‘Life & health’: overview of global health, climate crises, SDGs and Africa Agenda 2030

26 December, 2025 

Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) proudly announces its Maiden ‘Life & Health’ Symposium, a landmark convening designed to inspire dialogue, innovation, and collective action around one of the most pressing issues of our time: “Overview of Global Health, Climate Crises, SDGs and Africa Agenda 2030.” This inaugural symposium represents AHOA’s commitment to shaping forward-looking conversations that connect health, environment, and sustainable development across Africa and beyond.

The world is experiencing an unprecedented convergence of health challenges and climate-related crises. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss are reshaping disease patterns, food systems, water security, and livelihoods. These realities disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa, where fragile health systems and socioeconomic inequalities amplify vulnerability. The ‘Life & Health’ Symposium seeks to interrogate these realities and offer integrated, actionable pathways aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa Agenda 2030.

At the heart of the symposium is a bold premise: health is both a driver and an outcome of sustainable development. Achieving good health and well-being (SDG 3) is inseparable from progress on climate action (SDG 13), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), zero hunger (SDG 2), sustainable cities (SDG 11), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10). By convening experts across disciplines, the symposium will explore how these interconnected goals can be pursued through coordinated policies, resilient systems, and inclusive partnerships.

The Maiden ‘Life & Health’ Symposium is designed as a multi-stakeholder platform, bringing together policymakers, health professionals, climate experts, development practitioners, civil society leaders, academics, youth advocates, and the private sector. Participants will engage in high-level discussions, evidence-based presentations, and solution-oriented exchanges that bridge science, policy, and practice. The symposium will also provide a space for emerging voices and community perspectives, ensuring that local realities inform global ambitions.

A key focus of the symposium is Africa’s Agenda 2030, which contextualizes global commitments within the continent’s development aspirations. Africa stands at a pivotal moment: with a rapidly growing youth population, expanding urban centres, and increasing climate exposure, the choices made today will define health and development outcomes for decades. The symposium will highlight opportunities to harness Africa’s demographic dividend, promote climate-resilient health systems, and foster innovation that aligns with the continent’s priorities.

Participants can expect rich thematic sessions addressing:

I. Global health trends and emerging risks in a changing climate;

II. Climate-sensitive diseases and the future of prevention and preparedness;

III. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the context of climate resilience;

IV. Policy coherence and governance for integrated SDG implementation;

V. Financing and partnerships for sustainable health and climate action; and

VI. Youth leadership and community engagement as catalysts for Agenda 2030.

Beyond knowledge exchange, the symposium is action-oriented. It aims to catalyze policy-relevant recommendations, foster cross-sector partnerships, and inspire practical initiatives that can be scaled across regions. Afrihealth Optonet Association envisions the symposium as a springboard for sustained collaboration, research, advocacy, and capacity-building that advance health equity and climate justice.

The ‘Life & Health’ Symposium also reflects AHOA’s broader mission to promote evidence-informed decision-making and civil society leadership in health and development. By creating a recurring platform for dialogue and learning through the 52 Sessions in the 2026 ‘Life & Health’ Dialogue Series, AHOA seeks to strengthen the role of civil society in shaping inclusive policies, amplifying marginalized voices, and holding stakeholders accountable to shared commitments.

As the world accelerates toward 2030, time is of the essence. The interlinked crises of health and climate demand urgency, innovation, and solidarity. AHOA’s Maiden ‘Life & Health’ Symposium offers a timely opportunity to rethink silos, align strategies, and recommit to a future where people and planet thrive together, a future that will always seek to ‘Leave No One Behind’.

Afrihealth Optonet Association warmly invites policymakers, practitioners, scholars, development partners, youth leaders, and all stakeholders committed to sustainable development to be part of this historic inaugural symposium, as well as partner with AHOA through the 2026 Dialogue Series. Together, we can deepen understanding, strengthen partnerships, and chart a resilient pathway toward better health outcomes, climate resilience, and the realization of the SDGs and Africa Agenda 2030.

Continued - with links (and my source):

https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/%E2%80%98life-health%E2%80%99-overview-global-health-climate-crises-sdgs-and-africa-agenda-2030

And - Happy New Year to All!

Africa's Nutrition Movement: Seizing the Window with Primary Health Care

Africa's mission to eliminate malnutrition is more critical than ever. Bubbling down the high level commitments to strategic programmable goals will be critical at primary health care and community levels.

The continent has made significant progress in recent years, but the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for sustained efforts to address the complex issues surrounding malnutrition, particularly for women and children as we build traction to meet the sustainable development goals by 2030.

"The year 2025 will also be significant as it marks the end of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition. N4G Paris will serve as a multi-stakeholder summit, advocating for ambitious financial and political commitments and fostering dialogue among diverse actors from around the world, including governments, international organizations, research institutions, civil society organizations, philanthropies, private sector entities, and more." - #N4G

Connecting dots is a a key imperative as we build Africa's nutrition movement. One of them is viewing nutrition from a programmable health systems lens. Have we given this enough traction ?

"The N4G conference presents a crucial opportunity for Africa to gain traction on its mission to eliminate malnutrition. The conference aims to mobilize ambitious financial and political commitments, foster dialogue among diverse stakeholders, and put nutrition at the center of the sustainable development agenda." - United Nations SDGs Professional Support Group for Africa

One of the key lessons from COVID-19 is the importance of strengthening health systems, particularly at the primary healthcare level. The pandemic has exposed weaknesses in many health systems, highlighting the need for increased investment in health care infrastructure, workforce, and services which will ultimately impact on nutrition delivery at the base of the health system.

The upcoming Africa Primary Health Care Forum , scheduled for Abuja on July 14-15, 2025, will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss the importance of primary health care(PHC) in achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and health security, as well addressing malnutrition in PHC systems. The forum will also explore the role of digital health, digitised workforce, partnerships and financing in strengthening primary healthcare systems and improving general health outcomes.

More details continued at: https://www.phc.africa/

Ebola and Mental Health, CDC Response to Ebola in West Africa in 2014-2015: Weds 15 July

Dear Peter, we are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming Webinar: 

Ebola and Mental Health, CDC Response to Ebola in West Africa in 2014-2015 on Wednesday, 15 July at 13:00-14:00 (CEST) 

Register here 

What can the Ebola response in West Africa teach us about mental health, trust, and outbreak preparedness today? We warmly invite you to our upcoming webinar “Ebola and Mental Health: Lessons from the CDC Response in West Africa, 2014–2015” on July 15, 13:00–14:00 CEST. 

Drawing on the 2014–2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and its rapid escalation, this webinar will explore why mental health and psychosocial support must be considered an essential part of outbreak response. The session will connect past lessons to current challenges, including the ongoing Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. We are delighted to welcome Dr. Anna Grigoryan as our keynote speaker. Based on her personal experience and deployment to Sierra Leone in 2015 as part of the CDC Ebola Response Mission, Dr. Grigoryan will share reflections on key response activities, communication challenges, and the intersection of Ebola response and mental health. The webinar will highlight why coordinated, international, and rapidly scaled-up responses are essential to reduce illness, deaths, fear, and psychosocial distress during outbreaks. 

Agenda 
13:00–13:30 Keynote by Dr. Anna Grigoryan 
13:30–13:50 Q&A session 
13:50–14:00 Wrap-up 

About the speaker 

Dr. Anna Grigoryan is a physician–scientist with over 20 years of international experience leading complex public health projects, fostering innovation, and building strategic partnerships. She spearheaded the WHO–CDC Collaborating Center for Global Public Health Informatics, serving as its first Program Manager. During her tenure at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), she contributed directly to emergency responses to major crises, including the Haiti and China earthquakes, the avian influenza outbreak, and the Fukushima nuclear accident.

In 2015, Dr. Grigoryan supported the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health during the Ebola epidemic as part of the CDC Ebola Response Mission. In her more recent role at the UN/IAEA, she managed a portfolio of projects focused on laboratory strengthening, cancer control, and emergency preparedness, supporting Member States across Africa. She has also mentored emerging leaders and promoted cultures of accountability and inclusion during periods of organizational transition.This webinar is intended for public health and mental health professionals, as well as everyone interested in Ebola response, outbreak control, pandemic preparedness, and mental health and psychosocial support.

Please note: The webinar will be recorded. If you do not wish to appear in the recording, you are welcome to keep your camera turned off.

We look forward to your participation and to an engaging discussion on the role of mental health in outbreak response.

Please register even if you cannot attend and we will let you know when the video of the webinar is available. 

For any questions, feel free to contact the Hub Management Team at info AT globalhealthhub.de. 

Warm regards,
Katrin 
------
Katrin Würfel, Global Health Hub Germany

Previously: 'ebola' : 'Africa' : 'epidemic'

[ganm] International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences - submit today to this exciting new journal!

Dear colleague,

The International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences (IJANS) is a new, open access, international scientific journal published by Elsevier. The broad-based journal is founded on two key tenets, i.e. to publish the most exciting research with respect to the subjects of nursing and midwifery in Africa, and secondly, to advance the international understanding and development of nursing and midwifery in Africa, both as a profession and as an academic discipline.

The fully refereed journal will provide a forum for all aspects of nursing and midwifery sciences, especially new trends and advances. The journal calls for original research papers, systematic and scholarly review articles, and critical papers which will stimulate debate on research, policy, theory or philosophy of nursing as related to nursing and midwifery in Africa and technical reports, and short communications, all of which will meet the journal's high academic and ethical standards. Manuscripts of nursing practice, education, management, and research are encouraged. The journal values critical scholarly debate on issues that have strategic significance for educators, practitioners, leaders and policy-makers of nursing and midwifery in Africa.

The journal will seek to publish the highest quality scholarly contributions reflecting the diversity of nursing. It is also inviting international scholars who are engaged with nursing and midwifery in Africa to contribute to the journal.

The IJANS is an open access journal and in 2014 there will be no publication charges for any author.

The Editor, Dr Hester Klopper (CEO, FUNDISA and President, STTI), welcomes submissions ...

With kind regards,

Tewodros Seyoum Nigussie
Lecturer, Msc in Clinical Midwifery
University of Gondar
Department of Midwifery
PO.Box 196

University website @ Gondar: http://www.uog.edu.et/

The GANM is part of the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center.

The thoughts, opinions and views that are posted on the GANM do not reflect those of either Johns Hopkins University or WHO.

Please visit the GANM webpage at: http://knowledge-gateway.org/ganm/

Call

Send SMS

Add to Skype

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Int. Handbook of Health Literacy - Ed. Okon, et al. c/o HIFA

International Handbook of Health Literacy

Dear HIFA colleagues*,

I was interested to see the publication of this new book International Handbook of Health Literacy, edited by Orkan Okan and colleagues.

Kudos to the editors and authors, who have made the content freely available here:

http://www.oapen.org/viewer/web/viewer.html?file=http://www.oapen.org/document/1005225

The early pages note: 'Besides the ongoing and tremendous public health efforts addressing health literacy in Europe, North America and the Australasian region, there is only little to no work still in Africa, very little in the Middle East, India and South America, and also very little in Russia and the Slavic countries in Europe.' Nevertheless, 'health literacy has been placed high on the agenda in the WHO Southeast Asia Region via the introduction of a health literacy toolkit for low- and middle-income countries to help communities to develop their own solutions'.

There is a chapter on 'A stated preference discrete choice health literacy intervention framework for the control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Africa' by Kenneth Yongabi Anchang and Theckla Kwangsa Mbunwe.Selected extracts below:

--

The function of health literacy in ensuring a healthy condition in individuals and communities is especially relevant in Africa, which is plagued with high endemic diseases, and in settings in which healthcare resources and infrastructure are, for the most part, limited (O’Sullivan et al, 2003; Remais et al, 2012).

Current health promotion interventions in current use in Cameroon and Africa at large are inadequate as they are too exo-centric in style, language and construction – a health literacy intervention culled from a very exo-centric set-up and tailored for the European context, for instance, may not be transferable to Africa.

Health promotion exercises in Africa are currently too linear in application. Linearity here means providing a solution to a certain problem without taking into account the contextual barriers of its wider implementation, which may be entirely different from what the researcher or facilitator wants to provide, as well as its perceived urgency and necessity.

Individuals in Africa for the most part grow up either with no health knowledge, little health notion or wrong health information that has been passed on from their parents. Some health information is misconstrued and parcelled into local beliefs systems and superstitions, thus making it difficult to dispel over time and space.

In a community whose priority is potable water, a health literacy intervention on curbing diabetes and cancer may not be quickly be accepted and sustain. This urgent need may mask the need for a literacy programme that addresses hypertension or cancer. To this effect, a joint intervention approach of providing potable water and then educating people on hypertension and cancer is the way to go.

Interventions for health literacy and promotion must always be built first on the ‘available local health knowledge’ that might, for the most part, differ from what researchers and health literacy providers would consider as evidence or knowledge.

Best wishes, Neil
HIFA

<>

Some reflections:

This is a very welcome text and step for health literacy. Even in a tome of 766 pages (I have not read it all) it is difficult to address all themes of significance within the field; and in turn please everyone. That is the case here.

It's not that I've got an axe to grind: I've two axes - in #h2cm.

How far is it between lifespan and life course on one-hand; and health career and life chances on the other? Especially when these are examined critically in the context of the sustainable development goals and the social determinants of health.

Chapter 42
Salutogenesis and health literacy: The health promotion simplex!
Luis Saboga-Nunes, Uwe H. Bittlingmayer and Orkan Okan

When examining the scientific discourse around health literacy, we are surprised to see that while scholars have been extensively discussing the ‘literacy’ component of the composed term ‘health literacy’, discussion of the ‘health’ element is hardly to be found. ... Today, broad literacy concepts addressing functional, interactive and critical literacy are added to the health literacy discourse, giving way to multiliteracies and social literacies to merge with health literacy (see Chapters 14, 18, 36 and 39, this volume). This was not only the impetus for multiple research strains that broadened the theoretical and conceptual discussion, but also facilitated the uptake of health literacy by various research disciplines, such as healthcare, medicine, public health, education, psychology or sociology (p.649).

The need to rethink, and maybe also construct, the health component of the health literacy concept and its social representation needs to consider that health can be understood and approached in different ways (p.650).

As a volume of recent developments in health literacy, that includes an Integrative Model of eHealth Use (p.277, 278) there is (imho) a need for a generic conceptual framework upon which to base the local, global and glocal theory, practice, management and policy of health literacy.  Not only that but how health literacy relates to other forms of literacy. If not you are more likely - conceptually bound - to loose your footing socio-technically. As Saboga-Nunes et al. note, a normative framework is needed (p.651). Negotiating forms of literacy invariably entails questions about design and in chapter 39 avatars extends this to ethics. Hodges' model can readily encompass and incorporate simplicity, continua, complexity: health and literacy.

There is much more here in this great resource, to which I will return e.g. Chapter 43, Figure 43.2 Research traditions.

*My source

Medinfo 2010 South Africa 12-15th September

Cape Town, South Africa will host the 13th International Congress on Medical Informatics from the 12 - 15 of September 2010.

This will be the first time MEDINFO is held in Africa. It promises to boost exposure to grassroots healthcare delivery and the underpinning health information systems. This will open the door to new academic partnerships into the future and help to nurture a new breed of health informaticians.*

Conference Theme

Partnerships for effective e-Health solutions

Innovative collaborations promote solutions to health challenges

The theme for the International Medical Informatics Association’s 13th World Congress on Medical Informatics, Medinfo 2010 is Partnerships for effective e-Health solutions with a particular focus on how innovative collaborations can promote sustainable solutions to health challenges. It is well recognised that information and communication technologies have enormous potential for improving the health and lives of individuals. Innovative and effective change using such technologies is reliant upon people working together in partnerships to create innovative and effective solutions to problems with particular regard to contextual and environmental factors.

As Medinfo 2010 brings together the health informatics community from across the globe we are seeking to focus on how we can work together and share our experiences and knowledge to promote sustainable solutions to the challenges presenting to us all. This will be an historical event as Medinfo 2010 is hosted in Africa for the first time.

My sources:

Implementing Best Practices (IBP) Knowledge Gateway GANM
& The Conference Company and the Medinfo2010 website.

Africa! While I have linked to many, I have never attended an International informatics event. This one sounds really special being in Africa.
*I would love to pass over the baton that is Hodges' model and also discover what other conceptual frameworks may be out there...?

e-Learning Africa 2009: Learn, Share, Network

Hi Peter,

I just wanted to touch base with you and make sure you received the press release I sent Tuesday about eLearning Africa. The eLa event helps educators in Africa learn about a variety of distance learning tools they can use to help expand their educational systems at home. This year, the event will take place in Dakar. eLa is one of the largest educational events on the African continent.

eLa has is working on collecting donations to sponsor men and women from remote regions who would not otherwise be able to attend. If you think there might be any interest in doing a story on eLa, it would be wonderful. The attention you could bring to this program could really help out people from these countries who are striving to learn. Many people say an educated world will make a more peaceful world!

I look forward to hearing from you to see if you are interested.

To view a video from the (latest) conference, visit
http://www.elearning-africa.com/press_gallery_video_film_2008.php

Take care,
Sarah Ray - Hayes
Public Relations Consultant at eLearning Africa

Hi Sarah,

Sorry for the delay and many thanks for these details which as you can see I am helping to publicise here. I will also post to twitter. Should you and your colleagues wish to feature an item on W2tQ then I would be pleased to assist - especially something on e-learning and health in Africa.

Whilst not absolutely necessary if there is some way you can link back this would be greatly appreciated. Hodges model is an ideal resource in helping to integrate concepts and engage stakeholders across socio-technical realms, global health and new forms of media and learning.

Whilst I am being very selective about links (seeking sponsorship myself) given that the conference is annual I will add and maintain a link on the main website and blog. As the h2cm website and blog are personal initiatives I need plenty of notice 6 months and more ideally...

Best wishes to all the team there with your plans and efforts.

Peter Jones
Lancashire
UK

Are concepts of adolescence from the Global North appropriate for Africa? A debate

'The proponents for the motion argued that adolescence is indeed a distinct developmental phase when puberty is achieved and the neurocognitive development that occurs shapes behaviours that impact health outcomes. This occurs universally, is marked by cultural rites, and recognised in legal frameworks and therefore geographical distinctions in understanding are unnecessary.'

'The opponents argued that adolescence is more than a biological or legally recognised transition to adulthood: instead, concepts, including that of adolescence, are shaped by beliefs, values and expectations founded within a cultural milieu. The concept is dissonant to Africa as it prioritises individualism over communalism, and attributes gender and social roles as accepted in the Global North.'

'Thus, many interventions targeted at adolescents in Africa have remained ineffective. The notion that the concept of adolescence, which originated in the Global North but is universally applied, is a consequence of colonialism giving less value to the lived realities and understandings of peoples from the Global South.

For achieving both epistemic justice and effective health policy and programmes in global health, acknowledgement and centralisation of context are critical. However, in a more interlinked and open world, there is a massive potential for cross-learning and collaboration across geographies to develop a concerted approach to improve the health of adolescents and for a more equitable global health practice.

However, adolescence is also a social entity shaped by beliefs and values within different cultural contexts. A move away from universal, often western-defined concepts of adolescence, to centring the distinct sociocultural factors that shape adolescence in different societies will enable more effective policies and programming.' (Summary box) 

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debate (argumentation) mental space, mindset my beliefs values expectations ENCULTURATION Not just NORTH - SOUTH  but WEST - EAST philosophy of mind belief systems "I DID IT MY WAY" individualism

[Hodges' model] 'Health career' - 'life chances'  2018 - scientific symposium Mwanza, Tanzania 'Adolescence is widely defined as a distinct phase in the life-course during which an individual completes their biological development and transitions from childhood to adulthood.' Appropriate for Africa - health interventions and global health policy that are shaped by such concepts can be universally applicable and relevant? geographical distinctions physical place, space, locale biology - neurocognitive - puberty

communalism universal - cultural rites adolescence - global north culture but applied universally 'adolescence is also a social entity shaped by beliefs and values within different cultural contexts' ETHNOLOGY - SOCIO-CULTURAL Gender - social roles The rise of POPULAR CULTURE: Arts - music, film, drama, literature ... media, technology "WE DO IT OUR WAY"?! "Comme d'habitude"

legal - policy Is there a universal conceptual model to critique*: UNIVERSALITY 'GLOBAL HEALTH' UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE HEALTH FOR ALL HEALTH INFORMATION FOR ALL 'COLLECTIVE EMPATHY' EQUITY - EQUALITY ...? In policy can you ignore LONG-LAT? epistemic justice  effective health policy programmes in global health - aimed at adolescents acknowledgement centralisation of context  glocal/global - WHO - national/local

Many thanks to the authors:

Nothando Ngwenya, Chido Dziva Chikwari, Janet Seeley, Rashida Abbas Ferrand - Are concepts of adolescence from the Global North appropriate for Africa? A debate: BMJ Global Health 2023;8:e012614. https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/12/e012614

My source:
https://x.com/chidodc/status/1735564926423277571?s=20

Reminded of 'My Way' :: 'American Graffiti'

*I have long wondered what models of care, models of nursing, nursing and care theories may be found in Africa, across Europe, Asia, South America, Native North America, Australasia and Oceania?  

Is Hodges' model truly global and universal - is it (can a model of care be) culturally neutral? Perhaps, this is another conference debate, or might constitute a special journal issue?

c/o HIFA - Publications re. primary health care & community health

Dear [HIFA] friends and colleagues with an interest in primary health care and community health:

Since my last communication with you more than 6 months ago, the entire field of global health has continued to be upended by our US government, with unconscionable effects on millions of people around the world, on advancements in global health research and its ethical foundations, and on the careers of thousands and thousands of people working around the world in the field of global health. As I said before, and I repeat now the obvious, it will take decades to build back what has been destroyed and to regain respect from the rest of the world for the United States and the values that most of us hold dear.

William Foege, eminent global health leader and former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote this biting editorial <https://www.statnews.com/2025/08/18/rfk-jr-public-health-threats-william-foege-smallpox/> in which he said, among other things, 

"We will live through this drought of values, principles and facts and again apply our talents to improving global health and happiness. Do not back down.”

Atul Gwande, now one of the foremost champions of primary health care and community health of our time (even though he is, like me, an erstwhile surgeon!) and former Director of the USAID Bureau of Global Health during the Biden administration, gave an eloquent presentation of his perspective on the aftermath of the destruction of USAID on 28 April 2025 at the Harvard School of Public Health.

You can watch this here:
<https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Atul+Gwande+presentation+at+Harvard+School+of+Public+Health+April+28%2c+2025&mid=26DA144398CF1F613D0A26DA144398CF1F613D0A&FORM=VIRE>.

Here are a few items of possible interest:

The Fourth International Symposium on CHWs will be held virtually next week.

I was most fortunate to be able to attend the second International Conference on Primary Health Care was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from October 6-10. It was a glorious event, with 750 attendees, mostly from Africa but with strong representation from UNICEF, WHO, Africa CDC, and other international organizations. 

The conference was sponsored by the International Institute for Primary Health Care – Ethiopia. <https://iphce.org/> Directors of PHC from 45 different African countries were present along with at least 50 community health workers from across Africa. There was palpable enthusiasm for the growing momentum for PHC across Africa.

Abhay and Rani Bang are world-renowned champions of community-based primary health care through their work with SEARCH <https://www.searchforhealth.ngo/> (Society for Education, Action, and Research) in Gadchiroli, India, with tribal people. Their seminal publications on the effectiveness of community-based primary health care and community health workers as well as their contributions to India’s national program for reducing neonatal mortality through home-based neonatal care, among others, have gained for them global recognition. Attached is an English translation of an article about their life’s work that was published in April Der Spiegel in the leading German magazine, Der Spiegel.

Nicholas Kristof has continued to share with the world some of the heart wrenching effects of the collapse of the United States Agency for International Development. The New York Times opinion columnist wrote <https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/opinion/trump-usaid-cuts.html> on 20 September 2025 on the human dimension of the shutdown of USAID, citing estimates that 690,000 will die in 2025 and 829,00 will die in 2026 as a result of cutbacks in USAID funding, and 3.1 million children will die during Trump’s second term from these cuts (a PDF is attached if the link doesn’t work for you [mod: HIFA does not carry attachments]).

Two recent publications on novel approaches to reducing child mortality have gained widespread attention.

One study <https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w34152/w34152.pdf> in Kenya provided a one-time transfer of $1,000 to poor families and observed a decline of nearly half in under-5 mortality as well as in infant mortality. Another study reported that wrapping

A recently reported study <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12462887/> from Uganda found that giving mothers fabric treated with permethrin, a long-acting insecticide to protect against mosquito-born illnesses, as a baby wrap dramatically reduced malaria infections in the infants carried in them. There were 66 percent fewer cases among those children compared with babies in the untreated wraps. By the end of the six-month study, only 16 percent of children in the treated wrap group had been sick with malaria, compared with 34 percent in the untreated wrap group, many of whom had multiple malaria episodes.

Now available for purchase on Amazon.com are several important publications related to community-based primary health care and community workers.

Feel free to share this email and these resources with anyone else or with any relevant listserve you may have access to.

You are receiving this email because of your interest in primary health care and community health.

If you know of anyone that you think would like to be included in the listserv, just send me the person’s name and email address.

Warm regards, Henry

Henry B. Perry, MD, PhD, MPH Senior Associate, Health Systems Program Department of International Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, MD, USA 21205 Hperry2 AT jhu.edu

HIFA profile: Henry Perry is a Senior Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA. Professional interests: Community health and primary health care. hperry2 AT jhu.edu

Africa Re-Imagined

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HUMANISTIC --------------------------------------  MECHANISTIC      

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Dipo Faloyin Africa Is Not A Country Breaking Stereotypes of Modern Africa	Astrid Madimba, Chinny Ukata IT’S A CONTINENT
Socio-Economic and Cultural progress ...	Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò Against Decolonisation Taking African Agency Seriously

Owolade, T. (2022) Africa reimagined, FT Weekend, Books Life&Arts, 23-24 July, p.8.

Image 'IT'S A CONTINENT'

https://www.waterstones.com/book/its-a-continent/astrid-madimba/chinny-ukata/9781529376784

Paper: "Control, Extract, Legitimate: COVID-19 and Digital Techno-opportunism across Africa" + Noma

Earlier this month in draft papers iii I mentioned a lengthy draft 12k words ... "Society, Technology and COVID19 in Hodges' model" which needs revision (COVID-19 waits for no person):

"COVID's source, global spread, national responses, and management are politicised; a memetic and geopolitical viral response (Kavanagh, Singh and Pillinger, 2021). The hope remains that globally we will get a grip of COVID and learn collectively; even as politics is in play (The Lancet. 2021). COVID revealed itself as signs and symptoms were reported and aggregated, patterns identified, and advice modified accordingly. Routine news was interrupted by a daily round of COVID briefings by governments, their representatives and
experts. Charts and statistics were presented, numbers crunched (mechanistically, of course). Some governments, in denial, face a legal charge. Comparisons of national cases and deaths are ongoing, hard truths (proverbial ‘cock-ups’) explained away — rationalised. The global distribution of COVID vaccinations, influenza and booster jabs, lays bare colonial traces of inequity and inequality. A further twist of the south and north seasonal oscillation.

COVID-19 is striking, simultaneously creating opacity and transparency. Accentuated and aggravated by populist governments, COVID is now marked as a pandemic and infodemic (Cinelli, et al, 2020). Post hoc governments and academia must understand the societal and cultural ramifications of news generation, dissemination, and outcomes."

Socio-technical approaches feature on this blog, in a published paper (bibliography) and in Hodges' model. Socio-Technical can help assure success but they must be tempered - shaped - by taking into consideration the individual (user's) psychology, benefit; and the political aspects - what are the costs, collective benefits and governance?

The following paper stood out on twitter (COVID-19 is not a laggard in keeping pace with robots it seems) and will inform my update of the above:

Platzky Miller, J., Sander, A. and Srinivasan, S. (2022), Control, Extract, Legitimate: COVID-19 and Digital Techno-opportunism across Africa. Dev Change. https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12734

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|

GROUP

logic(s)? . Fear - COVID-19 attitudes - receptivity (Expectations: now - future? Such actions spoil/taint technology.) individual psychology the 'user' (active/passive..)	socio-TECHNICAL robots digital solutions track and trace apps and vaccine passports (rate of failure) Life - Bio-Sciences TECHNO-
SOCIO-technical Societies Sustainable Development (Goals?) Social development, history Logics of control, extraction and legitimation Social Determinants of Health	OPPORTUNISM Political role of public health emergencies in Africa Rwandan government ZoraBots, a Belgian company Commercial Determinants of Health Colonialism: control, power Governance Neglected Neglected diseases - Noma?

My source:

How many lives did a robot save fighting #COVID19 in Rwanda? Short answer: ~none. Long answer: that's not the point. A collab bw @RwandaGov, @Undp and a Belgian robot firm, it's one example of rampant techno-opportunism across #Africa during the pandemic, with worrying effects... pic.twitter.com/6FWtlLR8b8

— Sharath Srinivasan (@sharath_sri) October 22, 2022

Plus: Re. Noma ...

Ioana Cismas (York) - What's in a Frame? A Human Rights Approach to Neglected Tropical Diseases - https://www.york.ac.uk/cahr/events/2022/justice-in-global-health-workshop/

https://philevents.org/event/show/101162

Concept Note in Support of the Inclusion of Noma (Cancrum Oris) on the World Health Organization List of Neglected Tropical Diseases (Commissioned by the Government of Namibia, 2016), 6 pp. (with Marie-Solène Adamou Moussa-Pham).

Srour, M. L., & Baratti-Mayer, D. (2020). Why is noma a neglected-neglected tropical disease?. PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 14(8), e0008435. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008435

Africa :: New Africa[n]

individual
| INTERPERSONAL : SCIENCES

humanistic ----------------------------------------------- mechanistic

SOCIOLOGY : POLITICAL

|

group


 

To be completed.

Africa, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Two abstracts for 2024 inc. Philosophy at Play Conference

This month, in addition to an abstract for:

MYTH, RITUAL AND PRACTICE FOR THE AGE OF ECOLOGICAL CATASTROPHE

https://hodges-model.blogspot.com/2023/09/myth-ritual-env-religion.html

- there is an invitation to submit a paper abstract for:

The sixth Philosophy at Play Conference will be hosted by the Faculty of Education at the Complutense University in Madrid on June 3-5, 2024

No one likes to waste time^, but whether or not these abstracts are accepted, the thought and effort will extend my thinking and application of Hodges' model. Beyond initial thoughts below, I need to check on the key issues in the philosophy of play:

INDIVIDUAL

|

     INTERPERSONAL    :     SCIENCES               

HUMANISTIC --------------------------------------  MECHANISTIC      

SOCIOLOGY  :   POLITICAL 

|

GROUP

play therapy (distraction ...) being outdoors: psychological impact of green symbolic play mental games - play intellectual skill, creativity imagination in play individual play child - verbalisation cognitive and character development - morality, personal ethics 'illness' norms - anhedonic addictive quality of gaming role of advertising play theology - utopia

play senses, kinaesthetics, embodiment accessibility information at play: uncertainty, bluff, prediction - movement, strategy functional play - toys/objects activities - performance space: arena, field, theatre games / sport - physical contest gaming as work / effort / energy gaming as tech/software simulation gaming 'in' Virtual Reality (tech's role in disrupting (idealised?) play? Games/Gaming as rules/process quantitative research - evidence

social inclusion/exclusion sociology of play (and in arts) socialisation language: "= playing field" role play :: fancy dress socio-cultural dimensions - history traditional play/games social behaviour, status, participation turn-taking, stigma (cheating) sports etiqette, 'fair play' team games (team building - work) Serres - Myth, History Harlequin - mischief

politics of play studies: oppression, marginalisation, erasure, vulnerable groups, exploitation* 'export' of games hegenomy, hierarchies software colonialism (Africa)** debates: guns in play, weapons, 'shoot em up' FROM: child's-play TO: gamesmanship whose rules, control of space? governance & politics of play economies of play 'A nation at play' media - controls - consumerism, advertising gambling THEOLOGY

*An example - previously:

Loot boxes: GET YOURS TODAY!

^Since posting: I realise that 'neutrality' in play (studies) and the call here appears an important concept. Clinically, Hodges' model can literally reflect unconditional positive regard, as a template the model provides a 'blank slate'; as long as we are being authentic and not 'playing games'.

In terms of this conference, can Hodges' model act as a referee - by providing a neutral space? It would appear so, but this is quickly challenged - if not illusory.

That neutrality is lost in the blink of an eye - shattered even, by a twist, a step of a foot. A shift from the nexus, center of the model - the neutrality is comprised. All of a sudden the observer is forced to play. Or at least there is an invitation to contextualize; psychologically, physically, socially, politically or spiritually.

A game to play in itself?

**c/o Bytes for All mailing list:

"Software colonialism is killing Africa" - Neville Roy Singham  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsKcQsfCDg8

BBC - Software Development in Africa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeDSLX8KFE0

The Communication Initiative Network and holistic bandwidth

In 2004 I attended a day at a community informatics conference in Brighton, UK (see the side bar for details). My interest in that event stems from recognising the different schools of informatics and the multidisciplinary potential for Hodges' model that extends beyond health and social care. The model provides a cognitive gymnasium for us to test and exercise our holistic bandwidth.

The notion of 'holistic bandwidth' really comes into its own within global development and communication. In 2004, or soon after I discovered The Communication Initiative Network. They kindly posted the Brighton position paper on their site and were very encouraging regards the model. Now they are developing a new Communication Initiative Social Networking Platform - http://groups.comminit.com/

There are many groups including:

• The Future of ICTs and Development
• Communication and Climate Change Adaptation

In the above group I learned of the following initiative :

There is an interesting initiative in Africa called AfricaAdapt. It is a network that works to facilitate the flow of climate change adaptation knowledge for sustainable livelihoods between researchers, policy makers, civil society organisations, and communities who are vulnerable to climate variability and change across Africa. There is a whole section on their website that allows for communities to upload their own information on how they are adapting to climate change. The initiative also offers an award for best community project which helps elicit contributions.

Africa: never far from the news. Lets hope this next week there is some +ve news from COP15 Copenhagen.

• Students - Communication for Development
• HIV/AIDS Strategy: Future Directions
• Polio Communication Consultation Group

There are diseases lost to the developed nations and with diseases like polio and leprosy communication and education are central to those who are ill and their families. Even as a nurse there is a stark reminder in the need for an International Leprosy Day.

• Gender, Education, and HIV/AIDS

On the teaching psychology list someone asked this past week about alternatives to structure a student's lifespan assignment. I suggested Hodges' model an approach that can also be adapted to educate people about disease ....

SCIENCES: aetiology, prevention, transmission, hygiene, diagnosis, prognosis, evidence, research, physical resources, drugs, nutrition, age, weight...
INTRAPERSONAL: attitudes, beliefs, education, literacy, personal responsibility, mood...
SOCIOLOGY: social networks, cultural beliefs, gender expectations, community, family, friends, trust...
POLITICAL: policy, leadership, funding, activism, infrastructure: housing heating..., access to services, media, employment, governance...

• Ethics in Communication for Development
• Gathering Theories and Models

This group only has 5 members and is of obvious interest to me. I can't recall whether I signed up: must check! Planning and development in this context covers topics and issues I know nothing of and yet I am sure that dressed in its socio-technical guise Hodges' model can contribute to the theoretical development here. It could be that there are other perspectives, models and conceptual frameworks to be found that can inform the global health agenda?

• DRAFT: Technical Update on Social Change Communication and HIV/AIDS
• Human Rights and Technology
• Web Site Directors

So, do visit the Communication Initiative both the new groups above and the general website.

IMIA monthly news bulletin; no. 8, 08 December 2009

My source: Rita Arafa, BCS Health Northern Specialist Group, Membership Secretary.
Original source - IMIA: International Medical Informatics Assoc. see below.

For more frequent news updates, and subscription options by email, RSS feeds, etc., see the IMIA
...

Items:

1. MedInfo2010
a] Early bird registration deadline
b] Submissions feedback dates
2. Forthcoming events
a] IMIA Working Group activities
b] Regional events
c] National/international events
3. Boards (deleted for brevity)
4. Publications
5. Corresponding members - new SOP (deleted for brevity)
6. January 2010 bulletin

1. MedInfo2010

MEDINFO 2010 - 13th World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics;

12 to 15 September 2010 in Cape Town , South Africa.

a] Early bird registration deadline

Early bird registration closes 18 December 2009 - book early to save money. The site for conference registration and accommodation booking payment is open - via the main MedInfo 2010 website.

(NB BCS Health will be offering funding for those participating in Medinfo 2010 – details to be announced soon).
b] Submissions feedback dates

The SPC and reviewers are currently working hard on the paper submissions and other scientific submissions. Notification on acceptance of papers should be by 28 February, 2010.

2. Forthcoming events

Due to the increasing number of events, we will only here mention those in 2009-10. Notices of events in 2011 and beyond will be added to the IMIA website and IMIA news website when they are announced or when there is significant new information.

a] IMIA Working Group and Special Interest Group activities

The IMIA Health Information Systems Working Group (IMIA HIS WG) will be organising a two day workshop on Health Information Systems – 30 Years of Evolution, that will take place on September 10-12, 2010 in Stellenbosch, South Africa, just before the Medinfo 2010 Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. Further details will be advised in due course.

A number of WG/SIG chairs and vice chairs have changed as of the 2009 GA. This information will be updated on the IMIA website in the next few days. ... If WG/SIGs have activities planned, please send in the information so that we can help promote them.

b] Regional events

The 2010 Special Topic Conference (STC) of the European Federation for Medical Informatics (EFMI) will take place in Reykjavík, Iceland on June 2-4, 2010. The event has the theme ‘Seamless care – safe care. The challenges of interoperability and patient safety in health care’. 

c] National/international events

HIMSS10 - March 1-4, 2010. Atlanta, Georgia, USA. http://www.himssconference.org/

eHealth2010 - May 6-7, 2010. Vienna, Austria. ...

e-health 2010 - May 30 - June 2, 2010. Vancouver BC, Canada. http://www.e-healthconference.com

HINZ2010 - 2-4 November, 2010. Wellington, New Zealand. http://www.hinz.org.nz

AMIA2010 - 13-17 November, 2010. Washington DC, USA. http://www.amia.org

4. Publications

Applied Clinical Informatics (ACI) is a new official eJournal of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) and the Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems (AMDIS), and will be published by Schattauer. This is Schattauer's first online journal. Full information about this new development, including instructions for authors, can found at the journal website –

http://www.aci-journal.org

The proceedings of the Post-Congress Workshop of the 10th International Nursing Informatics Congress (NI2009), which was held at Vanajanlinna, Finland on July 1-4, 2009, are titled “Personal Health Information Management – Tools and Strategies for Citizens’ Engagement”. The 215 page book has been edited by Kaija Saranto, Patricia Flatley Brennan and Anne Casey.

6. January 2010 bulletin

The January 2010 bulletin will be published on 04 January. We welcome all feedback (to imia@imia-services.org) and any news items, conferences, etc for the websites.

END OF IMIA News Bulletin, December 2009
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dr Peter J. Murray
Executive Director
IMIA, International Medical Informatics Association

Globally - seeking the ink of scholars

The Ink of the Scholars:
Reflections on Philosophy in Africa

Since the late 1980s, in trying to understand Hodges' model, especially its political dimensions beyond nurses as advocates, the mental health act, choice and self-determination. To be followed by consent, then informed consent, mental capacity, human rights, equality, protected characteristics, safeguarding, equity, social in-justice; I've then questioned my assumed neutrality of the model. 

Allied to this is the fact that Hodges' model is one of many models and frameworks, largely created in the developed world. What alternative viewpointsof nursing, care and philosophies are there? Do these challenge Hodges' model? Or, can Hodges' model also encompass them, in a complementary manner?

Serendipity, or ADHD, seems to follow me around. In addition determined to extract value from my purchase and reading of the weekend FT, I learned of potential key read:

Prempeh, C. THE AESTHETE. Koyo Kouoh, The curator of 2026 Venice Biennale talks whisky sours, working from bed and being the "high priestess of the okra church". HTSI, FTWeekend, 3 May 2025,pp.21-22.

'THE BEST BOOK I'VE READ IN THE PAST YEAR is a book on African philosophers, The Ink of the Scholars: Reflections on Philosophy in Africa, by Souleymane Bachir Diagne, one of our most brilliant thinkers. He challenges the idea that there isn't a philosophical framework to African societies. There are ideas around Africans being the great architects of hospitality and Diagne reflects on what the African approach to humanity is. What does it mean to be careful, mindful and caring? It's not just about welcoming people to your home or feeding them. Hospitality is carrying people, making people feel comfortable in your environment - it's intellectual and emotional. Everyone should read Diagne, full stop.' p.21. 

 

Shocked: I have just read of Koyo Kouoh's passing - RIP. 

Souleymane Bachir Diagne, & Jonathan Adjemian. (2016, May 23). The Ink of the Scholars: Reflections on Philosophy in Africa. CODESRIA Books Publication System. CODESRIA
https://publication.codesria.org/index.php/pub/catalog/book/40

See also: 'hospitality'