Each year on September 4, World Sexual Health Day invites governments, health experts, educators, and individuals to reflect on how sexual health shapes our overall well-being. In 2025, the observance comes with renewed urgency. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations’ Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP) emphasize that sexuality is not only a private matter but also a public health priority, one tied deeply to dignity, equity, and human rights.

The 2025 theme, "Sexual Justice: What Can We Do?", places responsibility in the hands of societies and individuals and challenges us to reimagine a world where sexual health and rights are not privileges but the integral elements of daily health.

Sexual health has traditionally been described by WHO as a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in sexual matters—not just the absence of disease. However, in reality, international public health policies have tended to emphasize risks, infection, and ill effects. This disconnect between definition and practice results in much everyday sexual health issues—pleasure, empowerment, equality—not being included in the discussion.

World Sexual Health Day aims to close that gap. It is not merely about decreasing infection or avoiding unwanted pregnancy but about allowing individuals to have positive, safe, and stigma-free experiences of sexuality.

World Sexual Health Day 2025 Theme: Sexual Justice, Sexual Justice: What Can We Do?

This year's theme is sexual justice, which is present when everyone—regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, or social origin—is empowered, free, and equipped with the means to make informed choices about their bodies and sexual lives. This focus is divided into four main areas:

Sexual Rights: Preventing individuals from discrimination, stigma, and shame, and ensuring there is dignity in all sexual choices.

Sexual and Reproductive Rights: Protecting body autonomy and reproductive freedom.

LGBTQ+ Youth: Respecting the rights, identities, and interests of gender-diverse and sexual-minority youth, who are among the most at-risk populations in the world.

Access to Information: Ensuring sexual health education is accurate, evidence-based, and uncensored.

Cumulatively, these priority areas represent a worldwide commitment to removing obstacles that impede people from realizing complete sexual well-being.

Last year, WHO and HRP pushed forward priority research initiatives that define sexual health and sexual behavior on a global level.

Pleasure-focused communication campaigns: A systematic review of 29 HIV campaigns revealed that emphasizing pleasure—instead of fear or stigma—enhanced knowledge, increased condom use, and stimulated HIV testing. This is a paradigm shift: fun and empowerment are catalysts for safer sex behaviors.

Global research priorities for STIs: WHO had 40 areas for further research, including diagnosis, management, and prevention. These priorities are expected to direct researchers and policymakers in solidifying global STI control as antibiotic resistance makes it more challenging to treat.

Monitoring sexual health outcomes: Instruments such as the Sexual Health Assessment of Practices and Experiences (SHAPE) questionnaire are assisting countries in collecting data on sexual health practices and requirements, for which there is an evidence base to support improving policy. These observations bring a deeper truth into focus: sexual health is not merely preventing illness but promoting rights, empowerment, and pleasure as part of well-being.

Four Pillars of a Public Health Approach to Sexual Wellness

Researchers now propose a four-pillar model that recognizes the entire range of sexuality:

Sexual Health: Focusing on fertility, prevention of sexually transmitted infections (including HIV), prevention of sexual violence, and sexual functioning.

Sexual Pleasure: Identifying consent, safety, trust, and communication as facilitators for satisfaction and well-being.

Sexual Justice: Providing fair, inclusive, and rights-based access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Sexual Well-being: Embracing sexuality as a sign of health equity and a measure of general well-being, not just confining it to risks or dysfunctions.

These pillars in concert move sexual health policy away from a deficit-based approach towards one centered on equity, resilience, and empowerment.

Sexual health is not a specialty concern. It overlaps with human rights, social justice, and even ecological sustainability. To illustrate, the ecological footprint of menstrual hygiene materials has become a compelling concern, tying sexual health to wider environmental discussions. In the same vein, harmful gender norms and violence against women and LGBTQ+ are public health emergencies with spillover consequences to families, communities, and economies.

For countries, investing in sexual health translates to lower costs for health care, avoidance of long-term illness that comes from letting infections go untreated, and healthier, more resilient populations. For human beings, it translates to living with less fear, shame, and obstacles to intimacy and pleasure.

What You Can Do To Make Sexual Wellness Everyday Health?

World Sexual Health Day 2025 is not just about institutional reforms—it’s also about what individuals can do daily to support their own sexual well-being. Experts recommend:

Prioritize Intimacy

Carving out time for intimacy can be as important as scheduling exercise or meals. Reducing distractions and allowing space for relaxation can strengthen desire and connection.

Cultivate a Positive Mindset

Practice sex positivity—embracing that consensual sex is healthy and worth it—deconstructs guilt and shame. This attitude change can enhance enjoyment and emotional connection.

Support Physical Health

Physical activity increases blood flow and endurance, while sufficient sleep balances hormone levels. Both directly influence sexual function and desire.

Use Resources Wisely

From lubricants to medicinally approved aphrodisiacs, small instruments can reduce pain and increase pleasure. Overcoming physical obstacles like vaginal dryness or erectile dysfunction is part of self-care.

Practice Mindfulness

Attentive focus while being intimate allows for connection and increases pleasure. Yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises can reduce distraction and worry and create space for more satisfying experiences.

Sexual health is inseparable from overall well-being. World Sexual Health Day 2025’s focus on Sexual Justice reframes the conversation around rights, equity, and inclusivity, while inviting individuals to integrate sexual wellness into their daily health routines.

By treating sexual health as everyday health through policy, education, and personal practice we move closer to a future where sexuality is experienced with dignity, safety, and joy.

Florida is positioning itself to become the first U.S. state to eliminate all vaccine mandates, a sweeping move that challenges decades of established public health policy. At the center of this shift is Florida’s Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who likened vaccine mandates to “slavery” during a press conference, declaring, “All of them, every last one of them” must go.

If implemented, the decision would remove requirements for children to be immunized against diseases such as polio, measles, mumps, and hepatitis B before attending public school. It’s a proposal that has sparked alarm among medical professionals, educators, and health advocates—not just in Florida but across the nation and internationally.

Vaccine mandates in schools have long been considered a cornerstone of American public health. Since the mid-20th century, requirements for childhood immunizations have dramatically reduced once-devastating illnesses. Polio, which paralyzed thousands of U.S. children annually, is now nearly eradicated thanks to widespread vaccination. The measles vaccine alone is credited with saving millions of lives globally.

Every U.S. state currently requires some form of vaccination for children entering public schools, though most offer exemptions on medical, religious, or personal grounds. Florida, like many others, has traditionally enforced these rules to keep classrooms safe.

What makes Ladapo’s proposal unprecedented is not just its scope—striking down every existing mandate—but its political context. The Covid-19 pandemic shifted vaccination from a largely nonpartisan health measure into a deeply polarized cultural debate. Florida, under Governor Ron DeSantis, became a symbol of resistance to Covid-related restrictions. Now, that skepticism has expanded to encompass all vaccines.

What is The Florida Surgeon General’s Argument?

At the press conference, Ladapo framed his position in moral and religious terms. “Your body is a gift from God,” he said. “Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body?” He went further, calling mandates “immoral” and equating them to forms of control unfit for a free society.

Supporters in the room cheered, but critics point out that his rhetoric dismisses decades of scientific consensus. Mandates, they argue, are not about control but about collective safety.

Opposition From Public Health Experts

Medical professionals across the spectrum have warned of the dangers that would follow a blanket repeal. The World Health Organization estimates vaccines have saved 154 million lives in the last half-century, mostly infants. The CDC reports that 4 million deaths are prevented globally every year by childhood immunizations.

Dr. Debra Houry, who recently resigned from her role as the CDC’s chief medical officer, warned that removing mandates could trigger outbreaks of preventable diseases. She cited last year’s flu season, in which about 270 U.S. children died—90 percent of them unvaccinated. “Vaccines are really important to prevent kids from having these significant diseases,” she told the BBC.

Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, an infectious disease expert at Boston University, echoed those concerns, pointing to Florida’s status as a major travel hub. “People come and go from Florida all over the world,” she said. “An outbreak there is not just Florida’s problem—it can quickly become a global one.”

Political Pushback in Florida

Florida’s Democratic lawmakers have been vocal in their opposition. Representative Anna Eskamani called the plan “reckless and dangerous,” warning that it would create “a public health disaster in the making.”

Educators are also speaking out. The Florida Education Association, which represents more than 120,000 teachers and administrators, condemned the move. Their statement highlighted the contradiction, state leaders claim to want to reduce absenteeism and improve education outcomes, yet weakening vaccination rules risks higher rates of illness and disruption in schools.

A National Divide on Vaccination Policy

Florida is not alone in rethinking vaccine mandates. Idaho, another Republican-led state, relaxed its requirements earlier this year, though it stopped short of a full repeal. Across the country, a growing number of conservative lawmakers are framing vaccines as an issue of personal liberty rather than public obligation.

At the same time, Democratic-led states are doubling down. Governors from Washington, Oregon, and California recently announced a health alliance to coordinate immunization policies, signaling their intent to uphold scientific guidance even as federal policies under the Trump administration face criticism.

This divide points to a future where vaccine policy could vary dramatically depending on geography, leaving some states far more vulnerable to outbreaks than others.

What Are The Global Stakes on Vaccinations?

Public health experts stress that Florida’s decision will not remain confined within its borders. In today’s interconnected world, diseases can spread rapidly across state and national lines. A measles outbreak in Florida, for instance, could impact international travelers or reintroduce the virus into regions that have worked hard to eliminate it.

There are also economic implications. Insurance companies may be less likely to cover immunizations if they are no longer mandated, raising costs for families and leaving vulnerable groups—including pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals—at greater risk.

Joseph Ladapo: Controversial Figure at the Center

Joseph Ladapo himself is no stranger to controversy. Appointed by Governor DeSantis, he has often been criticized by medical organizations for promoting skepticism about Covid vaccines. His latest move aligns with DeSantis’s broader efforts to position Florida as a symbol of resistance to federal health policies.

During his presidential campaign, DeSantis even called for a grand jury to investigate pharmaceutical companies over alleged misrepresentation of vaccine side effects. That rhetoric resonated with some voters but alarmed public health officials who saw it as undermining trust in lifesaving medicine.

Does This Sway The Future of Vaccine Mandates in America?

The trajectory is clear: vaccine policy is no longer a matter of medical consensus but of political identity. If Florida proceeds with its repeal, it will be the first state to take such a sweeping step, setting a precedent others may follow.

For now, the timeline remains uncertain. Some mandates can be rescinded through executive action, but others will require approval from the Republican-led state legislature. Ladapo’s repeated promise, however, leaves little doubt that the state is committed to pursuing the goal.

The debate over vaccine mandates is not new, but never before has a state moved to eliminate them entirely. Florida’s decision has the potential to reshape not only its own health landscape but also the nation’s—and even the world’s.

Critics argue that abandoning mandates risks undoing decades of progress in controlling deadly diseases. Supporters frame it as a victory for personal freedom. Between those two positions lies a stark reality: the viruses themselves remain unchanged, waiting for any lapse in vigilance to reemerge.

Florida’s gamble, if carried through, will test just how much risk society is willing to accept in the name of individual choice.

One of the biggest stars of Hollywood, Bruce Willis, who played roles in iconic movies like Die Hard and The Sixth Sense, has been going through dementia. Diagnosed in the year 2022 with aphasia, a condition that affects your speech, a year later he was diagnosed with the real cause for this loss, which is frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

This type of dementia gradually affects your speech, behavior and cognition. His wife, Emma Hemmings, has been sharing updates about his health and his declining dementia, with his fans and well-wishers. She has also been a strong advocate for FTD awareness as well as caregivers’ care, something that is overlooked a lot.

Also Read: The Next Ozempic? New 4-in-1 Weight Loss Drug Could Treat Obesity, Diabetes, Cancer And Heart Diseases

However, things have not been as well and good as we hoped. Recently, news of Emma having to move the Die-Hard legend to a different home for better dementia care. This news was not well-taken by a lot of people, she says she has been unfairly judged for how she cares for her husband. In a recent Instagram post, she responded to criticism she received after a joint ABC special with her husband, "Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey."

Bruce Willis Dementia Care Home Update

In the special, Emma revealed that the family made the difficult decision to move Bruce into a separate one-story house. He lives there with a full-time care team, while Emma and their two young daughters, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, live in the family's primary residence.

Emma brings the girls to visit Bruce "a lot" for meals and other visits. She explained that the arrangement was made for the girls' benefit. "Bruce would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs," she said.

Why Is Emma Hemmings Facing Backlash?

After the special aired, Emma received criticism from viewers about her choices. On Instagram, she expressed frustration with those who judge caregivers without understanding their situation. "Too often, caregivers are judged quickly and unfairly by those who haven’t lived this journey or stood on the front lines of it," she wrote.

She added that while sharing her story invites opinions, it also creates a connection with other caregivers who understand the challenges of looking after a loved one with dementia. Bruce's daughter, Tallulah Willis, whom he shares with ex-wife Demi Moore, commented on the post, praising Emma and thanking her for all she does for the family.

In her post, Emma also read a passage from her upcoming memoir, The Unexpected Journey, which details the advice she once received from a therapist. The advice highlighted the difference between having an opinion and having an experience, noting that those without the experience "don't get a say, and they definitely don't get a vote."

How Has Dementia Affected Bruce Willis?

Bruce Willis withdrew from acting in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that affects language and communication. In 2023, his family shared that his condition had progressed to FTD, a form of dementia that impacts language and personality but doesn't initially cause memory loss.

Despite the challenges, Emma shared that Bruce "is still very mobile" and in "really great health overall." She emphasized that while his brain is failing him, "he is still very much here." The entire family, including his ex-wife Demi Moore and their three older daughters, has rallied together to support him.

What if a single shot could help you lose weight, lower your risk of diabetes, protect your heart, and even cut your chances of developing certain cancers? That’s the promise scientists at Tufts University are chasing with a new experimental drug. Unlike Ozempic or Wegovy, which rely on one or two hormones, this compound combines four. Early research suggests it could deliver weight loss on par with bariatric surgery—without going under the knife and change how we think about treating obesity and the diseases tied to it.

Despite the popularity of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, these drugs come with side effects—nausea, bone loss, and weight regain—that limit their long-term potential. Now, researchers at Tufts University believe they may have found a more powerful alternative: a single drug that combines four hormones to tackle obesity and, in turn, the cascade of diseases it fuels, including diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

Obesity is not just about excess weight. It is linked to more than 180 conditions ranging from type 2 diabetes and heart disease to certain cancers and liver disorders. According to the World Health Organization, over 650 million adults worldwide live with obesity. In the United States, more than 40% of adults are affected. Treating obesity effectively could ripple across public health, reducing risks of chronic illness and cutting healthcare costs.

That’s what makes the Tufts team’s work so promising. Their “quadruple-action” drug design aims not only to deliver substantial weight loss—up to 30%, on par with bariatric surgery—but also to change how obesity-related conditions are treated at scale.

How Current Weight Loss Drugs Work?

The first wave of modern weight loss drugs works by mimicking hormones released in the gut after a meal. The most prominent of these, GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1), triggers insulin release, lowers blood sugar, and sends signals to the brain that suppress appetite. Ozempic, which is based on GLP-1, has been so effective that the American Diabetes Association now recommends it as a first-line injectable treatment for diabetes.

But GLP-1 drugs have drawbacks. Patients must inject them weekly. Nearly 40% stop after the first month due to intense nausea. Long-term use is associated with bone and muscle loss, and discontinuation often leads to weight regain.

To improve results, drug developers have experimented with combining hormones. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) pairs GLP-1 with GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide), which also promotes satiety but reduces nausea. Retatrutide, still in clinical trials, adds glucagon, which boosts calorie burning and suppresses appetite, offset by the glucose-lowering effects of GLP-1 and GIP. This three-hormone chimera has shown weight loss up to 24%—a significant leap from Ozempic’s 6–15%.

What Makes the New 4-in-1 Drug Different?

The Tufts team, led by chemistry professor Krishna Kumar, decided three wasn’t enough. They added peptide YY (PYY), another gut hormone that reduces appetite and slows digestion, but through different pathways than GLP-1 and GIP. PYY may even play a role in fat burning.

Blending PYY with the other three hormones wasn’t simple—it belongs to a completely different structural class. The researchers fused peptide segments end-to-end, creating a new “tetra-functional” compound that engages four distinct receptors at once. The hope is that this design will deliver more consistent results across diverse patients, many of whom respond differently to existing therapies due to genetic or biological variation.

Bariatric surgery remains the most effective intervention for severe obesity, with patients often losing 30% or more of their body weight and keeping it off long term. But surgery is invasive, expensive, and not accessible to everyone. Current drugs fall short of this benchmark. If the new 4-in-1 therapy delivers weight loss on par with surgery, it could transform obesity treatment by offering comparable results without the risks of an operating table.

Graduate researcher Tristan Dinsmore, a co-author on the Tufts study, explained: “We wanted to bring in PYY to complete the weight control quartet. By hitting four receptors at once, we’re aiming for a more balanced, durable effect.”

Tackles Obesity Diabetes, Cancer and Heart Disease

Obesity rarely comes alone. It drives insulin resistance, raising the risk of type 2 diabetes. It fuels inflammation, which is linked to cancer progression. It strains the heart, worsening conditions like heart failure.

At the recent European Society of Cardiology conference in Madrid, large-scale studies revealed that GLP-1-based drugs reduce the risk of hospitalization or premature death among heart patients by as much as 58%. A study published in JAMA further showed that semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) lowered the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death by 20%, regardless of weight loss achieved.

These drugs are not just cosmetic. They could become a frontline defense against chronic, life-threatening diseases. By adding PYY into the mix, the Tufts candidate drug could amplify these benefits.

Does It Have Any Side Effects?

Side effects remain a stumbling block. For many patients, nausea is so severe that they abandon treatment early. Tufts researchers hope their four-hormone combination will not only boost effectiveness but also improve tolerability. Tirzepatide already demonstrated that blending GLP-1 with GIP reduces nausea; PYY may offer additional relief while protecting muscle and bone mass.

Another challenge is weight regain after stopping treatment. Studies show that weight lost with GLP-1 drugs often creeps back once injections stop. By acting on more pathways simultaneously, the new compound could make weight loss more sustainable, narrowing the gap between drug therapy and surgical intervention.

When Will This New Weight Loss Drug Be Available?

The Tufts research, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, is still in preclinical stages. Clinical trials will be the real test, both for safety and for proving whether the quadruple-action therapy can deliver surgery-level weight loss.

If successful, the drug could be a paradigm shift. More than 15 million American adults roughly 4.5% of the population are already using weight loss medications like Ozempic or Wegovy.

Krishna Kumar and his team emphasize that this isn’t just about shedding pounds. “Obesity is linked to over 180 conditions, from diabetes to cancer,” Kumar noted. “What drives us is the idea that we can design a single drug to treat obesity and simultaneously mitigate the risk of developing a long list of health problems plaguing society.”