Public Health Uncoded with Dr. Saroj Pachauri

In episode 15 of the podcast "Public Health Uncoded," Dr. Saroj Pachauri interviews Dr. Debadutta Parija. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Parija, Country Lead for TB, Infectious Diseases, and Surveillance at NISHTHA, Jhpiego, India, brings extensive expertise in health systems strengthening, TB control, and family planning. Dr. Debadutta Parija discusses the crucial intersection of water, climate, and primary health care. He highlighted the traditional siloed approach to these issues and emphasized the need for integrated solutions. Dr. Parija points out that water is a fundamental determinant of health, affecting everything from sanitation to disease transmission, and that climate change exacerbates existing water-related challenges, introducing new health risks and altering disease patterns.

In this episode of Public Health Uncoded, Dr. Saroj Pachauri interviews Ms. Quisha Umemba, a registered nurse turned public health entrepreneur. Ms. Umemba recounts her journey from bedside nursing to founding Umemba Health, a consulting and training agency. She shares her frustration with the bureaucratic limitations of government-funded public health roles, which inspired her to create a more flexible and innovative approach. Umemba Health focuses on developing sustainable public health initiatives, providing curricula, toolkits, and training programs. Ms. Umemba distinguishes public health entrepreneurship from typical tech startups, emphasizing problem-solving and creativity. She highlights the concept of "intrapreneurs" within organizations and underscores the significance of making an impact while earning an income. She advises aspiring consultants to gain traditional public health experience to build essential skills. Her insights are further explored in her book, “Public Health Entrepreneurship: Navigating the Intersection of Purpose and Profit.”

Our planet is warming, and it's having a dramatic impact on our health. In this episode, Dr. Pachauri is joined by Dr. Antonio Galan, a leading climate scientist, to discuss the far-reaching consequences of climate change for human health.

Dr. Galan, a renowned mathematician and climate scientist, shared his insights on how various factors caused by a warming planet are affecting our well-being. The conversation covered:

• Increased dangers from extreme weather: Rising temperatures lead to more frequent and severe weather events like heatwaves, floods, and droughts, causing injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
• Spread of waterborne and vector-borne diseases: Warmer temperatures and floods create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other insects, raising the risk of diseases like malaria and dengue fever.
• Malnutrition threats: Droughts and extreme weather disrupt food production and distribution systems, leading to malnutrition, particularly in vulnerable communities.
• Respiratory issues on the rise: Air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels aggravates respiratory problems like asthma, posing a serious health risk.
• Mental health concerns: The uncertain future caused by climate change is leading to increased anxiety, especially among children.
• The role of fossil fuels: Burning fossil fuels is a major contributor to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, directly impacting human health.

The discussion also explored how unsustainable practices like deforestation and industrial agriculture are worsening the situation. Dr. Galan mentioned the UN's call for a shift in eating habits, particularly reducing meat consumption, to lessen the environmental burden of livestock farming.

This episode provided a thought-provoking look at the far-reaching consequences of climate change for human health.

In episode twelve of Public Health Uncoded, Dr. Pachauri invited an expert from one of the partner organizations FXB USA. Ms. Karina Weinstein also actively works with youth from the USA on climate action and mentors high school students to take sustainable action. She is the program strategy and innovation director and has worked with immigrant communities.

Ms. Karina Weisntein discussed the significant impact of climate change on children's lives, caregivers, and surrounding systems like parents and schools, highlighting the urgent need for awareness about its tangible health effects, such as asthma and allergies. Drawing from her personal experiences, she advocated for translating research into public health action, portraying climate change as a child rights crisis due to its disproportionate impact on children's developing bodies and limited resources. She highlighted concrete health impacts, including mental health issues, alongside the urgency for climate action to mitigate potential exacerbations of health issues. Prioritizing mental health, especially for children, she emphasized, with suggestions for immediate actions like comprehensive climate education and support from parents and healthcare providers. The guest speaker and Dr. Pachauri stressed that all sectors must recognize the link between climate change and health and incorporate this understanding into decision-making processes. Also, the importance of strengthening public health systems to provide support for children facing climate change impacts, as Ms. Karina highlighted by a personal story from an activist in Bangladesh, underlining the importance of empowering youth to advocate for policy change. Overall, the entire was based on a personal example highlighting the importance of focusing on children’s health in the context of climate change.

In episode eleven of Public Health Uncoded, Dr. Pachauri invited the expert in maternal health Ms. Aparajita Gagoi. She is also one of the leading authors who contributed to two books edited by Dr. Pachauri herself on COVID-19 Pandemic and Jounrey of Women Leaders.

Dr. Pachauri and Ms. Gogoi in the episode delve into the multifaceted issue of maternal health, highlighting its deep connection to gender discrimination and societal norms. Ms. Gogoi discusses the challenges women face in accessing quality healthcare and the importance of addressing gender-based power dynamics to improve maternal health outcomes. She reflects on despite the global progress made in reducing maternal mortality, recent data indicates a troubling stagnation in progress, emphasizing the need for renewed efforts. During the discussion successful strategies implemented in countries like India were also mentioned, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive approaches that address social norms, healthcare infrastructure, and the empowerment of women. Some recommendations were also made by Ms. Gogoi including investing in the health workforce, promoting respectful maternity care, and adopting a holistic, intersectoral approach to maternal health. Central to these recommendations is the imperative to amplify women's voices and involve them in decision-making processes to ensure that programs are designed and implemented with their needs and preferences in mind.

In episode ten of Public Health Uncoded, Dr. Saroj Pachauri and our expert Dr. Beverly Winikoff. Dr. Winikoff is the visionary behind Gynuity Health Projects, a global research NGO dedicated to advancing innovative approaches for enhancing women's reproductive health. Dr. Winikoff discusses the topic of abortion, focusing on its legalization in countries like India and the variations in access and regulations across different countries. In her conversation with Dr. Pachauri, she mentions that access to abortion services is influenced by both the medical system and legal/political factors. While some places allow midwives or nurses to provide abortion services, others restrict it to doctors. Highlighting the use of abortion pills she also mentioned that the technology has been available since the 1980s and has a high success rate in the first trimester. In her conversation, she also touches on the power and autonomy of women in making their own reproductive choices and the potential for ordering abortion pills online. It mentions that the availability and accessibility of abortion-related drugs vary depending on the country and jurisdiction, with complexities arising from legal, scientific, and political factors. Additionally, she and Dr. Pachauri discuss the ongoing debates and news surrounding abortion in the USA and the emergence of online platforms for purchasing abortion-related drugs. Overall, she provides an overview of abortion access, technology, and related issues in different parts of the world.

In episode nine of Public Health Uncoded, Dr. Saroj Pachauri and our expert Dr. Girija Bharat discuss Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals, their widespread presence, and their impact on human health.Dr. Girija K Bharat, Managing Director of Mu Gamma Consultants, is a respected international expert with 30 years of experience in water quality. She specializes in Water Resource Management, Water Supply and Sanitation, Chemical Pollution Control, and Environmental Management. As a Ph.D. in Chemistry from LIT, Nagpur, and an alumna of esteemed institutions like Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad and George Mason University, USA, Dr. Bharat has published 128 research papers. Her contributions have earned her prestigious awards, including the Glory of India 2021 and Women Transforming India Award by NITI Aayog 2021. Global Environment Award 2020, Save The Environment Award 2021, Aqua Excellence Award 2020, Exceptional Women of Excellence Award of Women Economic Forum in 2019.

In this episode, Dr. Saroj Pachauri and our guest Ms. Seema Chandra who has a remarkable career spanning the media and wellness sectors, discuss childhood obesity as a growing and serious issue in developing countries, with a special focus on India. Ms. Seema brings her expertise in nutrition and communications to shed light on the causes, consequences, and potential solutions for this problem. They delve into various aspects of childhood obesity, including its prevalence, causes, urban and rural dynamics, economic factors, genetic influences, and associated health risks.