The BMJ has established its first regional advisory board for Latin America as part of its wider regional advisory board programme to give the region a louder voice.
The Middle East and north Africa region is an integral pillar of the global health architecture and operations, and it is the most interrupted and overburdened region. Its local crises have global effects and ramifications, and the current catastrophe in Gaza is an obvious example. Public health institutions and researchers based in the region have contributed to global health research, practice, education, and policy. But this contribution remains largely undocumented and hidden. The region is experiencing numerous large scale protracted humanitarian crises exacerbated by existing challenges including the burden of chronic diseases; inequitable health coverage; deficiencies in health systems transformation and preparedness, the health workforce, and technologies and medicines; climate change effects; and leadership challenges. All these, in addition to the historical colonial causes, have altered the health systems’ ability to respond to huge demands and deeply constrain the region’s presence and leadership in global health.
As for Latin America, establishing a regional advisory board in the Middle East and north Africa region and announcing a call for scientific contributions to document the region’s presence, challenges, and contributions would boost its profile in global health. This is important now more than ever amid growing health inequities, fragility, the burden of diseases, and all other challenges.
Initiating a regional board and shedding light on the region’s presence in the global health arena would also build unity in the region. The BMJ initiative would be a driving force for aligning public health priorities and actors’ efforts and promoting the region’s presence and attention to its unique challenges. The Global Health Network, affiliated with the University of Oxford, which collaborates with 18 regional partners from high and middle income countries could play a key part in it. Let’s make the voices of the most affected region louder.
Mohammed Alkhaldi