Public Health and Healthcare

Abstract: Future climate projections suggest an increase in heat-related mortality and a decrease in cold-related deaths under warming scenarios. Understanding the health impacts of extreme heat, and their implications for healthcare demand is essential for assessing the future burden of climate-related illnesses. In this study, we examined the relationship between extreme heat events and Emergency Department Visits (EDVs) for heat-related illnesses (HRIs) across the United States from 2018 to 2025. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Heat and Health Tracker and other relevant sources, we analyzed EDV rates standardized to 100,000 population. We aggregated daily into the 10 U.S. Health and Human Service Regions (HHSRs). We used 0.5∘×0.5∘ gridded maximum daily temperature data (aggregated to HHSRs with proportional area weighting) and daily maximum heat index extracted from the CDC data portal (estimated using the US National Weather Service methodology and aggregated to HHSRs using total population weighting) to characterize seasonal patterns and regional variability. The association between peak heat events and EDV time series was explored using log-linear mixed-effects models, which accounted for seasonal trends, climate variables, and socio-economic vulnerability factors. Regional variability in predictor-response relationships was captured through random effects. Model performance was evaluated using prediction error metrics and goodness-of-fit assessments. Maximum temperature and heat index were both significant predictors, with the heat index offering a slightly better fit. Associations were largely contemporaneous, with peak correlations at lag zero, underscoring the need for real-time response. EDVs increased several days before peak environmental conditions, consistent with early exposure effects. While temperature–EDV relationships varied regionally, heat index associations were more stable. This work underscores the urgent need for regionally adaptive public health strategies in the face of intensifying climate extremes and outlines future directions for research and policy to strengthen health systems’ preparedness in a warming world.

Abstract: Medical multimodal foundation models (MMFMs) have become a central element of medical artificial intelligence, supporting progress in clinical workflows like diagnosis, report generation, and multimodal reasoning. However, existing surveys face issues with quick aging and brief coverage of model types. This paper offers a fine-grained review of MMFMs covering January 2023 to July 2025, filling these needs through a structured framework. We analyze key technical features—including model size, dataset size, and architectural designs—across three main model categories: Universal MMFMs (Uni-MMFMs) with wide use, Modality-specific MMFMs (MS-MMFMs) with single-modality specialization, and Organ-specific MMFMs (OS-MMFMs) with organ-specific tuning. We chart development paths and highlight major challenges: data scarcity and privacy constraints, insufficient cross-modal alignment, limited clinical interpretability, and poor generalization in real-world scenarios. We also propose future directions including data-level growth (multi-source integration, synthetic generation), architecture-level updates (unified image-text frameworks), user-centric features (interpretability, ethical compliance), and developer-focused improvements (continuous learning, multimodal conflict resolution). This survey summarizes the current state of MMFMs and provides a guide for building reliable, interpretable, and useful multimodal medical AI systems.

Abstract:

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan transmitted by environmentally persistent oocysts and by tissue cysts in infected prey or meat. This structured narrative review compares infection evidence in five wild cervid species and three wild canid species to examine how feeding ecology shapes exposure and to assess their complementary value in wildlife surveillance. Peer-reviewed literature published between 2004 and 2025 was retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Studies reporting evidence of T. gondii exposure or infection in wild cervids or wild canids were included, with serological evidence evaluated separately from molecular or histological detection. Cervids showed geographically variable exposure consistent with ingestion of oocysts from contaminated vegetation, soil, and water, supporting their use as sentinels of environmental contamination. Wild canids often showed higher reported seropositivity, although direct comparisons were limited by assay, sampling, and demographic heterogeneity. Their predatory, scavenging, and omnivorous diets allow access to both environmental oocysts and tissue cysts. Cervids and canids should therefore be treated as complementary rather than interchangeable indicators: cervids primarily reflect environmental exposure, whereas canids integrate environmental and trophic transmission. Standardized diagnostics, paired host–environment sampling, and explicit ecological metadata are needed to strengthen One Health surveillance and food-safety assessment.

Abstract: Background: The way individuals perceive and interact with the food environment may influence their dietary practices and health outcomes. This study analyzed associations between social and housing conditions, food environment perception, and food security, and their effects on the nutritional status of children and mothers. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted between 2022 and 2023 with 314 participants in Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco, Brazil. Socioeconomic variables, housing conditions, perceptions of domestic and community food environments, food security, and anthropometric indicators were assessed using generalized structural equation modeling (GSEM, p < 0.05). Results: Better social and housing conditions were associated with more favorable domestic food environment perceptions and lower food insecurity. No significant associations were observed between the domestic food environment and food security, nor between the community food environment and other model variables. No significant indirect effects were identified, indicating absence of mediation through food environment perceptions. Associations were found between food security and maternal BMI, and between maternal and child BMI. Conclusions: Social and housing conditions play a central role in shaping food security and nutritional outcomes, while food environment perception showed limited relevance. These findings reinforce the need for intersectoral public policies addressing social inequalities and promoting healthy eating.

Abstract: Context: Child life healthcare professionals function as primary providers of both physical and psychosocial care to pediatric patients and their families. Consequently, these professionals encounter substantial occupational and emotional challenges in the course of their practice. Objectives: The study examined the levels and multidimensional aspects of job – related stress, as well as the coping strategies and resilience, among healthcare professionals providing care to pediatric patients and their families in Greece. Methods: Socio-demographic characteristics, levels of perceived occupational stress, coping strategies (WCQ), and resilience were assessed among a sample of 202 child life health (physicians, nurses) and social care professionals (social workers, psychologists, and special education professionals), employed across diverse health and psychosocial services in Greece. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted using the enter method to examine the relationships among resilience, work stress and coping strategies, while controlling for relevant demographic and occupational variables. Results: WCQ–Social Support was significantly associated with gender. WCQ–Positive Coping was associated with age, work experience, and the WCQ subscales Social Support, Daydreaming, and Avoidance. Avoidance was positively associated with profession and Daydreaming. Significant differences were observed for age, work stress, Positive Coping, Social Support, and resilience. In hierarchical multiple regression, Positive Coping was the strongest predictor of resilience (p < .001), whereas work stress was a significant negative predictor (p = .001), indicating that higher perceived stress was associated with lower resilience. Conclusions: The findings of the study highlight the urgent need for interventions aimed at reducing stress and strengthening effective coping and resilience mechanisms among healthcare personnel, while also underscoring significant knowledge gaps in this research field and the need for future studies on occupational stress, its long-term effects, and coping and resilience among healthcare professionals supporting children and families.

Abstract: Curriculum-based programs are one of the most common and effective strategies for preventing intimate partner violence (IPV) in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Yet relatively little is known about how curricula and their implementation compare across programs, limiting learning and innovation. This scoping review examined the design, content, and implementation of 55 curricula from 42 programs implemented in 23 LMICs between 2001 and 2024. Curricula were identified through screening systematic reviews, grey literature, donor reports, and professional contacts. Data on program characteristics, subject matter, methodologies, and implementation were extracted, synthesized, and analyzed. We found curricula employed similar participatory methodologies and content, and violence, gender, relationships, power, and communication emerged as core topics. Adaptation of earlier programming was widespread: only five curricula did not cite content adapted from an earlier program. Key gaps included the relatively limited use of evidence-based strategies to build relationship skills and content addressing alcohol use and poor mental health, important IPV risk factors. Implementation varied considerably in terms of intensity, frequency, duration, group size, facilitators and their training, and information on some features was sparse. The findings highlight several opportunities for strengthening and innovation, for which we present six recommendations to guide future IPV prevention programming.

Abstract: Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) carries the world's heaviest combined burden of HIV and cervical cancer. People living with HIV (PLHIV) face higher HPV acquisition, reduced clearance, and accelerated progression to cervical cancer; WHO recommends a two- or three-dose HPV vaccination schedule for this group regardless of age or antiretroviral therapy (ART) status. Yet multi-dose HPV vaccine completion among PLHIV remains largely unmonitored in a region where a girl vaccinated at school is rarely visible to the HIV programme that may later care for her. This Review synthesises peer-reviewed evidence, mathematical modelling, and country implementation experience from high HIV-burden settings, anchored by primary data from a WHO Regional Office for Africa sub-regional workshop convened in Cape Town in November 2025 with immunisation and HIV programmes from five ESA countries (Eswatini, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe), modellers, youth advocates, and global partners. Regional HPV vaccination coverage more than doubled between 2019 and 2024, but only one of the five countries examined can currently monitor coverage by HIV status. Four cross-cutting barriers emerge: delivery platforms are misaligned with the population at risk; data systems are unable to follow individuals across services; confidentiality and stigma disrupt dose completion; and policies lack operational translation. An integration approach built around four axes (policy and eligibility, service platforms, data systems, and financing) can close the HPV vaccination gap without creating parallel infrastructure. While the evidence draws principally on ESA, the framework is transferable to other countries and regions where HPV vaccination for girls and women living with HIV is being implemented or considered. Closing the equity gap for PLHIV will depend on aligning existing programmes to operationalise integration to improve outcomes and prevent cervical cancer in this group.

Abstract: Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) frequently metastasizes to bone, leading to severe clinical complications and reduced quality of life. Accurate and robust imaging-based characterization of bone lesions is therefore critical for diagnosis and treatment planning. Radiomics has emerged as a powerful tool for extracting quantitative information from medical images; however, classical radiomics features are often affected by inter-scanner variability, segmentation dependence, and limited ability to describe lesions with complex biological heterogeneity. This study aims to introduce a translational, graph-based radiomics approach designed to extract novel quantitative descriptors with improved robustness and clinical reliability. Methods: A graph representation was derived from segmented PET/CT bone lesions by generating a point cloud followed by Delaunay triangulation to preserve geometric information. Graph signal processing techniques were applied to extract three classes of features: orientation, connectivity, and transform-based descriptors. The dataset included PET/CT scans from 50 PCa patients acquired with two different scanners, comprising 92 bone lesions classified as benign or malignant. Correlation analysis with classical radiomics features was performed to assess information redundancy. Robustness against batch effects and segmentation variability was evaluated. Classification performance was tested using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) models based on proposed features, classical features, and their combination. Results: The proposed features captured non-redundant information compared to classical radiomics and demonstrated superior robustness to scanner-related batch effects and segmentation variability. In classification tasks, models using the proposed features consistently outperformed those based on classical radiomics. Using LDA, the proposed features achieved a mean accuracy of 80.28% and a mean AUC of 71.95%. With SVM, they reached a mean accuracy of 79.04% and a mean AUC of 69.41%, exceeding the performance of classical and combined feature sets. Conclusions: This study presents a translational graph-based radiomics framework that extends beyond conventional methodologies, improving robustness and diagnostic performance. The proposed approach shows promise as an integrative tool for more reliable PET/CT-based characterization of bone lesions in prostate cancer.

Abstract: Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a nutrient-dense pseudocereal with a favorable macronutrient profile that may support glycemic control and satiety. This acute randomized crossover study evaluated the effects of cooked quinoa consumed at two available carbohydrate doses (25 g and 35 g) on postprandial blood glucose and subjective appetite responses in healthy young adults, using white bread as a reference food. Four test meals were administered on separate occasions: quinoa providing 25 g (Q1) or 35 g (Q2) available carbohydrate, and white bread matched to the same carbohydrate loads (Brd1 and Brd2). Capillary blood glucose concentrations and subjective appetite ratings were measured over 120 min. Data were analysed using repeated-measures ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Quinoa consumption resulted in significantly lower postprandial blood glucose concentrations and reduced incremental area under the curve (iAUC) compared with white bread at both carbohydrate levels. Subjective appetite responses were also favorably affected following quinoa intake, with the greatest satiety observed after Q2. Blood glucose iAUC was positively correlated with appetite net area under the curve (nAUC) (r = 0.57, p < 0.001). No significant differences in palatability or gastrointestinal discomfort were observed between treatments. These findings suggest that cooked quinoa elicits more favorable postprandial glycemic and satiety responses than white bread and may represent a functional carbohydrate alternative for improving metabolic health.

Abstract: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory oral disease associated with immune dysregulation and malignant transformation risk. Vitamin D and probiotics may modu-late immune and microbial pathways involved in OLP. In this study, we evaluated their effects on clinical outcomes and multi-omics profiles in 25 adult OLP patients. Vitamin D-deficient patients received 2,000 IU/day vitamin D3, and all participants received a probiotic blend (Limosilactobacillus reuteri LRE11, Lactica-seibacillus rhamnosus LR04, and Lacticaseibacillus casei LC04) for 16 weeks. Clinical assess-ments and analyses of saliva, serum, oral swabs, and stool samples were performed be-fore and after treatment. Following the intervention, 76% of participants achieved clinical remission. Significant metabolomic changes were observed mainly in saliva and feces. Serum cytokines, me-tabolites, and lipoproteins showed no significant differences. Microbiome profiling demonstrated treatment-related compositional shifts in oral and fecal samples, including increased Lacticaseibacillus abundance. Multi-omics integration identified coordinated in-teractions among microbial, metabolic, immune, and lipid pathways, highlighting inter-connected gut-oral biological responses. Combined vitamin D and probiotic supplementation was associated with clinical im-provement and coordinated oral-intestinal multi-omics changes, supporting a sys-tems-level understanding of OLP remission. These findings suggest that modulating the microbiota-metabolism-immunity axis could represent a promising therapeutic strategy for achieving sustained disease control and clinical remission.

Abstract: Physician-assisted death (PAD) is being progressively implemented worldwide, but many important issues related to mental illness remain unclear. In this essay, the authors explore the historical, ethical, and legal evolution of euthanasia, tracing perspectives from Classical Greece to contemporary legislation. It is argued that the growing inclusion of mental patients in PAD across several countries has not solved controversial issues, such as the lack of consensus on eligibility criteria for psychiatric disorders and the difficulties in determining unbearable mental suffering, incurability and decision-making capacity. Furthermore, psychiatrization and overdiagnosis, as well as the insufficient availability of evidence-based psychosocial interventions, are not properly addressed when PAD is considered. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance, in countries where PAD is a possibility for mental patients, to establish interdisciplinary expert committees to rigorously evaluate the requests. These committees should apply clear, evidence-based, pre-defined criteria to prevent premature or inappropriate PAD decisions while protecting patients’ autonomy.

Abstract: Since 2020, the Swiss Personalized Health Network has adopted Semantic Web technologies to standardize health-related data for research in Switzerland. The SPHN Semantic Interoperability Framework promotes semantic interoperability, following the FAIR principles. Within this framework, the SPHN RDF Schema has evolved over five years to define more than 200 concepts across domains such as patient demographics, diagnoses, and laboratory results, enabling the representation of structured and machine-interpretable datasets. This study evaluates the evolution of schema versions from 2021 to 2025 and their adoption, examining structural and semantic changes, and analyzing quantitative metadata from projects in the SPHN Metadata Catalog. Results show consistent reuse of core concepts, especially demographics, diagnoses, and laboratory-related concepts, with 67% of SPHN concepts used in projects. The SPHN framework has proven to be a viable national standard for FAIR health data representation. Nonetheless, semantic modeling alone does not guarantee full interoperability. Future efforts must enhance data structuring and quality at the source, promote RDF adoption in research workflows, and develop user-friendly tools for querying and visualizing data.

Abstract: Sparganosis is a zoonotic parasitosis associated with freshwater aquatic environments, prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Spirometra (S.) mansoni causes sparganosis in humans and spirometrosis in domestic dogs, which is transmitted through the consumption of raw or undercooked meat from fish, frogs or paratenic animals, producing subcutaneous and tissue infections in humans, whereas dogs or cats develop gastrointestinal infections. The purpose of this investigation was to identify S. mansoni in domestic dogs from riverine sectors of the Daule River in Ecuador, using coproparasitological methods: direct examination, flotation and sedimentation with centrifugation using saline solution (as screening); and for confirmation, morphometric methods and PCR were used. Through a descriptive, prospective and cross-sectional study, 402 domestic dogs were analyzed, and Spirometra mansoni were determined in 17% of the collected samples. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of spirometrosis in dogs and the risk of sparganosis in humans were determined, revealing a profound lack of information and knowledge about the infection; consequently, there is a possibility that cases will spread in pets and that humans will develop sparganosis.

Abstract: Growing evidence suggests that optimized nutritional status and regular physical activity enhance immunotherapy responsiveness by modulating immunometabolism, improving T-cell function, reducing chronic inflammation, and favorably shaping the gut microbiota. Cancer-related metabolic dysfunction and treatment-induced cardiotoxicity converge to impair both skeletal and cardiac muscle energetics, thereby limiting treatment tolerance and effectiveness. Lung cancer (LC) patients frequently present with malnutrition, systemic inflammation, sarcopenia, and pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD), conditions that not only compromise functional status and survival but also represent significant competing risks to oncologic outcomes. By counteracting sarcopenia and malnutrition, lifestyle interventions may also reduce immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and mitigate cardiovascular (CV) toxicity, ultimately allowing patients to sustain effective treatment intensity. This narrative review examines the emerging role of targeted nutritional strategies and structured physical exercise as integral components of supportive care in LC, with a specific focus on their impact on cardiac metabolism, CV risk, and response to anticancer therapies, including immunotherapy. In this context, exercise and appropriate dietary interventions emerge as modifiable factors capable of restoring metabolic flexibility, improving mitochondrial function, and reducing systemic inflammation. These effects are particularly relevant in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), where metabolic health and immune competence are tightly interconnected and trained immunity may be a key issue. Finally, the review discusses future challenges and perspectives, emphasizing the impact of CVD on long-term LC survivors’ outcome and of allostatic load and financial toxicity on adherence to lifestyle interventions. The integration of personalized nutrition and exercise programs into cardio-oncology care pathways is proposed as a key strategy to enhance immunotherapy efficacy, improve cardiometabolic resilience, and translate prolonged survival into better quality of life.

Abstract: Hantaviruses are emerging zoonotic pathogens that represent a significant global threat due to their expanding geographic distribution, broad host range, and potential to cause severe disease in humans. These viruses are primarily transmitted via aerosolized excreta from infected rodents, although insectivores and bats have also been identified as potential reservoirs. Human infections can lead to two main clinical syndromes: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which is predominantly reported in Europe and Asia, and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), primarily occurring in the Americas. Several factors contribute to the rising incidence and spread of hantavirus infections worldwide, including climate change, environmental disturbances, urbanization, habitat alteration, and increased human-animal interactions. This mini-review synthesizes current understanding of hantavirus epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, highlighting their growing importance within the One Health framework.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Following the market authorization of innovative medicinal products, continuous monitoring of safety signals is essential to ensure a favorable benefit–risk balance. This is particularly relevant for biological therapies used in oncology, where complex mechanisms of action and patient-related risk factors may contribute to rare but serious adverse events. The objective of this paper is to describe and critically evaluate the internal pharmacovigilance processes applied by a pharmaceutical company in response to a potential post-marketing safety signal of stroke associated with a newly authorized biological medicinal product for colorectal cancer. Methods: A structured signal management approach was applied in line with international regulatory guidance. The evaluation included detailed clinical assessment of reported post-marketing cases, review of safety data from completed and ongoing clinical trials, epidemiological comparison with background stroke incidence, assessment of potential risk factors, and review of the pharmacological and biological plausibility. Additional data sources, including scientific literature, safety databases, and periodic safety reports, were systematically reviewed. Multidisciplinary collaboration among pharmacovigilance, medical, and regulatory teams supported the assessment and regulatory interactions. Results: The cumulative evidence did not allow confirmation of a definitive causal relationship between the medicinal product and stroke but identified the event as a potential safety signal requiring close monitoring. The assessment supported the preparation of an evidence-based company position and informed discussions with regulatory authorities, including the European Medicines Agency. Conclusions: This case illustrates the practical implementation of structured signal management in the post-marketing setting. Timely evaluation, interdisciplinary coordination, and regulatory engagement are essential to ensure patient safety, maintain regulatory compliance, and support informed benefit–risk decision-making for innovative biological medicinal products.

Abstract: Background: Assessing the quality of ICU care directly from the patient’s perspective is challenging. Therefore, it is essential to train health professionals with resources that allow them to evaluate family satisfaction, with reliable and valid instruments, capable of supporting staff, managers and family members in the management of care centered on the person and family. The Family Satisfaction with Care in the Intensive Care Unit 24 (FS-ICU 24) is the most reliable and valid measure of family satisfaction. Recently the FS-ICU was revised and little psychometric evaluation has been done on the FS-ICU 24R. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of FS-ICU 24R using the version, translated and adapted to Brazilian Portuguese. Methods: The data was collected with 200 family members of patients admitted to Intensive Care Units in three hospitals in the state of Rio Grande do Sul between October 2021 and January 2022. The coefficient α-Cronbach was used to determine the internal consistency of FS-ICU 24R. The validity of the revised questionnaire and its subscales was performed by factorial (construct), discriminant, and convergent validity. The construct was tested by exploratory factor analysis with Varimax orthogonal rotation. The relationship between observed variables and latent variables was evaluated through Confirmatory Factor Analysis, with testing of models suggested in exploratory factor analysis and by the main author of the questionnaire, through adequacy indexes and comparison of the models. Results: The evaluation of internal consistency showed a α-Cronbach of 0.97. The results of the exploratory factor analysis showed that the number of items was preserved; however, instead of the two factors present in the original questionnaire, three were retained, explaining 74.20% of the data variance, with a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin indicator of 0.95 and eigenvalue of 1.10. In the Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the three factors presented factorial loadings above 0.70; the values of the Average Variance extracted were above 0.5, and composite validity indexes above 0.70. The instrument maintained the same items but distributed in three factors (the first factor “overall satisfaction”, includes satisfaction with the atmosphere, communication, and support of professionals to the family; the second factor ‘family satisfaction with patient care’, and the third ‘satisfaction with the decision-making process'). Conclusions: We conclude that the FS-ICU 24R questionnaire was valid and reliable to evaluate the satisfaction of families in Intensive Care Units but that the use of sub-scale scores may be dependent on context or version of the questionnaire.

Abstract: Hope is presented as a key driver of psychiatric and psychotherapy outcomes, helping clients move beyond symptom relief toward meaning, resilience, and flourishing. The text integrates goal-based models with relational, narrative, and cultural dimensions. Drawing on the “standard account,” the author proposes hope as the interplay of wishing for a valued good, believing its attainment is possible (though difficult), and trusting in internal and external resources, including the therapeutic alliance. A vignette of Susanne, a young woman with partial dissociative identity disorder, illustrates how psychoeducation and small wins increase belief, while a consistent therapeutic alliance builds trust that extends to self-trust and internal as well as external cooperation. Clinicians play a central role as “hope carriers,” shaping realistic goals, reinforcing progress, and avoiding false hope.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Household poverty is a known risk factor for early childhood development. However, the extent to which caregiver education can mitigate these risks remains underexplored in Southeast Asian contexts. This study investigates whether caregiver educational attainment buffers the negative impact of low household income on child-rearing environments and early developmental outcomes in Indonesia. Methods: This study utilized cross-sectional data from Indonesian caregivers. To maximize statistical power, analyses of the home environment (Index of Child Care Environment) full sample (N = 933). Analyses of developmental outcomes (Early Childhood Development Index) were restricted to the validated age cohort of 3- and 4-year-old children (N = 355). General Linear Models (GLM) were conducted, controlling for child age and sex. Results: For the home environment, both household income (p = .042) and caregiver education (p = .021) were independent, significant predictors, with no significant interaction. However, for actual developmental outcomes, a highly significant interaction between income and education emerged (p < .001). Conclusions: While education and income independently improve the home environment, caregiver education acts as a robust protective buffer for actual child development, mitigating the risks typically associated with low-income households. Interventions targeting socioeconomic disparities should prioritize parenting and caregiver education.

Abstract: Climate change represents the defining global health challenge of the 21st century, with far-reaching implications for population health, health systems, and health equity. The acceleration of environmental change, evidenced by record-breaking global temperatures, extreme weather events, and ecological degradation, poses a direct threat to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. This manuscript examines the intersection of climate change and global public health in light of the outcomes of the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. Drawing on recent global reports and emerging evidence, we explore how climate change exacerbates communicable and non-communicable diseases, undermines health system resilience, and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations worldwide. Particular attention is given to heat-related morbidity, infectious disease expansion, air pollution, food and water insecurity, displacement, gender inequities, antimicrobial resistance, and mental health impacts. The paper highlights the significance of the Belém Health Action Plan (BHAP), which places health more centrally within climate policy. However, major challenges remain, including voluntary implementation, financing gaps, and insufficient accountability mechanisms. We argue that achieving SDG 3 is no longer feasible without integrating climate adaptation and mitigation into health systems and policies.