The Scan: Recent Episodes
The George Institute for Global Health
The Scan podcast from The George Institute for Global Health explores the latest research, emerging evidence, and crucial progress towards developing practical approaches towards better treatments, better care and healthier societies globally.
If you’re a medical professional, work in research, or are just passionate about global health, then this is the podcast for you.
For more, find us on social media with #TheScanPodcast
Know more about The George Institute for Global health.
In this episode, Professor Amanda Henry speaks with Georgia Wyatt and Jan Santo from The George Institute for Global Health about the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the ongoing global effort to advance women's rights.
Together, they reflect on the progress made over the past 30 years in areas including education, health, gender equality and protection from violence, while also discussing the challenges that remain.
The conversation explores the role of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in holding governments accountable and highlights innovative work underway at The George Institute, including the use of technology and AI to track progress on women's rights globally.
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In this episode, Yakubu speaks with Dr Wale Salami about transforming clinical trials to better serve African communities. Together, they unpack the persistent gaps between how trials are designed and the diverse genetic, cultural, and social realities across the continent.
Dr Salami shares why meaningful change requires intentional involvement of African scientists and communities from the earliest stages of research—not just at implementation. He highlights the importance of local leadership, sustained capacity building, and stronger government support to ensure clinical trials are relevant, trusted, and impactful.
This conversation is a powerful call to action to rethink how clinical research is designed and led, with equity, ownership, and context at its core.
About the series, ‘Ubuntu Reflections: Unpacking the everyday dynamics of building equitable partnerships’
Equitable research partnerships are central to advancing academic global health, particularly to break the power hierarchies, strengthening local capacities and engaging communities in a meaningful manner. However, very little is known about the practical experiences and challenges of navigating and implementing the recommendations provided in the literature (in the form of dos and don’ts) in everyday engagement towards building and strengthening global health partnerships.
In this series, we attempt to extend the conversation through discussing practical experiences, examples and learnings from experts based in different regions, and unpack these less talked about layers of building equitable partnerships on an everyday basis, what does it entail, the challenges encountered, and tools used to navigate these challenges.
This series builds on our existing work at the Ubuntu Initiative
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This bitesize episode features Dr Elisa Pineda, a researcher working at the forefront of nutrition and chronic disease prevention. Elisa shares new insights into how simple dietary changes—like swapping regular salt for potassium‑enriched salt—could significantly reduce high blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. She discusses why this work matters, what communities are telling researchers, and how governments and the food industry can help make healthier choices easier and more accessible for everyone.
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This bitesize episode features Gabriela Cipriano Flores, a public health researcher exploring how extreme heat affects pregnant women in India. Gabby shares the story behind the Heat in Pregnancy study, the groundbreaking cohort research underway across three climate‑diverse regions, and what the team hopes to uncover about heat exposure, pregnancy outcomes and future policy implications. She also reflects on her journey as part of the Emerging Thought Leaders program, and how translating evidence into meaningful, real‑world impact drives her work.
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In this episode of The Scan, we speak with Registered Nurse and Associate Project Manager Clare Goodson and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Professor Andrew Metcalfe about the METEOR2 Study—a major international clinical trial investigating the most effective treatment for people experiencing persistent knee pain after a meniscectomy.
The study compares two evidence‑based options: Personalised Knee Therapy and Meniscal Allograft Transplant Surgery, aiming to determine which approach provides the best clinical and cost‑effective outcomes for patients without arthritis who continue to struggle with knee pain or functional loss.
If you’re a potential participant or a clinician interested in referring patients, you can contact the research team at meteor2.study@sydney.edu.au.
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In this episode, host Sarah Iqbal explores the role of stories in global health research through the context of work of the NIHR Global Health Research Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases and Environmental Change. While data and numbers can show us what is happening, they don’t always reveal why. That’s where qualitative research comes in—helping us listen deeply, understand context, and capture the complexity of people’s lives.
Sarah is joined by Dr. Chris Mary Kurian, a seasoned qualitative researcher with two decades of experience studying how communities experience health, illness, and care. Together, they discuss the power of words and lived experience, the challenges of balancing qualitative and quantitative insights, and why spending time in communities is essential for meaningful research.
From fevers and folk remedies to the future of interdisciplinary public health, this conversation is a reminder that the voices of people themselves are not just data points—they are knowledge makers.
NIHR Global Health Research Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases and Environmental Change is funded by the NIHR-Global Health Research Centre award scheme (NIHR203247) using UK international development funding from the UK Government to support global health research. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the UK government.
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In this episode, Dr Deepika Saluja speak with Dr Kefilath Bello about how impactful research and research partnership requires an intentional sense-making process that connects and respects diverse cultural contexts. Kefi highlights through examples, that the willingness to engage with communities has to be accompanied with dedicated resources including time, budget, facilitation skills; to go beyond the tokenistic approach, that helps build trust and long-term relationships with community members and understand their contexts better.
Dr Kefilath Bello is the Head, Health Policy and Systems Department, Centre for Research in Human Reproduction and Demography (CERRHUD) in Benin, West Africa. She is completing her PhD from the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), Antwerp and the KU Leuven in Belgium. Her work focuses on promoting evidence-informed decision-making for improving access and quality of Primary Health Care services
We hope you enjoy listening to this podcast, if you do, please share your reflections and thoughts on LinkedIn and your other networks.
If you have any feedback or ideas for us to include in the future episodes, please write to dsaluja@georgeinstitute.org
About the series, ‘Ubuntu Reflections: Unpacking the everyday dynamics of building equitable partnerships’
Equitable research partnerships are central to advancing academic global health, particularly to break the power hierarchies, strengthening local capacities and engaging communities in a meaningful manner. However, very little is known about the practical experiences and challenges of navigating and implementing the recommendations provided in the literature (in the form of dos and don’ts) in everyday engagement towards building and strengthening global health partnerships.
In this series, we attempt to extend the conversation through discussing practical experiences, examples and learnings from experts based in different regions, and unpack these less talked about layers of building equitable partnerships on an everyday basis, what does it entail, the challenges encountered, and tools used to navigate these challenges.
This series builds on our existing work at the Ubuntu Initiative
Related item ‘Why does embracing Ubuntu matter for authentic research partnerships?’
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Dr Kenneth Yakubuspeaks with Dr Seye Abimbola to explore the everyday dynamics of building an equitable research partnership in Africa. Seye outlines different characteristics of research partnerships, and unpack the practical challenges around being a champion, along with the language and labelling that embodies it, especially in the context of partnership building in the African region.
Dr Seye Abimbola is a health systems researcher from Nigeria. He is currently based at the University of Sydney in Australia, where his teaching and research focus on knowledge practices in global health, health system governance, and the adoption and scale up of health system innovations. He served as the inaugural editor in Chief of BMJ GH for nine years, significantly shaping the discourse of global health and the journal.
We hope you enjoy listening to this podcast, if you do, please share your reflections and thoughts on LinkedIn and your other networks.
If you have any feedback or ideas for us to include in the future episodes, please write to dsaluja@georgeinstitute.org
About the series, ‘Ubuntu Reflections: Unpacking the everyday dynamics of building equitable partnerships’
Equitable research partnerships are central to advancing academic global health, particularly to break the power hierarchies, strengthening local capacities and engaging communities in a meaningful manner. However, very little is known about the practical experiences and challenges of navigating and implementing the recommendations provided in the literature (in the form of dos and don’ts) in everyday engagement towards building and strengthening global health partnerships.
In this series, we attempt to extend the conversation through discussing practical experiences, examples and learnings from experts based in different regions, and unpack these less talked about layers of building equitable partnerships on an everyday basis, what does it entail, the challenges encountered, and tools used to navigate these challenges.
This series builds on our existing work at the Ubuntu Initiative.
Related item ‘Why does embracing Ubuntu matter for authentic research partnerships?’
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Series: Beyond the Body: Women’s wellbeing- science, equity & impact
In this powerful episode, host Professor Amanda Henry is joined by co-host Associate Professor Mehera San Roque and guest Associate Professor Ann Kayis-Kumar to explore how economic abuse — a form of coercive control — plays out in Australia's tax system. Drawing on research and frontline legal experience, they reveal how tax debts are weaponised against victim-survivors, the urgent need for law reform, and the growing national advocacy to fix these hidden injustices. A must-listen conversation on financial abuse, policy change, and the intersections of gender, money and power.
To learn more visit
UNSW tax clinic
How to prevent weaponisation of the tax system
Host: Professor Amanda Henry Program Head, Women’s Health, Australia
Co-host: Associate Professor Mehera San Roque
Guest: Associate Professor Ann Kayis-Kumar
The George Institute’s Global Women’s Health Program
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Series: Beyond the Body: Women’s wellbeing- science, equity & impact
In this episode, host Professor Amanda Henry speaks with Associate Professor Lizzie Muller about the often invisible world of carers — who they are, what they do, and why care work remains a deeply gendered issue. Drawing on personal experience and her research at UNSW, Lizzie unpacks how caring responsibilities intersect with career progression and what can be done to better support carers at work. A candid conversation about recognition, advocacy, and the real impact of care on women's wellbeing.
Visit to learn more
UNSW Women’s Wellbeing Academy
Guest: Associate Professor Lizzie Muller
Professor Amanda Henry Program Head, Women’s Health, Australia
The George Institute’s Global Women’s Health Program
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Series: Beyond the Body: Women’s wellbeing- science, equity & impact
In this first episode, host Professor Amanda Henry is joined by Professor Bronwyn Graham, Director of the National Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine, to explore why sex and gender matter in health and medical research. They unpack common misconceptions, share real-world examples from asthma to mental health, and discuss how integrating sex and gender into research leads to better science and healthcare for everyone. The conversation also highlights international efforts to improve research practices and the crucial role of education in building a more equitable healthcare system.
To learn more visit:
The Centre for Sex and Gender in Health and Medicine
The George Institute’s Global Women’s Health Program
Host: Professor Amanda Henry Program Head, Women’s Health, Australia
Guest: Bronwyn Graham, Director, Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine, Australia
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Description: This episode of The Scan features Professor Alta Schutte and Professor Anthony Rodgers discussing one of the world’s biggest health challenges, and a potentially life changing new solution. Around 1.3 billion people live with hypertension (high blood pressure); most live in low- and middle-income countries. It’s a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes, and early death. But there’s hope. In this episode we explore a new treatment solution, the Hypertension Polypill, that could accelerate and simplify care and save lives.
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Back pain tops the charts as the world's leading cause of pain and disability. But do we really know which treatments work? We interview esteemed spinal neurosurgeon Dr Ralph Mobbs, principal investigator of the SUcceSS study, run by Professor Manuela Ferreira and the Musculoskeletal research team at The George Institute for Global Health. By participating in this and other research, Dr. Mobbs is on a mission to generate much-needed evidence into the effectiveness of interventions such as surgery to treat degenerative spine conditions.
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In this episode of we’re delving into musculoskeletal research. From chronic back pain to arthritis, these conditions disrupt lives and limit mobility, impacting millions globally. Our guest, Professor Manuela Ferreira, a leading expert, sheds light on groundbreaking evidence-based treatments, from innovative surgical trials to practical, non-invasive solutions. We’ll discuss how research is transforming patient care and why early collaboration with clinicians is essential. Stay with us for an insightful conversation on what truly works, what doesn’t, and how we can bridge the gap between medical research and everyday healthcare.
For more, please see https://uat.georgeinstitute.org/our-research/areas/musculoskeletal
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In this bitesize episode we speak with researcher Benjamin Talbot about measuring the carbon footprint of health care and research. Ben demonstrates how emissions can be measured and encourages everyone to keep the planet and protection of the planet at the forefront of our minds and in what we're doing.
Read the paper here.
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This bitesize episode features Cara Tannanbaum, a leading global voice on women's health and sex and gender in research. Cara speaks about developments in Australia and the UK to improve health equity outcomes for everyone. These include new policies to ensure sex and gender are considered in research for more comprehensive and meaningful insights, and thoughts about how workplaces can integrate policies that support the entire workforce.
Read more following the links below.
- Meet Dr Cara Tannenbaum, Distinguished Fellow
- Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine
- MESSAGE Project
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In this bitesize episode we speak with Alice Witt who speaks about a significant step towards closing the sex and gender health gap in the UK. Until now most UK medical research has been conducted primarily with male participants, animals or cells, and studies rarely analyse data in a way that enables potential sex or gender differences in outcomes to be identified. The Medical Science Sex and Gender Equity (MESSAGE) project has been working to change this, developing a landmark sex and gender policy framework for UK research funders.
Poor attention to sex and gender has led to critical data gaps in the evidence base, with detrimental effects on health outcomes for all people, but particularly women and girls, as well as trans, non-binary and intersex people.
Read more about the MESSAGE project and framework here.
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This bitesize episode features Menglu, a researcher working on an innovative Stroke trial. Intracerebral haemorrhage is currently the most serious and least treatable form of stroke. The I-CATCHER trial is investigating a new package of treatments, or a Care Bundle approach, to see how this can benefit patients and improve outcomes for people with intracerebral haemorrhage. To learn more about this and how you can become involved, visit https://www.georgeinstitute.org/projects/international-care-bundle-evaluation-in-cerebral-hemorrhage-research-i-catcher
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Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, remain the leading cause of death worldwide, however knowing more can make a big difference. For World Stroke Awareness Day this bitesize episode features Menglu, a researcher in Stroke, and Mabel, a courageous stroke survivor. Mabel shares her personal transformation post-stroke, shedding light on crucial insights for all. Both Mabel and Menglu play vital roles in the Brain Health team, striving to enhance the understanding and treatment of stroke worldwide.
Read more https://www.georgeinstitute.org.au/projects/brain-health-program
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While we know that eating too much salt is bad for our health, many are unaware it’s a leading cause of high blood pressure. But changing habits - and the food supply - can be challenging. What if we could switch the salt to a substitute with lower sodium and additional benefits?
In this episode we discuss a novel approach to reducing blood pressure. Featuring Alta Schutte, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the UNSW Sydney and The George Institute for Global Health and Bruce Neal, Executive Director of the George Institute for Global Health, and Professor of Medicine at UNSW Sydney. Bruce is a UK trained physician with over 25 years’ experience in clinical research with a focus on high blood pressure and salt.
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The climate is changing, and this is affecting our environment, how we live, work, what we eat, and ultimately our health. This is particularly the case for people in vulnerable communities. For World Environment Day, in this bitesize episode of The Scan we discuss the environment health nexus with two speakers, about work in India.
Research Manager Sarah Iqbal speaks with Mr Gangaram Paikra, a local leader, activist and one of the founder members of Chaupal, a community-led initiative focusing on the right to food working with marginalised and poor communities. Sarah also speaks with Dr. Sahiba Kohli, a Research Fellow at NIHR Global Health Research Center for Non-Communicable Diseases and Environmental Change.
Read more about the Center here.
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In this episode of The Scan we speak with Yakubu, a Research Fellow with the Guunu-maana (Heal) Aboriginal & Torres Strait Research Program and co-Lead of The George Institute’s Ubuntu Initiative. Yakubu tells us about the philosophy of the initiative, programs underway, and how he hopes to connect and grow engagement with researchers and institutions in Africa in a sustainable and people-centred way.
Read more about the Ubuntu Initiative here.
Connect with Yakubu on X @mallamyaks1016 or send an email to kyakubu@georgeinstitute.org.au
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Waste workers-otherwise known as sanitation workers-are often made invisible due to informal work arrangements. In India, as in other parts of the world, sanitation workers tend to be from the oppressed and marginalized communities with little access to healthcare and quality health services. This despite, their work being highly important to society and exposing them to various occupational hazards.
In this episode of The Scan we speak with Partho Mukherjee, a Research Assistant focusing on health systems at The George Institute. Partho is working on Arise, a collaboration across low- and middle-income countries, aiming to improve accountability and governance mechanisms towards marginalized communities living in urban informal spaces.
Read more about Arise here.
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Psychedelic drugs, like psilocybin and MDMA, have captivated global interest for their potential in treating mental health disorders. While Australia has become the first country in the world to permit the prescription of these drugs, their efficacy is unconfirmed and access to these potentially transformative treatments is limited.
Dr Dilara Bahceci is a neuroscientist who specialises in the therapeutic potential of these psychoactive drugs. In this bitesize episode of the Scan, Dilara emphasizes the pressing need to innovate mental health treatments and champions equitable access. Tune in to explore the evolving research landscape and exciting prospects ahead.
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It's a condition which, for many, is yet to be diagnosed. It affects one in ten people and has severe impacts on someone's quality of life. Anthony Sunjaya is a medical doctor and doctoral researcher at The George Institute for Global Health who researches this condition -- breathlessness – and is exploring innovative ways to diagnose and treat it.
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Managing work-life balance, family and career are key challenges that disproportionately affect women and often, and influence choices about the work they do and the path for their careers.
In this episode of The Scan, researchers Ming and Viola share their experiences of life as clinicians, researchers, and mothers. They discuss the challenges of juggling different roles within their lives, as well as the joys of each and strategies for managing all three.
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Highlights from a special ‘Tea with Africa’ webinar, held for Word Kidney Day. The topic discussed is 'Chronic Kidney Disease in Africa: Lived experiences and opportunities for improving systems of care'.
It features a first-hand account of people living with chronic kidney disease in Zimbabwe, current efforts to improve the quality of life of people living with CKD in Africa, and identifies further opportunities for improving systems of care.
- ‘Life as a patient with chronic kidney disease in Zimbabwe’, Mr Sibanda, is a member of the Kidney Association of Zimbabwe and suffers from chronic kidney failure
- ‘Chronic kidney disease challenges, responses and opportunities in Zimbabwe’, Dr. Rumbidzai Dahwa, Head of the Renal department at Sally Mugabe hospital and Lecturer in the Department of Medicine at the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences
- ‘CKD-Africa collaboration: Experiences and opportunities for researching chronic kidney disease in Africa’, Dr Cindy George, Chair CKD-Africa and Senior Scientist at the South African Medical Research Council
For further information and a full recording of the event click here.
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In this episode of The Scan’s World’s Collide Series, Seye and Jaime discuss what it means to ‘go viral’ and the role social media has in increasing impact of work; they talk about rejection and being brave, and explore the pros/cons of various processes for different journals. Also announcing Jaime’s new position!’
About the series: The Scan ‘Worlds Collide’ feature two well-known global health researchers from different parts of the globe, Jaime Miranda, from Peru, and Seye Abimbola, from Nigeria. Each wears a variety of ‘hats’, holding a number of positions, in different countries. Featuring unstructured conversations as they reflect on daily interactions it offers illuminating insight on navigating work and cultural perspectives. It offers the audience an intimate setting as they share their experiences with each other – and us!
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In this bitesize episode we ask how can human rights law improve women’s health? We speak health researcher and lawyer Dr Janani Shanthosh, author of a new report that looks at laws around the world and how governments can use them to improve the health of women everywhere. The report 'Redressing the balance: Using human rights law to improve health for women everywhere' was launched this week with the UN CEDAW Committee.
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Why is eating less salt important for heart health? This is probably a question many of us have asked of ourselves as we spot the amount of salt in a packaged snack or are adding salt to a meal.
In this bite size episode, Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Population Salt Reduction at The George Institute, Jacqui Webster, unpacks the link between salt and heart health, and outlines steps you can take to reduce your salt consumption.
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In this bite size episode, Dr Cheryl Carcel explains what high Blood Pressure means for your brain and outlines steps we can all take to think more about our brain health each day.
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There’s a link between eating too much salt and high blood pressure, a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the world’s biggest killer. To mark World Heart Day on September 29th, we present a deep dive episode on one of the largest dietary interventions ever conducted, exploring effects of sodium reduction on heart health.
In conversation with Professor Bruce Neal, Maoyi Tan and Zeng Ge reflect on their experiences working on the China Salt Substitute and Stroke Study (SSaSS) which showed significant benefit from using reduced-sodium salts to prevent adverse consequences of high blood pressure. They discuss the major challenges and opportunities to increasing the uptake and use of potassium-enriched salts in China, and its health benefits globally.
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Join us for a bite size episode from The George Institute in which Chief Scientist, Anushka Patel offers an explainer on non-communicable diseases: what they are, how they impact people globally now and in future, and how the medical and research communities are responding.
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To mark World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25th, we present a deep dive episode from The George Institute in which Dr Jagnoor Jagnoor discusses the table of influence in drowning prevention with global experts. Globally, an estimated 236,000 lives are lost to drowning every year - almost 650 every day, 26 every hour. Drowning is an issue that affects every nation of the world, and its scale and impact have been recognised at the global level with the adoption of a historic resolution to address it in 2021. In this conversation, our guests will draw on their experiences of drowning prevention in India, Africa and the UK to consider how best to strengthen regional actions such that it is inclusive, responsive to lived experience, and is context specific. We can all act together to end drowning.
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About the series The Scan miniseries ‘Worlds Collide’ feature two well-known global health researchers from different parts of the globe, Jaime Miranda, from Peru, and Seye Abimbola, from Nigeria. Each wears a variety of ‘hats’, holding a number of positions, in different countries. Featuring unstructured conversations as they reflect on daily interactions it offers illuminating insight on navigating work and cultural perspectives. It offers the audience an intimate setting as they share their experiences with each other – and us! The final episode of this four-part series reflects on the way Western world views shape medical education and global health research as a result
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About the series The Scan miniseries ‘Worlds Collide’ feature two well-known global health researchers from different parts of the globe, Jaime Miranda, from Peru, and Seye Abimbola, from Nigeria. Each wears a variety of ‘hats’, holding a number of positions, in different countries. Featuring unstructured conversations as they reflect on daily interactions it offers illuminating insight on navigating work and cultural perspectives. It offers the audience an intimate setting as they share their experiences with each other – and us!
In the third episode of this four-part series, among other items, Jaime and Seye reflect on how editors shape an academic journal and the kind of research papers that may be favoured in prestigious journals.
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About the series The Scan miniseries ‘Worlds Collide’ feature two well-known global health researchers from different parts of the globe, Jaime Miranda, from Peru, and Seye Abimbola, from Nigeria. Each wears a variety of ‘hats’, holding a number of positions, in different countries. Featuring unstructured conversations as they reflect on daily interactions it offers illuminating insight on navigating work and cultural perspectives. It offers the audience an intimate setting as they share their experiences with each other – and us!
In the second episode of this four-part series, Jaime and Seye chat about decolonising minds in the global health space and navigating the academic space as people from the global south.
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The Scan miniseries ‘Worlds Collide’ feature two well-known global health researchers from different parts of the globe, Jaime Miranda, from Peru, and Seye Abimbola, from Nigeria. Each wears a variety of ‘hats’, holding a number of positions, in different countries. Featuring unstructured conversations as they reflect on daily interactions it offers illuminating insight on navigating work and cultural perspectives. It offers the audience an intimate setting as they share their experiences with each other – and us!
In the first episode of this four-part series the two health researchers reflect on growing up in non Western cultures and how it affects the way they think about global health and academics.
About the speakers Jaime Miranda is a health systems researcher from Peru. He holds appointments as Professor of Global Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Lown Scholar at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Boston USA; and is a Visiting Professorial Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health Australia; is a member of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) of Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research from the World Health Organization for the period 2021-24; and is a member of the Independent Group of Scientists (IGS) appointed by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres in charge of drafting the 2023 Global Sustainable Development Report. Professor Miranda trained in medicine at Cayetano Heredia University (Spanish: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, (UPCH)) and earned a PhD in epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK).
Seye Abimbola is a health systems researcher from Nigeria. Amongst other roles, he is Prince Claus Chair in Equity and Development at Utrecht University, The Netherlands; a senior lecturer at the School of Public Health, University of Sydney in Australia; and is editor in chief of BMJ Global Health; a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Health System Governance Collaborative; and serves on the advisory council of Global Health 50/50. Seye had his initial training in medicine at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Nigeria and gained his PhD from Sydney University in 2016, on a wide-ranging institutional analysis of primary health care governance in Nigeria. From 2018-2019, Seye was a Sidney Sax Overseas Early Career Fellow at the University of Oxford.
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This episode features a discussion with Dr Ophira Ginsburg and Dr Carinna Hockham about the Lancet Commission on Women and Cancer, currently underway. The Commission is exploring the relationship between gender, power and cancer, and is taking an intentionally broad, intersectional feminist approach to its investigation. Despite the Commission’s title the work is inclusive of all genders insofar as to explore how one’s gender identity might contribute to a person’s marginalised identities, which can influence cancer risk and cancer outcomes.
For more information on the Lancet Commission on Women and Cancer click here.
Dr. Ophira Ginsburg is a medical oncologist and global women’s health researcher with nearly 20 years of experience in global cancer prevention and control. Formerly based at the University of Toronto, Canada, she was a Medical Officer at the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland has served as an ad hoc consultant to several UN agencies. Recently Dr Ophira commenced a new role at the USA National Cancer Institute’s Center for Global Health as Senior Scientific Officer, Senior Advisor for Clinical Research. We spoke to Dr Ophira following London Cancer Week, while she was a senior visiting scientist at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Leon France, a specialized agency of the World Health Organization.
Dr Carinna Hockham is a postdoctoral Research Associate in the Global Women’s Health Program at The George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London.
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It is crucial that awareness and uptake of environment-friendly menstrual hygiene practices increase, but we must be aware of the challenges and misinformation that exist in this space. The most widely used menstrual products (disposable sanitary pads) are non-biodegradable so their disposal and waste management raise major environmental concerns. And while awareness of different types of menstrual products and practices (including more environment-friendly approaches) is slowly increasing in India, misconceptions remain around associated hygiene and related matters.
To further explore this, The George Institute’s Global Women's Health Program conducted a pilot study on “Perspectives, practices, and environmental footprints related to menstrual hygiene among girls and women in India”. The research team used a qualitative and exploratory approach to familiarise themselves with prevalent menstrual hygiene practices and perspectives, and life cycle assessment to estimate carbon dioxide emissions and freshwater use associated with the sourcing, manufacture, use, and post-use treatment and disposal of menstrual hygiene products.
You can hear findings from the study in The Scan podcasts focused on menstrual hygiene management. In the second episode with this focus, we discuss the stigma and challenges around sustainable menstrual health practices in India with experts Dr JK Lakshmi, Senior Research Fellow at The George Institute, Kamal Nayak, Founder of Good Universe, and Dr Arundati Muralidharan, a public health professional engaged in research and policy advocacy in menstrual health. The discussion also includes the perspectives of Archana Sali, an IT professional and Amrita Suresh, author of a book on menstrual cups.
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Menstruation is a major taboo in India, with huge society-wide stigma around hygiene-related menstrual practices and needs . It is crucial to raise awareness around menstrual hygiene management to ensure the adoption of safe and sustainable menstrual practices. This must extend to sharing information on the range of sanitation products available and the respective impact these have on environment.
In this episode of The Scan, we discuss the stigma and challenges around menstrual practices in India, hearing from from Dr JK Lakshmi, Senior Research Fellow at The George Institute, Kamal Nayak, Founder of Good Universe, and Dr Arundati Muralidharan, a public health professional engaged in research and policy advocacy in menstrual health. The discussion also includes the perspectives of Archana Sali, an IT professional and Amrita Suresh, author of a book on menstrual cups.
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Primary health care is a cornerstone of a vibrant health system. It caters to the health needs of communities especially the vulnerable. Canvassing the significant health challenges across society through care delivery that must, fundamentally, be good quality, accessible, equitable, and affordable in times of crisis and calm
In this episode of The Scan, we interview Drs Bob Mash and David Peiris, both experts in primary health care and founding members of the Primary Health Care Research Consortium (PHCRC). They reflect on their journey and the role research plays in addressing the challenges faced by primary health care, defining solutions that bolster community level care.
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Community health workers or ASHAs (accredited social health activists) are a key resource in India’s health care system as non-physician health workers, affording vital connection between consumers and the health care system. Drawn from within the community, their unique reach and familiarity with the local population is a great asset that can be leveraged to improve healthcare delivery.
In this episode ofThe Scan,we hear from Dr Rohina Joshi, Scientia Associate Professor of Global Health at UNSW's School of Population Health, and Senior Manager and Senior Research Fellow at The George Institute, she is an in-house expert on community health workers. She reflects on how ASHAs first came to play a role in India’s health systems as connectors with marginalised communities, and how they are now the backbone of primary health care in the country. Rohina also considers how COVID-19 has challenged the work of ASHAs, and describes the vulnerabilities they face.
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Over recent weeks, India has become the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an over-burdened healthcare system, widely reported shortages of essential oxygen supplies, escalating case rates and lives lost.
In this context, The George Institute for Global Health, India have released this special episode. Experts reflect on the huge challenges facing the country and its people, including of the shadow pandemic of domestic violence, and the mental health impacts of – and coping strategies for – living through crisis.
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Stigma is a big barrier to seeking and providing mental health care in rural areas. In this podcast, our researchers talk about the various types of stigma that exists and how it inhibits people from seeking mental health care. The anti-stigma campaign implemented by The George Institute India in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh is described in great detail along with efforts now being made to scale it up. Those who are interviewed in the episode include Dr Pallab Maulik, Head, Research, TGI. Amanpreet, Senior Research Fellow. Mercian Daniel, Program Manager. Santosh, Head of Field operations at Ballabgarh, Haryana.
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Common mental disorders are on the rise in rural areas of India. In this podcast George Institute researchers describe how mental health can be taken to rural areas by empowering community health workers to diagnose common mental disorders. The program known as SMARTmental health has yielded promising results in the pilot phase and it is now being scaled up in Haryana and in Andhra Pradesh.
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Listen to our trailer for The Scan, a podcast from The George Institute for Global Health exploring the latest research, emerging evidence, and crucial progress towards improving health all over the world.
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