Despite the fact that more than half of the professional health workforce are nurses and 90 percent of nurses and midwives are women, a strong gender bias still impacts women nurse’s decision-making power in the health sector. In this month’s most read article, Peter Johnson, a male nurse and midwife, challenges men both in and outside of the profession to do better in elevating the voices of women nurses and midwives and ensuring they have a seat at the table when decisions are made.

In addition to the threat of a global pandemic, Rohingya refugees are at risk in Myanmar and being exploited by the Arakan Army to smuggle synthetic drugs into Bangladesh. In our second most read post this month, Michael Van Ginkel elaborates on the settings for drug smuggling and their resulting repercussions for Rohingya livelihoods.

Before the world’s attention turned to COVID-19, a plague of ravenous locusts overtook numerous countries in East Africa. In the third most read post this month, Wania Yad explains the locust crisis, its impact on food security in the region, and what can be done to stop the spread. 

Our fourth and fifth most read posts highlight recent Wilson Center events. In the fourth most read post, Deekshita Ramanarayanan recaps an event on the impact of COVID-19 on race and gender inequities. In the fifth most popular post this month, Eliana Guterman spotlights remarks from an event focused on the origins of COVID-19 and the need to “recalibrate” U.S. national security to account for environmental change and public health risks.

1. Strengthening our Health Systems Means Giving Voice to Women Leading the Nursing & Midwifery Professions by Peter Johnson
2. Rohingya Refugees Smuggle Drugs for Insurgents in Myanmar by Michael Van Ginkel
3. A Plague of Ravenous Locusts Descends on East Africa, Jeopardizes Food Security by Wania Yad
4. COVID-19 Shines Spotlight on Race and Gender Inequities in Healthcare by Deekshita Ramanarayanan
5. Unpacking Covid-19 and the Connections Between Ecosystems, Human Health, and Security by Eliana Guterman