OUMAA was created from a simple concern: many systems move fast, but people often need time. Time to think, to pause, and to make sense of what they are feeling before acting. Over time, OUMAA has been shaped by work that looks at how people make decisions in difficult and uncertain situations, especially where fairness, care, and human context matter.
Some of this work has appeared in international journals such as BMJ Global Health, International Health, and the International Journal of Public Health. This section will share reflections, learning, and selected work from across the OUMAA team as the platform continues to evolve.
How should morality play a role in global health? Authors: Sushila Tiwari & Rahul M. Jindal Published: BMJ Global Health, 2025 Summary: In this peer-reviewed commentary, Sushila Tiwari and co-author Rahul Jindal argue that morality must be central to global health practice. They outline how ethical principles such as justice, compassion, human dignity, and inclusivity should guide decision-making, not just technical or operational priorities. The article explains how integrating moral clarity into global health, through education, policy, and practice, can better address inequities faced by marginalized populations worldwide. The piece draws on historical successes (like smallpox eradication) and shortcomings (such as inequitable COVID-19 responses), and makes the case for reshaping global health curricula to prioritize ethical reasoning alongside clinical and technical training.
This is a grassroots campaign that uses postage stamps as symbols of solidarity against antisemitism, discrimination, and baseless hatred in all its forms. People from different backgrounds send in stamps to show support, creating a visible and growing reminder that many individuals choose respect over prejudice. Donations have been made from across the globe, and continue to pour in. What began as a simple idea has grown into a collective movement. Millions of stamps continue to arrive, each one representing a voice that refuses to stay silent. Together, they form a powerful statement about the scale of public support for dignity, inclusion, and accountability in how language and actions are used.
John Snow and the contaminated water of River Ganga at Kumbh Mela in India Authors: Sushila Tiwari, Rahul Jindal & Dileep Mavalankar Published: International Health, 2025 S Summary: This research piece draws parallels between John Snow’s landmark work in controlling cholera in 19th-century London and contemporary public health challenges at India’s Kumbh Mela. Through epidemiological insight and water quality analysis, the article highlights how contaminated water sources at large gatherings can drive outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. By bridging historical public health wisdom with present-day Indian contexts, Tiwari and colleagues emphasize the ongoing relevance of preventive strategies and robust health infrastructure in protecting millions during mass events. Tiwari, S., Jindal, R., & Mavalankar, D. (2025). John Snow and the contaminated water of River Ganga at Kumbh Mela in India. International Health.
Challenges to Achieving Surgical Equity in Slums Authors: Sushila Tiwari & Rahul M. Jindal Published: International Journal of Public Health, 2025 Summary: In this research article, Tiwari and co-author Rahul M. Jindal address the profound disparities in surgical care access within urban slums. They propose establishing “slum surgical health” as a distinct area of study, noting that lack of reliable data, socioeconomic barriers, cultural distrust, and mental health factors compound inequities. The authors describe successful community-based models where trained health workers act as intermediaries—significantly increasing the conversion of unmet surgical needs into treated cases. The article underscores culturally sensitive, locally rooted strategies as essential for improving surgical equity under universal health coverage frameworks.
