providers in Uganda diagnose patients with illnesses, such as tuberculosis, malaria and cancer in low- and middle-income countries where lab technicians are scarce.

🌍 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 🧠 In a world of complex health challenges, traditional approaches often fall short. The WHO’s flagship report, "Systems Thinking for Health Systems Strengthening", offers a transformative lens to design, implement, and evaluate health interventions more effectively. 🔍 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬: 1. Systems thinking helps decode the complexity of health systems by focusing on relationships, feedback loops, and dynamic interactions. 2. It emphasizes that 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦, and the system, in turn, affects every intervention. 3. The report introduces 𝐓𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, guiding stakeholders through inclusive design and robust evaluation of interventions. 4. Real-world case studies, like Pay-for-Performance in TB care, show how systems thinking can anticipate unintended consequences and amplify synergies. 5. It calls for 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, and 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞-𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲-𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 to drive sustainable health improvements. 💡 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: Systems thinking is not just a tool—it's a mindset shift. It empowers health leaders, researchers, and funders to build resilient, equitable, and responsive health systems. 📘 Read the full report from the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, WHO: https://lnkd.in/dKh27b7Y #HealthSystems #SystemsThinking #GlobalHealth #HealthPolicy #WHO #PublicHealth #HealthEquity

While I was in Japan earlier this month, Chiba City, Chiba University, and Novo Nordisk launched a trilateral agreement to prevent obesity. As part of our company-wide effort, we will work together for the next three years to develop and implement measures to prevent the growing prevalence of obesity in children and adults. The launch of this agreement was timely as one of the key themes when meeting colleagues in Tokyo and speaking with government officials, in my capacity as EFPIA - European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations President, was the need for more private-public partnerships. Why are these partnerships important? I'll point to at least three reasons. To defeat serious chronic diseases, we will need: 1. Systemic change - and that change will only come with an 'all-of-society' approach where we can mobilise the private and public sectors. 2. Local interventions based on local context - as the example in Chiba City. 3. Ambition loops to bring even more innovative solutions to the table.

🏥 Almost a decade ago, I evaluated Nigeria's ambitious SURE-P MCH program, and published a piece showing that as clinics were upgraded, more women gave birth in health facilities. Yet maternal mortality has remained stubbornly high. Today, I reflect on why. 📊 My latest piece in The Mero Tribune challenges a common assumption in global maternal health: that basic clinics are appropriate places for childbirth. The evidence is clear: while clinics are crucial for prenatal and primary care, they cannot handle the unpredictable, life-threatening emergencies that occur in childbirth. In the U.S., even with the most advanced prenatal care, 30% of "low-risk" pregnancies develop complications during delivery. 🌟 Sri Lanka showed us a better way. They achieved a dramatic reduction in maternal deaths not by building more clinics, but by ensuring every mother could access a hospital with surgical and transfusion capabilities. Their maternal mortality ratio dropped from 2,080 deaths per 100,000 births in 1931 to just 23 by 1996. As over 500 American hospitals have closed their labor and delivery units since 2010, rural mothers now drive hours to deliver or risk giving birth in facilities that can't handle emergencies. This isn't just an American crisis – it reflects a global pattern where the poorest women rely on under-equipped clinics while the wealthy access hospitals. 👶 Every mother deserves access to life-saving emergency care during childbirth. 🏥 It's time to reimagine our approach to maternal health infrastructure. Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/e-s3hxBA #MaternalHealth #GlobalHealth #Healthcare #WomensHealth #PublicHealth #HealthEquity