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    • Opinion
    • Global Health

    Opinion: 5 buzzwords global health should sunset in 2023

    Words are just words, be they buzzwords or not. The real problem in global health that we need to focus on in 2023 is the substance behind the words we use — and these five buzzwords have been wrung to meaningless death over the past few years.

    By Katri Bertram // 18 January 2023

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    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.

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    More reading:

    ► Devex Newswire: Your road map to global health’s future

    ► PEPFAR's John Nkengasong on the need to 'reimagine' global health

    ► 5 things to know if you’re pursuing a career in global health (Career)

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    The views in this opinion piece do not necessarily reflect Devex's editorial views.

    About the author

    • Katri Bertram

      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.

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