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an hour ago
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SHE & Rights Media Awards To 8 Journalists In African And Asia Pacific Regions
'As we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and its Platform for Action (1995) this year, we are called to reflect not only on how far we have come but how far we must still go. The Beijing Declaration was a bold promise to the world's women and girls that their rights, dignity and health would be non-negotiable, that promise remains unfulfilled,' said Nazneen Damji, Chief (ad interim), Governance and Participation Section, and Senior Policy Advisor, Gender Equality, HIV and Health, UN Women. She has over 25 years of professional experience promoting women's rights and gender equality worldwide. ' Universal health coverage cannot be truly universal if it does not prioritize gender equality and human rights. Health systems that ignore the unique needs and barriers faced by women and girls are not only unjust they are ineffective,' she said at a special Side Event alongside WHA78 organised by Global Centre for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI) and partners. 'We are facing a rising coordinated push back on women's and girls' health and rights, particularly their sexual and reproductive health and rights. In just the past few months we have seen drastic funding cuts, impacting not only civil society and governments, but also UN agencies that provide abortion care and life-saving HIV treatment. This is not just a budget issue, it is a crisis of political will. Let us be clear: sexual and reproductive health and rights are not optional, they are fundamental human rights and yet only 56% of married women aged 15 to 49 can make decisions about their own reproductive health. This is not a statistic, it is a reflection of deep-rooted structural inequalities and harmful social norms that continue to deny women agency over their own bodies,' said Nazneen Damji of UN Women. The consequences are devastating: Every 2 minutes a woman dies from preventable pregnancy related causes In 2023, over 700 women died each day from complications that could have been avoided with access to quality care HIV incidents among adolescent girls and young women remains alarmingly high in parts of sub-Saharan Africa where they are more than three times as likely to acquire HIV as their male peers in at least 22 countries Gender discrimination block access to healthcare 'These are not isolated issues these are symptoms of a global system that continues to devalue the lives and health of women and girls. The newly released World Report on the Social Determinants of Health Equity confirms that gender discrimination blocks access to health care even when user fees are removed. Women especially those who are young poor migrants or from ethnic minorities, still avoid care because of abuse and mistreatment,' said Nazneen Damji of UN Women. UHC is fundamental to reducing health inequalities 'We are seeing a global push back against gender equality and the principles of human rights to health which are inextricably linked. In my mandate as a UN Special Rapporteur on Right To Health, I have recommended a human rights approach for many of the thematic areas recalling the political declaration of the UN High Level Meeting and resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly 2019 on Universal Health Coverage under the theme 'Universal health coverage moving together to build a healthier world.' I stress and underscore that universal health coverage is fundamental to reducing health inequalities, and ensuring just, peaceful and inclusive societies,' said Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Right To Health and Executive Director, Centre for Global Health Policy & Politics. 'The world is experiencing protracted war, humanitarian crisis, economic crisis, climate crisis, genocide, all of which had an impact on the right to health,' said Dr Tlaleng. 'Inequality, violence, stigmatisation, discrimination and criminalisation, all are incompatible with the realization of the right to health and therefore impact universal health coverage,' she added. 'Delivering on UHC in an era of push back against gender equality and human rights must consider that every human being is entitled - with no discrimination - to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, and also a life conducive to living of dignity.' 'We saw during COVID-19 lockdown time that people who were from the most marginalised groups, were furthest pushed behind. These included: peoples from LGBTQI+ communities, women in all diversities, women in sex work, women who use drugs, or young girls, for whom there was hardly any access to care, support and services. While gender-based violence was so much being reported (despite being underreported) during the pandemic, we have learned from it the hard way that how we want to bring in the marginalised people, and strengthen our health systems, and make them resilient in gender-transformative manner,' said Dr Harjyot Khosa, Regional External Relations Director, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and member of Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC 2030. 'We need to engage marginalised communities in all their diversities to adapt and redesign health systems to better protect them within the framework of universal health coverage,' Dr Khosa added. Dr Harjyot Khosa reminded all that our health systems are defined and designed for heterosexual married people, like 'good couples' as per the harmful social norms rooted in patriarchy. 'So, perception and level of stigma and misogyny within healthcare systems is what we all grapple with every day. Sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice (SRHRJ) has to be the first push to deliver on UHC at all levels,' she said. Racism, inequities and injustices plague UHC 'Just because of the colour of your skin, people become a victim of sexual assault. When they go the police, they are turned away because they are 'not citizens of the country.' Or a woman is denied mental healthcare because of language barriers. These are the realities I face daily in Dominican Republic,' said Dr Eliezer Lappots-Abreu, Executive Director, Health Horizons International, Dominican Republic. 'Although we live in a country where health access and universal health coverage is part of the norm, but it is not accessible for everybody because it excludes women of colour and immigrants. One of my patients, a Haitian woman was diagnosed with cervical cancer but when we connected her to services to treat her cancer, she was turned away because of the language barrier. When we arranged a translator for her, we were told that they can understand her but unable to serve her without documentation. Patient wondered if her options was to get palliative care or just die in the house,' he added. UHC is about access, not coverage alone 'Survivors of gender-based violence also need access to healthcare services. But that is often restricted for a wide variety of reasons including financial barriers, lack of capacity of the health system itself to be able to respond, social barriers like stigma and discrimination, as well as because healthcare system is at times a site of violence itself,' said Fadekemi Akinfaderin, Chief Global Advocacy Officer, Fos Feminista (International Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice). 'I tend to think myself as a privileged person (educated middleclass woman) but when I had both my kids, I was denied access to epidural (epidural is a type of regional anesthesia which is often given during labour and delivery to relieve pain). I was denied epidural in a health centre on the basis that the healthcare worker wanted me to give birth like a 'Hebrew woman.' I do not look Hebrew at all!' said Fedekemi Akinfaderin. Fadekemi belives that by health systems reforms, we can not only deliver on UHC but also help progress towards ending gender-based violence. She also calls for linking legal system with healthcare system to enhance support for those facing violence in any form. Fadekemi pointed out towards alarming growth in authoritarianism, and erosion and attack on democracy which is directly connected to the anti-rights push. UHC is not about coverage but universal health Care 'It is not accidental that C in UHC stands for coverage in the official language but it should be about Care – Universal Health Care. No wonder due to governments focussing on UHC, or coverage, we see increasing space for 'health insurance.' Universal Health Care (and not Universal Health Coverage) better links us with the spirit of Alma Mata Declaration of 1978 (which heralded WHO led call to deliver on Health For All),' said Baba Aye, Health and Social Services Officer, Public Services International (PSI), who earlier worked for two decades in the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria. 'We cannot talk of universal health care without health workers for all,' said Baba Aye of PSI. He said that when 13% of maternal mortality are from unsafe abortions, and two-thirds of healthcare workers are women themselves, imagine the struggle in countries where abortion is criminalised. Leprosy response also needs to integrate gender equality and human rights 'Women with leprosy face unique and often invisible struggles. At home, they are often unable to express their problems, even to other women. This is not the case for men. In family matters, whether it is making decisions or purchasing essentials, women are frequently excluded. Gender discrimination plays a major role here,' said Maya Ranavare, President of Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL). 'Women with leprosy receive lower wages than men for the same work, which is a clear example of gender inequality. These issues are compounded by the stigma of leprosy. But perhaps the most serious impact is in the area of healthcare. Women with leprosy often suffer in silence. Social stigma, economic dependence, and a lack of agency prevent them from seeking timely medical help or sharing their experiences. This intersection of gender and disease requires urgent attention. If we want to truly support people affected by leprosy, we must also address the gender-based injustices they face every day,' she added. 'We need to ensure people living with HIV are covered under UHC (under Indian government's health insurance). Out-of-pocket expenses are often catastrophic for people with HIV, especially women who face inter-sectional stigma and discrimination at all levels,' said Daxa Patel, co-founder and former President of National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India (NCPI Plus) and leader of Gujarat State Network of People living with HIV (GSNP Plus). Ground realities of gender diverse peoples in Afghanistan Parwen Hussaini of Afghanistan is at risk of her life along with her lesbian lover Maryam (Maryam is under arrest). Parwen serves as a Programme Associate at Roshaniya, a LGBTQI+ rights group in Afghanistan. Parwen was born in Gazhni province of Afghanistan and identifies as a lesbian and Afghan. She narrowly escaped persecution and arrest by the Taliban on 20th March 2025 and she is now in Iran. Parwen and her lover were engaged to get married when they tried to escape. Her lover (Maryam) is being tortured and imprisoned by the Taliban and in prison for over one and a half months (as on 10 May 2025). Right now, Parwen faces an uncertain future in Iran because if her visa expires, they will deport her back to Afghanistan and if that happens, she will be imprisoned and tortured and possibly face a death penalty. Nemat Sadat, CEO of 'Roshaniya' (an advocacy network dedicated to assisting LGBTQI+ Afghans) and one of the first Afghans to have openly come out as gay and to campaign for LGBTQI+ rights, gender freedom and liberty, said: 'We have a list of over 1,000 LGBTQI+ peoples who still remain in Afghanistan. To this date, we have supported the safe evacuation of 265 people to different countries and we hope that Parwen will also get to a safe place.' South Sudan conflict and women and other marginalised persons 'The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has disempowered a lot of excluded and marginalised peoples including women, LGBTQI+, people living with HIV, persons with disabilities, sex workers, among others. So, when it comes to gender justice the issue of gender-based violence becomes central. There is physical violence, domestic violence, and sexual harassment and sexual abuse. They are raping women rampantly. Due to the conflict there is also increased risk for the displacement of women and girls in South Sudan (which puts them at greater risk of violence). There is also limited access to justice and support for young women, women with disability, and people with HIV because of their condition,' said Rachel Adau, Executive Director of the Women's Empowerment Centre South Sudan. 1st Prize | SHE & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025 Ojoma Akor from Nigeria is a multiple award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience covering health, gender and development among others. She presently heads the health desk of Daily Trust newspaper, a national daily in Nigeria. She has written extensively on sexual and reproductive health and rights, maternal and child health, gender equality, health security, immunization, infectious and non- communicable diseases, among others. Akor has received many awards, fellowships and story grants for gender, health and science reporting. 2nd Prize | SHE & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025 Catherine Murombedzi from Zimbabwe is a multi-award-winning freelance health and science journalist from Zimbabwe. She writes for various media outlets including Masvingo Mirror, Zimbabwe Express, The Herald and The Sunday Mail. She advocates for the rights and dignity of women and girls, (especially of the marginalised communities) striving to create a world where their health and well-being are prioritised. 3rd Prize | SHE & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025 Kalpana Acharya of Nepal is Editor-in-Chief of Nepal's only woman led bilingual multimedia news portal -Health TV Online. She also hosts HEALTH FIRST Podcast, one of Nepal's most widely viewed health focused podcasts. She is a founding member of APCAT Media Alliance & Global AMR Media Alliance. Throughout her journalism career spanning over 2 decades Kalpana has reported extensively on public health, gender and women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. Special Mention Prize | SHE & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025 Babacar Sene from Senegal is a French language journalist. Babacar is the Founder, and Publication Director of the Journal Agropasteur. He writes on topics related to Environment and Health, particularly gender equality in rural areas, women's rights, women's autonomy, and the resilience of agropastoral households. Special Mention Prize | SHE & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025 Audrey Galawu from Zimbabwe is a journalist and Assistant Editor Zim Now. Passionate about gender, health, and social justice, she uses storytelling to amplify underrepresented voices and challenge inequality. to protect the right to health and promote gender equity across Africa. Special Mention Prize | SHE & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025 Betty Herlina from Indonesia is a Bahasa language journalist, who started her journalistic career in Indonesia in 2008. After nearly 13 years of working in a media company, she chose to become a freelance journalist and founded Bincang Perempuan ( in Bahasa which translates to Talk to Women. Betty is passionate about telling stories on women's issues to expose systemic barriers and drive change. She believes that everyone deserves access to health, and no voice should go unheard. Special Mention Prize | SHE & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025 Yecenu Sasetu from Nigeria is a dedicated health journalist with a decade of experience in radio and digital content creation. She is currently the Health Producer/Editor at Montage Radio, Abuja and broadcasts 99.9 KissFM Abuja. She combines her extensive training in journalism with a passion for development work, using media to drive positive social change. Special Mention Prize | SHE & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025 Hamu Madzedze from Zimbabwe has 13 years of experience as a health journalist and has worked as a reporter and Radio English Desk Sub Editor with Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. She currently runs her own blog called 365HealthDiaries which focuses on health and gender issues. More about SHE & Rights Media Awards 2024-2025 SHE & Rights Media Awards hybrid Ceremony was held at Side Event around 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland on 22nd May 2025. The WHA78 Side Event "Delivering on UHC in an era of pushback against gender equality and human right to health" featured speakers included Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Right to Health; Nazneen Damji, Chief, a.i. Governance and Participation Section; and Senior Policy Advisor, Gender Equality, HIV and Health, UN Women; Fadekemi Akinfaderin, Chief Global Advocacy Officer, Fos Feminista (International Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice); Dr Eliezer Lappots-Abreu, Executive Director, Health Horizons International, Dominican Republic; Dr Harjyot Khosa, Senior Technical Advisor, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and member of Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC 2030; Baba Aye, Health and Social Services Officer, Public Services International (PSI); Parwen (lesbian partner who is now in Iran and her lover Maryam arrested by Taliban) and Nemat (first gay person who came out open in Afghanistan); Rachel Adau, Executive Director, Women Empowerment Centre South Sudan; Maya Ranavare, President, Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy; Daxa Patel, National Coalition of People living with HIV in India; Debanjana Choudhuri, Executive Director, Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR); Dr David Parirenyatwa, Senator and former Health Minister, Zimbabwe & President ICASA 2025; Kelcey Armstrong-Walenczak and Biruk Tewedros, Global Center for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI) - moderator; and Shobha Shukla, CNS - moderator. Dr Haileyesus Getahun, CEO of HEDPAC and CeHDI and former founding Director of Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on Antimicrobial Resistance who had served the WHO for over 2 decades, also shared his insights. SHE & Rights Media Awards were announced by the Global Center for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI) and CNS in September 2024 to shine a spotlight on those journalists and media actors who have reported on issues raised by monthly SHE & Rights sessions in gender sensitive and rights-based manner. SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity & Rights) initiative co-hosted by CeHDI, IPPF, WGNRR, ARROW, APCAT Media and CNS is committed to build, sustain and increase media understanding and engagement, around sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice (SRHRJ), bodily autonomy and other issues related to gender justice - with the lens of equity and human right to health – in Asia Pacific and African region. During September 2024 to March 2025, there were 282 unique media URLs/ links from 21 countries based on issues raised by monthly SHE & Rights sessions. There were 11 member-panel of judges to screen these entries.
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Health
- Scoop
Wellness Industry's Dark Side: Experts Warn Of Dangers In RNZ Podcast The Lodge
The global wellness industry, valued at approximately $5 trillion, harbours a dangerous underbelly, according to a new RNZ podcast. Unproven therapies and charismatic gurus can lead vulnerable individuals away from life-saving medical treatments, the investigation reveals. " The Lodge", an eight-part series by journalist Phil Vine, examines the rise of wellness culture through the story of Aiping Wang. Wang, a Chinese-born guru established a following first in Eastern Europe, then in New Zealand's remote Fiordland. She offered her followers the possibility of healing without medicine. Several experts featured in the podcast warn that social media has supercharged problematic wellness claims, creating an environment where influencers can reach millions with unproven health advice. "What's new is the rise of social media and many digital technologies that enable ordinary individuals to build a brand online and to reach a vast global audience," explains Dr Stephanie Baker from City University in London. She's the author of Wellness Culture: How the Wellness Movement Has Been Used to Empower, Profit and Misinform. The podcast explores how wellness movements often exploit legitimate distrust in conventional healthcare systems, what Dr Baker calls the "low trust society." Dr Jon-Patrick Allem, Associate Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences from Rutgers University, New Jersey, notes this dynamic in his research. "The wellness industry is so appealing to people because there's a lot of problems with medicine," Allem explains. "There's a lot of problems with how one interacts with their physician, when they see their physician, what their physician is versed in to communicate." The podcast documents real-world consequences through the stories of Wang's followers who rejected conventional treatment for conditions including: breast cancer, melanoma, and HIV after hoping for cures through "energy healing". Allem highlights a particularly concerning wellness trend: "What I am seeing in the social media space is individuals claiming to have alternative ways to not just prevent a cancer diagnosis, but to cure a cancer diagnosis." Dr Emily Yang from Western Sydney University, who has trained in traditional Chinese medicine, warns against using unproven therapies as substitutes for evidence-based treatments: "For example I would never claim Tai Chi can treat cancer," she says, advocating instead for complementary approaches alongside conventional medicine. The podcast examines the psychological appeal of wellness gurus, with Baker noting that people often turn to such figures during tough times - an aspect she calls "situational vulnerability". "It could be the situation involving the death of a loved one or possibly divorce. A moment when one feels less stable. They're often searching for answers, for meaning." New Zealand cult expert Anke Richter identifies a clear warning sign in wellness practices: exclusivity. When practitioners insist their method is the only acceptable approach and discourage conventional medical treatment, it can have fatal consequences. "There's a quiet death toll," Richter explains. The podcast connects these modern wellness trends to the rise of figures such as Dr Joe Dispenza, who claims to cure cancer through "coherence healing" and has amassed 3.6 million Instagram followers. Allem warns listeners to be sceptical of practitioners who make expansive claims: "The wellness industry, broadly defined, is so appealing to people because there's a lot of problems with medicine. But that doesn't mean that wellness practices should replace proven treatments." Baker offers advice for those concerned about loved ones who may be falling under the influence of questionable wellness practitioners: "Don't cut them off. It's the worst thing you can do. Through maintaining a sense of common ground with these people, rather than just dismissing their belief system, you can help them see contradictions." For consumers navigating the wellness landscape, experts recommend maintaining open communication with conventional healthcare providers and being wary of any practitioner who suggests abandoning proven medical treatments entirely.
Daily Express
3 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Express
Sabah third highest in HIV cases
Published on: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 28, 2025 By: Sherell Jeffrey Text Size: Dzurizah (seated second left) and Asmady (seated second right) in a group photo with students and attendees. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah has Malaysia's third highest HIV cases after Selangor and Kuala Lumpur with 344 new cases recorded in 2024. The UMS Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities aims to increase awareness among students to spread information and understanding to peers, family members and the public about HIV/AIDS and LGBT issues. Speaking at the Red Ribbon Talk, its Programme Director Prof. Dr Dzurizah Ibrahim said the forum is an educational platform and awareness initiative that aims to provide exposure to students about HIV issues that are becoming increasingly serious, especially among young people. She said the percentage of HIV cases among young Malaysians, particularly those aged between 20 to 29 years, is also at an alarming rate. 'What is more concerning is that recent statistics also show that many of those infected are men who practice risky sexual behaviour that is often done without knowledge, without information and without consideration of long-term consequences, whether in terms of health, emotions or their own future. 'In the era of globalisation and information openness, many students are exposed to external influences including deviant lifestyles that contradict Malaysia's religious, cultural and moral values. 'We cannot allow the normalisation of lifestyles that harm public health or corrupt the morals of the younger generation who will build our nation's success in the future. 'Most importantly, the programme aims to reduce social stigma towards HIV patients and ensure they are not to be shunned but to be understood, helped and supported,' she said. Meanwhile, UMS' Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities Dean Prof Dr Asmady Idris who officiated the ceremony, said the timing of the programme is important given Sabah's HIV statistics. 'The hosting of the Red Ribbon Talk 2025 is very timely, especially when Sabah has been listed as the third-highest State in Malaysia recording new HIV cases,' he said. He said that while there has been a decrease in the number of cases compared to previous years, the figures shared in Parliament in March 2025 remain concerning and require serious attention from all parties. He pointed out that the LGBT issues discussed in the forum is not intended to condemn anyone but to understand social reality, approach it with knowledge and empathy and build inclusive solution strategies. 'Islamic teachings and other religions clearly outline the boundaries that need to be maintained, but at the same time emphasise wisdom, compassion and guidance in dealing with people who are struggling with identity confusion or social pressure,' he said.
Western Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Brain-eating parasite in salad bag as food poisoning rises
Research has highlighted potentially-deadly contamination fears, following 3,320 salad samples between October 2021 and September 2022 and found that over 4 per cent of the leaves were contaminated with toxoplasma gondii oocysts. The contamination has now been reported across 10 European countries including the UK, the study, published in the journal Eurosurveillance found. The research says: "The parasite Toxoplasma gondii can cause severe disease in humans. People can acquire the parasite by eating raw or undercooked infected meat or unwashed fruits or vegetables contaminated with the parasite. "We wanted to investigate T. gondii in commercial ready-to eat (RTE) salads in European countries to estimate the importance of these food products as sources of T. gondii." This bacteria can be passed on by digesting cat faeces, which can contaminate food and water, making salad that is washed or watered with dirty water a prime place for bacteria. Other research reported this week showed that the bacteria "can seriously disrupt the brain function of intermediate hosts, potentially including humans". Research by the National Institute of Health has previously said that half of the UK population show signs of past infection by the age of 50, and once acquired, parasites remain in human tissues for life. It can then cause a problem later in life for people who have a weakened immune system, which can happen during treatment for cancer or while taking immunosuppressant drugs. According to the Food Standards Agency, you should always "wash fruit and vegetables with water before you eat them to make sure that they are clean. You should wash them under a running tap, or in a bowl of fresh water, making sure to rub their skin under the water." Recommended reading: Symptoms of toxoplasmosis According to the NHS website, toxoplasmosis does not usually cause any symptoms and most people do not know they've had it. Some people may have flu-like symptoms such as: high temperature headache sore throat aching body swollen glands feeling tired feeling sick or being sick Some people may have more serious symptoms including: confusion blurred vision slurred speech unsteady walking The NHS adds that toxoplasmosis is not usually serious and normally gets better on its own. But it can cause serious problems if you: get it while you're pregnant have a weakened immune system – for example, if you have HIV or are having chemotherapy have more severe symptoms such as confusion, blurred vision or slurred speech If you have a weakened immune system toxoplasmosis may cause problems with your eyes, brain, heart or lungs.
The Hill
9 hours ago
- Health
- The Hill
Obamacare preventive care mandate wins in Supreme Court ruling
The Big Story The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a key Affordable Care Act requirement that insurance companies cover certain preventative measures recommended by an expert panel. © AP Justices upheld the constitutionality of the provision in a 6-3 decision and protected access to preventative care for about 150 million Americans. The justices found that the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services has the power to appoint and fire members of the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF). The cases started when a small business in Texas and some individuals filed a lawsuit against the panel's recommendation that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP) for HIV be included as a preventative care service. They argued that covering PreP went against their religious beliefs and would 'encourage homosexual behavior, intravenous drug use, and sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman.' The plaintiffs further argued that the USPSTF mandates are unconstitutional because panel members are 'inferior officers' who are not appointed by the president or confirmed by the Senate. While the panel is independent, they said that since their decisions impact millions of people members should be confirmed. A U.S. district judge in 2023 ruled that all preventative-care coverage imposed since the ACA was signed into law are invalid and a federal appeals court judge ruled in agreement last year. The Biden administration appealed the rulings to the Supreme Court, and the Trump administration chose to defend the law despite its long history of disparaging Obamacare. Though public health groups celebrated the ruling Friday, some noted another potential outcome. 'While this is a foundational victory for patients, patients have reason to be concerned that the decision reaffirms the ability of the HHS secretary, including our current one, to control the membership and recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force that determines which preventive services are covered,' Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA, said in a statement. 'We must be vigilant to ensure Secretary Kennedy does not undo coverage of preventive services by taking actions such as his recent firing of qualified health experts from the CDC's independent vaccine advisory committee and replacing them with his personal allies.' Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: New Hampshire lawmakers give final approval to gender-affirming care ban New Hampshire lawmakers on Thursday gave final approval to bills that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors in the state, sending the measures to Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who has not yet said whether she will sign them. State lawmakers voted to pass House Bill 377, which would prohibit doctors from administering puberty blockers and hormones to transgender youth beginning next year. The measure includes … FDA expanding COVID vaccine warnings over rare heart side effect The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now requiring two common COVID-19 vaccines to update their warning labels to include information on two rare heart side effects. Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis, or inflammation of the thin sac surrounding the heart — are two conditions that a small number of people have experienced after receiving the mRNA COVID-19 shot. The rare cases of myocarditis … What causes a stroke? Learn the triggers and risk factors Most Americans likely know at least a little about the signs of a stroke. While early intervention is vital for a positive outcome, medical experts also stress the need to prevent strokes, which the Stroke Foundation reports are the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. The key to prevention is knowing what causes these brain attacks. According to the American Heart Association, a stroke occurs when a blood vessel to the … In Other News Branch out with a different read from The Hill: GOP leader sets Saturday vote on Trump 'big, beautiful bill' despite Republican pushback Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told Senate Republicans to expect to see the legislative text of the budget reconciliation package on Friday evening and then to vote at noon Saturday to begin debate on President Trump's tax and spending bill. Around the Nation Local and state headlines on health care: What We're Reading Health news we've flagged from other outlets: What Others are Reading Most read stories on The Hill right now: GOP leader sets Saturday vote on Trump 'big, beautiful bill' despite Republican pushback Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told Senate Republicans to expect to see the legislative text of the budget reconciliation package on Friday … Read more 5 takeaways from the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship ruling The Supreme Court handed President Trump a clear victory Friday, stopping judges from issuing nationwide injunctions that block his executive order … Read more What People Think Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here
