Essays

The Future of Community Health Workers in Global Health

Community health workers are cost-saving and life-saving but underutilized globally. Every dollar invested returns $10...

A new pandemic is inevitable but here’s what we can do

Another pandemic is inevitable. How bad depends on today's actions. Progress needed in three areas:...

Ongoing cholera pandemic shows need to go back to basics for healthier today and safer tomorrow

Cholera pandemic has circulated globally for 60 years, killing millions. Three interventions can end it:...
The road to achieving

The road to achieving epidemic-ready primary health care

Epidemic-ready primary health care can identify outbreaks, maintain essential services during disruptions, and strengthen resilience....

What Worked Against Covid: Masks, Closures and Vaccines

Millions of lives were saved in the three years of the pandemic, but millions more...

Five Conditions for Success in Public Health: What improving public health requires

Successful public health implementation requires five elements: good data, rigorous analysis, sensible guidance built on...

Tackling Air Pollution Starts at Home

Over 2 billion people use solid fuels for cooking and heating, causing major health risks....

Fight Covid by learning so we can roll with the punches: 7 lessons for 2022.

Seven life-saving lessons from 2021: get real-time data, communicate effectively, build trust through leadership, protect...

What’s A National Public Health Institute To Do?

National Public Health Institutes collect, analyze, and act on health information. Countries with strong NPHIs...

Lessons from past outbreaks can stop new epidemics in their tracks.

Six outbreaks were stopped in 2021 through preparedness and coordination. Key lessons: local community action,...

The Future of Community Health Workers in Global Health

Community health workers are cost-saving and life-saving but underutilized globally. Every dollar invested returns $10...

A new pandemic is inevitable but here’s what we can do

Another pandemic is inevitable. How bad depends on today's actions. Progress needed in three areas:...

Ongoing cholera pandemic shows need to go back to basics for healthier today and safer tomorrow

Cholera pandemic has circulated globally for 60 years, killing millions. Three interventions can end it:...
The road to achieving

The road to achieving epidemic-ready primary health care

Epidemic-ready primary health care can identify outbreaks, maintain essential services during disruptions, and strengthen resilience....

What Worked Against Covid: Masks, Closures and Vaccines

Millions of lives were saved in the three years of the pandemic, but millions more...

Five Conditions for Success in Public Health: What improving public health requires

Successful public health implementation requires five elements: good data, rigorous analysis, sensible guidance built on...

Tackling Air Pollution Starts at Home

Over 2 billion people use solid fuels for cooking and heating, causing major health risks....

Fight Covid by learning so we can roll with the punches: 7 lessons for 2022.

Seven life-saving lessons from 2021: get real-time data, communicate effectively, build trust through leadership, protect...

What’s A National Public Health Institute To Do?

National Public Health Institutes collect, analyze, and act on health information. Countries with strong NPHIs...

Lessons from past outbreaks can stop new epidemics in their tracks.

Six outbreaks were stopped in 2021 through preparedness and coordination. Key lessons: local community action,...
August 10, 2023
Tom Frieden, Yuexuan Chen, Krishna Jafa

The Future of Community Health Workers in Global Health

Community health workers are cost-saving and life-saving but underutilized globally. Every dollar invested returns $10 in outbreaks averted, jobs created, and lives saved. Countries need sustainable investment.
August 4, 2023
Tom Frieden

A new pandemic is inevitable but here’s what we can do

Another pandemic is inevitable. How bad depends on today's actions. Progress needed in three areas: public health infrastructure, primary health care, and resilient individuals and communities.
June 1, 2023
Amanda McClelland and Dr. Tom Frieden

Ongoing cholera pandemic shows need to go back to basics for healthier today and safer tomorrow

Cholera pandemic has circulated globally for 60 years, killing millions. Three interventions can end it: clean water, rapid diagnosis and treatment, and vaccination for healthier world.
May 4, 2023
Frieden TR, Lee CT, Lamorde M, Nielsen M, McClelland A, Tangcharoensathien, V

The road to achieving epidemic-ready primary health care

Epidemic-ready primary health care can identify outbreaks, maintain essential services during disruptions, and strengthen resilience. Progress requires financial reforms, political commitment, and integration with public health.
March 17, 2023
Tom Frieden

What Worked Against Covid: Masks, Closures and Vaccines

Millions of lives were saved in the three years of the pandemic, but millions more were needlessly lost. And the world is far from ready for the next one.
February 21, 2023
Tom Frieden

Five Conditions for Success in Public Health: What improving public health requires

Successful public health implementation requires five elements: good data, rigorous analysis, sensible guidance built on data, broad buy-in through transparency, and effective action with continuous improvement.
February 13, 2023
Sumi Mehta, Michael Brauer, Yuexuan Chen, Tom Frieden

Tackling Air Pollution Starts at Home

Over 2 billion people use solid fuels for cooking and heating, causing major health risks. Cleaner household energy improves health, increases efficiency, enhances safety, and reduces global warming.
December 20, 2022
Tom Frieden

Fight Covid by learning so we can roll with the punches: 7 lessons for 2022.

Seven life-saving lessons from 2021: get real-time data, communicate effectively, build trust through leadership, protect healthcare workers, vaccinate globally, find threats quickly, and strengthen preparedness.
December 7, 2022
Tom Frieden

What’s A National Public Health Institute To Do?

National Public Health Institutes collect, analyze, and act on health information. Countries with strong NPHIs and supportive leadership had substantially lower pandemic deaths and less economic disruption.
November 4, 2022
Opinion by Dr. Tom Frieden and Precious Matsoso

Lessons from past outbreaks can stop new epidemics in their tracks.

Six outbreaks were stopped in 2021 through preparedness and coordination. Key lessons: local community action, sustained investment in preparedness, and coordination across government levels prevent epidemics.