WHO published its World health statistics report 2025, revealing the deeper health impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on loss of lives, longevity and overall health and well-being. In just two years, between 2019 and 2021, global life expectancy fell by 1.8 years—the largest drop in recent history— reversing a …
This book is a collaborative effort born under the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to address the uncertain future of cities. After an online series of the same name, where Emergency Architecture & Human Rights, Think Fast: a Collective Urban Response to COVID-19, Copenhagen Architecture Festival, and multiple practitioners and …
The paper argues that existing governance systems in the region generally fall short of the adaptive capacity required to navigate complex and volatile problems such as the COVID-19 pandemic. A combination of factors such as endemic corruption, weak state-society relations, and the stubborn legacies of the colonial project in the …
This annual issue brief highlights the progress at the city, state, and national levels in 2021 to improve India’s resilience to the health risks of extreme heat. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in its annual seasonal outlook for the summer expects the 2021 heat season to be warmer than usual …
A notable approach to addressing maternal undernutrition during pregnancy in India in recent years has been the integration of hot-cooked meals (HCM) for pregnant and lactating women together with the provision of other health/nutrition services. Called the One Full Meal (OFM) program, these efforts aim to improve maternal nutrition and …
India comprises one-sixth of the world’s population and one-third of the global burden of undernutrition. Between 2006 and 2016, India made progress in reducing stunting among children below five years; the progress, however, was not uniform across all its states. There are interstate differences in stunting reduction despite a common …
This report concludes that the health costs of air pollution and climate change already far exceed $800 billion per year—a yearly bill which is only expected to increase without a stronger societal response to address this crisis. And this price tag most likely vastly underestimates the true total costs of …
For nearly 30 years, the rates of both wasting and stunting in the Philippines have been nearly flat. For 2019, the rate of stunting among children under five years of age (28.8 percent) was only slightly lower than in 2008 (32 percent)—the prevalence of underweight in 2019 was 19 percent …
Cancer-causing benzene from oil refineries escaping into mostly minority and lower income neighborhoods exceeded the federal action level for 13 refineries across the U.S. in 2020, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More than 530,000 people live within three miles of the 13 refineries in 2020, with …
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the workplace dangers faced by key workers who need far greater protection to do their jobs safely, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said. A new report by the ILO, released to mark World Day for Safety and Health at Work, found that 7,000 health workers …
Drawing on a representative survey of firms in 38 countries, eight of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa, this paper documents the impact of COVID-19 and firms’ coping strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa, benchmarking with other regions. The paper shows that the impact of the pandemic is more pronounced in Sub-Saharan Africa …
Climate change has significant impacts on health both directly, such as injury and death from extreme weather events, or heat illnesses from temperature increases, and indirectly, including malnutrition, increased spread of vector-borne diseases, and impacts on mental health. As part of the response to the threats posed by climate change …
As of April 19, 2021, South Africa has recorded 1.56 million COVID-19 cases and almost 54,000 deaths – more than any other country on the African continent. The country has begun the national rollout of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J;) COVID-19 vaccine, with over 292 thousand doses administered it aims …
The aim of this document is to assist national tuberculosis (TB) programmes in developing the strongest possible mechanisms of surveillance for drug resistance in TB, building on more than 25 years of global experience. This starts from periodic surveys of sampled patients, moving towards an ultimate goal of continuous surveillance …
Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) refers to a set of communication approaches, activities, and tools that are used to positively influence behaviours. There are a broad range of activities that come under SBCC. However, these constitute three broad categories: Interpersonal communication, media outreach, and community mobilisation. There is strong …
How can the world reach herd immunity against COVID-19 before the second anniversary of the pandemic, or March 2022? A study of vaccine demand and supply answers this question. A target of vaccinating 60 percent of the population in each country by March 2022 is likely sufficient to achieve worldwide …
With the two extremes of global hunger and obesity on the increase, a new report suggests a radical reset for food and nutrition to ensure the long-term sustainability of livelihoods and the environment. According to a new Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition Foundation (BCFN) report, 690 million people globally …
While many countries are investing in school meal programs, coverage is weakest precisely where the need is the greatest shows this report released by the Global Child Nutrition Foundation, April 14 2021 School meal programs extend benefits far beyond their critical education and nutritional value for vulnerable children, creating jobs …
Almost half of women in some 57 countries do not have the power to make choices over their healthcare, contraception, or sex lives, a new United Nations report has revealed. According to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)’s State of World Population report, the lack of bodily autonomy may have worsened …
The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners have called for countries to suspend sales of live wild mammals in traditional food markets, also known as “wet markets”, in efforts to prevent the emergence of new deadly diseases, such as COVID-19.
What are the effects of a large temporary shock to the economy such as a temporary lockdown in response to a pandemic? Are the effects propagated and made persistent by firms’ deteriorating balance sheets and labor market frictions? This paper develops a model with financial market and labor market frictions …
