International Relations Professor, Alan Henrikson once wrote that public diplomacy should be thought of as a form of engagement. Although Professor Henrikson’s article focused on governments, nongovernmental organizations have also proved their ability to develop sophisticated public diplomacy campaigns that engage both governments and the private sector.

As the federal government works to reform America’s beleaguered health system, the State Department’s new Office of Global Health Diplomacy is trying integrate the U.S. government’s international health aid efforts and help governments in developing countries create sustainable healthcare funding and care models.

President Jakaya Kikwete has underscored the need for increased transparency and accountability in the health sector in order to make the world a better place. Speaking at a dinner hosted in his honour by Global Health Diplomacy (GHD) on Thursday night, the president said transparency had helped in the distribution of ARVs and treated mosquito nets.

More than 450 of the world's leading water experts gathered in Chapel Hill, N.C., Oct. 3-7 for the second annual conference on "Water and Health: Where Science Meets Policy." Hosted by the Gillings School of Global Public Health's Water Institute at UNC and the College of Arts and Sciences' UNC Institute for the Environment, the conference focused upon water-related research, education and outreach. Attendees from 30 countries represented a wide range of organizations, including the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, CARE, U.S.

Barely a year ago nearly 1,000 people from 80 countries gathered enthusiastically at the Palacio de Convenciones in Havana, Cuba, under the banner 'Innovating for the health of all'. More than half came from low- and middle-income countries.