We should be telling the stories of African cities
When Elaine Nsoesie realised that no book had yet explored the complex intersections of cities, health, and inequality in Africa, she decided to help fill that gap. The result, Urban Health in Africa, co-edited with Blessing Mberu, brings together African voices to examine how social, historical, and environmental forces shape public health across the continent’s cities.
Opinion – How Republicans can rescue the party and do something good for Americans
Democratic capitulation to Republican pressure over the government shutdown may seem like a win for President Trump in the short-term. But after the recent bloodbath at the polls, if Republicans do nothing to relieve the pressure Americans face from soaring health care premiums, the party faces a midterm election nightmare.
How Republicans can rescue the party and do something good for Americans
Democratic capitulation to Republican pressure over the government shutdown may seem like a win for President Trump in the short-term. But after the recent bloodbath at the polls, if Republicans do nothing to relieve the pressure Americans face from soaring health care premiums, the party faces a midterm election nightmare.
Civic parley examines mounting mental health challenges
Members in a day-long summit at Northeastern University (NU) last week took a deep dive into the challenges facing Bostonians confronting mental health issues while also juggling the many stressors of city life. The event, convened by the Boston Public Health Commission and NU’s Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research, included candid discussions about the connections between “social determinants” like poverty, housing stress, and systemic racism.
Many Questions Remain After Judges Order USDA to Fund SNAP During Shutdown
At the eleventh hour on Friday, October 31, two New England federal judges ruled that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) must use billions of dollars in emergency funds to partially cover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for 42 million Americans living in every county in the nation.
At Health Commission summit, housing, economic stability are key to addressing mental health
When the Boston Public Health Commission hosted its mental health summit at Northeastern University on Oct. 21, the event drew mental health researchers and clinicians. It also brought together housing officials, economic development advocates and community members focused on decreasing inequity across the board.
Street vendors are struggling with rising temperatures
When a person is exposed to extreme heat, their body increases blood flow to the skin as it desperately tries to cool down. This attempt to cool creates more strain on internal organs and, if exposure is prolonged, serious organ failure is a possible outcome.
“The effects are particularly severe on the brain, although organs such as the heart and kidneys are where we have recorded chronic failures,” says Jonathan Lee, a researcher in environmental health who works on heat at Boston University in the United States.
A tiny device is identifying invisible health hazards in Boston schools
The district has deployed a first-of-its-kind network of indoor air pollution sensors that guide efforts to improve air quality — a move that research suggests could boost grades and cut down on sick days. The pandemic put a spotlight on indoor air quality and its role in preventing the spread of viruses. Schools across the country upgraded their HVAC systems, propped open windows, and installed air filters to reduce transmission.
BU faculty uncover what is little known about the production and destruction of solar technology
Dunlap, a Boston University postdoctoral research scientist, and Sovacool, a BU earth and environment professor, titled their project “Transformational Energy Justice Across the Supply Chain,” which aimed to explore the hidden impacts of the solar energy industry, Sovacool said.
As Medicaid Cuts Loom, Here’s What’s at Stake for Families
The story of Medicaid and its role in the United States cannot be told without addressing its profound impact on the health and well-being of families. As the largest health insurer in the country, Medicaid provides coverage to over 77 million people, including two in every five children. Despite its foundational importance, Medicaid is often misunderstood and undervalued, and looming cuts threaten to unravel the safety net it provides. These cuts risk devastating ripple effects, not just on healthcare access, but on housing, hunger and the overall stability of families.