Global Health Blog

The FSG Global Health Impact Area regularly organizes training sessions, in which guest speakers are invited to share their perspectives on some of the most pressing health issues. Last week, we were fortunate enough to have Dr. Heidi Larson, Senior Lecturer at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Advisor to FSG’s Global Health Impact Area, speak to us about her work on vaccines. Specifically, she talked about her most recent Lancet article on the topic titled addressing the vaccine confidence gap.

After eight days of meetings, conferences and coffee the sixty-fourth World Health Assembly (WHA) came to a close last Tuesday. According to Margaret Chan, WHO’s Director General, the assembly was “especially productive and profoundly effective “. Sounds good, but what does it mean? As one can read on the WHO website the WHA adopted 28 resolutions and three decisions on a variety of topics ranging from improved influenza virus sharing to strengthening health systems to a comprehensive strategy to combat HIV/AIDS. However, there was one topic which seemed to overshadow all others: Reform.

“Achieving Progress and Impact” – this is the theme of the fourth World Malaria Day on 25 April, now under a month away. The theme is meant to encourage the malaria community to share success stories in order to build excitement and boost investments against Malaria.