Gun Violence in Serbia, Malaria in Myanmar, and Health Care in Rwanda

Editor's Note

In the first 5 months of this year alone, the United States been host to 225 mass shootings—but it is not the only country suffering from gun violence. Earlier this month, Serbia, a country with strict gun control laws, experienced a mass shooting at an elementary school that killed nine students and a security guard and wounded six others. Our first contributor, a former student at the school, reflects on the tragedy and her country's subsequent call for a "total disarmament."

In Myanmar, an ongoing civil conflict is exacerbating a deadly malaria outbreak that has led to a 1,000 percent increase in the country's cases. We sit down with Chris Beyrer, director of Duke University's Global Health Institute, to examine the consequences of the outbreak for Myanmar's weakened health-care system and large HIV-positive community.

In the aftermath of a tragic genocide, Rwanda has emerged over the last thirty years as one of the world's unexpected health-care successes. Yet, catastrophe need not be the only catalyst for health-care reform, our next group of authors argues; Rwanda offers lessons for other health-struggling nations as well.

Closing out the week, a human-rights advocate explains why the Mexico City Policy—also known as the Global Gag Rule—disproportionately harms LGBTQI+ communities globally by disrupting health services and empowering opponents who seek to undermine their rights.

As always, thank you for reading.—Thomas J. Bollyky, Editor