Scientific discoveries do not automatically translate into healthier communities. People must also understand the evidence behind health recommendations and have enough confidence in it to act. Addressing that gap is the focus of a new global movement launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen public trust in science.
The initiative, called Together for Science and Health, was launched on November 10, 2026, bringing more than 240 organizations together around a shared commitment to make scientific progress more useful to health and development.
Announcing the movement, WHO said it would concentrate on three priorities: bringing science and society closer, strengthening the use of scientific evidence in health policy decisions, and improving how science is communicated and discussed.
The organization said scientific evidence has contributed to major improvements in health, including vaccines, medicines, disease prevention and responses to disease outbreaks. However, these advances depend partly on whether individuals and communities have confidence in the evidence and support its application.
The initiative comes at a time when rapid technological developments, particularly artificial intelligence, are changing how people access, interpret and share health information. As information becomes easier to circulate, helping the public understand scientific findings and engage with reliable evidence has become an important part of public health communication.
WHO Chief Scientist and Assistant Director-General a.i. for Health Systems, Access and Data, Dr Sylvie Briand, said no single institution, country or community could build and sustain trust alone. She described the movement as a platform for dialogue and collaboration rather than polarization.
The launch, led by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and French President Emmanuel Macron, coincided with World Science Day for Peace and Development. Twelve events were also organized across countries and regions to mark the occasion.
For countries such as Nigeria, where public health communication plays an important role in vaccination, disease prevention and treatment decisions, the movement highlights the value of making scientific information understandable and accessible. However, WHO has not announced a Nigeria-specific programme under the initiative.
The organization is inviting institutions and organizations worldwide to join the movement, contribute their expertise and build partnerships that connect scientific knowledge with better health outcomes.
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