Shows
Global Health MattersEncore - Actions for decolonizing global healthWhat are the colonial legacies in global health? And what impact have they had on how some health and health research programmes are run in Africa? In this episode, we speak to two visionary women leaders who tell us what’s wrong in global health and give concrete steps toward more equitable and inclusive partnerships. Host Garry Aslanyan speaks with the following guests:Catherine Kyobutungi, Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Center in KenyaAgnes Binagwaho, Vice Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity in RwandaDisclaimer: The...2025-07-2238 min
Global Health MattersFrom cannabis to kush: perspectives on substance useSubstance use is a global public health challenge, affecting Northern and Southern countries alike. Yet strategies for managing it have varied widely. In this episode, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Kwame McKenzie, a practicing psychiatrist and CEO of the Wellesley Institute. He's also Director of Health Equity at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada. Together they unpack how language shapes policy, explore the impact of the pandemic on substance use and discuss lessons from different national approaches to addressing this complex issue.Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our...2025-07-0841 min
Global Health MattersEncore - Communicating science, not fictionThis episode features three renowned communicators of science who work to inform, educate and inspire the public about health issues. Microbiologist Natalia Pasternak has become one of the leading communicators of science in Brazil and internationally. As founder of Instituto Questão de Ciência, she offers advice on how others can set up science communication institutes in their countries. Imogen Foulkes reflects upon how scientists can better communicate their research to the public, given her experience as a journalist with the BBC News and SWI swissinfo.ch based in Geneva. And Sonia Lowman of International Medical Corps highlights the...2025-07-0140 min
Global Health MattersDialogues: a conversation with Joanne LiuIn this episode of Dialogues, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Joanne Liu, a Canadian pediatric emergency doctor and former International President of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). She is currently a professor at McGill University School of Population and Global Health, where she leads research on pandemic preparedness and emergency response. In this conversation, she speaks about her new book, "Ebola, Bombs, and Migrants." It's a powerful reflection on her leadership journey, and what it really means to demonstrate global solidarity for those most vulnerable. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be fou...2025-06-2442 min
Global Health MattersTrailblazers with Garry - a conversation with John-Arne Røttingen"Trailblazers with Garry" is a new series from Global Health Matters, where host Dr Garry Aslanyan sits down with trailblazers — thinkers, leaders, and influencers shaping the future of global health — for short face-to-face conversations, available in both audio and video formats. It’s a chance to get to know the people behind the work and hear their perspectives on the current global health landscape.Step inside the Wellcome Trust in London with our next trailblazer, the newly appointed CEO John-Arne Røttingen — former head of CEPI and Norway’s Ambassador for Global Health — traces his leadership journey and vision for...2025-06-1031 min
Global Health MattersAI for equity: bridging global health gapsWhether you watched "2001: A Space Odyssey" movie or have recently experimented with ChatGPT, it's impossible to ignore the rapid rise of artificial intelligence in our daily lives. AI is often praised for its potential to transform healthcare. Yet how it will truly revolutionize the field remains unclear. In this episode, host Dr Garry Aslanyan speaks with two experts at the forefront of AI's integration into national health systems. Alexandre Chiavegatto Filho, Professor of machine learning in health at the University of São Paolo, has been leading efforts to develop AI models tailored to Brazil's unique healthcare landscape. Jiho Ch...2025-05-2740 min
Global Health MattersDialogues: A conversation with Chikwe and Vivianne IhekweazuIn this episode of Dialogues, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director General at the World Health Organization (WHO) and acting Regional Director for the WHO Regional Office for Africa, and his wife, Vivianne Ihekweazu, Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch. The conversation centers on their latest book, An Imperfect Storm: A Pandemic and the Coming of Age of a Nigerian Institution. Chikwe discusses his personal journey in establishing the Nigerian Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria as well as how they as a couple balance p...2025-05-0645 min
Global Health MattersEncore - Climate change’s impact on healthFrom a global challenge to the Maasai steppe of TanzaniaMost climate change predictions show an upward trend in temperature for at least the next nine decades. Rural communities whose health and livelihoods depend on the environment are more vulnerable to climate change. In recent years, persistent droughts have made Maasai communities in northern Tanzania vulnerable to sleeping sickness, a disease spread by the tsetse fly. Paul Gwakisa of Sokoine University has dedicated his research to helping the Maasai people better understand and prevent outbreaks of sleeping sickness in their communities. Pierre Quiblier of the UN...2025-04-2950 min
Global Health MattersTrailblazers with Garry: a conversation with Tulio de Oliveira"Trailblazers with Garry" is a new series from Global Health Matters, where host Garry Aslanyan sits down with trailblazers — thinkers, leaders, and influencers shaping the future of global health — for short face-to-face conversations, available in both audio and video formats. It’s a chance to get to know the people behind the work and hear their perspectives on the current global health landscape.Our first trailblazer is Tulio de Oliviera, Director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Tulio was recognized by Time magazine in 2024 as one of the 100 most influe...2025-04-1522 min
Public Health InsightHow A Pandemic Treaty Protects Global Health SecurityThe COVID-19 pandemic exposed the world’s vulnerabilities—and reignited global conversations about how to prepare for the next one.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Garry Aslanyan returns to unpack the proposed WHO Pandemic Treaty and how it builds on existing tools like the International Health Regulations. We explore what makes this treaty different, the debates shaping its negotiation, and what it could mean for countries like Canada.From vaccine equity to intellectual property rights and misinformation, we break down why global health treaties matter for you as a...2025-04-0834 min
Public Health InsightInside the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: A Landmark WHO TreatyThe Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) might not make headlines today, but it was the first treaty negotiated under the World Health Organization—and it changed the global public health landscape forever.In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Garry Aslanyan returns to unpack the story behind this groundbreaking treaty. We explore how the FCTC was negotiated in an era before Zoom calls and WhatsApp, the political and economic tensions that shaped its development, and how it continues to influence tobacco control policies worldwide—despite evolving challenges like vaping, flavored products, and social medi...2025-04-0135 min
Global Health MattersFraming global health issues: the case of oral healthWith so many pressing global health challenges and limited resources, what determines whether an issue makes it onto the global health agenda? What factors shape its priority status? In this episode, using oral health as a case example, we take a closer look at the framing of global health issues. Host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Habib Benzian, a dentist, professor of epidemiology and health promotion at New York University and Co-Director of the WHO Collaborative Center on Oral Health. Bulela Vava is a dentist and President of the Public Oral Health Forum in South Africa. Related episode d...2025-03-2531 min
Public Health InsightThe World Health Organization Explained & Why Global Health MattersYou’ve heard of the World Health Organization (WHO), but do you know how it actually works and why it matters in your everyday life? In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Garry Aslanyan, Manager of Partnerships and Global Engagement at the WHO’s TDR programme in Geneva, Switzerland. We dive into the fascinating origins of the WHO, explore how it's structured and funded, and unpack how its global decisions directly impact local public health efforts. From eradicating diseases like smallpox to coordinating international responses to COVID-19, we discuss...2025-03-2518 min
Global Health MattersPower and responsibility in global healthIn this episode, we turn the lens on ourselves as the global health community. Host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Hani Kim and Seye Abimbola about how elite global health actors can marginalize local perspectives and knowledge. They stress the importance of localizing efforts and acknowledging implicit biases to address the structural inequalities that perpetuate health disparities. Seye Abimbola is Associate Professor at the University of Sydney School of Public Health and inaugural editor-in-chief of BMJ Global Health, and Hani Kim is Executive Director of the Research Investment for Global Health Technology (RIGHT) Foundation in South Korea.Related...2025-02-2554 min
Global Health MattersFrom disability to advocacy for leprosy: neglected tropical diseases part 2This two-part episode shines a light on the lived experiences of two remarkable individuals affected by NTDs. We explore firsthand how disability influences and affects their lives. In part 2, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Dan Izzett, a former civil engineering technician and pastor who has turned his retirement into a powerful mission advocating for people living with leprosy. Peter Waddup, the CEO of the Leprosy Mission in Great Britain, provides a thoughtful reflection on Dan's message and its practical implications for the global health community. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our w...2025-02-0433 min
Global Health MattersAbility in disability from noma: neglected tropical diseases part 1This two-part episode shines a light on the lived experiences of two remarkable individuals affected by NTDs. We explore firsthand how disability influences and affects their lives. In part 1, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Mulikat Okanlawon, a survivor of noma in Nigeria and President of the Elysium Noma Survivors Association. Thanks to the tireless advocacy of Mulikat and other survivors, noma was officially recognized as an NTD by the World Health Organization in 2023. Claire Jeantet, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, speaks about collaborating with Mulikat over the past eight years to bring her story and the stories of other noma...2025-01-3029 min
Global Health MattersDialogues: A conversation with Themrise KhanIn this episode of Dialogues, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Themrise Khan, a Pakistani independent development professional and researcher with almost 30 years of experience in international development, aid effectiveness, gender and global migration. Themrise is also the co-editor of the book "White saviorism in international development: theories, practices and lived experiences." In this dialogue, she shares her views on the origins of this concept and how it continues to influence national autonomy, global power imbalances and race relations.Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website.Subscribe to the Global...2024-12-0341 min
Global Health MattersWe are here now: youth shaping global healthThe world is witnessing its largest youth generation ever, with half of the global population under 30. A sustainable future hinges on the meaningful engagement of young people. In this episode, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with three charismatic young global health leaders. Inês Costa Louro is a first-year medical doctor from Portugal and the former Vice President for External Affairs of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations. Aloyce Urassa is a public health scientist from Tanzania and Chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance Youth Advisory Council. And Hamaiyal Sana is a Pakistani medical doctor and Vice Chair o...2024-11-1235 min
Global Health MattersPockets of optimism: empowering youth to improve mental healthUNICEF estimates that 13% of adolescents live with a diagnosed mental health disorder, with depression and anxiety accounting for 40%. To explore the challenges surrounding the mental health of today’s youth, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Jaime Young, a passionate youth leader, mental health advocate and family caseworker at the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund, and Zeinab Hijazi, a clinical psychologist and Global Lead on Mental Health at UNICEF. Together, they discuss how resilience can be cultivated and share inspiring examples of young people around the world developing solutions for mental health for their peers. Related episode documents, tr...2024-10-1034 min
Global Health MattersCan we eliminate malaria? Perspectives from two women leadersSignificant progress has been made towards a malaria-free world. Forty-three countries have successfully eliminated malaria, with Cabo Verde becoming the third African country declared malaria-free earlier this year. Africa, however, still continues to experience the highest share of the global malaria burden, with 94% of malaria cases and malaria deaths. To discuss the challenges and opportunities to eliminate malaria, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with two influential African women leaders. Francine Ntoumi is the Founder, President and Executive Director of the Congolese Foundation for Medical Research in the Republic of the Congo who served as the first African leader of the...2024-09-1035 min
Global Health MattersDialogues: a conversation with Peter Hotez “Dialogues” is a series from the Global Health Matters podcast where we bring you interviews featuring fresh perspectives on global health issues. The goal of each Dialogues episode is to break through the echo chambers that exist in global health through in-depth, thoughtful conversations. In this episode of Dialogues, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Peter Hotez, an internationally-recognized physician-scientist in neglected tropical diseases and vaccine development. In 2022, Hotez and his colleague Maria Elena Bottazzi were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for “their work to develop and distribute a low-cost COVID-19 vaccine to people of the world without p...2024-08-1333 min
The Geneva Health Files PodcastPodcasting As a Way to Break Barriers in Global Health: A Conversation with Garry Aslanyan Get full access to Geneva Health Files at genevahealthfiles.substack.com/subscribe2024-06-1326 min
Global Health Matters50 years of developing global health leadersWe kick off season 4 of the Global Health Matters podcast with an episode that highlights the remarkable career journeys of two research leaders and the role of capacity development in their formation. Host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Wilfried Mutombo, the Head of Clinical Operations at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as Yasmine Belkaid, President of the Institut Pasteur in France. As this episode is produced in celebration of the 50th anniversary of TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, TDR Director John Reeder also...2024-06-0431 min
Global Health MattersBonus episode: What’s behind your favourite podcast?This bonus episode is slightly different as our Executive Producer and Host Garry Aslanyan changes seats with Senior Producer, Lindi van Niekerk, to look behind the scenes of the Global Health Matters podcast. Many of you, our listeners, were curious about what it takes to host and produce your favourite podcast. Producing a podcast is both an art and a skill. It requires great consideration in identifying representative guests, asking thoughtful questions, and drawing out relevant and transferable lessons for a global audience. A podcast also requires a talented and multi-disciplinary team.Related episode documents, transcripts and...2024-05-1627 min
Global Health MattersDialogues: a conversation with Kinari WebbDialogues is a new series from the Global Health Matters podcast where we bring you interviews featuring fresh perspectives on global health issues. The goal of each Dialogues is to break through the echo chambers that exist in global health through in-depth, thoughtful conversations. In this episode of Dialogues, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Kinari Webb, a medical doctor, public health innovator and thought leader on how human and planetary health are linked. Kinari's journey started at the age of 21 when she worked as a research student in the rainforests of West Kalimantan in Indonesia. Years later, s...2024-04-1233 min
Global Health MattersBringing health stories to the front pageIn an age where misinformation and disinformation are valid threats to global health, reliable and trustworthy journalism is essential. In this episode, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with two health journalists who might tell the same story in different ways because of their respective audiences. Stephanie Nolen, the global health reporter for The New York Times, has reported from more than 80 countries around the world. Paul Adepoju is a Nigeria-based freelance health journalist and scientist who regularly reports for top media and science outlets such as Nature, The Lancet, Devex and CNN. He is also the community manager of the G...2024-03-2635 min
Global Health MattersDialogues: a conversation with Olusoji AdeyiDialogues: a conversation with Olusoji AdeyiDialogues is a new series from the Global Health Matters podcast where we bring you interviews featuring fresh perspectives on global health issues. The goal of each Dialogue is to break through our echo chambers that exist in global health through in-depth, thoughtful conversations. In this episode of Dialogues, host Garry Aslanyan speaks withOlusoji (Soji) Adeyi, a Nigerian global health practitioner, the President of Resilient Health Systems and a Senior Associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In his book, “Global health in practice: inv...2024-03-0539 min
Global Health MattersWalking the talk: advocating for healthy citiesIt's estimated that 68% of the world's population will be living in cities by 2050. In this episode, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with two pioneering leaders who have taken up the quest to make their cities healthier places by encouraging safe and active mobility. Jesús Carlos Soto is the Head of the Mobility and Transportation Department of the city of Guadalajara, and Silpa Wairatpanij is a Committee Member of the Thailand Walking and Cycling Institute Foundation in Bangkok. Guadalajara and Bangkok are two of 74 cities in Partnership for Healthy Cities, a global network of cities committed to reducing noncommunicable diseases a...2024-02-2039 min
Global Health MattersGeopolitics of global health - part 2In part 2 of our episode on the geopolitics of global health, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Ayoade Alakija, who says "everyone in the health sector must have a basic understanding and training in geopolitics." Ayoade is the co-chair of the African Union’s African Vaccine Delivery Alliance and WHO Special Envoy and co-chair for the ACT-Accelerator. She speaks about the world becoming a “geopolitical cauldron” and how that directly influences global health practice and policy.Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website.Subscribe to the Global Health Matter...2024-01-2733 min
Global Health MattersGeopolitics of global health - part 1In part 1 of our episode on the geopolitics of global health, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Ricardo Baptista Leite, who maps his career journey from treating patients with HIV and tropical diseases to serving four terms as a Member of Parliament in Portugal. He is also the founder and president of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, which brings together current and former political leaders in more than 100 countries pushing for science-based health policies. Together, Garry and Ricardo reflect on the global forces and factors that shape the economic, social, and political landscape affecting health for all. 2024-01-2436 min
Global Health MattersDialogues: a conversation with Vidya KrishnanDialogues is a new series from the Global Health Matters podcast where we bring you interviews featuring fresh perspectives on global health issues. The goal of each Dialogue is to break through our echo chambers that exist in global health through in-depth, thoughtful conversations. In this episode of Dialogues, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Vidya Krishnan, a health-focused Indian investigative author. Vidya’s book, “The phantom plague: how tuberculosis shaped history” (PublicAffairs Books, 2022), is about how history shaped tuberculosis, especially in India, and how tuberculosis transmission persists because of conditions such as poverty, crowding, a lack of politic...2023-12-0632 min
Global Health MattersDon’t wash away hygiene for healthAccording to WHO, improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) can save 1.4 million lives a year. In this episode, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Annie Msosa, the Advocacy Advisor for WaterAid in Malawi, who speaks about a recent cholera outbreak in her country that revealed the dangers of unsafe water in health care facilities. David Wheeler, the Executive Director of the Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute in the United States, makes the case for investing in WASH as an essential approach to preventing disease.Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website.2023-11-2136 min
Global Health MattersSnakebite gurus reveal untold truthsIn this episode, our guests tackle snakebite, a topic suggested by one of our research partner organizations, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) in Brazil. While snakebite is a neglected public health issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year, 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes, and up to 137,880 people die from snake bites. Host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Fan Hui Wen and Thea Litschka-Koen, snakebite gurus in Brazil and Eswatini, respectively, who reveal untold truths about snake bites in their communities and the complexities associated with producing and administering antivenom. Diogo Martins, the research lead...2023-10-1739 min
Global Health MattersRisking lives to save lives: Health workers in conflict zonesThe Safeguarding Health in Conflict coalition recently published a report that documented 232 health workers killed, more than 700 incidents where health facilities were damaged and almost 300 health personnel kidnapped in 2022. This episode dives into the circumstances and risks health workers face in conflict settings. Host Garry Aslanyan speaks to a health worker who has been on the frontline of recent conflict in Sudan. Their testimony is discussed with Susannah Sirkin, former Director of Policy at Physicians for Human Rights, and Samer Jabbour, a cardiologist who has worked in the area of conflict in health since war broke out i...2023-09-2138 min
Global Health MattersDialogues: a conversation with Daisy HernándezDialogues is a new series from the Global Health Matters podcast that includes interviews with some of the world’s sharpest global health minds and brightest thinkers. The goal of each Dialogue is to go beyond the echo chambers that exist in global health and to have in-depth conversations with guests who have explored global health issues from their multi-disciplinary perspectives.In this episode of Dialogues, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Daisy Hernández about her personal experience with Chagas disease and the journey she undertook to understand it while writing her book. Daisy is an essayist, mem...2023-08-2230 min
Global Health MattersLessons from trailblazers across generations - History matters part 2In the second of our history matters episodes suggested by you, our listeners, our two guests reflect on their personal experiences and engage in an intergenerational discussion on the evolution of sexual and reproductive health. Host Garry Aslanyan’s guests are Carmen Barroso, a lifetime advocate, researcher and implementer for sexual and reproductive health, and Dakshitha Wickremarathne, senior technical lead overseeing the implementation of FP2030’s Asia Pacific Hub. The discussion highlights how history supports future leaders through intergenerational learning and charts a hopeful path for the evolution of key global health challenges.Subscribe to the Global Heal...2023-07-1735 min
Global Health MattersClearing the air for a healthy futureThis episode brings together two grassroots advocates for clean air who share country case studies from India and South Africa, explaining why it is impossible to have healthy people living on a sick planet.Host Garry Aslanyan navigates the concepts of environmental justice and the impact of air pollution on communities with Shweta Narayan from Health Care Without Harm, who shares how community health workers were successful in pushing for stronger pollution control measures, and Rico Euripidou from groundWork, who reiterates the need for the health sector to advocate for environmental justice.Subscribe to the Global...2023-06-1336 min
Global Health MattersDecolonization, localization and WHO - History matters part 1In this episode we explore the multifaceted history of global health and how the narratives borne out of colonization, geopolitical events, and national ownership of public health inform policy and practices today. Among the narratives is that of the World Health Organization, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Host Garry Aslanyan navigates global health history with two guests. Sanjoy Bhattacharya considers the decolonization of global health and the democratic founding of WHO, which holds great promise for WHO’s future. Anne-Emanuelle Birn speaks about the evolution of global health and the rise of other key pla...2023-05-0938 min
Global Health MattersBonus episode: Podcasts for sparking conversations on global healthThe growing popularity of podcasts as an innovative platform for sharing experiences and views on a wide range of topics was one of the inspirations for starting Global Health Matters. As engaging and learning from our stakeholders is one of our goals, we invited some fellow podcasters and our listeners to join a live Twitter Space discussion on how podcasts are sparking conversations on global health. This bonus episode shares some highlights from the Twitter Space moderated by our podcast host Garry Aslanyan, covering topics such as the unique advantages of podcasts compared with other communication tools, the accessibility...2023-03-3136 min
Public Health SPOTlight PodcastHow to start a public health podcast, with WHO's Global Health Matters Podcast host Garry AslanyanTell us what you thought of this episode - send us a text!In this episode, Sujani sits down with Dr. Garry Aslanyan, the Manager of Partnerships and Governance with the World Health Organization and host of the Global Health Matters podcast. They discuss what the TDR is, how the Global Health Matters podcast came to be, and advice for anyone thinking of starting their own podcast.You’ll LearnWhat the TDR is and how they are helping to connect and advance public health around the worldHow the “Glob...2023-03-2947 min
Global Health MattersScience and diplomacy for global healthHow can scientists and diplomats work together to advance the global health agenda? Ilona Kickbusch, who founded the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute, reflects on her experiences working within science diplomacy and the importance of having strong evidence to be able to reach a diplomatic consensus. She also urges scientists to initiate dialogue with policy-makers and diplomats. Aída Mencía Ripley, Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Universidad Iberoamericana in the Dominican Republic, shares an insightful case study of how diplomacy enabled researchers at her university to contribute to the...2023-02-2834 min
Global Health MattersThe promise and perils of future health technologyWe kick off the new year with a conversation about new advances in technologies that are transforming public health practice. In this episode, we explore the promise and perils of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, infodemics and the importance of culturally appropriate innovations. While speaking with Florence 2.0, an AI health worker, host Garry Aslanyan tries to get advice on leading a healthier lifestyle. Yara Aboelwaffa, co-founder of Health 2.0 Egypt, tells us about the fastest-growing innovations in the Middle East. And Tim Mackey, co-founder of a health care big data startup, shares the realities of attracting funding for pu...2023-01-2437 min
Global Health MattersLifting the lid on corruption to cure health systemsCorruption is one of the most important barriers to implementing universal health coverage around the world; imagine what that world would look like! The subject of corruption in global health is often muted and totally taboo for some to even think it. This podcast episode on corruption is opening up the discussion to a wider audience to understand the scale of the problem for health systems and to hold more people to account for their part in the resulting damage. For this Global Health Matters podcast episode, our host Dr Garry Aslanyan delves deep into t...2022-11-2245 min
Global Health MattersCelebrating 70 years of protecting the world: combating influenza now and in the futureThe seasonal influenza virus, or flu as it is widely known, infects over a billion people a year, resulting in up to 650,000 respiratory deaths annually. For this Global Health Matters podcast episode TDR have partnered with GISRS, the World Health Organization’s Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. Podcast host Dr Garry Aslanyan brings together two professors to share their unique experiences from both the global and national level of the influenza response: GUESTS: Mahmudur Rahman – Former Director, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research and National Influenza Center John...2022-10-1835 min
Global Health MattersThe health journey of refugees and migrants is global health Global Health Matters is the monthly podcast from TDR, if you like our content then please subscribe. We embrace the fact that public health and global health are intertwined and through our podcast we hope to engage with broader topics bringing together experts from across the globe providing a platform for wider engagement. For this episode we bring you a topic that rarely reaches the top of the global health agenda, that is the subject of the health of refugees and migrants. This podcast episode lays out the key issues for the listener and through our guests it bu...2022-09-2036 min
Public Health InsightWorking Within The Complexities Of Global Health | ft. Dr. Garry Aslanyan, Manager of Partnerships and Governance at the WHO TDRGlobal health and local health have never been more interrelated than now. However, working collaboratively in the global health space can present many unique challenges. The good news is that these complexities can be navigated through effective global health practice. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Garry Aslanyan, Manager of Partnerships and Governance at the WHO TDR, remains to continue the discussion on the:◼️ Importance of pragmatism when working within the complexity of global health;◼️ Key traits of global health leaders;◼️ Most enjoyable components of working at the WHO TDR;◼...2022-09-1322 min
Public Health InsightWhy You Should Care About Global Health Diplomacy | ft. Dr. Garry Aslanyan, Manager of Partnerships and Governance at the WHO TDRWhat happens in one part of the world will undoubtedly impact somewhere else. Global health governance and diplomacy are essential in ensuring health is considered in foreign national security, trade policies, and geopolitical relationships. In this episode of the Public Health Insight Podcast, Dr. Garry Aslanyan, Manager of Partnerships and Governance at the WHO TDR, joins to discuss:◼️ The best analogy for why dentists are a good fit in global health and public health;◼️ An overview of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Special Programme on Research and Training on Tropical Diseases (TDR);2022-09-0630 min
Global Health MattersGlobal health career paths: learn, mentor, practice, repeatGlobal Health Matters is the monthly podcast from TDR, please subscribe. GHMs brings you topical subjects and insightful discussions with health experts from across the globe, including a focus on low-to middle-income countries. Are you a professional looking to progress further or perhaps a global health student at the early stage of your career? There are so many routes to get into a career in global health, so this podcast episode discussion is with two career professionals sharing their knowledge of how they chose their path and giving clear guidance on ways to get the support needed t...2022-08-2335 min
Global Health MattersThe future of global health is through diversity and dignityAn important Global Health Matters podcast topic this month, discussing the need to build an awareness of the ways we interact with colleagues in the workplace to adapt our programmes to be more inclusive. We need to talk about “the future of global health through diversity and dignity”. Host Garry Aslanyan interviews our special guests who have a deep understanding of diversity and dignity and their application worldwide. Our first guest, Marie Ba, is from Ouagadougou Partnership where she advocates for reproductive health and development across West and Central Africa. Marie Ba questions whether diversity is just a tick-b...2022-07-1230 min
Global Health MattersTest to protect: equal access to diagnostics for allThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new global awareness of the accessibility of diagnostics: we need to test to protect with equal access for all. In this episode of Global Health Matters, we answer key questions such as “how available are essential diagnostics in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)?” Host Garry Aslanyan interviews our special guests who have a deep understanding of diagnostics and their application worldwide. Bill Rodriguez is CEO of FIND, the global alliance for diagnostics, and is also founder of his own diagnostics company, Daktari Diagnostics. Our second guest is Sikhulile Moyo who led the t...2022-06-1432 min
Global Health MattersPaths to a disease-free world: control, eliminate, eradicateWhat are the differences between the various paths to a disease-free world? Why are we pursuing eradication of some diseases while for others, control or elimination is the more realistic option? In this episode, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with three experts who answer these questions and more. Uche Amazigo shares lessons she learned during her tenure as the Director of the WHO African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control; David Reddy discusses the new and exciting innovations for malaria elimination; and Aidan O’Leary makes the case for pursuing worldwide eradication of polio. Join us in this discovery of wha...2022-05-1042 min
Global Health MattersChampioning health equity in South AfricaEpisode 12Championing health equity in South AfricaAs the world commits to equitable access to medicines and vaccines, is this just on paper or a reality? In the case of COVID-19, as of early March 2022, 74% of those in high-income countries have been fully vaccinated, compared with just 11% of people in low-income countries. Can South Africa’s experience with tackling HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 point to future solutions for other low- and middle-income countries? How has intellectual property rights affected development of vaccines across Africa? In this episode, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with the following gue...2022-04-1237 min
Global Health MattersBonus episode: A conversation with our listenersThroughout the first season of Global Health Matters, we’ve covered a range of topics including research during the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling racism within global health, science communication and implementation research. For this bonus episode, host Garry Aslanyan sat down with two of our listeners who shared their reflections on various episodes from Season 1: Teresa Soop, Senior Research Advisor, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)Mohammad Al Safadi, Senior Health Officer, Global Polio Eradication Initiative Related documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website at https://tdr.who.int...2022-03-1529 minGlobal Health MattersActions for decolonizing global healthWhat are the colonial legacies in global health? And what impact have they had on how some health and health research programmes are run in Africa? In this episode, we speak to two visionary women leaders who tell us what’s wrong in global health and give concrete steps toward more equitable and inclusive partnerships. Host Garry Aslanyan speaks with the following guests:Catherine Kyobutungi, Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Center in KenyaAgnes Binagwaho, Vice Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity in RwandaRelated doc...2022-02-0838 minGlobal Health MattersNavigating digital health wavesIncreasingly, digital technologies are transforming the delivery of health services and the functioning of health systems. Many of these technologies have also presented new ways of doing research and informed rapid decision-making. In this episode, we hear how UNICEF worked with Jamaica to rapidly deploy an electronic registry solution for the COVID-19 vaccine. We also learn that the Philippine government created a huge opportunity for research by allowing open access to data from COVID-19 tests.Host Garry Aslanyan speaks with the following guests: Alvin Marcelo: Executive Director of Asia eHealth Information Network andChief Medical Information Officer o...2022-01-1137 minGlobal Health MattersDiscoveries from vaccine implementationThe World Health Organization recently made the historic recommendation to widely use the first ever malaria vaccine, RTS,S. This recommendation was based on evidence generated from a pilot vaccine implementation programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi that has reached more than 800 000 children since 2019. This is an excellent example of how evidence based on implementation research tells us whether health interventions, such as vaccines, will be effective in real life, after clinical trials show its efficacy and safety. In this episode, Margaret Gyapong of the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ghana shares her first-hand experiences and learnings...2021-11-0938 minGlobal Health MattersCommunicating science, not fictionThis episode features three renowned communicators of science who work to inform, educate and inspire the public about health issues. Microbiologist Natalia Pasternak has become one of the leading communicators of science in Brazil and internationally. As founder of Instituto Questão de Ciência, she offers advice on how others can set up science communication institutes in their countries. Imogen Foulkes reflects upon how scientists can better communicate their research to the public, given her experience as a journalist with the BBC News and SWI swissinfo.ch based in Geneva. And Sonia Lowman of International Medical Corps highlights the...2021-10-1940 minGlobal Health MattersReimagining research leadershipStrong research ecosystems require strong research leaders. In this episode, we hear from Karlee Silver who speaks about how Grand Challenges Canada has supported the discovery and research of new solutions to health and other challenges. Tembeka Mpako-Ntusi of Cape Peninsula University of Technology in South Africa says research management at universities should address not only current challenges but also those lurking on the horizon.Host Garry Aslanyan is joined by the following guests:Karlee Silver Co-CEO, Grand Challenges CanadaTembeka Mpako-NtusiFormer Director of Research, Cape...2021-09-2143 minGlobal Health MattersClimate change’s impact on healthFrom a global challenge to the Maasai steppe of TanzaniaMost climate change predictions show an upward trend in temperature for at least the next nine decades. Rural communities whose health and livelihoods depend on the environment are more vulnerable to climate change. In recent years, persistent droughts have made Maasai communities in northern Tanzania vulnerable to sleeping sickness, a disease spread by the tsetse fly. Paul Gwakisa of Sokoine University has dedicated his research to helping the Maasai people better understand and prevent outbreaks of sleeping sickness in their communities. Pierre Quiblier of the UN...2021-08-2449 minGlobal Health MattersMothers of the Amazon River: a social innovation for healthMamás del Río is a social innovation focused on improving maternal and newborn health in rural regions of the Amazon in Peru and Colombia. This episode explores how communities, citizen-led organizations and researchers are driving social innovations such as Mamás del Rio to improve health service delivery and strengthen health systems.Host Garry Aslanyan is joined by the following guests:Magaly BlasDirector, Mamás del Río (Mothers of the River)Luis Gabriel Cuervo Senior Advisor, Pan American Health OrganizationRelated docum...2021-07-0831 minGlobal Health MattersCOVID-19 in Africa: the role of researchSharing experiences and perspectives on how Tanzania and South Africa’s research communities have tackled the pandemic Africa has not seen the same scale of devastation from COVID-19 seen in other regions. Join host Garry Aslanyan as he and his guests explore some of the reasons why African countries have been able to deal with the pandemic so effectively. These include a prior experience in dealing with epidemics such as Ebola, strong sub-regional research networks and long-standing investments in research capacity.This episode features:Paul KazyobaDirector of Research, Tanzania Nat...2021-06-1541 minGlobal Health MattersWomen in ScienceIn science, globally, women account for only about 30% of researchers, according to UNESCO, and evidence shows that their participation is even lower at leadership and decision-making levels. Why is that, and what is being done to better support women’s careers in science?Join Dr Garry Aslanyan and his expert panel of guests as they share their inspiring journeys as women leaders in global health. They also discuss the root causes of gender inequality in science and some strategies they have developed to address them.This episode features:Rose Leke, Founder of HIGHER Women Co...2021-05-2654 minGlobal Health MattersResearch in the time of COVID-19 The first episode of Global Health Matters takes us on a journey to Somalia, India and Benin to explore how researchers have adapted to one of the greatest challenges we have ever faced — the COVID-19 pandemic. Join Dr Garry Aslanyan and his expert panel of guests as they discuss the innovative approaches they have taken to continue their work amid the crisis.GuestsSuneeta Krishnan, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, India Country OfficeMuna Abdi, Somaliland Central Statistics Department, SomaliaDissou Affolabi, National Tuberculosis Programme, BeninRelated documents, transcripts and other information can be foun...2021-04-2948 min