A global health communications director I worked with earlier in my career once summarized how buzzwords are used in global health, while she was drafting a press release. “Blah blah blah, blah blah blah,” she said to me while typing about the launch of a new global health initiative.
Many years later, I’ve learned to recognize global health buzzwords immediately when I see them. I’ve used many buzzwords in various work roles myself. And I have seen how they are born and die. In 2023, it’s high time to sunset a few. Here are five global health buzzwords I propose we sunset in 2023, even though letting go of some feels difficult.
Buzzwords are initially intriguing. Good ones emotionalize and make people feel like there is momentum, energy, or even compassion in an issue.
About the author
Katri Bertram
Katri Bertram is a global health consultant with 20 years of work experience in building international health and development partnerships. She specializes in government relations and stakeholder engagement. Bertram lives in Berlin, Germany, and is a mom of four children.
