View this email in your browser

Global Health Connections
August 2021

Pathfinder to Lead USAID Improved Family Planning Initiative in Mozambique

In late July, USAID awarded $40,500,000 to Pathfinder International to improve maternal and child health in Mozambique. Pathfinder will lead a team of partners in the effort that includes Bay Area Global Health Alliance member Population Services International (PSI). The five-year project will work in selected districts in the county and will increase the use of voluntary family planning (FP) services to achieve its goals. Learn more here.

Decreasing the Damage from Wildfire Particulates

Increasingly, Californians are contending with the pervasive threat of wildfire. Alliance members are among those offering mitigations for the damaging health effects of wildfire smoke particulates. Children are especially vulnerable—wildfire smoke is ten times more toxic for young lungs. In a recent article, a group from Stanford called for more resources for infrastructure improvements to improve school air quality. Estimates indicate that wildfires have accounted for two-thirds of school closures in recent years. Through its Regional Asthma Management & Prevention program (RAMP), the Public Health Institute has developed a resource-rich tool for educators to help children and adults with asthma prepare for wildfire smoke events by minimizing exposure to smoke and harmful air pollutants.

Accelerating Cross-sector Pandemics Innovation During COVID

"If we broaden our networks and we cross disciplinary lines, and we reach out and work together, we can make a much healthier, safer future for all of us," said Alliance board member and UC Davis professor Jonna Mazet during a networking session organized by the American Society for Microbiology at the June World Microbe Forum and moderated by Ben Plumley, A Shot in the Arm. Simon Frost, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and principal data scientist at Microsoft, and Jay Wohlgemuth, CMO of Quest Diagnostics, joined in the conversation about how the SARS CoV-2 pandemic has accelerated cross-sector innovation. Developing diagnostic tests for "red-level" pathogens, strengthening global networks of laboratories to identify new threats and respond rapidly, and predicting and managing data were among the innovations discussed by the three experts. Listen to or watch the session here.

WomenLift Health Announces 2021 Women Leaders

Among the women selected by WomenLift Health, Stanford to be part of its second cohort of emerging leaders are two Alliance members: Hema Budaraju, BAGHA board member and general manager, Health Vertical for Google Search, and Marissa Gilman, global health practice lead for Resonance. The leadership initiative is designed to support women through the challenges and opportunities of advancing to senior leadership positions in global health. Learn more here.

Improving Health Outcomes for BIPOC & LGBTQ+ Populations

Hopelab's commitment to improving the health and happiness of young people through the co-creation and distribution of behavior-change tech is being amplified by its external investment initiative, Hopelab Ventures. Hopelab CEO Margaret Laws says the new fund allows the organization to invest in and contribute to the work of other mission-aligned entrepreneurs. In a recent interview, she discussed the organization's philosophy and the goal of its impact fund to improve health outcomes for young BIPOC and LGBTQ+ populations. Read more here.

Alliance Reviews Progress in 2021, Plans Ahead

The Bay Area Global Health Alliance had a productive first half of 2021, growing our community to include 55 diverse organizations as members and a strong portfolio of programs designed to support our members and the Bay Area’s unique tech and innovation ethos to advance global health equity. Highlights of our work in the last six months and a snapshot of our goals for the second half of 2021 can be found here.

Welcome to Our Newest Member

We are happy to extend a warm welcome to our newest Bay Area Global Health Alliance member, Circles International. We look forward to working together to promote emotional health and wellbeing by supporting leaders and organizations as we strive for equity and innovation in global health. Read more.

Members in the media

More member news

The Legend of the Underground

Listen to or watch Ben Plumley's lively interview with Nigerian-born global human rights advocate Micheal Ighodaro in a recent A Shot in the Arm podcast. Ighodaro is profiled in the new HBO documentary "The Legend of the Underground," a film about the struggle against rampant LGBTQ discrimination in Nigeria, as experienced by several young men who fight for the right to live their truth. Watch or listen to the podcast here.