Meeting the need for surgery.

Surgical provision falls far short of what is needed in developing countries, but recent initiatives aim to correct this deficit. Carolyn Mahoney and Fiona Fleck report.

Research partnerships to solve health problems.

The research landscape in sub-Saharan Africa has transformed over the last two decades. Charles Mgone talks to Fiona Fleck about building partnerships.

WHO steps up its role in health emergencies.

The World Health Organization is on the brink of a major transformation into an agency that is fully mandated and equipped to respond to outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies. David Nabarro talks to Fiona Fleck.

Realizing nurses' full potential.

Sheila Tlou tells Fiona Fleck about the innovative approaches to the HIV epidemic she helped to develop by blending her talents as professor of nursing, civil society activist and director of a theatre company.

Space technologies for health.

Space science and satellite technologies hold untapped potential for public health, according to a new expert group that will deliver its proposals to the United Nations General Assembly in New York next month. Pascal Michel talks to Fiona Fleck.

Bridging the language divide in health.

While the English language dominates much of the world’s public health information, several initiatives are underway to provide such information in other widely spoken languages. Patrick Adams and Fiona Fleck report.

Keeping the living well.

Few people have done so much to put health research for developing countries on the international agenda. Ade Lucas talks to Fiona Fleck.

What to do about resistant bacteria in the food-chain?

This year's World Health Day is on food safety. The mass use of antibiotics in animal husbandry is contaminating the food supply with resistant bacteria, causing difficult-to-treat infections while reducing the power of antibiotics to cure human infections. Antoine Andremont talks to Fiona Fleck.

Rapid Ebola tests hold promise.

New rapid diagnostic tests for Ebola may help Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone reach zero cases and allow routine health services to resume. Fiona Fleck reports.

Tracking progress to 2030.

Pali Lehohla tells Fiona Fleck why more tools are in place to measure progress towards the next set of health and development goals.

The human factor.

Cheikh Niang tells Fiona Fleck why listening to people and helping them adapt their customs are essential in the fight against Ebola in western Africa.

Tough challenges for testing Ebola therapeutics.

Therapies for Ebola virus disease are urgently needed, but they must be rigorously tested for safety and efficacy before any mass roll-out to patients. Fiona Fleck reports.

Noncommunicable diseases: stepping up the fight.

The prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases is now a top priority in many countries. Sergey Boytsov tells Fiona Fleck how the Russian Federation is collaborating with other Commonwealth of Independent States’ countries.

The race against time.

Two promising vaccines for Ebola virus disease are being tested in record time and – if all goes well – could be used to stop the outbreak ravaging parts of western Africa. Fiona Fleck and Ana Lesher report.

Countries vindicate cautious stance on e-cigarettes.

Countries signed up to an international tobacco control treaty have embraced controversial WHO proposals to regulate electronic cigarettes. Armando Peruga tells Fiona Fleck why.

Most people can stay fit and healthy into old age.

Bruno Vellas tells Fiona Fleck why governments must act now to help older people stay fit and healthy.

The science behind the sweetness in our diets.

Jim Mann tells Fiona Fleck what happened when WHO applied a rigorous new method of scientific evaluation to its guideline recommending that we keep our intake of "free sugars" in food and drink to less than 10% of dietary intake.

Glimmers of hope on the Ebola front.

Daniel Bausch has been assisting with patient care during the current Ebola virus disease outbreak in western Africa and - as part of a WHO-led international collaboration - is exploring the possible use of experimental therapies and vaccines. He tells Fiona Fleck why this outbreak is different.

Bringing air pollution into the climate change equation.

As countries gear up for a major round of international climate talks next year in Paris, the growing problem of air pollution is fast becoming a vital part of the climate change and health debate. Fiona Fleck talks to Marit Viktoria Pettersen.

Thailand's health ambitions pay off.

With political will and public health vision, Thailand is making essential health services available to all its citizens free of charge. Suwit Wibulpolprasert talks to Fiona Fleck.

The BRICS countries: a new force in global health?

Diverse in profile, but unified in purpose. Andrew Harmer tells Fiona Fleck why the BRICS countries’ approach to health is different.

Collaboration is key for new global tuberculosis strategy.

This month the World Health Assembly discusses the post-2015 global tuberculosis strategy and accompanying set of targets. Giovanni Battista Migliori tells Fiona Fleck how his institute - one of WHO's thousands of partners across the globe - can contribute in future to its implementation, once it is approved.

The immunization programme that saved millions of lives.

What started as an ambitious effort to tackle six vaccine-preventable diseases has become one of the world's most successful public health programmes. This month the Expanded Programme on Immunization marks its 40 years. Michael Reid and Fiona Fleck report.

Underlying issues are key to dispelling vaccine doubts.

Why is the same vaccine accepted in one part of the world and rejected in another? Heidi Larson tells Fiona Fleck why communicating the benefits versus the risks of vaccination is just part of the battle to gain public confidence in vaccines.

Giving hope to rural women with obstetric fistula in Ethiopia.

The world is more aware of the problem of obstetric fistula thanks to the work of Catherine Hamlin. The Australian gynaecologist and obstetrician talks to Fiona Fleck.