The post Strengthening Africa’s Pandemic Preparedness: Why Pharmacy-Based Immunization Must be a Strategic Priority first appeared on PSI.

The consequences of climate change all have direct effects on human health. As the climate crisis accelerates, the future of global health will be shaped not only by rising temperatures and extreme weather events but by how we protect the most vulnerable groups, particularly those already navigating fragile health systems, chronic conditions, and intersecting inequities.  

Climate change is ushering in an era of new and intensified disease outbreaks and pandemics. While global attention on climate and health often focuses on heat-related illnesses or mosquito-borne diseases, the less visible but equally urgent impacts are unfolding in communities affected by HIV, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis. These diseases thrive in the same conditions that climate change exacerbates — displacement, food insecurity, overcrowded housing, and overwhelmed health services. Around 3.6 billion people live in regions highly susceptible to climate change, and many of those populations are disproportionately affected by HIV, TB and viral hepatitis. The latter is particularly true for marginalized groups who are least equipped to cope with the effects and often bear the brunt of these impacts. And yet, they are too often sidelined in climate resilience and pandemic preparedness discussions. 

At PSI, we believe the path to climate-resilient health systems must be rooted in the lived experiences of people and communities on the front lines. It starts with strengthening how we prevent, diagnose, and manage HIV, TB, and hepatitis in the face of a changing climate. 

One of the most effective approaches we have deployed in recent years is self-care, particularly through HIV and hepatitis C self-testing. In settings where climate shocks such as floods, droughts, or cyclones interrupt access to clinics or supply chains, the ability for individuals to test themselves safely and privately can mean the difference between knowing their status and falling through the cracks. 

Self-testing empowers individuals, reduces dependency on overburdened health facilities, and sustains access during emergencies or movement restrictions. These lessons were reinforced during the COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related disasters alike. We are now building on this by piloting integrated self-care models, bundling HIV and hepatitis testing with access to information on sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and linkage to treatment. 

Our HIV, TB, and hepatitis prevention and care interventions and programs are grounded in differentiated, client-centered service delivery that adapts to the realities people face. This means bringing care closer to home through community-led testing, peer navigation, mobile outreach, and community pharmacies — especially for those most likely to be left behind: key populations, migrants, adolescents, and people who use drugs. 

By shifting care out of static clinics and into the hands of trained community providers and networks, we are not only reducing stigma and improving outcomes, but building locally owned, climate-resilient service delivery systems. These approaches also enable rapid re-deployment during public health emergencies.  

Our work across all three disease areas is deeply interconnected with other health needs, particularly sexual and reproductive health, family planning, and noncommunicable diseases. At the primary healthcare level, we are investing in service integration that recognizes people do not experience their health needs in silos. 

For example, a woman engaging with a community health worker for contraception should also be able to access HIV prevention, hepatitis B vaccination, or TB screening. This kind of integrated, person-centered care not only improves health outcomes, it also strengthens the entire system’s ability to absorb and adapt to future shocks, be they climate-induced or pandemic-related. 

PSI’s investments in HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis are platforms for building the health systems of the future. Through these initiatives, we have pioneered innovations like community-led service delivery models, rapid diagnostics, differentiated care, and rights-based advocacy, that are essential to tackling new and emerging threats. 

What the climate crisis demands is exactly what these programs are developing: equitable, decentralized, people-powered health systems that can flex, adapt, and continue delivering under stress. However, the work is far from over and advancing these efforts requires comprehensive and ambitious approaches to ensure sustainable disease response in the context of shifting pandemic, intensifying climate emergency, and increasingly complex global landscape. We must act now, and we must commit greater attention, investment and action to the multidimensional intersections of climate change, infectious diseases, and health. Only with stronger cross-sector collaboration — equally focusing on the environmental, health, and social components — can we create systems that leave no one behind. 

The post Putting HIV, TB, and Viral Hepatitis at the Heart of Climate-Resilient Health Systems  first appeared on PSI.

As the global health community marks World TB Day this year, the call to action is clear: we must accelerate efforts, even as shrinking health budgets threaten hard-won gains.

But ending TB is not just about delivering more of the same. It’s about doing things differently. It’s about integrating TB services into broader primary healthcare systems and addressing the disease alongside other respiratory conditions that often share common risk factors and symptoms. This shift is not only more efficient, but also essential.

Integration at the Frontline

At PSI, we are committed to reimagining how health services are delivered—integrating TB and chronic lung health interventions at the primary care level and putting people at the center of the response.

In over 40 countries, PSI collaborates with governments, communities, and the private sector to ensure TB and lung health services are affordable, accessible, and responsive to clients’ needs. We design delivery models that are grounded in real-world contexts and that make the most of each opportunity to reach and serve clients across the care continuum.

This means strengthening prevention, screening, and early detection; equipping frontline providers to deliver better care at first contact; and improving long-term disease management and follow-up.

Connecting the Dots Between TB and Lung Health

TB often overlaps with other acute and chronic respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections. Together, these diseases cause 11% of all early deaths worldwide. They disproportionately affect people in low- and middle-income countries, especially those facing poverty, indoor and outdoor air pollution, tobacco exposure, and other social and environmental risks.

These shared risk factors and overlapping symptoms mean that fragmented services leave gaps in care. Clients may go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, or they may struggle to navigate multiple systems for the care they need. In contrast, an integrated approach can diagnose TB and chronic lung diseases sooner, connect individuals to appropriate care more efficiently, and ultimately reduce the burden on patients and health systems.

Spotlight on Zimbabwe: A Model for Integration

In Zimbabwe, where the TB and HIV burdens remain high, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted TB services, resulting in a 25% drop in reported cases. At the same time, the country experienced a 73% rise in the chronic obstructive lung disease burden, with an estimated 168,000 new cases annually.

In response, PSI Zimbabwe and local partner Population Solutions for Health are implementing an integrated model for TB and chronic lung disease that strengthens service delivery and brings care closer to communities.

Key elements of the approach include:

• Joint screening and diagnostic services for TB and chronic lung diseases, ensuring respiratory symptoms are assessed holistically.
• Leveraging private sector clinics and pharmacies to extend reach, improve convenience, and offer multiple points of access to care.
• Client-centered service design, including flexible hours and community outreach, to better match how and when people seek care.

These integrated services are designed not only to increase detection and improve outcomes but also to optimize the use of resources and build more resilient health systems.

Integration as a Global Imperative

Zimbabwe’s experience offers lessons for other countries facing similar challenges. In an era of constrained funding and growing demand, integration is not optional; it’s essential. By embedding TB and chronic lung health services into primary healthcare and working through public and private sector networks, countries can expand access, reduce duplication, and deliver more comprehensive care.

However, integration alone is not enough. It must be backed by sustained investment, political will, and a commitment to innovation that puts people—not diseases—at the center of care.

At PSI, we are proud to be advancing this agenda. By working across sectors and geographies, we are helping to build the future of TB and lung health—one that is integrated, inclusive, and effective.

The post World TB Day 2025: Advancing Integrated TB and Lung Health Services Through Primary Health Care first appeared on PSI.

This is difficult news. In 2024 alone, 21 U.S. government-funded projects enabled PSI and our local and community-level partners to reach an estimated 15 million people, addressing urgent health needs from malaria and HIV/AIDS to contraception and safe sanitation. The abrupt loss of funding has forced us to halt many of these programs—programs that were making a real difference.

But let us be clear: these actions will not derail our mission.

For 55 years, PSI has pioneered innovative health solutions—strengthening markets, supporting health systems, and ensuring essential care reaches those who need it most. From powering social marketing for mosquito nets, contraception, and clean water to advancing today’s latest digital, diagnostic, and device innovations, people have always been at the center of our work.

And they always will be.

Today, 4.5 billion people lack reliable, affordable healthcare. When health systems and health markets are disrupted, the ripple effects extend far beyond individuals—threatening security, stability, and prosperity worldwide. Meeting this moment requires bold action, innovation, and partnership.

“For decades, PSI has been there for those who need us most. We’re not stopping now,” said Michael Holscher, PSI President. “We are mobilizing our global network to sustain support to governments and all our partners through our ongoing programs. We are making the hard decisions necessary to adapt our technical, programmatic, financial, and operational capacity to ensure life-saving care continues wherever possible—while preparing for the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

We’ve never done this work alone. To our partners and supporters: thank you for standing with us in this critical moment.

The post Ensuring Quality Care, No Matter What first appeared on PSI.

Bamba Mamadou and Touré Fanta smile watching their three young children Kadidiatou, Fatoumata, and Ibrahim play – aged 5, 4, and 2 years old respectively. They are also mindful of the mosquitoes in the rainy, humid air outside their home that carry the threat of malaria.

The Bamba family live in the small town of Boron in the Dikodougou district of northern Côte d’Ivoire. Boron is one of three localities in the district covered by the WHO-recommended seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) intervention for children aged three months to five years to keep them safe from malaria in areas where transmission is highest during the rainy season. SMC consists of administrating antimalarial medicine daily for three days each month to children aged 3 months to 5 years at high risk of severe malaria in areas of seasonal transmission.

The years since their eldest, Kadidiatou, was born have been fraught with repeated cycles of severe malaria infection, causing frequent health risks, stress about the children’s well-being, and significant financial challenges for the family. Over the course of one year alone, Kadidiatou developed severe malaria 15 times, resulting in convulsions, extreme fatigue, high fevers, and difficulty breathing.

“I am a security guard and my wife sells cakes near the primary schools. We spent at least 45,000 CFA francs every month to pay for the health care of our daughter Kadidiatou,” said Mamadou. “There were even months when two of them had to be sent to the health center. We were suffering.”

According to the Urban Health Center of Boron’s health records, there were 1,000 malaria-related consultations during the 2021 rainy season – the year before SMC was implemented in the area – of which 750 were positive for malaria after rapid diagnostic tests were used to accurately detect and diagnose infection. 400 of those positive tests were among children under 4 years old. Treatment to alleviate malaria depends on the severity of the infection. For uncomplicated malaria, treatment typically can be managed through outpatient care at a local health facility or by community health workers visiting the children’s home. Severe malaria requires referral to a hospital, many of which are too far, and overnight stays to monitor symptoms, which are costly for families to access.

Unfortunately, out of the 15 children with severe malaria referred to the General Hospital of Dikodougou in 2021, 5 died from a combination of ailments alongside malaria infection, including acute anemia and malnutrition. While they spent significant time at the hospital worried about their daughter’s recovery, the Bambas are deeply grateful that Kadidiatou was not one of those children lost.

No child should die from severe malaria when the tools exist to prevent it. In 2022, the Côte d’Ivoire Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage prioritized prevention efforts and added SMC into their national strategic plan against malaria. Managed through the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), these prevention efforts aim to keep young children healthy and alleviate stress on the health system.

In 2023 and 2024, the planning and implementation of SMC campaigns in the Dabakala and Dikodougou health districts was supported by the PSI Côte d’Ivoire team.

At the end of the fourth monthly cycle of the 2023 SMC campaign, Mamadou and Fanta saw that other children in their community who joined the SMC program were not becoming infected with malaria. While they were initially cautious about the new SMC campaign, their children continued to suffer from malaria infection, and they continued to incur the cost of associated medical expenses. Mamadou and Fanta wanted nothing more than to keep their children safe and healthy and they decided to go to the nearest health center and register their children for the 2024 seasonal campaign.

From the first month of the 2024 campaign, Kadidiatou, Fatoumata, and Ibrahim all took the first dose in the presence of the community health worker and the second- and third-day doses from their parents. Throughout the campaign from July to October, they were given the 3-day doses of antimalarials each month. To their parents’ relief, all three children were malaria-free throughout the 2024 seasonal rains for the first time in their young lives.

Mamadou smiled as he reflected on this positive change for his family:

“It has been 4 months that my children have not [been severely ill and had to go] to the health center. Fanta and I are greatly relieved and can finally save money!”

He now shares their family’s personal experience and the value of the prevention campaigns with everyone who will listen.

Families like the Bambas benefitted from the 2024 SMC campaign across the Dabakala and Dikodougou districts. The 2024 campaign goal was to administer prevention medicine to at least 90% of children aged 3 to 59 months registered in each cycle. That goal was exceeded – the campaign achieved coverage rates of over 98% each month. By the end of cycle 4 in October, all 52,579 children registered had received SMC medicine to stay healthy during the rainy season and reached an additional 1,069 children previously unregistered in the area.

Thanks to the 2024 SMC campaign, there are thousands of stories of children like Kadidiatou, Fatoumata, and Ibrahim that remained healthy through the rainy season and parents that could rely on their children’s safety. PSI remains committed to supporting the NMCP in Côte d’Ivoire with planning and implementing SMC campaigns, so more families and their young children can stay safe from malaria.

Read more about the power of SMC here.

The post A Family Celebrates being Free of Malaria first appeared on PSI.

After an extensive global search, PSI’s senior leadership committee and Board search committee unanimously endorsed Michael to lead PSI into the future. His deep expertise, forward-thinking vision, and ability to navigate complex global health challenges made him the clear choice for this role.

“Michael’s exceptional leadership experience in two global health organizations, across four continents, dealing with the complexities of global health work and also envisioning how the roles of international NGOs need to keep evolving to be relevant to those we serve,” said Dr. Ana Langer, PSI’s Board Chair, “these were among the reasons why the Board of PSI is excited to have Michael in this role at a time of great challenge for our industry.” 

With over 20 years of experience in global health and development, Holscher has played a pivotal role in leading organizational strategies, driving innovation, and managing change. His leadership has been instrumental in forging strategic partnerships, mobilizing resources for high-impact programs, and ensuring that PSI remains at the forefront of health transformation.

“PSI’s success in scaling health innovations and impact has always inspired me,” said Michael. “The global health landscape is shifting rapidly, demanding both urgency and strategy. While addressing today’s most pressing challenges, we will also prepare PSI for what comes next—adapting and innovating to remain a trusted partner to governments, national organizations, and the people we serve. I am honored to have this opportunity to lead PSI at such a critical time.”

Michael steps into this role following the transition of Karl Hofmann, PSI’s former President, who is now serving as the CEO of HealthX Partners (HXP), PSI’s parent organization. This moment marks an opportunity for new leadership to accelerate PSI’s Transforming Health Together strategy, working hand in hand with partners to drive greater health impact worldwide.

Hofmann expressed his strong confidence in Michael’s leadership:

“I’ve worked closely with Michael Holscher on the evolution of PSI’s work over the last ten years and the transformation of our structure to push decision-making closest to those PSI serves around the world,” said Hofmann. “Michael has the right vision for the future of our organization and our sector, and the leadership experience to deliver on that vision. I am delighted to hand the leadership of amazing PSI off to him.”

Hofmann added that Michael and PSI will also be key to steering HealthX Partners on its journey of greater and more cost-effective impact around the world, in close collaboration the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) and their new President Dr. Doris Macharia.

Read more about HealthX Partners here.

The post Welcoming Michael Holscher as the President of Population Services International first appeared on PSI.

In 2024 alone, 21 projects funded by US foreign assistance enabled us to reach an estimated 15 million people with essential health products and services. Today, that life-saving work hangs in the balance.

When access to healthcare stalls, the ripple effects are global—impacting not just those we serve, but also security, stability, and prosperity worldwide. We’ve all seen how crises, no matter where they begin, can shape our collective future.

PSI is actively working with our partners to seek waivers to continue the critical, life-saving programs we deliver with US foreign assistance, while complying with all requirements. Health needs don’t pause, even if our work must.

For 55 years, PSI has championed global health solutions— strengthening markets, supporting health systems, and ensuring that care reaches those who need it most. We’ve never done this work alone. To our partners and supporters: thank you for standing with us in this critical moment.

The post Our Response to the U.S. Foreign Assistance Freeze first appeared on PSI.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two global health nonprofits are taking a bold strategic step to harness their collective strengths and expertise to innovate in global health.

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) and Population Services International (PSI) announced today the creation of HealthX Partners Incorporated  – a new nonprofit organization aimed at advancing the global health goals of organizations in resource-constrained environments through collective impact and expertise. Set to launch in January 2025,  HealthX Partners seeks to respond to the global health sector’s changing needs and emphasis on integrated healthcare services, innovation, systems strengthening, sustainability, and local leadership.

Under the new structure, HealthX Partners will act as a parent company while PSI and EGPAF will operate as subsidiaries, retaining their names, brands, and missions. They will share operational capacity and geographies for greater efficiency and impact. In time, HealthX Partners plans to welcome additional organizations to the partnership, further amplifying the collective’s ability to create positive change across the world.

“The global health sector is evolving rapidly, requiring us to think and work differently,” said Charles “Chip” Lyons, President and CEO of EGPAF. “Achieving our mission of reaching and sustaining epidemic control of HIV for children, youth, and families requires us to ensure HIV is integrated into primary care through improved health systems and that we are meeting the evolving health needs of HIV-impacted communities and national governments. We will be stronger in meeting these goals by working together with collaborators who bring integrated health solutions.”

Founded in 1988, EGPAF is dedicated to ending HIV/AIDS in children, youth, and families. PSI, incorporated in 1970, operates as a network of locally-led, globally connected organizations passionate about making it easier for people to lead healthier lives. Both organizations are headquartered in Washington, D.C. Under the new HealthX Partners framework, their collective network will include programs in 40 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, East Asia, the Pacific, Central America, and South America. Ongoing projects will be unaffected as part of this strategic collaboration, but the two entities plan to collaborate and partner on future initiatives where it makes programmatic and economic sense.

Working together, EGPAF and PSI can provide their clients with stronger and more comprehensive services. This strategic move will bring together the strengths and expertise of both entities, positioning us for greater impact in the marketplace.

“People’s challenges are not limited to the services PSI provides,” said PSI President Karl Hofmann. “Likewise, EGPAF’s passion and work does not stop with pediatric HIV. The next phase in meeting our collective missions requires enhanced collaboration and integration, which we will have as part of HealthX Partners. Both PSI and EGPAF are moving power, care and decision-making closer to the communities and people we serve.  HealthX Partners will have this as its founding DNA.”

HealthX Partners will be led by Hofmann, and Board leadership will be co-chaired by the current EGPAF Board Chair Jack Leslie and current PSI Board Chair Carolyn Brehm. Both PSI and EGPAF will be embarking on an international search for Presidents to be appointed in 2025. Lyons will be retiring from EGPAF in early 2025 when the search for his replacement concludes, following Lyons’ 15-year tenure.

Media Contacts:

Haydé Adams, Director, Communications & Media Relations, EGPAF: hadams@pediads.org

Nadia Afrin, Director, External Communications, PSI: nafrin@psi.org

About the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF):

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) is a proven leader in the fight for an AIDS-free generation and has reached over 35 million pregnant women with services to prevent transmission of HIV to their babies. Founded in 1988, EGPAF has supported over 15,000 sites and currently works in 19 countries to offer HIV counseling, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services alongside high-quality family health care. Each stage of life—from infancy to adulthood—brings new and different challenges, and EGPAF is driven to see a world where no other mother, child, or family is devastated by this disease. For more information, visit www.pedaids.org. 

About Population Services International (PSI):

PSI is a network of locally-led, globally connected organizations that are passionate about making it easier for people to lead healthier lives and plan the families they desire.

Together with partners, PSI transforms health by tackling the root causes preventing people and their communities from achieving and maintaining high-quality and affordable health. In 2023, PSI reached 44.2 million people globally with healthcare products and services for family planning, HIV, TB, malaria and sanitation services and another 26.6 million people through market growth and system change.  For more information, visit www.psi.org.

The post Global Health Nonprofits Partner for Greater Impact first appeared on PSI.

For most consumers navigating the health system, the journey to care is complex. By better understanding their experiences, health needs, and preferences along the way, we can help policymakers shape more responsive health systems and accessible health services.  

Journey mapping – a qualitative research approach – can be used to understand consumers’ interactions and relationships with a healthcare system. However, current methods are time and resource-intensive and often focus on a particular health area, project, or delivery channel. This approach fails to provide a comprehensive picture of consumer healthcare experiences, does not track changes over time, and makes it difficult for policymakers and other stakeholders to effectively address health system challenges. To build health systems that respond to individual’s needs, we need a better way of collecting, disseminating, and using consumer insights. 

To catalyze consumer-powered care, PSI is designing, testing, and improving more cost-effective and continuous approaches to remotely track the consumer health journey. Using digital solutions, we aim to build a comprehensive overview of users’ experiences as they navigate the health system over time. The generated insights will inform a new approach to journey mapping that can more effectively shape the design and implementation of policies and interventions and assess their impact on users’ access to quality, affordable care.  

With funding from Endless Foundation, we developed and piloted a method in Uganda to remotely track pregnant women’s experiences with antenatal and delivery care in urban and rural settings. We used digital communication tools that allow for continuous, near-real-time data collection and have the potential for scale.  

To start, we conducted in-person interviews with women who recently gave birth to understand their pregnancy journeys, digital preferences, and phone use. This information informed the development of remote surveys that we sent to 200 pregnant women four times over five months through either WhatsApp or Viamo’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) service to collect information on their care experiences. We also tested an AI-powered avatar, supported by Fortell.ai, with a subset of in-person participants and sent the avatar remotely to all WhatsApp participants. After the surveys were complete, we facilitated phone surveys with a sub-set of all remote survey participants to assess their experience and satisfaction with the new journey mapping approach. 

Through this study, we have the following key findings: 

• Participants were more likely to respond to IVR surveys than WhatsApp – For IVR participants, 89% completed at least one survey compared to 11% of WhatsApp participants, even though women initially reported that WhatsApp was their preferred data-sharing method. This may have been due to the cost of data required to complete WhatsApp surveys. 

• Open-ended questions had a low response rate on WhatsApp – Among those that did respond via WhatsApp, we saw a steep drop-off when participants reached the open-ended voice recording or written response questions, possibly due to technical issues or perceived burden. However, open responses provided more detailed insights into participant experiences than close response options.  

• Respondents need additional support to successfully complete remotely deployed AI-avatar surveys – When guided by a research assistant, we found that women successfully responded to surveys and shared that the AI-avatar provided an opportunity for open and honest responses. However, participants experienced issues navigating the AI-avatar technology remotely through WhatsApp without technical support. Most women preferred using the AI-avatar translated into Luganda. In the future, offering mobile data and providing additional training on how to complete avatar surveys may increase response rates.  

• Participants trusted the privacy and effectiveness of the journey mapping tools – Across WhatsApp, IVR, and the AI-powered Avatar, participants reported trusting that their data would be kept private, finding a sense of companionship in the routine surveys, and that their responses could help to improve service delivery. However, some participants needed help navigating the technologies and faced challenges filling out surveys without the ability to ask clarifying questions. 

We look forward to validating these results with the Ministry of Health in Uganda and using this study to co-create digitally enabled systems to routinely collect, analyze, and elevate consumer insights.  

The initial project in Uganda is in the first phase of an ambitious learning agenda. To provide a more comprehensive picture of consumer health needs, we hope to scale remote data collection methods to more communities throughout Uganda and integrate surveys into national health campaigns to power health education and consumer insights together. With a new approach to remote journey mapping, we can build more person-centered health systems.  
 

Learn more about digitally-powered journey mapping here.  
 
 

The post Digitally Powered Consumer Insights Shape Responsive Health Systems  first appeared on PSI.

During this year’s 12 Days of UHC campaign, themed “Self-Care &___,” we explored scaling self-care as an essential component of achieving Universal Health Coverage — not merely as a standalone practice but its intersection with other areas of physical, mental, and environmental health and well-being. We also shared timely resources on these topics curated from SCTG members and partners.

HIV/AIDS & Sexually Transmitted Infections

Self-care is at the heart of sexual health. There are more self-initiated options at people’s fingertips than ever to prevent, detect, and treat HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STI) — condoms, pre-exposure prophylaxis, HIV self-testing, self-collection of STI samples, and much more. These self-care tools also help ensure privacy while reducing stigma and discrimination. 

• Scaling Self-Care: A Critical Step Towards Health for All
• HIV Self-Testing and PrEP: Opportunities for Scale-Up 
• Self-Care Toolkit on SRHR and HIV for Young People and related video

Climate Change

Climate change is threatening human health, exacerbating health inequities, and underscoring why we need to invest in self-care approaches for people on the frontlines. Expanding community access to self-care tools — medications, medical supplies, food & water — is essential to responding and adapting to the health challenges posed by climate change.    

• Climate Change, Gender Disparity, and Self-Care
• Birth in a Burning World: The Intersecting Extreme Heat and Maternal Health Crises in Sindh Province, Pakistan 
• Self-Care in Climate Resilience 

Gender, Youth, and Disability 

Self-care is a tool for liberation and social justice. It supports the power and autonomy of groups of traditionally marginalized communities — women, gender-diverse people, youth, and people with disabilities. Self-care strengthens physical and mental health, self-esteem, and resilience for life’s challenges, ultimately helping people reclaim power and forge their future. 

• Self-Care Strategies for Women and Girls with Disabilities 
• Webinar – Self-Care and You(th): How Young People Can Shape Self-Care Policy and Accountability

Digital Health 

Digital tools are transforming healthcare and self-care as we know it. The expansion of mobile phones, smartphone applications, internet access, and artificial intelligence are creating new avenues for people to access and practice self-care — everything from tracking personal health metrics to receiving an e-prescription to getting a personalized wellness plan powered by artificial intelligence. 

• What’s Inside Matters: An Assessment of the Family Planning Content of Digital Self-Care Platforms and related manuscript Quality Assessment Checklist for Client-Facing Family Planning Content in Digital Tools
• Digital health platforms Nivi and Women First Digital 

Maternal and Newborn Health

Did you know that the World Health Organization recommends self-care practices before, during, and after pregnancy? Pregnant people can do a lot at home to feel their best, such as eating healthy, exercising, and taking supplements to relieve nausea. Other actions can be life-saving, including self-administration of iron and folic acid and self-monitoring of blood sugar and blood pressure. Even after delivery, self-care is vital to safeguarding the health of mom and baby. 

• Family-Led Postnatal Care in Ethiopia: Empowering Families to Care for Mothers and Newborns
• Toolkit on Self-Care and Shared Decision-Making for Respectful Maternal Care
• Me Care, We Care: How Self-Care Strengthens Maternal and Newborn Health

Mental Health

The world is facing a global mental health crisis of epic proportions, and self-care is vital in taking care of both minds and bodies. The World Health Organization suggests simple, everyday actions to improve mental health and well-being, such as eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep, connecting with friends and family, avoiding harmful substances, and practicing gratitude. These actions aren’t selfish — they are essential.  

• Adolescent Mental Health and related MindSKILLZ Magazine Sample 
• Resources on Self-care and Mental Health Support During Mental Health Awareness Month
• New Campaign: Mental Health of the Health Workforce

Humanitarian Settings

Self-care has a critical role to play in humanitarian and fragile settings where the health and safety situation is dire, especially for women and girls. Emerging evidence and experience show that self-care can fill gaps in sexual and reproductive health in places with disrupted health systems, helping to restore health, rights, and human dignity to the millions of people in need of humanitarian assistance. 

• Global Call to Action for Sexual and Reproductive Health Self-Care in Humanitarian and Fragile Settings
• Progress Tracker: Global Call to Action for Sexual and Reproductive Health Self-Care in Humanitarian and Fragile Settings
• Job Aid: Self-Managed Family Planning Methods 

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Self-care enables people to take greater control of their sexual and reproductive health. Individuals can self-test with ovulation predictor kits and at-home pregnancy tests, self-administer different contraceptives (injectable contraception, oral contraceptive pills, condoms, emergency contraception), and self-manage medication abortions. In a time when sexual and reproductive health services are being curtailed in many places, self-care can offer a pathway to greater bodily autonomy and agency.  

• DMPA-SC Self-Injection Policy Analysis 
• Why Self-Care is Essential for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
• Frequently Asked Questions about the Dual Prevention Pill

Pandemic Preparedness

Being prepared for the next pandemic starts with knowing how to protect yourself and your loved ones and having the self-care tools to do so. COVID-19 showed how powerful individual and community self-care behaviors are in responding to infectious diseases, such as masking, handwashing, social distancing, and self-testing. Pandemic preparedness plans should recognize self-care as a first line of defense.  

• Self-Care’s Contribution to Global Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness
• Self-Testing and Self-Care: Including COVID-19
• Civil Society 20 (C20) Brazil 2024 Working Group 5 Policy Brief: Integrated Health for All

The post 12 Days of UHC: Self-Care for All (Health) first appeared on PSI.