Tobacco in Indonesia’s Elections and the Post-Roe World of Abortion

Editors' Note

Two years ago, Indonesians spent more of their budgets on cigarettes than essential foods such as meat, eggs, and vegetables. In rural areas, spending on cigarettes was even greater.  

Farizal Rizky Muharram, a former health policy advisor in Indonesia,  leads this week's coverage  with a look at how the tobacco industry's profound influence over the country's society and economy is transforming presidential candidates' platforms. General elections are scheduled for February 14.  

Next, CFR's Mariel Ferragamo dives deep into  how the U.S. decision to repeal Roe v. Wade  has "become the bellwether for even more countries to tear down their abortion policies."

Think Global Health then visits  Zimbabwe, where village health workers have been fighting a deadly cholera outbreak since last year. Journalist Farai Shawn Matiashe  gives us an inside look into the lives of the health workers  at the forefront, the struggles they face, and how they counter misinformation.   

To wrap up the week, Eileen Natuzzi, Solomon Island's co-coordinator for the Australian & New Zealand Gastrointestinal International Training Association, explains how the Pacific Health Care Initiative, introduced by Representatives Amata Radewagen, Neal Dunn, and Ed Case in August 2023, could  improve health outcomes for the 13.9 million people living across the thousands of Pacific Islands.  

Until next week!—Nsikan Akpan, Managing Editor, and Caroline Kantis, Associate Editor 