Al-Amn Magazine

global campaign ‘Assume That I Can’ set out to educate on how biases can shape the life of a person with Down syndrome. In the film, actress Madison Tevlin, who has Down syndrome, plays a woman constantly underestimated. For example, a boxing coach doesn’t think she can hit hard, so he doesn’t train her to… so she doesn’t hit hard. Until she breaks the cycle, looks at the viewer, and reframes everything: if all your assumptions apparently become reality, then start assuming that she can. The film is based on the psychological principle of self-fulfilling prophecies, something I learned about in an ‘Intro to Psychology’ course 10 years ago, so hardly a new idea. However, with a powerful script and beautifully executed film, it leverages this concept to improve the mental and emotional health of an entire community. Bravo. Herconomy Exclusive breastfeeding benefits both babies and mothers, both by reducing health risks and supporting development. Yet in Nigeria, rates remain low: 14% below the global average and far from 2030 goals. Many mothers aren’t supported and feel pushed towards formula, which can cost up to 34% of their household income. Herconomy, Nigeria’s leading bank for women, by women, introduced a quietly radical idea: a savings account that offers interest on breastfeeding. The Breastmilk Money account calculates the money not spent on formula and transfers it into savings, which then earns 14.3% interest. As the child grows healthily, so do a woman’s finances. It’s both bold and intuitive. While NGOs have long encouraged breastfeeding, this is the first time a fintech company has entered the conversation. While we don’t like to acknowledge it, motherhood also has a financial side that intersects with the physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing of a mother. Herconomy not only points this out but also empowers women to make educated decisions about their bodies and finances. Human connection Each of these campaigns reminds us that creativity in healthcare isn’t fluff. It’s function. It’s how we take the world of data, drugs, and diagnoses and make it human. Whether it’s a pill code, a tree, a mindset, or a bank account, these ideas fill in the social gaps that medicine alone can’t reach. Here’s to many more collaborations between scientists and us creatives, because healthcare needs both. thedrum.com