Global Scans · Good Health and Well-being · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

• [New] Brazilian health authorities have confirmed that at least 60 million doses will be distributed nationwide through the public healthcare system in 2025. TV BRICS
• [New] Protecting astronauts in space - and maybe even Mars - will help transform health on Earth. Vox
• [New] Alongside low PA levels, sedentary behaviour in adolescents is linked to adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and higher mortality risk, and is increasing among Brazilian youth. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Obesity is an abnormal and excessive accumulation of adipose tissue in the human body, which poses a health risk. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The health risks associated with altered biogeochemical flows extend beyond localized environmental issues, highlighting a pressing concern for public health systems worldwide. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] As global temperatures rise, so too do the risks to human health, through both direct and indirect pathways. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Expanding research across all planetary boundaries and geographic regions could contribute critical insights for shaping robust global environmental health policies. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The detrimental impacts of climate change on good mental health and emotional states have been increasingly recognised worldwide, and it's only going to get worse unless we act. NewsGP
• [New] Climate change will up the burden of mental and behavioural disorders by 50% by 2050, and health systems must be enabled to adapt. NewsGP
• [New] Twenty-five million pregnant women are currently at risk for malaria, and, according to the World Health Organization, malaria accounts for over 10,000 maternal and 200,000 neonatal deaths per year. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Despite the ancient origins of malaria, it remains a significant global health threat. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The trend in forest loss, land and soil degradation and the extinction of species as well as ecosystem destruction is becoming worse, posing a severe threat to the health of the planet and people. Gaia Education Website
• [New] With the global elderly population expected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050, there is an urgent need for a well-defined framework that integrates lifespan, healthspan, and economic sustainability. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Revolutionary new technology could make MRI scanners cost effective, more widely available to local communities and help save lives, thanks to a pioneering collaboration between the University of Sheffield and GE HealthCare. News-Medical
• [New] Targeted investments in health-equity initiatives thus have the potential to substantially improve global economic and health outcomes by 2040. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] CVD remains a leading global health challenge, with projections estimating a 73.4% increase in crude mortality by 2050 due to the rising ageing populations and escalating risk factors such as hypertension and obesity. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The Apple Watch Series 11 will introduce blood-pressure trend tracking capabilities - not full systolic and diastolic readings, but trending data that complements existing health metrics-while featuring an updated S11 chip designed to accommodate larger batteries or additional sensors. Gadget Hacks
• [New] The global health community lacks a clear grasp of the degree to which COVID-19 spread within North Korea and whether it might be a breeding ground for new variants given the already dire lack of health care, poor nutrition, rampant disease (e.g., tuberculosis), and weak vaccine infrastructure. George W. Bush Presidential Center
• [New] The effort to create a more robust digital health ecosystem will give providers and patients more streamlined access to health information. Nextgov/FCW
• [New] The Food and Drug Administration last month approved updated COVID-19 vaccines but only for Americans 65 and older, and younger adults and children with health conditions that put them at higher risk for severe COVID-19. Newsday
• [New] There is a long list of health conditions that the CDC says can increase a person's risk of severe illness from a coronavirus infection. AARP
• [New] Globally, AMR could result in US$ 1 trillion of additional health-care costs per year by 2050 and US$ 1 trillion to 3.4 trillion of gross domestic product losses per year by 2030. Public Health
• [New] Refugees with acute health and medical needs are among the top priorities for consideration for resettlement referral by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and some resettlement countries expedite consideration of refugees facing acute health risks. PubMed Central (PMC)

Last updated: 14 September 2025