Nurith Aizenman

Nurith Aizenman, NPR's global health correspondent, dives into the challenges facing PEPFAR, a vital AIDS prevention program credited with saving over 25 million lives. She highlights how political disagreements within the Republican Party, particularly surrounding abortion funding and skepticism toward foreign aid, could threaten its success. Aizenman discusses the potential fallout of reducing U.S. support for such critical health initiatives, emphasizing the importance of bipartisan cooperation in addressing global health crises.

In this engaging discussion, global health correspondent Nurith Aizenman highlights the groundbreaking journey of Brazilian scientists Patricia Neves and Ana Paula Ano Bom, who created their own mRNA vaccine amidst global inequities. They share their innovative pivot from cancer research to vaccine development. The duo's commitment to open-source technology aims to empower low and middle-income countries, transforming global health access. Aizenman also emphasizes the collaboration with teams in Argentina, showcasing a united front in advancing vaccine accessibility.

Nurith Aizenman, an NPR global health correspondent, breaks down the art and science of disease modeling. She explains that these models are not crystal balls but essential tools that help public health experts prepare for scenarios. The discussion touches on how the initial projections during COVID-19 influenced social distancing measures and how real-time data helps refine predictions. Aizenman also dives into the psychological factors that affect public behavior, highlighting the challenges of modeling human responses amidst a pandemic.