Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Indian health care visionary from Liberia wins TED prize

A PHYSICIAN of Indian origin who co-founded an initiative in Liberia, which aims to train and manage people in communities to serve as local health care workers, has won a coveted million-dollar TED Prize.

Raj Panjabi fled to the United States to escape civil war in his native Liberia, before eventually returning to his shattered homeland to find rural communities desperate for adequate health care.


The trained physician co-founded Last Mile Health in Liberia and at a TED Conference last month, he shared his dream of revolutionising health care.

"It has always been true in history that illness has been universal and access to care has not," Panjabi said during an interview before speaking to the TED audience on April 25.

"This is a story of people in rural areas around the world," he said.

Seed money Dr Panjabi used to start Last Mile Health came from cash he had received as a wedding gift.

The operation has grown to provide care for tens of thousands of people, and win support from Liberia's health ministry, according to TED.

During the Ebola crisis, Panjabi's organisation supported the Liberian government's response, training more than 1,300 health workers on infection prevention and control at clinics.

"As global citizens, we're living in a tumultuous moment," said TED Prize director Anna Verghese.

"Raj understands more than anyone that disease adheres neither to borders nor to nationalities."

Panjabi wished for help creating a global academy, recruiting the "largest army of health care workers the world has ever known."

People with middle- or high-school level educations would be hired from their communities, then given training, medicines and support to provide health care to neighbors.

"The challenge is, we can't do that without technology," Panjabi said.

"A lot of people worry about technology these days; in this case technology is creating jobs."

The academy will start in Liberia, where Last Mile Health has operated for a decade, with a goal of expanding around the world, according to Panjabi.

Smartphones, inexpensive testing kits, and online education would be key components for realizing the grand vision, according to the doctor.

"We would like to see a collision between the digital education revolution and the digital health revolution," Panjabi said.

The vision for the academy involves with governments to enable trained volunteers to qualify for accreditation that could lead to careers.

The academy would also collaborate with entrepreneurs to put innovations, such as solar power for medical clinics, to work in remote areas.

"There is a chance to transform health care around the world," Panjabi said.

For any policy maker interested in expanding access to health care, and saving money in the long term, this is a "no-brainer" because stopping illness early cuts costs and can curtail outbreaks, he reasoned.

The goal is to have rural care paid for with public funds or insurance schemes, the Liberian prize winner said.

(AFP)

More For You

Andrew Tate Sued by Ex-Girlfriend Brianna Stern Over Sexual Assault Allegations

Tate’s attorney, Joseph McBride, has dismissed the lawsuit

Getty

Andrew Tate faces sexual assault lawsuit from ex-girlfriend Brianna Stern

Social media personality Andrew Tate is facing a new lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend, Brianna Stern, who has accused him of sexual assault, battery, and gender violence. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, details allegations of abuse and an incident that allegedly took place at The Beverly Hills Hotel on 11 March 2025.

Allegations in the lawsuit

According to the legal complaint, Stern claims that Tate initially appeared as a "dream come true" but later became emotionally and physically abusive. The lawsuit describes a violent encounter at the hotel, where she alleges Tate physically assaulted and threatened her.

Keep ReadingShow less
Voices of Faith 2025: A journey through spirituality and wisdom

Soumik Datta (R) and Gurdain Singh Rayatt

Voices of Faith 2025: A journey through spirituality and wisdom

Mahesh Liloriya

The inaugural edition of Voices of Faith commenced on Friday at the iconic Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, marking the beginning of an extraordinary three-day festival exploring theological philosophies, interfaith dialogues, and the deeper essence of spirituality through conversations, music, and healing vibes.

Organised by Teamwork Arts, the creators of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) and JLF London, Voices of Faith is presented by the Kamini and Vindi Banga Family Trust, with the support of Tech Mahindra. Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat serve as the official media partners of this landmark event. This unique festival seeks to offer insights into navigating the complexities of modern life through the timeless wisdom enshrined in global religious traditions. It focuses on the universal ideals of compassion and interconnectedness that underpin the world’s faiths, fostering dialogue that transcends barriers and deepens mutual understanding.

Keep ReadingShow less
Court reopens Asian child sex offender's deportation case

Home Office successfully challenged a ruling that allowed him to remain in Britain (Photo for representation: iStock)

Court reopens Asian child sex offender's deportation case

A PAKISTANI man convicted of sexually assaulting a child under 13 will face a fresh deportation hearing after the Home Office successfully challenged a ruling that allowed him to remain in Britain, reported The Times.

The offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had initially won his case to stay in the UK after claiming he would face "inhuman or degrading treatment" if sent back to Pakistan due to his alcoholism.

Keep ReadingShow less
India launches Operation Brahma to aid quake-hit Myanmar

Rescue teams work to save residents trapped under the rubble of the destroyed Sky Villa Condominium development in Mandalay on March 29, 2025. (Photo by SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images)

India launches Operation Brahma to aid quake-hit Myanmar

INDIA has swiftly responded to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar by launching Operation Brahma, sending emergency relief and rescue teams to the disaster-stricken nation.

A C-130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force landed in Yangon on Saturday (29), carrying 15 tonnes of relief supplies including hygiene kits, blankets and food parcels. The aid mission comes after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday (28), killing more than 1,000 people and injuring nearly 2,400 others.

Keep ReadingShow less
Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

Pakistan stands at 109th place out of 147 countries

Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

THE UK has experienced a significant blow to its national morale, plummeting to 23rd place in the World Happiness Report for 2025 – its lowest ranking ever – despite being the world’s sixth richest nation.

Released to mark the UN’s International Day of Happiness last Thursday (20), the report provided a nuanced exploration of national contentment that extends far beyond economic measurements.

Keep ReadingShow less