Bulletin #119: From Gaza and the Netherlands: student activists on medical education and resistance

This fortnight

As Israel implemented its genocide in Gaza, healthcare came under relentless attack. These assaults extended to the education of Gaza's medical students, whose studies took on additional importance over the past two and a half years. In this issue of People's Health Dispatch, we present two reports written by students from Gaza and the Netherlands, who joined forces through a course on social determinants of health and global health – writing here about the relevance of activism for current and future medical professionals.

The recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has sounded the alarm in the region, with health experts and activists fearing for the stability of health systems in Africa. The situation took an even more complicated turn as the Trump administration announced it would introduce a quarantine facility for US citizens exposed to the virus – in Kenya.

Kenya has also been the epicenter of demonstrations against femicide and gender-based violence, and the alarming increase in missing children in the country. On June 1, protesters demanded urgent action on these concerns, as well as reproductive rights – following the recent controversy surrounding restrictions on abortion services.

In Kolkata, India, a remarkable initiative is providing affordable dialysis by cutting unnecessary overhead costs and focusing on essential medical care. In another episode of Access Denied, Jyotsna Singh spoke to Dr. Fuad Halim to learn more.

In June 2026, Peoples Dispatch joined forces with BreakThrough News to create a single, unified text and video outlet. Together, we will continue to challenge the mainstream media environment dominated by billionaires and bring stories from movements around the world. Visit BreakThrough News to update your bookmarks and find out more about the novelties this brings.

Featured articles

The quiet that kills: beyond awareness to action

Health students from Gaza describe how transforming awareness into action has to remain a key part of solidarity movements worldwide.

Medical students in Gaza and Netherlands describe finding hope in activism

Medical students from Gaza and the Netherlands describe interpreting the right to health through an activist lens, learning about courage and solidarity along the way.

DRC Ebola outbreak: growing concerns over delayed response, health system stability

The most recent Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda has sounded the alarm among health workers and activists, raising concerns about health system stability in the region.

Kenyan women protest femicide and violence

Kenya is facing a growing crisis of femicide, gender-based violence, and missing children, women-led movements and grassroots activists to stage protests on June 1 demanding immediate government action.

Video

Affordable dialysis: a model from Kolkata

In another episode of Access Denied, Jyotsna Singh speaks with Dr. Fuad Halim about a remarkable initiative that is providing affordable dialysis in Kolkata by focusing on essential medical care.

In case you missed it

Legal harassment against academics in Greece | People’s Health Movement

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