Oct 30, 2026 · 50 min · 9 segments
Emily Bass and Ben discuss a hectic week in global health, including Ben’s federal site visit at the San Francisco Community Health Center and a Wired report raising questions about DOGE/USAID…
Emily BassGuestBen PlumleyHostAnd I think what's been really interesting about it is that we've had the program coordinating board meet last week and into the beginning of this week.
And coming out of that program coordinating board was a clear recommendation about the future of UNAIDS.
Not to sunset it now, as had been proposed in the Secretary General's UNAIDS 81 document, but for it to be transformed.
And while I don't think we really know what we mean by transformation yet, it is nonetheless, I think, a big deal.
And I'm hugely relieved that UNAIDS is not going to be sunset at the end of this year, but that the Programme Coordinating Board clearly sees a future, a leaner future, certainly, but a future nonetheless.
And I guess it was one of the best kept or worst kept secrets, I should say, is that the executive director of UNAIDS, Winnie Bien-Mina, announced that she is stepping down with effect at the end of this year.
And I guess that's in itself a big deal because we're thinking thus about the legacy of an African woman, an African activist, in this leadership role.
And our thoughts are immediately turned to the bun fight that will be the interim executive director appointment.
But the vehicle inside the UN that is responsible for UNAIDS, how long they take to hire a new executive director.
And if you hang on one second, I'll show you how efficient I am with my phone and I will go straight to it.
Meanwhile, for anybody that's looking up what a bun fight is, it's what the Jets had with their fellow gang or the opposite gang in the British version of West Side Story.
was a bun fight was probably what British public school boys do at the coffee break.
And I think what's been really interesting about it is that we've had the program coordinating board meet last week and into the beginning of this week.
And coming out of that program coordinating board was a clear recommendation about the future of UNAIDS.
Not to sunset it now, as had been proposed in the Secretary General's UNAIDS 81 document, but for it to be transformed.
And while I don't think we really know what we mean by transformation yet, it is nonetheless, I think, a big deal.
And I'm hugely relieved that UNAIDS is not going to be sunset at the end of this year, but that the Programme Coordinating Board clearly sees a future, a leaner future, certainly, but a future nonetheless.
And I guess it was one of the best kept or worst kept secrets, I should say, is that the executive director of UNAIDS, Winnie Bien-Mina, announced that she is stepping down with effect at the end of this year.
And I guess that's in itself a big deal because we're thinking thus about the legacy of an African woman, an African activist, in this leadership role.
And our thoughts are immediately turned to the bun fight that will be the interim executive director appointment.
But the vehicle inside the UN that is responsible for UNAIDS, how long they take to hire a new executive director.
And if you hang on one second, I'll show you how efficient I am with my phone and I will go straight to it.
Meanwhile, for anybody that's looking up what a bun fight is, it's what the Jets had with their fellow gang or the opposite gang in the British version of West Side Story.
was a bun fight was probably what British public school boys do at the coffee break.
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