Partners in Health
In January 2026, a group of 30 Rwandans will graduatel from the University of Global Health Equity, marking a pivotal moment as they become the first medical graduates from the university established by the nonprofit organization Partners in Health (PIH). This initiative aims to address the pressing issue of medical inequality in Africa, where the World Health Organization anticipates a shortfall of over 6 million healthcare workers by 2030.
“We strive to deliver the advantages of modern medicine to those in dire need, serving as a beacon of hope,” notes Eric Hansen, Senior Director of External Relations at PIH.
Since its foundation in 1987, tackling the challenges of medical inequity has been central to PIH’s mission. In the 11 countries where it operates, PIH partners with governments to strengthen healthcare systems through workforce training, resource provision, and the establishment of strategies aimed at sustainable healthcare reform.
PIH also evaluates the effectiveness of its healthcare services, sharing insights and methodologies with countries it does not directly serve to promote equitable healthcare access globally.
“We are committed to supporting these nations indefinitely,” Hansen asserts, “with the objective of empowering them to provide contemporary healthcare and fulfilling the right to health as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
Concrete Changes Addressing Medical Inequity
PIH’s dedication to confronting healthcare disparities has led to significant global advancements. In 2021, the organization facilitated over 58,000 safe deliveries and provided treatment to nearly 100 tuberculosis patients in Peru. Annually, PIH also addresses malnutrition in 2,600 Haitian children and cares for 44,000 individuals living with HIV worldwide.
As new graduates emerge from the University of Global Health Equity, they will contribute to this ongoing battle against medical inequality by treating and mentoring future generations of Rwandans.
Good Store
During a visit to Sierra Leone in 2019, author and YouTube creator John Green encountered medical injustice firsthand at the heart of the maternal mortality crisis in Kono, where he aimed to gain insights and contribute positively.
“When we assume individuals in poverty are unworthy of healthcare, we not only fail morally but jeopardize humanity’s future,” Green emphasizes. “Every human life holds equal worth, and we must construct systems that reflect this fundamental reality.”
The Greens recognized the financial demands tied to establishing effective solutions, which led them to launch Good Store—an online platform that allocates 100% of its profits to support charities fighting medical injustice through the sale of diverse products, including socks, coffee, tea, and soap.
Despite achieving success across various domains including bestselling novels and a popular YouTube channel, it is their commitment to combating medical injustice that has brought John and Hank Green profound satisfaction.
“We’ve embarked on numerous exciting ventures, and while grateful for those experiences, many conventional pathways toward motivation didn’t resonate with us anymore,” Hank reflected. “However, we discovered that aiding those in genuine need while pursuing unconventional methods invigorates us.”
A Pioneering Initiative
Since its launch, Good Store has raised over $8 million for charities, including Partners in Health (PIH), which addresses medical inequity. This funding enabled PIH to initiate the construction of the Maternal Center of Excellence in 2021, a facility aimed at enhancing maternal and child health services in Sierra Leone.
The center aspires to significantly lower the lifetime risk of maternal death, which was alarmingly one in 33 a decade ago, compared to one in 3,400 in the United States.
Addressing maternal mortality has been a shared focus of both Good Store and PIH, which have started to make an impact. In 2020, the maternal death rate stood at one in 52 in Sierra Leone, and efforts to improve this statistic are ongoing.
“The fact that human life expectancy varies by decades based solely on geography is a failure of our species that we believe can be overcome,” John stated.
Good Store’s initiatives extend beyond addressing medical inequity in Sierra Leone. During a 2023 visit to the Maternal Center of Excellence’s construction site, John observed that the project provides an opportunity for hundreds of Sierra Leoneans to acquire new skills while contributing to the construction. Notably, 65% of the workers on site are women, many of whom express that this project has united them as future mothers who will give birth in this very hospital.
With the center anticipated to open in 2026, the fight to eliminate medical injustices will persist well beyond its inauguration.
“There will always be meaningful work to undertake, and it is always worth pursuing,” Hank concludes.
This piece first appeared in the January-February 2025 edition of The Windows Club magazine (U.S. edition).
