Paul Adepoju, PhD

Can the UN Be Saved? Lessons From a Forgotten Secretary-General This week’s clashes at the UN have renewed questions about its role in the world. A new biography of U Thant recalls a time when it wielded real power.

This week’s clashes at the UN have renewed questions about its role in the world. A new biography of U Thant recalls a time when it wielded real power.

Bounties, Mafias, and the Climate Cost of IKEA’s Fast Furniture | Atmos An insatiable thirst for cheap, ready-to-build furniture has been linked to illegal logging and assassinations of forest defenders.

An insatiable thirst for cheap, ready-to-build furniture has been linked to illegal logging of protected areas and assassinations of forest defenders.

atmos.earth/political-la...

Preparing for the next pandemic – behavioural policy insights from COVID-19 - LSE Review of Books In Behavioural Economics and Policy for Pandemics, editors Joan Costa-Font & Matteo M. Galizzi bring together global behavioural policy insights from COVID-19.

What did #COVID19 reveal about human behaviour and effective public policy in a #pandemic?

Behavioural Economics & Policy for Pandemics @jcosta-font.bsky.social @lsehealthpolicy.bsky.social @mmglz.bsky.social @lsepbs.bsky.social reviewed by @pauladepoju.bsky.social on @lsereviewofbooks.bsky.social

Preparing for the next pandemic – behavioural policy insights from COVID-19 - LSE Review of Books In Behavioural Economics and Policy for Pandemics, editors Joan Costa-Font & Matteo M. Galizzi bring together global behavioural policy insights from COVID-19.

NEW✨ What did #COVID19 teach us about human behaviour & effective public policy in a #pandemic?

Behavioural Economics & Policy for Pandemics @jcosta-font.bsky.social @lsehealthpolicy.bsky.social @mmglz.bsky.social @lsepbs.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org

#Review @pauladepoju.bsky.social

I had so much fun researching and writing this piece.

Sierra Leone struggles as mpox surges across Africa Despite being declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern 10 months ago, the mpox outbreak is not over. And in places like Sierra Leone, it is spiralling. Paul Adepoju reports.

Despite being declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern 10 months ago, the mpox outbreak is not over. And in places like Sierra Leone, it is spiralling.

✍️ @pauladepoju.bsky.social reports: tinyurl.com/fn99vt6u

Quote card for a World Report published in The Lancet, entitled Janabi elected as new WHO Regional Director for Africa. Quote reads: "Africa must put its money where its mouth is—and take its rightful place as a global leader in science and health.”

Promising a vision of universal health coverage and resilient health systems, Mohamed Yakub Janabi is set to become the next director of @afro.who.int.

@pauladepoju.bsky.social reports: tinyurl.com/3xw4ymdf

WHO Member States Recognize Social Connection As A Global Health Priority - Health Policy Watch The Assembly approved a first-ever resolution on Fostering social connection for global health:  the essential role of social connection in combating

WHO Member States Recognize Social Connection as a Global Health Priority

"Social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of dementia, stroke, cardiovascular disease and premature death." Dr.Saima Wazed @who.int

✍️ @pauladepoju.bsky.social

WHA Approves Landmark Resolutions On Health Finance, Rare Diseases And Skin Diseases - Health Policy Watch The 78th World Health Assembly picked up momentum Saturday as countries adopted a Nigeria-sponsored initiative to stimulate more public health spending; and

WHA Approves Landmark Resolutions on Health Finance, Rare Diseases and Skin Diseases

Almost two billion people globally continue to face financial hardship from health expenditures

✍️ @pauladepoju.bsky.social
@ifmsa.bsky.social
@dndi.org
@who.int | #WHA78
#NTDs

Cross-Border Collaboration Gains Political Traction As Africa Targets Visceral Leishmaniasis Elimination - Health Policy Watch In a region where war, displacement, and weak health systems fuel a deadly disease, nine African governments are trying a new approach: eliminate visceral

Cross-Border Collaboration Gains Political Traction as Africa Targets Visceral Leishmaniasis Elimination

“These are not neglected diseases—they are priority diseases,” Dr. Jean Kaseya Africa CDC

✍️ @pauladepoju.bsky.social
@dndi.org
@afro.who.int @who.int
#BeatNTDs #NoToNTDs

🫡🫡🫡

Five years and a dozen published pieces later, I finally got a picture with the amazing @onisillos.bsky.social, my amazing editor at @lancetmicrobe.bsky.social, on the sidelines of #ESCMIDGlobal conference in Vienna.

S02E12: Africa’s Maternal Health Paradox: 40% Drop, 70% Crisis Africa has achieved a remarkable 40% reduction in maternal deaths since 2000—a significant milestone in global health. Yet paradoxically, the continent still accounts for a staggering 70% of maternal deaths worldwide. In this episode, Paul Adepoju speaks with Dr. Adeniyi Aderoba, WHO's lead on reproductive and maternal health for Africa, to unpack this complex paradox. They explore what's driving Africa's maternal mortality crisis, highlight innovative interventions making a difference, and discuss how political will, funding, and community empowerment are shaping the fight to save mothers’ lives. Tune in to discover why pregnancy in Africa should not be a death sentence and how progress can accelerate even further.

S02E12: Africa’s Maternal Health Paradox: 40% Drop, 70% Crisis

Africa has achieved a remarkable 40% reduction in maternal deaths since 2000—a significant milestone in global health. Yet paradoxically, the continent still accounts for a staggering 70% of maternal deaths worldwide. In this episode,…

I’ll come to you

Hello. Are you still around?

Paul Adepoju to Speak at Leading Global Infectious Disease Congress in Vienna, Austria Vienna, Austria – April 8, 2025 — Paul Adepoju, PhD, renowned science journalist and host of the Paul Talks Science podcast, will be speaking at the Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID Global) in Vienna, Austria. The event, taking place from April 12 to 15, 2025, brings together leading experts in microbiology, epidemiology, and infectious disease research from around the world.

Paul Adepoju to Speak at Leading Global Infectious Disease Congress in Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria – April 8, 2025 — Paul Adepoju, PhD, renowned science journalist and host of the Paul Talks Science podcast, will be speaking at the Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and…

S02E11: Systems, Not Choices—Rethinking Obesity’s Root Causes Obesity has often been viewed as a personal failing, a consequence of poor individual choices. But is this really the full picture? In the latest episode of Paul Talks Science, host Paul Adepoju delves into this critical question with Dr. Simon Barquera, President of the World Obesity Federation. Dr. Barquera shares illuminating insights from the recently released World Obesity Atlas, a comprehensive global overview highlighting troubling trends and deep systemic issues fueling the obesity epidemic—particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

S02E11: Systems, Not Choices—Rethinking Obesity’s Root Causes

Obesity has often been viewed as a personal failing, a consequence of poor individual choices. But is this really the full picture? In the latest episode of Paul Talks Science, host Paul Adepoju delves into this critical question with…

This’ll be fun, looking forward to the selfie 😂

Are you going this year? I’ll be

S02E10: Can Lifestyle Changes Really Boost Your Cancer Survival? In the latest episode of Paul Talks Science, Dr. Helen Croker, Assistant Director of Research and Policy at the World Cancer Research Fund International, delves into the critical topic of lifestyle factors and their impact on cancer survival. Dr. Croker explains how the World Cancer Research Fund International champions global research into the roles diet, nutrition, physical activity, and body weight play, not just in cancer prevention, but significantly, in cancer survival after diagnosis.

S02E10: Can Lifestyle Changes Really Boost Your Cancer Survival?

In the latest episode of Paul Talks Science, Dr. Helen Croker, Assistant Director of Research and Policy at the World Cancer Research Fund International, delves into the critical topic of lifestyle factors and their impact on cancer…

How Ireland is Fighting for Cancer Survivors In this episode, we explore Ireland's groundbreaking approach to cancer advocacy through two compelling conversations with leaders from the Irish Cancer Society. CEO Averil Power shares how relentless advocacy led to landmark legislation requiring cancer warnings on alcohol labels, changing Ireland's relationship with alcohol and health. Suzanne Dowd, Advocacy Officer, reveals another front in the fight: erasing financial stigma against cancer survivors struggling to access insurance and financial services long after recovery. Together, their stories illustrate Ireland's bold steps to protect cancer survivors, tackle stigma, and inspire global action.

How Ireland is Fighting for Cancer Survivors

In this episode, we explore Ireland's groundbreaking approach to cancer advocacy through two compelling conversations with leaders from the Irish Cancer Society. CEO Averil Power shares how relentless advocacy led to landmark legislation requiring…

S02E08: Long Reads, Big Impact — The Next Leap in Rare Disease Research In this episode, I sit down with Prof. Christian Gilissen, a pioneer in genome bioinformatics, and Head of Bioinformatics at Radboud University Medical Center, to explore how long-read sequencing is revolutionizing the diagnosis of rare diseases. For patients who’ve endured years of uncertainty, this technology offers newfound hope by uncovering genetic variations previously invisible to traditional methods. 🔍 What We Discuss:

S02E08: Long Reads, Big Impact — The Next Leap in Rare Disease Research

In this episode, I sit down with Prof. Christian Gilissen, a pioneer in genome bioinformatics, and Head of Bioinformatics at Radboud University Medical Center, to explore how long-read sequencing is revolutionizing the…

S02E07: Gut Feelings — PFAS, Microbiomes, and Kidney Damage In this episode of Paul Talks Science, I sat down with Dr. Hailey Hampson, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of South Carolina and the University of Washington, to discuss a growing but often overlooked public health threat—PFAS chemicals. Known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment and human body, PFAS have been linked to a range of health issues, including chronic kidney disease.

S02E07: Gut Feelings — PFAS, Microbiomes, and Kidney Damage

In this episode of Paul Talks Science, I sat down with Dr. Hailey Hampson, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of South Carolina and the University of Washington, to discuss a growing but often overlooked public health threat—PFAS…

A street in Honk Kong with road signs that look like COVID-19 rapid tests

The Lancet Infectious Disease's March issue is online!

Featuring SARS-CoV-2 community infections in Hong Kong, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, and next-generation sequencing to diagnose resistant TB

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Landmark Vaccine Deals Signal Africa’s Shift Toward Local Manufacturing - Health Policy Watch In a breakthrough moment for Africa’s vaccine independence, two landmark deals could help put the continent on a path to becoming a producer, not just a

In a breakthrough moment for Africa’s vaccine independence, two landmark deals could help put the continent on a path to becoming a producer, not just a buyer, of life-saving vaccines.

✍️ @pauladepoju.bsky.social
@biontechse.bsky.social

S02E06: Forever Chemicals — The Invisible Threat We Can’t Ignore PFAS—also known as "forever chemicals"—are everywhere. They’re in our water, our soil, our food, and even our bodies. These toxic substances have been linked to serious health risks, yet industries continue to manufacture and use them while regulatory efforts face increasing resistance. In this episode of Paul Talks Science, I sit down with Erik Olson, Senior Strategic Director for Health at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), to discuss the ongoing battle against PFAS contamination.

S02E06: Forever Chemicals — The Invisible Threat We Can’t Ignore

PFAS—also known as "forever chemicals"—are everywhere. They’re in our water, our soil, our food, and even our bodies. These toxic substances have been linked to serious health risks, yet industries continue to manufacture and use…

DNDi statement on recent US government executive actions and the escalating retreat from global health and medical research As an international non-profit organization that discovers, develops, and delivers treatments for neglected communities, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) expresses its alarm at drast...

DNDi statement on recent US government executive actions and the escalating retreat from global health and medical research ⤵️
bit.ly/4hAAoFy

Photograph of a warehouse in Kinshasa where unboxed tuberculosis medications are going undistributed due to the stop work order by the Trump Administration.

Just received this photo from a friend of a warehouse in Kinshasa. These are tuberculosis medications--ALREADY PAID FOR--that aren't being distributed due to the Trump Administration's stop work order.
TB treatment is being interrupted in SO many patients around the world. What does that mean? (1/2)

The Curlew, the Cactus, and the Obliterated Whitefish: The Species We Lost in 2024 • The Revelator Scientists also declared several other extinctions, including the first documented plant extinction in New Hampshire.

The Curlew, the Cactus, and the Obliterated Whitefish: The Species We Lost in 2024

If you didn’t know, @the-revelator.bsky.social is here! Its an independent journal about nature, culture, conservation, endangered species, and the future of wild places.

therevelator.org/extinct-2024/

Almost $500 million in food is at risk of spoilage after USAID pause, report says A report from the USAID inspector general says that almost $500 million in food assistance is sitting in ports, ships and warehouses.

The millions in USAID food is STILL sitting at the Port of Houston. Trump fired the watchdogs reporting on this story, he doesn’t want Americans to see this debacle. Wasting millions on food already purchased is the epitome of wealthy entitlement #Voices4Victory

www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/usa...