Public Health Power Hour: Recent Episodes
Vital Strategies
The Public Health Power Hour from Vital Strategies looks at how the world around us shapes our health, and how we can shape our environments so that everyone, everywhere has the potential for great health.
Vital Strategies is a global public health organization that seeks to accelerate progress on the world’s most pressing health problems. Our team combines evidence-based strategies with innovation to help develop and implement sound public health policies, manage programs efficiently, strengthen data systems, conduct research, and design strategic communication campaigns for policy and behavior change.
To find out more, please visit www.vitalstrategies.org.
In this timely conversation, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown Sierra Leone and Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet, President and CEO of Vital Strategies, discuss the critical role cities play in combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) ahead of the UN's Fourth High-Level Meeting on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and wellbeing on 25 September 2025.
Freetown is leading by example on NCD prevention as part of the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a global network of 74 cities supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with Vital Strategies and the World Health Organization. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr shares insights on how urban centers, home to nearly 60% of the global population, can deliver fast, responsive policy solutions where people live, work, and play. The episode highlights cities as powerful allies in global health action, demonstrating what's possible when urban leaders are resourced and empowered to tackle pressing public health challenges at the local level.
This episode references a recent statement from the Partnership for Healthy Cities, urging world leaders to recognize cities as essential partners in addressing NCDs . A number of mayors championed the statement’s call to action, including Mayor Aki-Sawyerr.
In the final episode of our Campaigns for Change series, we speak to creative director and story architect Kesu James to explore the radical shift from one-way public health messaging to community-driven, decentralized conversations. This episode dives into the evolution from Web 1 to Web 3, what it means for trust and authority, and how communicators must adapt in a world where your message is no longer the oracle—it’s the conversation starter.
We unpack what it takes to build public health campaigns that spark genuine dialogue, foster human connection, and meet people where they are—online, in community, and beyond.
Our guest on this episode:
- Kesu James, Creative Director and Story Architect
Visit the Campaign Beacon resource mentioned in this episode at www.campaignbeacon.org
In this conversation, we speak to Denene Rodney, CEO of Zebra Strategies, about the changing communication landscape, the need for trust in public health, along with strategies for building and maintaining trust. We also explore the role of messengers in reaching hard-to-reach populations. The conversation highlights the importance of consistency, dignity, and soft engagement in research, as well as the power of trusted messengers with lived experiences.
Our guest on this episode:
- Denene Rodney, CEO of Zebra Strategies
Visit the Campaign Beacon resource mentioned in this episode at www.campaignbeacon.org
In this episode we explore overdose prevention and harm reduction campaigns with Tony Newman, Director of Communications for Vital Strategies’ Overdose Prevention Program, and Gloria Malone, Senior Manager for Digital Multimedia Strategy. They discuss the power of communications to combat stigma, shift perceptions, and promote evidence-based solutions like harm reduction services and overdose prevention centers. Through real-world examples, they emphasize storytelling, community collaboration, and data-driven strategies to change hearts, minds, and policies.
This episode features:
- Tony Newman, Director of Communications for Vital Strategies’ Overdose Prevention Program
- Gloria Malone, Senior Manager for Digital Multimedia Strategy for Vital Strategies' Overdose Prevention Program
Visit the Campaign Beacon resource mentioned in this episode at www.campaignbeacon.org
This episode is the first in our Campaigns for Change series, where we examine how communications campaigns can help shape public health policy.
We speak with Jacqueline Murphy, Senior Director of Digital Marketing Innovation at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Michael Ward, Partner at agency M+R. We explore the evolving digital landscape for nonprofit campaigns, discuss strategies to counter misinformation, and how to engage diverse audiences effectively. Key topics include leveraging social media, storytelling, paid advertising, and lessons from impactful campaigns such as Planned Parenthood’s response to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision. We also discuss how an audience-centric approach and sustained communication efforts are crucial in advancing public health and social change.
This episode features:
- Jacqueline Murphy, Senior Director of Digital Marketing Strategy and Innovation at Planned Parenthood Federation of America
- Michael Ward, Partner at M+R
Visit the Campaign Beacon resource mentioned in this episode at www.campaignbeacon.org
In this conversation we’re joined by Jamie Cudden, leader of Dublin's Smart City Program, and Constanza Jimena Delón Córdoba, Director of Road Safety Information Monitoring at Mexico City's Mobility Department. We explore the use of technology and data to improve active travel, promote road safety, and create healthier and safer cities. Both Dublin and Mexico City are part of the Partnership for Healthy Cities and serve as innovation labs, sharing their experiences and learnings with other cities. The conversation highlights the importance of community engagement, data-driven decision-making, and the need for infrastructure and policy changes to prioritize public health and well-being.
Our guests on this episode are:
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Jamie Cudden, leader of Dublin's Smart City Program
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Constanza Jimena Delón Córdoba, Director of Road Safety Information Monitoring at Mexico City's Mobility Department
How can we help consumers make healthier food choices while shopping at the supermarket?
Nutrient warning labels can instantly inform shoppers if a product is high in sugar, salt or fat. But attempts to implement these labels face stiff opposition from the food and beverage industries.
In this episode we hear about the challenges and successes of getting front-of-package warning labels on foods in Colombia and Mexico, including industry interference and lawsuits.
Despite obstacles, they have seen positive results, such as increased awareness, changes in consumer behavior, and product reformulation.
Guests include:
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Javier Zúñiga, Legal Coordinator from El Poder del Consumidor
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Andrés Vélez, Partner at Edulegal, Colombia
We explore the impact of laws and regulations on public health, particularly in relation to tobacco control and food systems.
Our discussion looks at the importance of litigation in driving social change and provides examples of impactful legal action in Brazil and South Africa. The conversation also touches on the hurdles faced in enacting public health policies, such as resource constraints and the influence of powerful corporations.
Our guests on this episode are:
- Isabel Barbosa, Associate Director of O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law
- Sasha Stevenson, Executive Director of SECTION27
Whistleblower papers from inside cigarette giant Philip Morris International reveal the true intentions and strategies behind the company's IQOS non-combustible nicotine product.
The papers show that Philip Morris secretly funded research on harm reduction and cessation, created a comprehensive marketing plan to build support for the product, and targeted dentists and the Olympics for promotion.
The science of IQOS is still uncertain, but evidence suggests that it does not reduce the risk of tobacco-related disease and death, and it may increase exposure to harmful chemicals.
In this episode, we’re joined by Sophie Braznell, Research Coordinator at the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath and Jorge Alday, Director at STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog.
They discuss why public health professionals, policymakers, and consumers should be skeptical of the company's claims and take action to counter their marketing push.
We’ve known about the health harms of lead exposure for more than 1,000 years. But many people, including children, are still exposed to lead through various sources including paint, water and soil. In this episode, Dan Kass, Senior Vice President of Environmental, Climate and Urban Health at Vital Strategies joins us to discuss this pervasive public health problem, what governments can do to monitor lead exposure and what you can do to protect yourself from lead poisoning.
Improving diets by creating and maintaining healthier food systems and environments is paramount to addressing the $2 trillion global obesity epidemic. It’s a task that seems almost impossible under the deluge of ultra-processed products that make up most of our food intake. In this episode, Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health joins us to discuss her new report, “Food, nutrition and the right to health,” and how food security and nutrition are necessary elements for global progress toward all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Featuring: - Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health - Isabel Barbosa, Senior Associate, Health and Human Rights Initiative at the O’Neill Institute - Luyanda Majija, Associate Director of Communication, Food Policy Program at Vital Strategies
Access the report Food, nutrition and the right to health.
The U.S. drug overdose crisis has created new urgency to shift from punitive measures to a public health perspective, focused on harm reduction. Opioid settlements, agreements between governments and pharmaceutical entities, offer an opportunity to allocate funds toward preventing future crises.
Christine Minhee, Founder, OpioidSettlementTracker.com and Kate Boulton, Senior Legal Technical Advisor at Vital Strategies, highlight the importance of transparency and public involvement in decision-making processes on how these resources will be used, while discussing how health advocates can access the funds for harm reduction initiatives. Discover how these resources empower individuals and communities to influence the impact of settlement funds on global health.
This episode features:
- Christine Minhee, Founder, OpioidSettlementTracker.com
- Kate Boulton, Senior Legal Technical Advisor at Vital Strategies
This episode features highlights from our VitalTalks Live event, held in New York.
One in three women worldwide have been subjected to physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes—an alarming statistic that only scratches the surface of this global atrocity.
The event heard from experts who are using innovative data and advocacy to help bring gender-based violence out of the shadows and into the public eye.
You can watch the full video of the event at https://www.vitalstrategies.org/can-data-end-gender-based-violence/
Speakers include:
- Ruxana Jina, Director, Data Impact Program, Vital Strategies
- Márcia Lima, National Secretary of Policies for Affirmative Action and Fighting and Overcoming Racism, Ministry of Racial Equality, Brazil
- Erin Leasure, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Specialist, International Center for Research on Women
- Leila Milani, Program Director, Global Policy & Advocacy, Futures without Violence
- With moderation by Shakuntala “Shaks” Santhiran an international broadcast journalist and professional moderator
- With remarks from Vital Strategies’ Fatima Marinho, Principal Technical Advisor, Women’s Health and Gender Equity, Brazil and Sharon Kim-Gibbons, Vice President, Public Health Programs and Acting Director, Data Driven Policy Initiative for Women’s Health
Our first interview on this episode is with Lili Farhang, co-director of Human Impact Partners (HIP), a national public health nonprofit. Lili discusses HIP's mission to leverage public health for policy and systems change by addressing power imbalances through equity and collective power that centers social justice movements.
Then we are joined by Hattie from ANSWER Detroit, a sex worker justice collective. Hattie discusses how their mutual aid network supports sex workers' health and well-being, and the significance of public health officials supporting mutual aid groups and including leaders from marginalized communities.
Speakers include:
- Lili Farhang, Co-Director of Human Impact Partners
- Hattie, an organizer with ANSWER Detroit
Links to resources mentioned in this episode:
Human Impact Partners: https://humanimpact.org
Health Equity Guide Toolkit: https://healthequityguide.org
ANSWER Detroit: https://answerdetroit.org
Lack of investment in Civil Registration and Vital Statistics has been called one of the most important shortfalls in global development over the last 30 years, and the results are devastating.
Tens of millions without identity and rights. Governments flying blind.
For the first time in history, we have the technology, tools and know-how to make every person count. We’ve proven that in Bangladesh, where birth and death registration have been boosted fivefold since 2015.
This episode features a recording of our recent CRVS roundtable event, where you’ll hear from leading experts engaged in the life-changing work of making millions of invisible people visible.
The event was moderated by Femi Oke, international journalist and broadcaster, with speakers including:
• Irina Dincu, Senior Technical Advisor CRVS—United Nations Population Fund • Janet Miki Ohno, Ph.D., Consultant, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute • William Muhwava, Chief, Demographic and Social Statistics Section, African Center for Statistics, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa • Philip Setel, Vice President, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, Vital Strategies
With opening remarks by Jennifer Ellis, Data for Health Initiative, Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Read more about our CRVS work in this New York Times Magazine cover story by Jeneen Interlandi, The incredible challenge of counting every global birth and death:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/29/magazine/birth-death-tally.html
In this episode, we discuss funding trends in global public health and the potential that new or different financing models have to catalyze impact.
The episode features Ash Rogers, Co-CEO, Lwala Community Alliance; Julius Mbeya, Co-CEO, Lwala Community Alliance and Grace Chiang Nicolette, Vice President of Programming and External Relations, Center for Effective Philanthropy.
The Lwala Community Alliance is a community-led organization based in Kenya that strengthens the capacity of rural communities to advance their own well-being. Lwala is also a grant recipient from Yield Giving, a fund established by McKenzie Scott to provide organizations with unrestricted funding that is transforming the nature and impact of philanthropic giving. Ash & Julius delve into the current financing landscape and what they believe is needed to catalyze impact that prioritizes community needs and leadership.
The Center for Philanthropy (CEP) is a US-based nonprofit that provides data, feedback, programs, and insights to help individual and institutional donors improve their effectiveness. They do this work because of the belief that effective donors can profoundly contribute to creating a better and more just world.
In this episode we meet with experts who are advancing new models of collaboration that put countries in the global south at the forefront.
We're joined by Dr. Mamka Anyona to discuss the Health4Life Fund, a U.N. led global financing partnership to accelerate action towards noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health in low- and middle-income countries. What makes the Health4Life Fund innovative is its aim to transform the NCDs and mental health landscape through a country-led approach that centers collective action and health equity.
We also discuss new models for collaboration with Dr. Mazvita Muchengeti, an Epidemiologist and the Acting Head of the National Cancer Registry in South Africa. Dr. Muchengeti leads the IARC-GICR collaborating center in Johannesburg, South Africa, which is one of the three collaborating centers facilitating better access to cancer data in sub-Saharan Africa. She explains how collective action enables the centers to leverage knowledge and funding in a low resource setting.
This episode features: - Dr. Mamka Anyona, Policy and Strategy Lead for the Health4Life Fund - Dr. Mazvita Muchengeti, Epidemiologist and the Acting Head of the National Cancer Registry in South Africa
In part two of our series on health equity, we asked four more guests for their perspectives on health equity and what it means to them.
This episode features:
- Linda Villarosa, Author and contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine
- Lola Adedokun, Executive Director of the Aspen Global Innovators Group
- Carol McGruder, Co-Chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council
- Dr. Phil Gardiner, Co-Chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council
What does health equity mean to you and how can it help advance public health?
As we launch our revamped VitalTalks podcast, we asked public health experts and those deeply engaged in equity work to join us to share their perspective in this special two-part series.
This episode features:
- Neena Prasad, Food Policy Program Lead, Bloomberg Philanthropies
- Keecha Harris, President of Keecha Harris and Associates
- Pedro de Paula, Country Director for the Vital Strategies Brazil office
The tobacco industry relies on a complex web of allies to promote its business interests and advance its agenda—helping perpetuate the global tobacco epidemic. These allies usually appear independent from the industry, but often have opaque financial links to tobacco companies or other deep-rooted connections. On this episode, our guests discuss the network of allies who help carry the message for the tobacco industry, and how the industry has benefited from these alliances.
- Featuring: Phil Chamberlain, Deputy Director, Department for Health, Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath.
- Ashfaq Ahmad, Communication Officer, Society of Alternative Media and Research in Pakistan
- Moderated by Jorge Adlay, Director, STOP (Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products)
Alcohol consumption causes millions of deaths through health harms and negative social and economic effects. There is an underlying connection between alcohol consumption and these deaths—from liver disease, heart disease, cancer, violence, vehicle crashes, falls to tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other conditions. Why is the largest killer of young people between ages 15 – 49 is so often overlooked? And what role does the alcohol industry play in this?
In this episode we discuss the negative effects on individuals, families and communities and the policies and interventions that work.
This episode features:
- Aaron Schwid, Legal Director of Policy and Programs, Vital Strategies
- Olivier van Beemen, investigative journalist and author of the book "Heineken in Africa: A Multinational Unleashed"
- Pubudu Sumanasekara, International Vice President, Movendi International
Moderated by Jacqui Drope, Director, RESET Alcohol, Vital Strategies
After attending the National Harm Reduction Conference in San Puerto Rico, Gloria Malone of the Overdose Prevention Program chats with two Puerto Rican harm reduction advocates. Tanagra and Carla share their insights on what Harm Reduction in Puerto Rico looks like and the unique challenges and work they are doing to save and improve lives in Puerto Rico.
This show features:
- Carla Correa, Coalición de Coaliciones
- Tanagra Melgarejo, National Learning and Engagement Strategist at the National Harm Reduction Coalition
- Moderator: Gloria Malone, Digital Strategist, Senior Manager, Overdose Prevention Program, Vital Strategies
Globally, one in three children –up to 800 million–have blood lead levels that are higher than deemed safe by the World Health Organization. Despite clear evidence of harm, many countries do not have sufficient capacity to monitor or regulate lead and protect their people from widespread exposure.In this episode, we discuss how lead affects children and their families, why lead poisoning prevention been overlooked by governments and what solutions there are to reduce toxic lead exposure.
This show features:
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Drew McCartor, Executive Director, Pure Earth;
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Dr. Lynn Panganiban, Technical Consultant of Pure Earth -Philippines and Toxicology Consultant of the National Poison Management and Control Center, Philippine General Hospital, UP-Manila;
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Daniel Kass, Senior Vice President of Environmental, Climate and Urban Health, Vital Strategies
It’s not news that what we eat has a huge impact on our overall health. What’s not commonly known is that 8 million deaths are associated with poor diet –accounting for 19% of non-communicable disease deaths. Increasingly, ultra-processed foods and beverages have become readily available and have dramatically changed the way people eat, resulting in diets that are much less healthy. Our panelists discuss: What are ultra-processed foods and beverages? What harm do these products cause? What policies have been effective in addressing ultra-processed foods? Do front-of-package nutrient labels work? In the case of front-of-package labels in Brazil and Argentina, how was progress achieved? What were some of the lessons learned?
This show features:
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Trish Cotter, Global Lead, Food Policy Program, Vital Strategies
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Tainá de Almeida Costa, Communication Program Manager, Brazil, Food Policy Program, Vital Strategies
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Steve Hamill, Vice President Policy, Advocacy and Communication, Vital Strategies
UNGA, the United Nations General Assembly, sets policy for the United Nations. As we face generational challenges—rebuilding public health post-COVID, climate change, political instability—the successes and challenges of this global coordinating mechanism have come into focus.
In this episode of the Public Health Power Hour we discuss“Does UNGA Matter?” and cover highlights from the United Nations General Assembly in New York over the past week.
This episode features staff from our Policy Advocacy and Communication team at Vital Strategies, including:
-Stephen Hamill, Vice President
-Rebecca Perl, Vice President, Partnerships and Initiatives
-Nandita Murukutla, Vice President, Global Policy and Research
UNGA, the United Nations General Assembly, sets policy for the United Nations. As we face generational challenges—rebuilding public health post-COVID, climate change, political instability—the successes and challenges of this global coordinating mechanism have come into focus.
In this episode of the Public Health Power Hour we discuss“Does UNGA Matter?” and cover highlights from the United Nations General Assembly in New York over the past week.
This episode features staff from our Policy Advocacy and Communication team at Vital Strategies, including:
-Stephen Hamill, Vice President
-Rebecca Perl, Vice President, Partnerships and Initiatives
-Nandita Murukutla, Vice President, Global Policy and Research
Over the past year, the Public Health Power Hour podcast has featured leading voices in the public health space.
In this special episode, Sandra Mullin, Senior Vice President, and Steve Hamill, Vice President of our Policy Advocacy and Communication team, reflect on segments from their favorite episodes in a roundup of moments you shouldn't miss on the state and future of public health.
Issues covered include social reform and public health, vaccine equity, the toll of racism on health in American and women leadership in public health.
In her new book, Under the Skin:The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation, award-winning writer Linda Villarosa argues that any effort to close the gap in health outcomes must also address the structural racism that underpins the U.S. health care system.
She points to the adverse impact historical myths about Black bodies have had on policymaking and the way care is delivered. She displays the forces in the American health care system and in American society that cause Black people to “live sicker and die quicker” compared to their white counterparts.
In a conversation with Dr. Mary T. Bassett, Villarosa discusses these and other issues her book brings to the fore, highlighting their relationship to the racial disparity still evident in our healthcare system and what can be done to address the resulting inequity and institutional racism.
This episode features:
- Linda Villarosa, Author and Journalist
- Dr. Mary T. Bassett, New York State Commissioner of Health
- The discussion was moderated by Sandra Mullin, Senior Vice President, Policy Advocacy and Communication, Vital Strategies
According to The Tobacco Atlas, smoking prevalence is falling globally for the first time, but countries and people marginalized by the vestiges of colonialism, by racism, bias and other social determinants are due to suffer the greatest harm.
They suffer a triple impact, as they are the least protected by health systems and policies, less likely to have access to health care, and are targeted by the tobacco industry.
In this episode, we look at tobacco control and equity, with experts discussing what global, national and community strategies for tobacco control can look like when they address inequity.
Panelists include:
- Rachel Kitonyo, Regional Manager Africa, McCabe Centre
- Andrew Waa, Research Fellow, Eru Pōmare Māori Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Otago
- This discussion was moderated by Steve Hamill, Vice President, Policy Advocacy and Communication, Vital Strategies.
In this episode of the Public Health Power Hour, we discussed the impact women have when they have equal power, how COVID-19 has changed the landscape, systems and policies that can accelerate gender equity in global health leadership, and what aspiring women leaders should look for and demand in their careers.
Panelists include:
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Magda Robalo M.D, Global Managing Director, Women in Global Health
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Kathleen Sherwin, Interim President & CEO, Women Deliver
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Noelene Nabulivou, Executive Director, DIVA for Equality, Convenor, Women Defend Commons Network and Pacific Feminist Activist
The discussion was moderated by Sandra Mullin, Senior Vice President, Policy Advocacy and Communication, Vital Strategies.
Women’s health means ensuring that women have access to healthy environments and quality health care throughout their lives, including care for important issues during their reproductive years such as safe motherhood and access to modern contraception, safe abortions and postabortion care.
Women often face pervasive systemic bias and stigma that lead to challenges across the health spectrum that can prevent them from living long, healthy and prosperous lives.
In this episode, our expert panelists discuss how COVID-19 has changed the landscape and how governments and civil society can take steps towards a future where gender equity is at the center of women’s health care.
This episode features:
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Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet, Lead, Merck for Mothers & AVP, Health Equity, Merck
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Dr. Justine N. Bukenya, Medical Doctor and a Lecturer in the Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences at Makerere University
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Dr. Onikepe Owolabi, Program Director, Data Driven Policy Initiative to Improve Women’s Health, Vital Strategies
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Moderated by Deborah Charles, Senior Managing Editor at Devex
This discussion focused on the past and future of public health and social reform movements, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starting from a historical perspective of public health’s history of activism in social movements, and considering the challenges of the current moment, our panelists offer perspectives on how the field of public health can work differently towards a healthier world.
This episode features:
Céline Gounder, Senior Fellow & Editor-at-Large for Public Health for Kaiser Health News at the Kaiser Family Foundation and Infectious Disease Specialist and Epidemiologist
Daniel S. Goldberg, Associate Professor, Center for Bioethics and Humanities, University of Colorado
Shelley Hearne, Director, Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy
Deans Sommer and Klag Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Moderated by Dan Kass, Senior Vice President, Environmental Health at Vital Strategies
This Public Health Power Hour focusses on the importance of civil registration and vital statistics in ensuring people have access to the basic rights and protections afforded by a legal identity.
The discussion highlights the #CountingEveryone campaign, which emphasizes the need for strong leadership and coordination to propel progress in counting every person, everywhere.
With registration of all vital events, including births and deaths, governments can shape policies to better serve their populations and strive for a more equitable, accessible systems.
This episode features:
Dr. Samira Asma, Assistant Director-General, Division of Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact, World Health Organization
Gloria Mathenge, Statistician, UN Economic Commission for Africa
Mosidi Nhlapo, Director, Births and Deaths Statistics, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA)
Moderated by Joan Sara Thomas, Regional Technical Advisor, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, Vital Strategies
Show links:
#CountingEveryone: www.vitalstrategies.org/countingeveryone/
Data for Health program: www.vitalstrategies.org/programs/data-for-health/
Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Program: www.vitalstrategies.org/programs/civi…l-statistics/
This Public Health Power Hour examines activism in public health, looking at decades of HIV/AIDS activism in particular and discussing how it may apply to today’s challenges, especially confronting COVID-19 vaccine inequity.
HIV/AIDS activism successful created a movement that changed the global public health landscape. Are there strategies, tactics, or common causes we can make to more effectively respond to the challenges of the pandemic era?
Speakers include:
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Maria Sarungi-Tsehai, Founder, Change Tanzania
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Gregg Gonsalves, Associate Professor, Department of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health
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Fatima Hassan, Founder and Director of the Health Justice Initiative
Our panel draws particularly on their expertise and roots working in countries in Africa, mobilizing for change both within nations and internationally.
Mass incarceration is a public health crisis, especially in the United States, where the incarcerated population has ballooned to 2.3 million people in prisons and jails.
COVID-19 has amplified the crisis, underlining the urgent need to address the drivers of this era of mass incarceration. It has brought new attention the enormous health and social costs of the carceral system, amplified urgent calls for reform, and highlighted the need for greater support for people within the system and people transitioning out.
This Public Health Power Hour focussed on the causes and costs of mass incarceration from a public health angle, exposing listeners to first-hand experience of an advocate who experienced the COVID epidemic from within prison, and highlight paths forward.
Speakers include:
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Jon-Adrian Velazquez, Advocate, formerly incarcerated, wrongly convicted
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Lorenzo Jones, Co-founder and Co-executive Director of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice
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Daliah Heller, Director of Drug Use Initiatives at Vital Strategies
What impact does alcohol consumption have on global health?
In this episode of the Public Health Power Hour we discuss the state of alcohol control and hear about countries leading the way with policies aimed at excessive consumption.
Speakers include Alison Douglas, Chief Executive, Alcohol Focus Scotland; Adam Karpati, Senior Vice President, Public Health Programs, Vital Strategies and Pubudu Sumanasekara, Vice President, Movendi International.
Two new reports from global tobacco watchdog STOP suggest that British American Tobacco was engaged in potentially illegal activity in Africa, including a military-style surveillance operation to disrupt competitors and hundreds of payments to influence health policy. BAT’s activity may have undermined tobacco control progress across the continent.
On this episode of the Public Health Power Hour, join us for a discussion with those behind the investigation.
Speakers include James Ball, Global Editor, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism; Rachel Kitonyo Devotsu, Regional Coordinator for Africa, McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer and Jorge Alday, Director, STOP, Policy, Advocacy and Communication.
Show links:
STOP, Global Tobacco Control Watchdog: exposetobacco.org
Sabotage, Deceit and Duplicity: British American Tobacco Uncovered:bat-uncovered.exposetobacco.org
Bureau of Investigative Journalism: www.thebureauinvestigates.com
McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer: www.mccabecentre.org
More than 90% of the world breathes polluted air, making air pollution a global health challenge in need of urgent attention.
On this episode of Public Health Power Hour, we discuss air pollution and respiratory health, looking at its growing health burden and its effect on children's health.
Speakers include Qurota Ayuni, Center for Indonesian Medical Students' Activities; Alejandro Daly, UNICEF Youth Representative, Colombia; Leith Greenslade, Every Breath Counts Coalition and Sumi Mehta, Environmental Health Division, Vital Strategies.
This episode of the Public Health Power Hour looks forward to the United Nations General Assembly, and what it will mean for Public Health.
COVID-19, climate change and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are just some of the public health issues that will headline the UNGA in September.
Join Kerry Cullinan, Africa Editor at Health Policy Watch, Tala Dowlatshahi, Consultant on Global NCDs at Vital Strategies and Rebecca Perl, Vice President of Partnerships and Initiatives at Vital Strategies for a discussion on key public health issues that will be in the spotlight at UNGA.
Big Tobacco has the next generation of smokers in their sights.
In this episode of the Public Health Power Hour, we discuss how the tobacco industry continues to target youth with new addictive products, sleek designs and candy flavors.
Yayne Hailu, Senior Content Strategist with the global tobacco control watchdog STOP was joined by special guest Janan, Youth Ambassador, Truth Initiative, for a firsthand account of the dangers of nicotine use.
We also heard from Emma Green, Senior Program Manager at STOP about the new Modern Addiction campaign and what we can do to protect young people.
And Dr. Mike Amato, Research Investigator & Methodologist with Truth Initiative joined us to talk about This is Quitting, the first-of-its-kind program to help young people quit vaping.
Show links:
STOP, Global Tobacco Control Watchdog: exposetobacco.org
STOP Modern Addiction: Hooking the Next Generation: exposetobacco.org/campaigns/modern-addiction/
Truth's This is Quitting Program: truthinitiative.org/thisisquitting
Vital Strategies Tobacco Control Program: www.vitalstrategies.org/programs/tobacco-control/
In this episode of the Public Health Power Hour Dr. Lisa Bowleg, an award-winning scholar on intersectionality, joins us for a discussion on how research can help foster health equity.
Dr. Bowleg is a Professor of Applied Social Psychology at The George Washington University.
The discussion looks at her recent paper “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House”: Ten Critical Lessons for Black and Other Health Equity Researchers of Color (link below), and how researchers in all areas can use the design, implementation and promotion of research to promote equity.
She is joined by Dr. Nandita Murukutla, Vice President, Global Policy and Research at Vital Strategies and Nana Young, Assistant to the President on Strategic Initiatives at Vital Strategies.
Links:
“The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House”: Ten Critical Lessons for Black and Other Health Equity Researchers of Color: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.11…01981211007402
Follow the Public Health Power Hour: vitalstrategies.org/PowerHour.
Advertising is an essential tool for harmful industries - both in acquiring customers and shaping public and policymaker opinions to insulate them from potential regulation. This episode looks at how communicators and ad makers are fighting back against the promotion of unhealthy commodities such as tobacco and fossil fuels.
Duncan Meisel, Campaign Director at Clean Creatives joined Nandita Murukutla, Vice President, Global Policy and Research at Vital Strategies and host Steve Hamill, Vice President, Policy, Advocacy and Communication at Vital Strategies to hear about industry campaigns to refashion their image, and how a new movement of conscience in the creative industry is taking a stand.
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Listen to our Public Health Power Hour discussion on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and COVID-19.
Featuring experts who are driving global and national progress on NCDs, including:
- Labram Musah, Ghana NCD Alliance
- Dr. Anupam Pathni, Resolve To Save Lives, India
- Nina Renshaw, NCD Alliance
We discussed how COVID-19 has impacted the NCD agenda, both on the world stage and within countries.
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Listen to the Public Health Power Hour discussion on the role of cycling and active transport in cities to promote public health.
We discussed why COVID-19 has changed the landscape for these projects, and how we can accelerate progress.
Hear about success stories and challenges from a number of cities, from our experts: Claudia Adriazola-Steil, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities; Mariana Espinosa Estrada of Vital Strategies’ Partnership for Healthy Cities and Sarah Goodyear, journalist and co-host of the “War on Cars” podcast.
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This discussion on Women and Health was moderated by Her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, a noted health advocate and Special Envoy for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) at Vital Strategies, with Christina Chang, Deputy CEO at Vital Strategies and Fatima Marinho, Principal Technical Advisor, Vital Strategies Brazil office.
This discussion touched on a wide range of issues, from how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected women’s health globally, to the current state of sexual and reproductive health and rights, and how changing our approach to data can expose important drivers of poor health in women.
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