Saleha Suleman
salehasuleman.bsky.social
Saleha Suleman
@salehasuleman.bsky.social
🔬 public health researcher & lecturer
🎓 health systems & policy
📚 working on equitable healthcare + public participation
🌍 global south perspective
✨ summa cum laude grad
🏃‍♀️ trail explorer
📖 bookworm between research papers
In many of the spaces I've been in, I notice women leading quietly but powerfully. They build systems, mentor teams, & hold communities together. It's made me realise that leadership doesn’t always look like being on stage. Sometimes it’s ensuring the work gets done with care, equity, and vision :)
September 23, 2025 at 12:11 PM
💔 Did you know you can literally die of a broken heart? It’s called Takotsubo syndrome, and it happens when sudden stress or grief makes the heart muscle weaken.

#hearthealth #exerciseismedicine #takotsubo #brokenheartsyndrome #mentalhealth #publichealth #heartbreak #phdecoded
September 16, 2025 at 7:53 PM
August Highlight: Reflections from Design Thinking Week

Last month, I had the privilege of participating in Design Thinking Week, which is an immersive, people-centred innovation sprint where creativity, structure, and empathy come together in the best way.
August 31, 2025 at 7:54 PM
A new study has found that people living in industrialised societies sleep 45 minutes longer and have better sleep efficiency than non-industrialised ones.
August 31, 2025 at 7:49 PM
if I had to guess the type of people climate change was attracted to, I'd probably guess this 😂 would you?

new research shows that men have a higher contribution towards carbon emissions because of how they eat, travel, and live.

#phdecoded #publichealthmatters #carbonemissions #climatechange
July 22, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Almost everyone I know has wondered: 'Am I this way because of nature, or nurture?'

Until now, most research has shown that genes play a bigger role in our behavioural, health, and physical traits.
June 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Science doesn't exist in a vacuum. The questions we ask, the way we interpret data, and the knowledge we prioritise; it's all shaped by our histories, inherent biases, and our lived experiences.
May 27, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Forgot to share this on International Women's Day!

But something that's super important to know - because acknowledging a bias helps everyone involved be more inclusive!
May 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
COULD YOUR DINNER PARALYZE YOU?

So GBS can be dangerous, though most people recover - it mainly gets more worrisome/life threatening if it reaches your breathing muscles 😨
May 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
If you’ve ever felt a tug to follow a different path that better aligns with your purpose, lean into it. Mine changed everything.
May 20, 2025 at 3:39 PM
On Singapore's new therapeutic gardens 😍

They're also not stopping there - Singapore is building these really cool art therapy galleries, flotation treatment centres, and even curative light studios too!

Would you visit these gardens?

#PublicHealth #singapore #mentalhealth #neurodivergent
February 12, 2025 at 10:01 AM
what should we be doing about the #hmpvvirus?

#PublicHealth #GlobalHealth #phdecoded #virus
February 5, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Genuinely so shocked at the discourse around the #hmpvvirus being like #covid and causing another lockdown. #publichealth #phdecoded #fakenews
February 5, 2025 at 8:08 AM
As has become ritual before beginning my teaching semester at the University of the Western Cape, here are some of the most heart-warming snippets of feedback I received last semester:
February 3, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The UK COVID-19 inquiry shared its findings recently, confirming what public health specialists have suspected for a while: dissemination of health information isn't just about the accuracy of the information, but also:
- how it is perceived, &
- trust towards the person(s) relaying the information.
January 24, 2025 at 8:24 AM
I am a big advocate of decolonising health and science, and a feminist too. However, as anyone in the public health space will tell you, one of the hardest things is to find measures that take into account the complexity of human nature.
January 23, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Last year, I was selected to attend the tropEd Network Summer School. Reflecting on my invaluable experience, here are key insights that continue to shape my approach to public health:
January 14, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Stereotypical, often harmful gender expectations lead to negative consequences on both ends. This study shows how expectations of masculinity mean that men are unlikely to visit a hospital unless it is a life-or-death situation. In some cases, that may be too late.

journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
“For a man to go to hospital, then that would be his last option”: A qualitative study exploring men’s experiences, perceptions and healthcare needs in the implementation of Universal Health Coverage ...
The achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) requires equitable access and utilization of healthcare services across all population groups, including men. However, men often face unique barriers...
journals.plos.org
January 13, 2025 at 12:06 PM
My first post for 2025 is to share an achievement I was incredibly proud of towards the end of last year: my first article in The Conversation!
Mental health and motherhood: South Africa now has treatment guidelines, the trick will be to make them work
Mental health needs for pregnant women and mothers with newborn babies are being recognised at last in South Africa.
theconversation.com
January 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
it is truly shocking how many studies are thought to done on " #diverse " or "representative" sample groups, but actually it's just one group of people 😭 here's to changing that in our research and publications! 💪 #scientificresearch #inclusivity #stemfields
December 17, 2024 at 7:23 PM
Reposted by Saleha Suleman
44 countries and 1 territory are now malaria-free, certified by WHO. 🌍💪

In October, #Egypt 🇪🇬 joined the list — a huge public health win for Africa’s 3rd most populous country!

#EndMalaria
December 17, 2024 at 11:01 AM
Reposted by Saleha Suleman
Did you know there’s a site to search for starter packs of people to follow? Built by @mubashariqbal.com

blueskydirectory.com/starter-pack...
Bluesky Starter Packs - Bluesky Directory
Browse a list of Bluesky Starter Packs. Discover and connect with your community on Bluesky
blueskydirectory.com
November 23, 2024 at 9:43 PM
Reposted by Saleha Suleman
People are willing to walk a lot farther when you make it a pleasant walk.
November 24, 2024 at 2:53 AM
Gosh, such an interesting take. In the undergrad course I teach, we talk about how race and gender play a role in perpetuating stereotypes, inequities, and biases in science and healthcare and how they can avoid that as budding scientists.
November 24, 2024 at 4:22 AM