- World leaders meet in New York now.
- African officials want fairer health funding.
- Obinna Ebirim asks for fair donor partnerships.
- Donor cuts cause problems for health programmes.
- Nigeria spends only four to six per cent on health.
- Many hospitals have no water or no electricity.
- The Health Fellows Programme hired 774 young people.
- Many health workers leave for other countries.
- Volunteer health workers depend on donor money.
- There are meetings on 23 and 24 September.
Difficult words
- funding — Money given for a specific purpose.
- support — Help or assistance given to someone.
- programs — Planned activities or projects.
- dependence — When one relies on something else.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why is health funding important?
- How can dependence on donors be managed?
Related articles
Father’s microplastic exposure affects offspring health
A mouse study found that when fathers were exposed to microplastics, their offspring developed metabolic problems. Female offspring showed diabetic signs and researchers linked the effect to changes in sperm small RNAs; the work was published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Report: Aggressive Formula Marketing Harms Child Health
A UN-linked report finds that wide and aggressive marketing of powdered baby milk (formula) is damaging child and maternal health. WHO and UNICEF say more breastfeeding could prevent many child and breast cancer deaths each year.
Some processed foods may be addictive
Researchers say many ultraprocessed products — like snacks, sugary drinks and fast food — share addictive qualities with tobacco. The study urges a shift from blaming individuals toward policies that hold companies accountable for engineered, habit-forming foods.
Targeting inflammation as a way to treat depression
A federally funded review and meta-analysis found that anti-inflammatory treatments reduced depressive symptoms and eased anhedonia in people with depression who had high inflammation. The drugs were not FDA-approved for depression and would be used off-label.
Brothers build magnetic system to remove arsenic
Arsenic in Indian groundwater causes serious health problems. Two brothers from Bihar developed METAL, a chemical-free magnetic way to clean water and built the MARU unit; their startup Navmarg has treated over 300,000 litres and plans sensors and AI.