This week, health leaders from around the world are gathered in Geneva for the World Health Organization’s annual World Health Assembly. Here are five of the key stories coming out of Geneva: 1. Saving the Lives of Newborns: Every year, nearly 3 million newborns die within the first 28 days of life. This year’s World Health Assembly has featured discussions on how the global health community can act to keep more newborns alive. At the […]

At commencement ceremonies across the United States, American leaders are giving graduates advice for their future. They’re also talking about the biggest issues of our time and the importance of working with international partners like the United Nations to build a more peaceful, prosperous world. Here are seven must-read quotes: President Obama at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point: 1. “Likewise, the U.N. provides a platform to keep the peace in states torn apart

It’s a topic that few people talk about, but has profound consequences for the health, safety, and livelihoods of 1 billion people: open defecation. If we’re going to end extreme poverty and make additional significant progress on the Millennium Development Goals, we must break the silence on open defecation and make sanitation for all people a global priority. The United Nations, under the leadership of Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, has launched a campaign to raise

By Stephanie Lynn Bowen, Senior Communications Manager for MAMA Nine-month old Sumaya is all smiles thanks in part to the Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action, known as MAMA. MAMA is an innovative public-private partnership that delivers vital health information to new and expectant mothers through mobile phones. MAMA’s program in Bangladesh just reached 500,000 subscribers after launching 18 months ago. One of these subscribers is Sumaya’s mother, 22-year-old Mahamuda, who is learning how to care

Photo credit: World Bank/Lundrim Aliu Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a bold new ruling to reduce carbon pollution from U.S. power plants by 30% by the year 2030. This proposal takes an unprecedented step to curb harmful carbon emissions and address climate change. The benefits of these changes will help us get to a safer, healthier future. Here are three important ways that this new rule in the U.S. could help improve

Photo Credit: Sabin Vaccine Institute Last week, the immunization community lost a great champion and hero when Dr. Ciro de Quadros passed away. A Brazilian epidemiologist, Dr. de Quadros was instrumental in eradicating smallpox and ridding the Americas of polio, measles and rubella. Andrea Gay, Executive Director of Children’s Health for the UN Foundation, knew and worked with de Quadros. She offers her reflections on his work and legacy here: Chelsea Hedquist: When did you

I loved my midwife. I loved my OB/GYN too, but there was something so wonderful about the birth of my last child, surrounded by women who were well trained, deeply respectful and who listened to me as we worked together to deliver my son. Compassionate and competent care from a midwife can make a world of difference to a mother and her newborn. They are on the front lines of life and death everywhere, also