Udani Samarasekera

As governments prepare for the Second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Manila, the Philippines (Nov 18–19, 2026), a new index casts a sharp light on their gaps in tackling child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). The Out of the Shadows Index (OOSI) 2026, developed by Economist Impact with advocacy led by Together for Girls, shows that most countries are failing to protect children and adolescents from childhood sexual violence. The Index, launched on May 18

As national overseas aid falls dramatically, the European Investment Bank is ramping up financing for global health projects. Udani Samarasekera reports.

The sight is dramatic. A small crew navigates an old, rusty ship a few miles offshore and then steers it full speed ahead into a sandy beach. When the tide is low, unskilled, informal workers come out with sledgehammers and other hand tools to tear the vessel apart. Young men wearing minimal protective gear cut wires and pipes and use blowtorches to blast through ship hulls. The process is the beaching and breaking down of ships at the end of their life. Most old ships are recycled this way, and

Countries have a legal obligation to combat climate change. The challenge for health is to make sure that they comply. Udani Samarasekera reports.

Bill Gates announces plans to spend nearly all his wealth over the next 20 years to tackle global health and poverty challenges. Udani Samarasekera reports.

Google the most violent region of the world and Latin America will come up. Violence in the region takes many forms and starts young.

Founded amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO Hub for Epidemic and Pandemic Intelligence hopes to strengthen global surveillance but faces substantial challenges. By Udani Samarasekera.

As the UK prepares for a general election, experts say that the manifestos of the contenders fail to properly address the big issues in health. Udani Samarasekera reports.

June, 2024, marked 40 years since Barry Marshall and Robin Warren published their seminal work implicating Helicobacter pylori in gastritis and peptic ulcers. Udani Samarasekera reports.

Gavi is launching the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator to promote domestic vaccine production. Udani Samarasekera reports.

A key driver of advances in childhood survival over the past half-century, the EPI faces fresh challenges in protecting the most vulnerable. Udani Samarasekera reports.

Brain health must be at the forefront of global policy making, after the endorsement by WHO in 2022 of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (IGAP). The steps needed to achieve the strategic objectives set…

Decades ago, dementia was generally regarded as a natural consequence of the ageing process, but pivotal scientific discoveries made in the past 20 years are altering this perspective. With much still to understand about the complex changes in brain…

In 2018, Shera Chok was at a UK conference for NHS digital leaders when she noticed something striking about the attendees—very few were women from ethnic minorities. “I remember sitting there in the morning and looking around the hall and no one…

The impact of climate change on malaria is becoming increasingly evident, from spreading vectors to increased transmission after floods. Udani Samarasekera reports.

Roma are Europe's biggest minority ethnic group and face continued discrimination in health care. Udani Samarasekera reports.

Risk-taking in adolescence is common. But while some risky behaviours, such as substance misuse and unprotected sex, are well known and researched, others are under-reported. Self-asphyxial behaviour, known more commonly by names such as the choking…

“As a Black woman with a chronic mental health illness, racism and lack of cultural competency in health care scares me. Sometimes I am faced with huge barriers when trying to get the support that I need, and I am tired of it…”, tweeted Jasmin…

Founded in 2006, Unitaid has changed the treatment of major infectious diseases in low-income countries. What will the next 15 years bring? Udani Samarasekera reports.

Research into motor neuron disease is receiving increased investment from the UK Government after much lobbying efforts. How will the research community use this investment and what challenges remain? Udani Samarasekera investigates. Get full text…