A chemical explosion and fire erupted in Conakry, Guinea, West Africa on December 18, 2023, destroying Guinea’s main fuel depot and resulting in 25 dead and 459 injured. Fifteen of the deaths occurred directly at the explosion site. Firefighters initiated efforts to control the blaze and transported injured, non-ambulatory victims to local hospitals with assistance from the military, Red Cross, and mining companies. Thirteen clinical facilities within an eight-mile radius of the explosion received burn and non-burn victims, with only one of these, Donka National Hospital, capable of handling burn victims. Many less seriously injured victims self-selected where they sought care, although anecdotal information indicates that an unknown number of injured did not seek care or chose to leave the city. The disaster marked the first time stakeholders from various sectors in the Guinean society (from first responders to mining companies) came together in a concerted response. Ranked 179th of 193 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI), the disaster rapidly outstripped Guinea’s response and health care capabilities, leaving behind economic shocks affecting livelihoods and the local economy. These experiences underscore the need for improved capabilities and coordination in disaster planning, warning and communication systems, and prehospital and hospital response in developing countries.

What explains when states derogate from international human rights law during the COVID-19 pandemic? Conventional understanding of treaty derogations suggests that domestic democratic structures, not the crisis at hand, explain derogation submissions. I argue that during COVID-19, global crisis measures mattered. WHO legitimacy and issue framing of the crisis made states more likely to perceive the pandemic as a severe one and derogate from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Using country-day level from January 2020 to February 2021 analysis of over 70,000 observations, I test the determinants of ICCPR derogations during the COVID-19 pandemic. I find that global crisis measures of WHO responses and global COVID-19 deaths were significant, positive indicators of ICCPR derogations while domestic crisis measures were not. This piece contributes to our understanding of how states use international law during crises, derogations, international organization legitimacy and of human rights law during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malnutrition remains a major public health issue in Sub-Saharan Africa, with one-third of all malnourished children residing in the region. In Malawi, 37.1% of children under five are stunted, and 63% are anaemic. Poor diets and poverty contribute significantly. Legumes, being rich in protein, fibre, and micronutrients, offer a sustainable food-based approach to improve child nutrition and support local agriculture. This study aimed at assessing the association between legume consumption and nutritional status in children aged 6–59 months in rural Malawi. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Mzimba, Mchinji, and Mangochi districts, involving 1275 children. Data were collected on dietary intake, socioeconomic status, and anthropometry using semi-structured questionnaires. Nutritional status was determined using WHO Anthro, and associations were analysed using logistic regression in Stata. Prevalence of stunting was 42.8%, underweight 17.4%, and wasting 8.4%. Over half of the children did not consume legumes. Pigeon pea consumption significantly reduced odds of wasting (AOR = 0.14), and common beans were associated with lower odds of both wasting and stunting. Conversely, groundnut consumption was linked to increased underweight (AOR = 1.68). Animal food consumption was associated with lower underweight but higher odds of wasting. Legume consumption showed both protective and adverse associations with child malnutrition. In conclusion, this study has shown that promoting dietary diversity and appropriate legume use could enhance nutrition outcomes. Findings highlight the potential of legumes in addressing undernutrition but also the need for targeted nutrition education and interventions in rural Malawi.

On March 28, 2025, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the Sagaing region of Myanmar, resulting in 3,816 deaths and 5,104 injured, with Mandalay Region sustaining the most severe damage. Singapore Emergency Medical Team (SGEMT), verified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2024 as a Type-1 fixed Emergency Medical Team (EMT), was deployed in response. This mixed-methods study reports on the patient case mix and operational challenges encountered during the deployment. Data were derived from daily situation reports, clinical health records consistent with the WHO minimum data set (MDS), post-deployment review proceedings, and unstructured interviews with administrative, clinical, and logistics leads.

Deployment was delayed by diplomatic complexities and logistical challenges in freight transport. Clinical operations commenced on April 8, 2025 at Bahtoo Stadium, Mandalay, where SGEMT managed 1,803 patients over eight days. Quantitatively, 21.6% presented with direct earthquake-related injuries, 7.9% with conditions indirectly related to displacement, and 70.5% with chronic or unrelated conditions, reflecting patterns observed in other post-earthquake responses. Acute respiratory infections were the predominant infectious disease. Most patients were female, underscoring the importance of gender-sensitive approaches. The integration of a physiotherapist in a Type-1 facility, beyond WHO EMT minimum standards, enhanced clinical efficacy and rehabilitative capacity.

Qualitatively, thematic analysis guided by the 4Cs of disaster partnering –coordination, cooperation, communication, and collaboration – revealed critical enablers and constraints within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) humanitarian framework. Findings highlight the need to reinforce regional coordination mechanisms to strengthen future disaster response in complex geopolitical situations.

Groundwater iron varies geographically and iron intake through drinking water can minimise iron deficiency (ID). Rice, a major share of daily meals (∼70% of total energy) in Bangladesh, absorbs a substantial amount of water. This study aimed to estimate the contribution of groundwater iron entrapped in cooked rice and its implications on the recommended iron intake. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 25 households, selected by the iron content of their drinking groundwater source in Sirajganj district, Bangladesh. Each household pre-supplied with 600 g of raw rice (300 g for each cooking), was instructed to cook ‘water-draining rice’ (WDR) and ‘water-sitting rice’ (WSR). Using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, iron content in filtered and non-filtered water was measured as 0.4 ± 0.2 mg/L and 6.1 ± 2.0 mg/L, respectively. After adjusting for water filtration, the weighted mean of total iron content in WDR and WSR was 6.18 mg and 5.70 mg, respectively. Assuming the average rice intake, iron content in WDR and WSR fulfilled approximately 98.15% and 90.62% of the average requirement for non-pregnant and non-lactating women (NPNL). The water-entrapped iron in cooked WDR and WSR fulfilled about 23.77% and 20.4% of Recommended Dietary Allowances, and 52.83% and 45.30% of Estimated Average Requirements, respectively in NPNL women, suggesting that groundwater entrapped in cooked rice is an influential dietary iron source. The substantial amount of iron from cooked rice can make an additional layer to the environmental contribution of iron in this setting with the potential to contribute ID prevention.

This article considers the history of Emergency Health Kits established by United Nations agencies and the larger medical non-governmental organizations of the 1980s to analyse the significance of standardized responses in humanitarian emergencies. We argue that, far from being a rigid and immutable response, the kits reflected a (not universally realized) desire to standardize and control both supplies and medical care from international organizations. As such, humanitarian medical practice remained a disputed field in which each object or drug was negotiated at the risk of creating innovation traps. Coming at a time of increasingly global logistics capacities, the Emergency Health Kits became a central feature of a more coordinated global marketplace of humanitarian aid. The kits’ promise to provide rapid transport of emergency supplies to crisis settings across the world was often experienced as a construct, with long delays and logjams in certain regions. Even so, humanitarian organizations were agents of globalization because they imagined a system of centralized production in the Global North and supply to isolated and/or insecure locations across the world.

This scoping review provides an overview of the impact of fruit and vegetable (FAV) consumption on cognitive function in adolescents and young adults between January 2014 and February 2024. A comprehensive search across six databases, CINAHL, PubMed-MEDLINE, ProQuest, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase, identified 5,181 articles, of which six met the inclusion criteria after deduplication and screening. This scoping review focused on individuals aged 11–35 years in schools, colleges, universities, and communities. Following a descriptive and narrative synthesis of the data, tables and figures were used to present the findings. Across the six included studies, most consistently demonstrated a positive association between higher fruit and vegetable (FAV) intake and improved cognitive performance among adolescents and young adults. This association was evident in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, with stronger effects observed for whole fruits and vegetables high in fibre and polyphenols. Cognitive domains positively impacted included psychomotor speed, memory, attention, and mood. However, findings varied by type of food and cognitive domain; while whole FAVs were generally beneficial, results for fruit juice were mixed—some studies showed acute benefits. Differences in study designs, dietary assessment tools, and cognitive measures contributed to variability. Despite these inconsistencies, the overall trend supports a beneficial role of FAV consumption in promoting cognitive health during adolescence and early adulthood. This review demonstrates that increased fruit and vegetable consumption is consistently linked to improved cognitive function in adolescents and young adults. However, further research is needed to establish its long-term effects on cognitive ageing and disease prevention

The multilevel dimensions of sustainable diets associating food systems, public health, environmental sustainability, and culture are presented in this paper. It begins by defining sustainable diets as those that are healthful, have low environmental impacts, are affordable, and culturally acceptable. The discussion includes the history of research on sustainable diets, from initial studies focused on environmental impacts to more recent, comprehensive frameworks that integrate affordability, cultural relevance, and nutritional adequacy as key dimensions of diet sustainability. In addition, the paper highlights recent innovations, such as the Planetary Health Diet of EAT–Lancet and the SHARP model, and the conflicts and optimum trade-offs between sustainability and nutrition, particularly within low- and middle-income countries. Case descriptions of Mediterranean Diet with a focus on Traditional Lebanese Diet, and African Indigenous Foods demonstrate culturally confined dietary patterns associated with sustainability objectives. These examples show that sustainable diets are not a single set of prescriptions, but a series of multiple pathways that are shaped by local food environments, ecological belts, and sociocultural heritages. The paper also describes major policy and governance activities necessary to promote sustainable diets. Finally, the paper addresses measurement challenges and advocates for better indicator options to measure sustainable food systems in all their facets and for participatory and context-specific approaches. The discussion concludes that fairer and culturally diverse inclusion strategies, system change, and political determination are imperative in achieving sustainable diets. Diets able to sustain are posited as agents capable of driving the 2030 agenda, enhancing planetary health and social integrity.

Adolescents from low-income households are at increased risk of growth failures due to inadequate food intake. This cross-sectional study assessed dietary practices and nutritional status according to FANTA measurement standards. Among 610 randomly selected adolescents attending public primary schools in rural and semi-urban Kuyu district. Dietary diversity and anthropometric measurements (height, weight, and Body Mass Index) were collected and analysed using SPSS version 26 and WHO Anthro Plus software. The study population included 36% females and 69% semi-urban residents. Dietary analysis revealed that most adolescents consumed two or fewer daily meals, primarily cereals and legumes. Over 90% of the households consumed less than four food groups during the 7-day recall period. The anthropometric assessment showed significant undernutrition: 19% of early adolescent girls and 34% of late adolescent boys were underweight; 27.5% were stunted; 8% and 5.9% had moderate and severe undernutrition, respectively; and 13.8% exhibited thinness, with boys more affected (35%) than girls (10%). Additionally, 7% were overweight, and 64% presented single, double, or triple growth failures. Regression analysis showed that Children in female-headed households had 1.7 times higher odds of stunting, adolescent girls had 1.8 times higher odds of thinness, late adolescents had 70% lower odds of being overweight, and adolescents from households with off-farm activities had 4.5 times higher odds of being overweight. Inadequate meal frequency and limited dietary diversity contribute to the high prevalence of undernutrition among Kuyu district adolescents. A school feeding programme is strongly recommended.

Cross-cutting issues like nutrition have not been adequately addressed for children with severe visual impairment studying in integrated schools of Nepal. To support advocacy, this study aimed to determine the nutritional status of this vulnerable group, using a descriptive cross-sectional design involving 101 students aged 5–19 years from two integrated public schools near Kathmandu Valley and two in western Nepal. The weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), height-for-age z-score (HAZ), and body mass index-for-age z-score (BAZ) were computed and categorised using World Health Organization cut-off values (overnutrition: z-score > +2.0 standard deviations (SD), healthy weight: z-score −2.0SD to +2.0SD, moderate undernutrition: z-score ≥ −3.0SD to <−2.0SD, severe undernutrition: z-score < −3.0 SD) to assess nutritional status. A child was considered to have undernutrition for any z-scores <−2.0SD. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse variables linked to undernutrition. The mean age of participants was 11.86 ± 3.66 years, and the male-to-female ratio was nearly 2:1. Among the participants, 71.29% had blindness, and 28.71% had low vision. The mean BAZ and HAZ scores decreased with age. The WAZ, HAZ, and BAZ scores indicated that 6.46% were underweight, 20.79% were stunted, and 5.94% were thin, respectively. Overall, 23.76% of students had undernutrition and 7.92% had overnutrition. More than three in ten students had malnutrition and stunting was found to be prevalent. Older students and females were more likely to have undernutrition. These findings highlight the need for nutrition interventions within inclusive education settings, particularly targeting girls with visual impairments who may face compounded vulnerabilities.

The Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023 (NNR2023) serve as the scientific foundation for national dietary guidelines and nutrient recommendations across the Nordic and Baltic countries. We reviewed how NNR2023 was adapted into national food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) in the Nordic countries and Estonia, focusing specifically on sustainability considerations and policy implications. National FBDG integrated both health and environmental aspects in all countries, except Norway, which addressed environmental aspects only in a separate report. Health impacts served as the primary principle in all countries. Additionally, national policy perspectives, such as domestic food security, were addressed in some countries, while the integration of social and economic sustainability remained very limited. In adopting NNR2023, all countries modelled how implementation would affect nutrient adequacy or health within their food environments, making minor adjustments based on these findings. Guidelines for animal source food groups showed the most variation between countries; Estonia and Denmark established the strictest recommended limits for red meat and total meat, respectively, while Norway was most liberal regarding milk products. Stakeholders participated in the consultation process. The agricultural sector and meat industry primarily maintained pro-meat discourse, which was particularly intense in Norway and Sweden. Transition towards healthy and sustainable diets demands multiple policy instruments – FBDG being just one – alongside a supportive environment and participation from all food system actors.

Infants born at high altitudes, such as in the Puno region, typically exhibit higher birthweights than those born at low altitudes; however, the influence of ethnicity on childhood anthropometric patterns in high-altitude settings remains poorly understood. This study aimed to characterise the nutritional status, body composition and indices, and somatotype of Quechua and Aymara children aged 6–10 years. A cross-sectional, descriptive, and comparative design was employed, with a simple random sampling of children from six provinces representative of the Puno region, including 1,289 children of both sexes. Twenty-nine anthropometric measurements were taken, and fat, muscle, and bone components were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Standardised equations were applied to determine body indices. Among the findings, most children presented normal nutritional status according to BMI-for-age and height-for-age Z-scores. However, high rates of overweight and obesity were observed in Aymara (39%) and Quechua (28.4%) children, with differences in fat content between ethnic groups at the 5th, 10th, 50th, and 75th percentiles. Both groups were characterised by brachytypy and brachybrachial proportions; Quechua children were mesoskelic and Aymara brachyskelic, with macrocormic proportions, rectangular trunks, and broad backs. The predominant somatotype was mesomorphic, with a stronger endomorphic tendency among Aymara. It is concluded that both groups exhibit normal nutritional status; however, Aymara children show a greater tendency towards fat accumulation and notable morphological differences. Differences were also observed in limb proportions, particularly a relatively shorter lower limb.

The adoption of the main text of the Pandemic Agreement at the 2025 World Health Assembly is a milestone in global health law. The adopted text makes several key contributions, but there were several missed opportunities in the negotiating process, and key roadblocks remain for the future of the Pandemic Agreement.

We aimed to compare the mean sodium content of New Zealand (NZ) packaged breads in 2013 and 2023 and assess compliance with the NZ Heart Foundation (HF) and World Health Organization (WHO) sodium reduction benchmarks. Sodium data were obtained from a supermarket food composition database. Mean differences between years were assessed using independent samples t-tests and chi-square tests. There was a significant reduction in the sodium content of all bread from 2013 (n=345) to 2023 (n=309) of 46 mg/100g (p<0.001). In 2013, 20% (n=70/345) of breads met the HF benchmarks, and 10% (33/345) met the WHO benchmarks; corresponding values for 2023 were 45% (n=138/309) and 18% (n=57/309) (p<0.001 for both). If continued, the modest reduction in sodium content and increase in the percentage of NZ breads meeting relevant sodium reduction benchmarks could positively affect public health, particularly if extended across the packaged food supply.