*By Kalinga Seneviratne COLOMBO, Sri Lanka | 16 December 2025 (IDN) — The ongoing exodus of health professionals to greener pastures abroad has critically weakened Sri Lanka’s healthcare system, and significantly impacted its ability to provide effective medical relief during the recent devastating floods caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The mass migration of doctors, specialist consultants, […]
Accessibility to the Disabled isn’t a Luxury – it’s a Necessity
By Tanja B. Sejersen & & Manal Hassan* BANGKOK | 14 November 2025 (IDN) — Imagine being invisible—not because you’re unseen, but because your existence isn’t officially recorded. For millions of children with disabilities across Asia and the Pacific, this is a daily reality. A recent UNICEF report reveals stark disparities in access to rights […]
The Hidden Toll of Maternal Mortality in Kenya
Reflections from Kenya’s high-level policy dialogue and civil society convening in Nairobi By Dr Margaret Lubaale and Lisa Mushega* Nairobi, Kenya | 30 September 2025 (IDN) — Behind every maternal death in Kenya is a family forever changed. Children lose their mothers, communities lose their leaders, and the country loses its potential. At a recent […]
Climate change impact on workers’ health explored at Osaka EXPO
By Mahinda Seneviratne* OSAKA, Japan | 8 September 2025 (IDN) — As the sun rose over the picturesque, volcanic mountain region of central Kyushu in Japan, four young women from Myanmar were reporting for work as house maids at a local ryokan (Japanese-style inn). They are part of the growing number of migrant workers evident […]
Rewriting the Rules: Centering Adolescents in Reproductive Health Education
By Whitney Atieno | 22 July 2025 (IDN) Youth Advocate for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights In Kenya, there is a harmful and outdated belief that contraceptive education is only for the married. This assumption ignores critical group adolescents who are sexually active and face serious reproductive health risks, yet are denied accurate information […]
Disaster Preparedness: Anew From the Ancient Old
By Yossef Ben-Meir* Marrakech, Morocco | 4 June 2025 (IDN) — The Kingdom of Morocco is taking the wise measure of building 36 storage facilities that will serve the people’s serious needs during severe crises, should they ever arise, such as with the horrifying 2023 earthquake in the High Atlas region. Ancient knowledge captured in […]
Improving Cities — from Space
By Ladislav Charouz and Kareff Rafisura* BANGKOK | 2 November 2024 (IDN) — Despite offering a range of opportunities, urbanisation poses a set of unique challenges to sustainable development. The rapid expansion of cities often results in the growth of informal settlements, with East and South-East Asia being home to 370 million people living in […]
UN Health Agency Warns of Imminent Famine in Gaza
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA | 18 March 2024 (IDN) — The situation in Gaza is catastrophic, and northern Gaza faces imminent famine. According to the latest analysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) partnership released today, the rest of the Strip is also at risk. Over a million people are expected to face […]
Kazakhstan Continues to Suffer Awful Impact of Nuclear Tests
By Aurora Weiss VIENNA. 4 August 2023 (IDN) — The Central Asian Republic of Kazakhstan, along with Japan and other Pacific Island states, is one of the most challenging in terms of the consequences of testing or use of nuclear weapons. Being a young state, Kazakhstan is facing a very heavy heritage and its difficult […]
Nations Pledge to Improve Refugee and Migrant Health
By Bernhard Schell RABAT, Morocco, 16 June 2023 (IDN | WHO) — One in eight people worldwide is either a migrant or is forcibly displaced by factors including conflict, persecution, environmental degradation, or the lack of human security and opportunity. With this in view, United Nations member states and several UN agencies have adopted a […]