US launches first-of-its-kind environmental justice investigation
Public health departments have a responsibility to operate waste management in a safe, uniform, and equitable manner, but for years, sewage overflows have plagued Alabama’s Lowndes County, predominantly affecting Black residents. To address this injustice, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Read More...
Spain expands IVF access to single women and LGBTQ individuals
Spain has expanded their public health system to be more equitable with the announcement that single women, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people can have access to medically assisted reproduction, including IVF, making it available free of charge. Fertility treatment in Spain is already Read More...
Hyenas offer surprising public health benefits in African cities
Hyenas are often portrayed as the villains of the savanna, but a new study from the University of Michigan demonstrates that these scavengers are more useful than we might think. The study, based in the Ethiopian city of Mekelle, counted the number of hyenas seen around town as well as the number Read More...
This nonprofit trains patients' families to become expert caregivers
In India, it is common for some family members to take time off (sometimes weeks) to accompany and support a hospitalized relative, especially if they are moved to another city for treatment. However, these family members’ tasks are limited to making pharmacy runs to purchase medicine and Read More...
So you’re vaccinated and have been exposed to Covid-19, now what?
So you’re fully vaccinated, but you just got word that someone you interacted with has tested positive for Covid-19. What do you do? In a situation that is likely to become more common as the Delta variant spreads, health officials have a few recommendations for how to navigate this tricky Read More...
Cooperation beats contracting for affordable homeless housing
A developer, homeless service providers, local church leaders, and a social impact investment manager have teamed up to demonstrate that cooperation between the private sector and non-profits can beat our traditional contractors when it comes to building housing for the unsheltered. They’ve Read More...
Four science-backed solutions to address the opioid crisis
During the Covid-19 pandemic, another epidemic has been raging in the US, largely unnoticed: the opioid crisis. As the number of drug overdose deaths reaches a record high in the US, researchers have identified several science-backed actions that could be taken at a federal level, and are indeed Read More...
How India’s ASHA workers are battling Covid misinformation
Even in regular times, India’s accredited social health activists (ASHA) have their hands full with providing everyday health advice and combating common diseases. Thanks to Covid-19, however, these essential workers have been forced to fight on yet another front: one of online Read More...
This futuristic bus shelter is designed to improve air quality in cities
Air pollution is one of the most pressing public health challenges facing urban areas today, so designing infrastructure that tackles this problem is key to ensuring a sustainable future for our cities. We’ve previously seen such innovations in the form of air-purifying advertising banners, and Read More...
Stimulus checks were critical in dropping hunger rates during pandemic
Back in April, we wrote about how Americans were overwhelmingly using their stimulus checks to cover basic expenses and reduce their personal debt. Now, according to new census data, stimulus checks, in conjunction with expanded access to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, Read More...