Pollution is silently undermining educational outcomes for millions of children across India. From toxic air, to contaminated water, to relentless urban noise, new evidence shows how various forms of environmental pollution are eroding children’s ability to learn and thrive. This blog explores emerging research on these hidden costs and argues that pathways to tackling pollution
Healthcare systems have changed substantially in recent years, particularly in lower-income countries. The article argues that while many nations have replaced community-led mutual aid systems with institutionalized frameworks like health insurance, it is worth re-visiting traditional approaches to service-delivery based on solidarity. Over time, many societies have changed how they manage health risks and finance
Climate change significantly impacts public health, with effects that are complex, context-specific, and often tied to particular climatic events. In Bangladesh’s coastal regions, rising salinity in drinking water is harming public health, especially women’s reproductive health. Despite national efforts to build climate-resilient health systems, current policies overlook the critical issue of salinity and its gendered
Menstrual hygiene management remains a critical public health challenge in East Africa, with far-reaching social and economic consequences. Addressing the stigma around menstruation requires effective strategies that improve health and education outcomes as well as foster economic empowerment. By learning from successful policy interventions, there is an opportunity to reframe menstrual hygiene as a public
While the individual measures on gambling aim to alleviate conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, they address only the symptoms rather than the root causes. Systemic problems—such as weak structural regulations that permit over 100 betting firms to operate without limits on daily wagers—continue to drive industry growth. This regulatory void, coupled with
A lack of continuity of care for people living with HIV during natural disasters and other crises can have highly damaging consequences. This column reports on the experiences of Mozambique in seeking to maintain the effectiveness of HIV treatment in the face of adverse shocks over the past ten years. Lessons from the country’s response
Past progress in human development in South Asia looks insufficient to produce success during the era of the Sustainable Development Goals. This column argues that if government spending on education and health were to be raised to levels comparable to those in other developing regions, alongside improvements in state effectiveness in delivering public goods, much more could
India has long struggled to make its rural kitchens smokeless – but with limited success. This column sheds light on the importance of linking women’s empowerment and clean fuel choices at the policy level to make an effective transition to smokeless kitchens. Education and awareness, financial independence, and women’s autonomy around household spending are some
The epidemiological transition from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases is a reality in several countries. Health policies must take urgent measures to reduce the high incidence and mortality rates associated with the latter. This column looks at the experience of Mexico and proposes some intersectoral strategies that can help to promote prevention and control. In
Employment gives mothers the resources to strengthen their households’ food security, which in turn improves the likelihood of breastfeeding. Yet work demands after maternity leave tend to limit the attention that mothers can give to their infants. This column explores whether there is a ‘win/win’ scenario, potentially supported by legislation, which can promote a mother’s
