iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Alan Beattie @alanbeattie.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

So a Tory former PM criticises the cuts to UK aid while those noted development champions Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, as far as I can tell, have been utterly silent on the subject. Brown was very happy to do it when it was a Tory government doing the cutting. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

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JW Mason @jwmason.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Every single day. on.ft.com/409SaZx

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

This is how my (our) taxes were spent in 🇬🇧 last year. Only 70p in every £100 went on “overseas aid” … which was before the funding reduction announced earlier this year. Prior to culling #USAID, the US spent 1% of the federal budget on #internationaldevelopment. Rounding errors. Yet vital.

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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

The only people this benefits are Putin and Xi

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Dr Lucy Rycroft-Smith @ljrycroftsmith.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

We found that AI tools - both general like #ChatGPT and research-specific like #Elicit - lack the reliability, relevancy and accuracy to summarise research for teachers. This is important because we have been sold the idea that AI will make research more accessible.

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Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Today, I’m joining @prostatecanceruk.bsky.social & men across the whole of the UK - to share a potentially lifesaving message⤵️ You don’t need a finger up the bum to test for prostate cancer. In fact, the first step is a simple blood test you can get free from your GP

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Prof Nisreen Alwan @nisreenalwan.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Hero.

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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Fascism

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

Still important years after “COVID is over”.

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Devex @devex.com · 18/05/2025

The fund is backed mainly by philanthropy, at a time of declining donor government foreign aid budgets.

devex.com

New Gates-backed fund targets maternal and newborn health in Africa

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Dr Steve Taylor @drstevetaylor.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Here is the @thekingsfund.bsky.social analysis of UK healthcare spending compared to other countries If you spend less than peer nations, you will have poorer health outcomes, fewer doctors, fewer scanners, fewer hospital beds etc

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Esther @elhopkins.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

I agree with the Lancet.

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Dr Steve Taylor @drstevetaylor.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

As a GP, I am not allowed to receive a pen or post-it note pad from a pharmaceutical company rep The Government banned them in case I was influenced to prescribe a certain medication This should also be banned @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social unless you have a way to justify this?

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Implement a 100% tariff and ruin a movie Pretty Women

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Implement a 100% tariff and ruin a movie From Russia with Lots of Love

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Katherine Horton @kchorton.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

#USAID was the largest bilateral donor to the #TB response, contributing 19% of international donor funding in 2022. We estimate that the elimination of #USAID funding may lead to 1,390,900 million additional episodes of symptomatic TB and 420,500 TB deaths over the next 10 years. 2/8

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Maternova Inc. @maternova.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

ChaRM is a point of care device to measure respiratory rate. Please pass this message to at least one global health partner!

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

“Together, we saved countless lives, prevented infections and raised the quality of care and nutrition for millions. Thanks & au revoir.”

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

“Thank you for the opportunity of working with such amazing, dedicated, knowledgeable, committed, diplomatic, and professional individuals along the way, who are far too numerous to name”.

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

“That was creative thinking and efficient use of resources.

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

“Because of USAID in the #Kyrgyz Republic, I was able to provide support to get their pandemic preparedness program off the ground, and then return last year to assist in finding ways of using HIV and #TB labs, & expertise funded by USAID, to be part of the pandemic preparedness program development.

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

“Because of USAID in #Haiti, I was able to initiate the process to release emergency funding for an anthrax outbreak, in conjunction with HQ folks and through #PAHO. I also took the lead on a pandemic preparedness program development, to improve detection of potential epidemics starting in animals.”

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

(That team was so inspiring, and for months on end were unable to even reach the Embassy due to fighting and kidnappings, yet they persevered, so they could improve their lives of the fellow Haitians. Wow. Just wow.)”

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

“That was due to be agreed the week of the inauguration in January and was one of the first casualties of these cuts.

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Having learned valuable lessons, I redesigned that with the USAID Health Office, for the next five years to ensure Haitians’ #nutrition improved without the public needing to do anything.

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

“Because of USAID in #Haiti, I oversaw the evaluation of a 5 year program that supported the large scale fortification of foods (oil, wheat and flour).

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

“Working 6 and sometimes 7 days a week during the #pandemic meant my analysis was able to accurately inform the Jordanian government of when a wave had peaked and when pressure on hospitals would ease.”

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

“Because of USAID in #Jordan, I was involved at the outset, once again with incredible local staff, in working with the government to introduce a huge program for Continuing Professional Development as part of mandatory relicencing for 169,000 healthcare professionals.

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

“Because of USAID in #Afghanistan, I designed - in conjunction with amazing Afghan counterparts - a huge new urban health program, to continue to reduce #maternal, #infant and #child mortality.”

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

“In 2015 while leading an organisation for women and child survivors of #trafficking and sexual assault, we worked together to rebuild their lives, and through USAID in collaboration with #ICE, their US perpetrators were brought to #justice after deportation from Cambodia.”

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

“Because of USAID’s long term commitment in #Cambodia, we were so successful on #HIV prevention, that after the introduction of rapid tests, only 21 sex workers out of 18,000 were new cases.

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

I’ve just received my final, delayed payment for work done for #USAID. Sadly, this is me shaking USAID’s hand for the final time to say “Thank you, we achieved so much together.

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Correct. Whole careers effectively ended, with most now looking to pivot into something new. Easier (but not easy) for those of us in some countries; almost impossible in places such as Haiti, South Sudan and other highly unstable/dangerous countries.

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

10 weeks ago #USAID ‘s partners and contractors received their “Stop Work Order” (me included). Since then, almost 190,000 people working in international development have lost their jobs, and c.1/3rd of all global funding has gone. www.usaidstopwork.com is tracking those losses.

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Julia M. Rohrer @dingdingpeng.the100.ci · 11/04/2025

“…today’s antivirals are so effective that if taken during pregnancy, the risk of passing HIV to the infant is minimal. Without these drugs, around a quarter of babies born to HIV-positive mothers would also contract the virus – and half of them would die before the age of two.”

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

#USAID used to wholly or partially fund a Demographic Health Survey every 5-10 years in most countries it worked in. These provided data such as infant & maternal deaths & uptake of contraception. These proved USAID’s ability to deliver change & provided data other partners relied upon. Gone. 😖

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Richard Branson @richardbranson.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

(1/4) Strong leadership means taking risks and trying things - but when it doesn’t work, realising your mistake and correcting it. Quickly.

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Dr Steve Taylor @drstevetaylor.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

The reason I bang on about the NHS is that I have worked in it for 40 years Over half it’s existence I remember a time, not that long ago when the majority of things worked well Something happened in 2010 that changed that I am fighting for a collective memory & fight for a better future

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Adam Kucharski @adamjkucharski.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

At centre of Texas outbreak, around 20% of kindergarten are unvaccinated, which (very roughly) would suggest a potential R = 18 x 0.2 = 3.6. Which is similar to early COVID in terms of transmissibility, and a big problem. More on how we assess measles risk: kucharski.substack.com/p/measles-he... 2/

kucharski.substack.com

Measles, herd immunity and the risk of outbreaks

The fine line between epidemics and elimination

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Prior_Industry @prior-industry.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

@chadbourn.bsky.social If you have not come across it, this is pretty cool theblue.report

theblue.report

The Blue Report

The top links on Bluesky, updated hourly

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Adam Kucharski @adamjkucharski.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

Below article has a useful infographic on measles (rather than just a 'measles can infect 12-18 people' claim without mentioning vaccination impact).

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Victoria Derbyshire @vicderbyshire.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

‘Ultimately, these cuts will remove food & healthcare ..the reality is that this decision is already being portrayed as following in President Trump's slipstream of cuts to USAID’ International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds’ resignation letter over PM’s decision to cut overseas aid budget

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Carla Denyer @carladenyer.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Dodds is also absolutely right to urge the government to look at ways of raising money other than by cutting departmental budgets, including "...our fiscal rules and approach to taxation, as other nations are doing."

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Dr Ellie Chowns MP @elliechowns.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Annaliese Dodds has made a principled decision to step down from her role following Starmer's move to cut foreign aid to fund defence spending. Like her, I believe withdrawing from humanitarian commitments is both cruel, counterproductive, and short-sighted.

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Steve Penfold FRSPH FCMI @stevepenfold.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

#Foreignaid is looking short of cash, and took the full hit for increased defence spending. It would also send a poignant message that we’d rather see foreign assistance on both sides of the Atlantic than another visit from #Trump. Chance of that happening? Zero.

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Atul Gawande @agawande.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

2. All tuberculosis programs, including the Global TB Drug Facility – terminated.

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Atul Gawande @agawande.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

1. All malaria supplies protecting 53 million people, mostly children, including bed nets, diagnostics, preventive drugs, and treatments – terminated.

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