An infectious outbreak raises questions about personal choice and public health, writes Santhiya Ramadas, 26, a Correspondent from Malaysia, as she looks at the issue of vaccinations. There is a current fear among Malaysian parents over the outbreak of the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) which the nation’s authorities are taking urgent and crucial …
Menstrual health is not widely discussed in rural areas, writes Azinwi Ngum, 25, a Correspondent from Cameroon, who spoke to Konda Delphine, an advocate working to change that taboo for the sake of girls’ health and education. Konda Delphine is a Cameroonian advocate for girls and women’s rights. She holds a master’s degree in Governance and …
Developing a healthy sense of self is a necessary part of life’s journey, writes Brenda McWilson, 22, a Correspondent from Nigeria and studying in Canada, who says the first step is to avoid comparisons with others. Some people need to embark on a journey of self-recovery and metanoia. You are a complete package and have no …
Policing is part of good governance but Badru Walusansa, 25, a Correspondent from Kampala in Uganda, argues that strong laws and monitoring are needed to keep the balance between the police and the public it serves. One of the outstanding achievements that this government was premised upon is maintaining a police force. By far, this is …
Science and technology have done much to improve health in recent generations, but Omer Fayshal Pavel, 22, a Correspondent from Dhaka in Bangladesh, argues that new threats to public health have risen and need to be addressed. It is the 21th century, the era of science. Technology has made our lives more easy and meaningful, with …
Famine refers to a sudden scarcity of food that can result in mass mortality from starvation, but Abdur Rafay Usmani, 21, a Correspondent from Karachi in Pakistan, looks at political and other pressures behind the tragedy. For a majority of our history, we used to think of famines as an ‘act of God’, outside the …
Fast food seems like a necessary convenience for the busy student, but Omer Fayshal Pavel, 22, a Correspondent from Dhaka in Bangladesh, argues that consistently making the wrong food choices can have long term and devastating impact. There is a proverb in Bangladesh: “If you want to reach one’s heart, then convince him with his …
Cultural ideas around food are subject to change, thanks to a fast-moving globalised world. But as Ashley Foster-Estwick, 25, a Correspondent from Barbados explains, disrupting old food cultures can leave populations at risk with poor health and unmet needs. Culture is usually defined as the ideas and attitudes that form the habits of a particular sect …
Mistakes, writes Trevon Pollard, 23, a Correspondent from Guyana now living in Montserrat, should be a catalyst for change and success. He urges learning from the hurdles of the past in order to see the possibilities of the future. On one of the longest afternoon walks I’ve ever ventured on, I was blessed with the …
Prosthetics can be an essential need for the physically disabled. As Gerald Nwokocha, 28, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Abuja, Nigeria reports, professionals in Nigeria are working to update knowledge and practices that will promote rehabilitation and quality of life. There is an increasing need for the rehabilitation of persons living with physical disabilities in Nigerian society, according …