UN – United Nations

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

By Brooke Loughrin, former U.S. Youth Observer at the United Nations Since the end of my term as the U.S. Youth Observer at the United Nations (2012-2013), not a day has gone by that I have not felt the impact of the experience on my life.   Serving as the U.S. Youth Observer at the UN is without a doubt a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give young people a voice in global policy debates. In this

As the world gathers in Brazil for the World Cup, the +SocialGood community is exploring how global issues, sports, and social good intersect in a country that is fast emerging as one of the social media capitals of the world. Throughout the week, experts, innovators, and representatives from the United Nations are discussing the big issues of our time and how we can work together toward the “world’s goals.” The discussions will highlight: How people

Beyond the cards and gifts, Father’s Day offers us a moment to pause and reflect on the great fathers in our lives – and the great fathers around the world who are paving the way for a better future. Every father wants to create a better life for his children, and we know that one of the best ways to do so is by supporting the health and rights of girls and women. The below