Category: Health

While the health sector worldwide plays a key role in stopping the abusive practice of FGM and supporting survivors, in several regions, evidence suggests otherwise. As of 2020, an estimated 52 million girls and women were subjected to FGM at the hands of health workers – that’s around one in four cases. “Health workers must […]

According to the UN migration agency, IOM, recent weeks have seen an increase in the deportation of women, including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as children and newborn babies.  The agency has emphasised the heightened risks these groups face being returned to Haiti, where access to basic services remains severely limited. On […]

Ahead of World Malaria Day on Friday, UN health agency WHO is calling for renewed efforts at all levels – from global policy to community action – to accelerate progress towards elimination. Malaria is spread by some types of mosquitoes and is mostly found in tropical countries. Symptoms – which can be mild or life-threatening – […]

Walgreens Boots Alliance has agreed to pay up to $350 million to resolve federal allegations that it unlawfully filled millions of opioid prescriptions and fraudulently billed U.S. healthcare programs for them. This settlement, announced by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), marks a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to hold corporations accountable for fueling the […]

Cuts to global health funding are leading to a rise in outbreaks of diseases that vaccines had nearly wiped out, the UN health agency, WHO, is warning on Thursday. In Africa’s “meningitis belt”, which spans parts of sub-Saharan Africa, vaccination campaigns had successfully eliminated meningitis A. Similarly, improved routine immunization and emergency vaccine stockpiles drastically […]

Each year, more than 21 million adolescent girls in low and middle-income countries become pregnant. About half of these pregnancies are unintended. Nine in 10 adolescent births occur among girls who were married before turning 18. “Early pregnancies can have serious physical and psychological consequences for girls and young women,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, Director […]

In England, approximately 1,700 children are referred daily to children’s social care services, totaling over 621,000 referrals in the year ending March 2024. This surge underscores the escalating pressures on the system, with over 83,000 children currently in care—a 4.5% increase from 2020 . The Local Government Association (LGA) attributes the rising demand to factors […]

Approximately one-third of the 110,000 annual stroke survivors in the UK experience persistent arm weakness, significantly impacting daily activities. Traditional rehabilitation therapies have shown limited effectiveness in addressing this issue. The TRICEPS (TRanscutaneous lImb reCovEry Post-Stroke) trial, led by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Sheffield, is investigating the efficacy of […]

Two Irish health regions have been awarded a total of €500,000 in recurring funding to implement Brighter Beginnings, a new initiative under the HSE’s National Healthy Childhood Programme. The programme aims to reduce health disparities affecting Traveller children by improving early childhood health interventions through culturally inclusive practices. The initiative, unveiled by Minister for Public […]

Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism to significantly boost the efficacy of cancer treatments. By harnessing the CD36 protein, a cell surface receptor, they have increased the intracellular concentration of cancer-fighting drugs by up to 23 times, substantially improving tumor suppression. Understanding CD36’s Role CD36 is a multifunctional glycoprotein involved in various cellular processes, including […]