Partners in Health
In January 2026, thirty Rwandan students will commemorate nearly seven years of education by graduating with their medical degrees from the University of Global Health Equity. This institution, founded by the nonprofit Partners in Health (PIH), aims to combat healthcare disparities throughout Africa. The university plays a crucial role in mitigating the severe shortage of healthcare professionals in Rwanda, a deficit that the World Health Organization projects could exceed six million by 2030.
“We aim to ensure that modern medical benefits reach those in greatest need, acting as a remedy for despair,” states Eric Hansen, PIH’s senior director of external relations.
Since its founding in 1987, PIH has dedicated itself to addressing medical inequities. In each of the eleven countries where it operates, PIH collaborates with local governments to strengthen healthcare systems through training, provision of resources, and creating a structured plan for sustainable healthcare improvements.
The organization also evaluates the effectiveness of its services, sharing insights and methodologies with countries it isn’t able to assist directly, thereby aiding governments in enhancing equitable access to quality health care.
“We make an indefinite commitment to each of these nations,” Hansen emphasizes. “Our aim is to help them meet their obligations to provide contemporary medical care to their citizens and respect their right to health, as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
Visible Impact on Medical Inequity
PIH’s resolve to combat health disparities has led to significant global changes. In 2021, it assisted in delivering over 58,000 safe births globally and treated nearly 100 tuberculosis patients in Peru. Annually, the organization also provides care to 2,600 malnourished children in Haiti and facilitates treatment for 44,000 patients with HIV worldwide.
As graduates from the University of Global Health Equity enter the workforce, they will contribute to overcoming medical inequities by providing care and training for the next generation of Rwandans.
Good Store
In 2019, author and YouTuber John Green experienced medical inequity firsthand during a visit to Sierra Leone. He found himself in Kono, the epicenter of a maternal mortality crisis, determined to understand and contribute to solutions.
“Believing that those in poverty don’t deserve health care is not only a moral failing but also endangers the future of humanity,” Green asserts. “Every human life is equally valuable, and we must create systems that reflect this fact.”
Recognizing the financial challenges in developing these systems, John and his brother, Hank, launched Good Store, an e-commerce venture that donates 100% of its proceeds to charities addressing medical inequities through products such as socks, coffee, tea, and soap.
While both brothers have thrived in various fields—including writing bestselling novels and creating the successful vlogbrothers YouTube channel—their work to combat medical injustice has brought them profound satisfaction.
“We’ve achieved numerous amazing things and feel grateful, but the usual paths toward new goals no longer excite us,” Hank explains. “However, we find immense motivation in helping those in dire need and exploring unconventional approaches.”
An Innovative Initiative
Since its creation in 2019, Good Store has contributed over $8 million to various charities, including Partners in Health (PIH), which works to counter medical inequities. In 2021, PIH utilized some of the profits to launch the Maternal Center of Excellence, aimed at advancing maternal and child health services in Sierra Leone.
The facility aspires to drastically reduce the risk of maternal death, which was as high as 1 in 33 a decade ago, compared to 1 in 3,400 in the United States.
Good Store and PIH are focused on this critical issue, already making strides in decreasing maternal mortality. By 2020, the ratio of deaths during childbirth in Sierra Leone had improved to 1 in 52 women, and efforts are ongoing.
“The variation in life expectancy, sometimes spanning decades due only to geographical factors, exemplifies a failure in our species that we believe can be corrected,” John explains.
The contributions of Good Store extend beyond addressing medical injustices in Sierra Leone. During a 2023 visit to the Maternal Center of Excellence construction site, John recognized that the project has enabled hundreds of locals to acquire new skills while working on the facility. He shared that women represent 65% of the workforce, with one worker expressing how the project creates unity among future mothers who will give birth at the hospital.
Although the center is scheduled to open in 2026, the battle against medical inequities will persist long after its completion.
“There will always be necessary work to do, and it will always be significant,” Hank asserts.
This article was originally published in the January-February 2025 issue of up7op magazine (US edition).
