Voices of the Health Revolution

Air polution's impact on brain health

One in four dementia deaths, those of 626,000 people, is caused by air pollution. That shocking statistic is one of the findings of the 2025 State of Global Air report [https://ncdalliance.org/stories/news-blogs/2025/report-confirms-deadly-impact-air-pollution-brings-new-data-dementia], which we’re discussing in this episode. Last year’s report is the first to examine the impact of air pollution on brain health, including how it affects neurodevelopment and mental health. Our guests are Dr Burcin Ikiz, a neuroscientist and adjunct lecturer at the department of psychiatry at Stanford University, and the chair of the international neuro climate working group, and Dr Pallavi Pant, Head of Global Initiatives at the Health Effects Institute.  Voices of the Health Revolution is a podcast series that shines a spotlight on the trailblazers who are leading bold action to protect our universal right to health - even when that means taking a stand against the big industries who threaten it. Learn more: ncdalliance.org ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Collaborating against breast cancer

In this episode we learn about a partnership that is successfully addressing the deadliest form of cancer affecting women — breast cancer. Since it began in 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Breast Cancer Initiative has aimed to reduce breast cancer by 2.5% per year. Over a 20-year period achieving that would save 2.5 million lives. Dr. Mary Nyangasi, WHO’s Technical Lead for the programme, says that since the initiative was launched as a pilot programme in select cities globally, it has generated lessons for both local and national healthcare systems. Notes Alexander Roediger, Associate Vice President of Global Oncology Policy for MSD, “To beat cancer you need quick action and strong infrastructure, you need screening and diagnosis, you need quick referral to cancer doctors and the right treatment. All this is much more than we as a company developing and researching new treatments can do.” Voices of the Health Revolution is a podcast series that shines a spotlight on the trailblazers who are leading bold action to protect our universal right to health - even when that means taking a stand against the big industries who threaten it. Learn more: ncdalliance.org ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Young researchers shaping the future

In this episode of Voices of the Health Revolution, Gina Sanchez speaks with Dr Téa Collins from the World Health Organization and Tamara Schudel from Roche about the WHO Young Researchers Programme — a global initiative strengthening research capacity in low- and middle-income countries to tackle noncommunicable diseases and mental health challenges. The conversation explores how empowering early-career researchers and fostering multisector partnerships can accelerate progress on NCDs and drive innovation where it’s needed most. Voices of the Health Revolution is a podcast series that shines a spotlight on the trailblazers who are leading bold action to protect our universal right to health - even when that means taking a stand against the big industries who threaten it. Discover more: actonncds.org [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Factonncds.org%2Fstories%2Fleadership-dialogues&token=2fd920-1-1758180491744] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Small island, big moves on NCDs

Hon Jahnel Nisbett says she knew her government’s awareness-raising on NCDs was working when a schoolgirl corrected the Sweet Potato Pie recipe that she was reading out to the girl’s class. “No —that’s too much sugar!” she exclaimed. The Caribbean island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis has the third highest NCDs mortality rate in the Americas, according to the Pan American Health Organization [https://www.paho.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/ncds-glance-2025-21-mar.pdf]. In today’s episode Nisbett, Minister of Health, Gender and Social Development in the Nevis Administration, outlines the unique challenges faced by the country and its responses to date to the growing epidemic.  Voices of the Health Revolution is a podcast series that shines a spotlight on the trailblazers who are leading bold action to protect our universal right to health - even when that means taking a stand against the big industries who threaten it. Discover more: actonncds.org [https://gate.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Factonncds.org%2Fstories%2Fleadership-dialogues&token=2fd920-1-1758180491744] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

A dialogue on NCD prevention and solutions (Leadership Dialogues edition)

The guests in this episode are Liz Arnanz Daugan, Policy and Advocacy Manager at NCD Alliance, and Owen Jackson, Director of Policy at Cancer Research UK (CRUK). They chat about the leadership role that civil society, including organisations like CRUK, plays in bringing about policy changes to create healthier environments. Examples in the UK include new legislation to create the first ever smokeless generation and a law banning advertising of unhealthy foods. Collaboration with other organisations and the ability to adapt to a fast-changing environment are keys to success, notes Owen. This is another episode from our Leadership Dialogue series, conversations recorded in early 2025 for our Time to Lead campaign, which will culminate in the 4th UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health, on 25 September 2025. Voices of the Health Revolution is a podcast series that shines a spotlight on the trailblazers who are leading bold action to protect our universal right to health - even when that means taking a stand against the big industries who threaten it. Discover more Leadership dialogues: actonncds.org/stories/leadership-dialogues [https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Factonncds.org%2Fstories%2Fleadership-dialogues&token=4b4055-1-1756892614633] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.