Emergency vaccination campaigns have slashed deaths from major infectious disease outbreaks by nearly 60 per cent since 2000, according to a new study published this week.

96 Global Health NOW: Northern Nigeria's Cash Incentives for Vaccines; The 鈥楾icking Time Bomb鈥� of AIDS Shortfalls; and Up a Pole Without a Paddle July 10, 2025 GHN EXCLUSIVE REPORT A mother holds up the cash incentive she received at the Farfaru clinic upon vaccinating her child. Sokoto, Nigeria. April 2025. Abiodun Jamiu Fighting Infant Mortality With Vaccines and Cash in Northern Nigeria
SOKOTO, Nigeria鈥擨n the region surrounding Farfaru鈥檚 primary health care center, health workers often had to persuade women to vaccinate their children.
 
That began to change with the 2014 introduction of the New Incentives cash rewards program, which spurred a surge in mothers bringing their children in for childhood immunizations to protect against diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis B, and polio. The clinic now sees ~30 to 40 babies a day.

• The initiative operates in government-run health facilities across 11 northern states鈥攚here vaccine hesitancy and misinformation run rampant, and missed vaccinations contribute to rising infant mortality rates.


• At least 41% of Nigeria鈥檚 deaths among children under 5 may have been prevented with vaccines, .

More than just the cash: New Incentives also conducts a rapid assessment to survey the level of vaccine hesitancy, then reaches out to village leaders and locals to share information about immunizations and demystify deep-rooted misconceptions.
  Is it sustainable? The initiative is commendable, but only feasible as a short-term measure, says , a University of Ilorin professor, citing the risk of caregivers growing dependent on the incentives鈥攚hich are donor-dependent, with no guarantees in the current funding climate. GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners
Lassa fever has killed 148 people and sickened 790 in Nigeria over the last 6 months by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention; the virus, which causes hemorrhagic fever, has spread to 20 states.

U.S. measles cases have hit their highest level in 33 years; 1,288 cases have been reported this year鈥攖he highest total since the U.S. eliminated the disease in 2000.

Fungal infections are getting harder to treat as they become more drug-resistant, , which focused on infections caused by Aspergillus fumigatus鈥攐ne of the WHO鈥檚 top concerns on its .

An initiative to boost taxes on tobacco, sugary drinks, and alcohol has been introduced by the WHO; the 鈥溾�� effort urges international governments to implement such taxes by at least 50% by 2035 in an effort to reduce noncommunicable disease. HIV/AIDS The 鈥楾icking Time Bomb鈥� of AIDS Shortfalls
Last year, the annual UNAIDS global update reported major progress: The number of people who died of AIDS represented the lowest levels seen in 30+ years, and more people than ever were getting access to lifesaving medications.

is far more sobering: The sudden U.S. decision to withdraw funding for AIDS programs worldwide has led to a 鈥渟ystemic shock鈥� to supply chains, clinics, health care staffing, testing, and medication access that, if not addressed, could lead to 4 million+ AIDS-related deaths and 6 million more HIV infections by 2029, . 

• 鈥淭his is not just a funding gap鈥攊t鈥檚 a ticking time bomb,鈥� said UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima.

Meanwhile, countries criminalizing same-sex sexual activity are increasing鈥攚ith key populations such as gay men and people who inject drugs especially vulnerable, . Countries cracking down on rights include Mali, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana, and notably, Uganda: 
  Queer Ugandans Face More Tribulations
After Uganda passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2023鈥攚hich includes the death penalty for 鈥渁ggravated homosexuality鈥濃�攎any queer Ugandans sought safety in nearby Kenya. 

But soon after the Ugandan act鈥檚 passage, Kenya introduced its Family Protection Bill, which not only prohibits same-sex relationships鈥攊f made law, it would ban pronouns, gender reassignment, and sex education.

• Kenya hosts ~1,000 LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers鈥攑rimarily from Uganda, per a 2021 UNHCR estimate.


• Most LGBTQ+ asylum seekers from Uganda are sent to Kakuma refugee camp, which is 鈥渕arked by hate crimes, discrimination and other human rights violations.鈥�

  ALMOST FRIDAY DIVERSION Up a Pole Without a Paddle
It鈥檚 summertime in the Netherlands, which means long days, coastal picnics, and athletes using 4-stories-tall poles to fling themselves across canals. 

鈥楾is the season of fierljeppen: a sport that is equal parts pole vault, long jump, and cannon-balling into canals that is 鈥渞eally a typically Dutch sport," . 

Vaulting ambitions: Competitors sprint toward a 12-meter pole, launching themselves in a graceful arc over the canal, . They then hastily scale the pole in an effort to jump to a sandbank on the other side. 

• That鈥檚 the goal, anyway: All participants must be good swimmers. 

One-upmanship: The gravity-defying sport鈥檚 origins date back centuries, when farmers used poles to cross canals and ditches that separated fields. Legend has it that a series of bar bets led to an informal competition in 1767鈥攁nd eventually a formal sport that now involves ~600 athletes in organized leagues, . 

• But fierljeppen hasn鈥檛 caught on in other countries, observes De Groot: "I think because in the rest of the world there are not so many canals and also maybe the people are not so crazy.鈥� 

OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS USAID Lost: Stories from Colombia, Kenya, and Nepal 鈥�

鈥榁ery limited time to react鈥�: Texas flash floods expose challenges in early warning 鈥�

Burkina Faso鈥檚 only eye doctor for children sees the trauma of both play and conflict 鈥�

Symbolic 鈥榮cience fair鈥� showcases research cut by Trump team 鈥�

Texas Overhauls Anti-Abortion Program That Spent Tens of Millions of Taxpayer Dollars With Little Oversight 鈥�

Do we think enough about parents who care for sick or disabled children 鈥� and how not to make things harder? 鈥�

The Indonesian doctor tackling tuberculosis via treatment, tweets and TikTok 鈥�

How German Cities Are Rethinking Women鈥檚 Safety 鈥� With Taxis 鈥� Issue No. 2755
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .

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  Copyright 2025 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All Rights Reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.


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When Natalia Kanem reflects on her eight-year tenure at the helm of the UN reproductive health agency, she doesn鈥檛 begin with global statistics, boardroom breakthroughs, or even memories of her visits to refugee camps.

Devastating funding cuts from international donors are hitting countries hardest affected by HIV 鈥� but many are showing remarkable resilience and determination to keep progress alive. 

There are three Great Pyramids at Giza in Egypt - but imagine if there were 307 of the mighty edifices. And then imagine that they had dissolved into over two billion tons of sand and dust particles. 

96 Global Health NOW: 鈥楯udgment Day鈥� Scenes in Gaza; Kabul鈥檚 Looming Water Crisis; and America鈥檚 Insomnia Epidemic July 9, 2025 Palestinians gather to receive food aid distributed by a charity organization as the Israeli attacks continue in Deir al Balah, Gaza, on July 9. Hassan Jedi/Anadolu via Getty 鈥楯udgment Day鈥� Scenes as Gaza Crisis Deepens
As violence grows at food distribution sites in Gaza and the enclave鈥檚 medical system collapses, an Israeli defense minister鈥檚 plan to move all Palestinians in Gaza into a camp in Rafah is sparking legal and humanitarian concerns, . 

Details of plan: Israel's defense minister has instructed the military to establish a 鈥渉umanitarian city鈥� to initially house ~600,000 Palestinians, and eventually the whole 2.1 million population, . 

• Israeli human rights lawyer Michael Sfard described the relocation plan as 鈥渁n operational plan for a crime against humanity.鈥� 

Violence at new aid distribution sites is overwhelming doctors and humanitarian workers, who describe daily mass casualty incidents since the Israeli- and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began distributing food in May, . 

• The majority of incidents involve military gunfire, 鈥攊n scenes that 鈥渞esemble the horrors of judgment day,鈥� per one Palestinian nursing director.


• A journalist in Gaza seeking food described facing 鈥淚sraeli military fire, private U.S. contractors pointing laser beams at my forehead, crowds with knives fighting for rations, and masked thieves,鈥� . 

A doctor鈥檚 death leaves a void: Marwan al-Sultan鈥攐ne of Gaza鈥檚 two cardiologists and a hospital director鈥攚as killed in an Israeli airstrike, prompting widespread grief and outrage, . 

• 鈥淏y losing Dr. Marwan, thousands of people will lose and suffer,鈥� said another hospital director. 


• 1,500+ health care workers have died in the conflict, . 

Related: USAID review raised 鈥榗ritical concerns鈥� over Gaza aid group days before $30 million US grant 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners   The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for the Taliban鈥檚 supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, and Afghanistan鈥檚 chief justice, Abdul Hakim Haqqani, accusing them of crimes against humanity for the persecution of women and girls.

Climate change tripled the death toll of the latest European heatwave, , which attributed ~1,500 of the ~2,300 heat-related deaths over 10 days in 12 cities to climate change.

New vaccines for Marburg virus and Sudan ebolavirus have been announced for development by U.S. health officials; the vaccines aim to address 鈥渕aterial threats to national health security.鈥�

Breathing polluted air, even at low levels, may cause scarring in heart muscles, leading to heart failure over time, ; the damage occurred in both healthy individuals and people with heart conditions. WATER Kabul鈥檚 Looming Crisis 
Kabul鈥檚 groundwater could be depleted by 2030鈥攁 mounting crisis as the city of ~6 million contends with population growth, climate change, and poor water management. 

By the numbers: 

• Groundwater levels have dropped by 30 meters in a decade, and half the city鈥檚 boreholes have dried up, . 


• Already, ~80% of Afghans lack access to safe drinking water, and many rely on tanker trucks and arduous journeys to wells. 

Short- and long-term solutions needed: Several remediation projects were planned pre-Taliban takeover, including the construction of the Shahtoot dam and a Panjshir River pipeline. 

• They could still be effective, but their status is unclear鈥攁nd aid organizations say water solutions are needed now.

GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES SLEEP America鈥檚 Insomnia Epidemic
Insomnia can cause a cascade of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, depression, and injury from accidents. Yet it remains underdiagnosed, undertreated, and poorly understood.

In a must-read narrative, Jennifer Senior chronicles her own struggle and her exhaustive efforts to find solutions: from medication to new forms of therapy to attending the annual conference for sleep study.

An alarming problem: ~12% of Americans ; 30%鈥�35% suffer from insomnia symptoms at least temporarily. 

• 鈥淭he public and private sectors alike are barely doing a thing to address what is essentially a national health emergency,鈥� writes Senior, who calls for broader cultural and structural changes to address the sleep crisis.

Related: RFK Jr. Is Noticeably Quiet About a MAHA Obsession 鈥� OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS South Sudan鈥檚 longest cholera outbreak enters critical stage 鈥�

The Texas Flash Flood Is a Preview of the Chaos to Come 鈥�

Dinesh Raj Neupane: When Youth Costs More: The Financial, Physical, and Emotional Toxicity of Being Young with Cancer 鈥�

Chagas in Bolivia: The Story of Luis and His 'Double Engine' That Inspires Hope in the Chaco 鈥�

Chagas disease transmission: Kissing bugs readily invade human dwellings to feed on humans and companion animals 鈥�

Just How Harmful Is Vaping? More Evidence Is Emerging. 鈥�

Blood Tests Predict Dementia in Down Syndrome 鈥� Thanks for the tip, Chiara Jaffe! 

Stress is wrecking your health: how can science help? 鈥� Issue No. 2754
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .

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  Copyright 2025 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All Rights Reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.


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As scores of people 鈥� including medical staff and their families 鈥� have reportedly been killed in the past week, UN health partners in Gaza continue to provide emergency care despite very limited resources.

Original article by The Neuro.

Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours聽

A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.

Original article by The Neuro.

Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours聽

A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.

Original article by The Neuro.

Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours聽

A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.

Original article by The Neuro.

Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours聽

A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.

Original article by The Neuro.

Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours聽

A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.

Original article by The Neuro.

Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours聽

A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.

Original article by The Neuro.

Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours聽

A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.

Original article by The Neuro.

Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours聽

A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.

Original article by The Neuro.

Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours聽

A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.

Original article by The Neuro.

Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours聽

A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.

Original article by The Neuro.

Career of breakthroughs in neuroimaging recognized with one of the nation鈥檚 highest honours聽

A career that took an uncharted trajectory has been recognized with the Order of Canada, one of the country鈥檚 top honours.

96 Global Health NOW: U.S. Children: Canaries in the Coal Mine for Health; DRC鈥檚 鈥楽cattershot鈥� Vaccine Efforts; and Child Safety in Pakistan July 8, 2025 A child plays in a splash pad on a hot day at the Earvin "Magic" Johnson Recreation Area. Los Angeles, May 20. Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Children鈥檚 Health Declines in the U.S.: 鈥楥anaries in the Coal Mine鈥�
U.S. children's physical and mental health has deteriorated across a range of key indicators over 17 years, 鈥攆indings that one researcher described as 鈥渃anaries in the coal mine鈥� reflecting wider problems with Americans鈥� health, . 

Worsening health trends between 2007鈥�2023, : 

Chronic conditions: U.S. children ages 3鈥�17 are now 15鈥�20% more likely to have chronic conditions than in 2011, including obesity, anxiety, sleep apnea, autism, and ADHD.

• Early menstruation, poor sleep, and loneliness have also increased.


• Depressive symptoms among high schoolers rose from 26% in 2009 to ~40% in 2023.

Mortality: U.S. children were about 80% more likely to die than peers in 18 other high-income countries, with leading causes of death including firearms, car crashes, and substance abuse.

• Lack of health coverage also plays into the disparity, . 

The Quote: 鈥淚t's a huge wake-up call that we really are failing kids right now," lead study author Christopher Forrest , adding that 鈥渢he whole ecosystem that kids are growing up in" needs examination.

Call to action: In an , pediatric experts affirmed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.鈥檚 emphasis on children鈥檚 health, but they said administration actions like questioning vaccine safety and cuts to health agencies are further endangering kids.  GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES The Latest One-Liners   Malaria medicine for babies made by Novartis AG has secured Swiss regulatory approval; the drug, Coartem, is the first of its kind and can be used to treat infants weighing 2鈥�5 kilograms (4鈥�11 pounds).

741 patients died during clinical trials for stem cell therapy from 1999 to 2017 at India鈥檚 Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Center, per a report by the country鈥檚 Comptroller and Auditor General; the report also found that the therapy failed in 91% of cases.  

200+ kindergarteners in China were found to have elevated lead levels in their blood tied to food tainted with lead-containing decorative paint; canteen staff at the kindergarten have been detained on suspicion of 鈥減roducing toxic and harmful food.鈥�

The CDC has ended its H5N1 avian flu emergency response, citing declining animal infections and no human cases reported since February; it will combine future updates with seasonal influenza reports.  U.S. and Global Health Policy News 11,000 more TB patients died after Trump's USAID cuts. That number will rise. 鈥�

鈥業t鈥檚 a nightmare.鈥� U.S. funding cuts threaten academic science jobs at all levels 鈥�

US adults want the government to focus on child care costs, not birth rates, AP-NORC poll finds 鈥�

Defenders of Medicaid cuts are misunderstanding a study I worked on 鈥�

The CDC Got Caught Citing a Fake Study. Again. 鈥�

FDA Layoffs Could Compromise Safety of Medications Made at Foreign Factories, Inspectors Say 鈥� MPOX DRC鈥檚 鈥楽cattershot鈥� Vaccination Efforts
The Democratic Republic of the Congo鈥攖he country hardest hit by the mpox surge鈥攈as vaccinated 700,000+ people since October 2024. 

But a new WHO analysis suggests it has made little difference, due to a lack of targeted distribution.

Obstacles: The country has received a small vaccine supply鈥攂ut it lacks the surveillance capabilities needed to more effectively prioritize at-risk groups. 

The result: A 鈥渃onfetti strategy,鈥� said Ana Maria Henao-Restrepo, a WHO vaccine specialist who led the analysis. 鈥淵ou distribute a little bit everywhere. The possibility of having an impact is diminished substantially.鈥�

Key insights: African scientists welcomed the analysis, saying it was the first rigorous evaluation of the vaccination program鈥檚 impact in the continent. 



Related: 

Health officials encouraged by recent trends in Africa鈥檚 mpox outbreaks 鈥�

Mpox Surge in Sierra Leone: A Stress Test for National Readiness 鈥� GLOBAL HEALTH VOICES CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH Promoting Child Safety in Pakistan
Children in Pakistan are highly vulnerable, with ~3% involved in forced labor and 3,600+ abuse cases reported in 2024. 

But prevention efforts are difficult in many conservative communities, as abuse鈥攑articularly sexual abuse鈥攊s a taboo subject, meaning parents are reluctant to report incidents. 

Rozan鈥檚 role: Rozan, a nonprofit founded in 1998 to prevent domestic violence, has sought to overcome such stigma鈥攖raining 1,000+ volunteers to raise awareness among both parents and children in communities across Pakistan.

• The group also seeks to teach men to break the cycle of domestic violence. 

OPPORTUNITY QUICK HITS Ordeal of Inuit girls from Greenland given birth control without consent 鈥�

Nipah virus infects 2 more in India, 1 fatally 鈥�  

Tiny nanobody shows big promise in fighting Nipah and Hendra viruses 鈥�  

The Neglected Crisis in Safe Blood Access 鈥�

If your cigarette box isn鈥檛 disgusting, it鈥檚 not doing its job 鈥�

The fight for a tobacco-free society is in peril 鈥�

Liverpool mobile greengrocer to reach 鈥榝ood deserts鈥� with aid of mapping tool 鈥�

454 Hints That a Chatbot Wrote Part of a Biomedical Researcher鈥檚 Paper 鈥�

New research shows Monday stress is etched into your biology 鈥� Issue No. 2753
Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, Jackie Powder, and Rin Swann. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on Instagram and X .

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  Copyright 2025 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All Rights Reserved. Views and opinions expressed in Global Health NOW do not necessarily reflect those of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or Johns Hopkins University.


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Global Health NOW is an initiative of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Contributors include Brian W. Simpson, MPH, Dayna Kerecman Myers, Annalies Winny, Morgan Coulson, Kate Belz, Melissa Hartman, and Jackie Powder. Write us: dkerecm1@jhu.edu, like us on and follow us on X .

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Anaemia remains one of South Asia鈥檚 quietest but most pervasive health crises, disproportionately affecting the region鈥檚 poorest women and girls 鈥� and with 18 million more cases projected by 2030, experts say urgent, unified action is critical.