Deep Dive: Sodium reduction in China

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.

DEEP DIVE: To end the silent epidemic of drowning, whose voice matters?

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.

Worlds Collide: Western world views shape medical education and global health research

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

Worlds Collide: How editors shape an academic journal

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.

Worlds Collide: Decolonising minds and navigating the academic space

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.

Worlds Collide: Growing up in non-Western culture & effect on thinking about global health

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.

A discussion about the Lancet Commission on Women and Cancer - Dr Ophira Ginsburg and Dr Carinna Hockham

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

Perspectives, practices, and environmental footprints related to menstrual hygiene management in India

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.

Tackling the stigma: let's talk about menstrual health in India

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.

Primary health care a fundamental right of communities in India

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.