20th July 2004
People's Charter on HIV / AIDS released
in Bangkok
This charter which reflecting the voices of
the unheard was released during the XV International AIDS conference
held at Bangkok. You can download the Charter
here.
8th July 2004
PHM Pakistan launched
The Pakistan
chapter of People's Health Movement (PHM) was launched in Islamabad on
Wednesday, July 07th 2004 on to influence the policy-makers
to extend health-care facilities in a cost- affective manner, especially
to women. Dr. Ravi Narayan coordinator of the Global Secretariat of the
PHM and Dr. B. Ekbal, convenor of the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (PHM-India)
had been on a tour to Pakistan to launch the Pakistani Chapter of the
PHM.
28th June 2004
People's Health Assembly - II in
Cuencha, Ecuador
A First Announcement has been made on the People's
Health Assembly - II to be held in Ecuador.
Full Story
26 May, 2004
May 28th - The International Day of action for Women's Health
- WGNRR, a women's health network of PHM calls for action on
" Health Sector Reforms - Hazardous to Women's Health"
Health sector reforms have not led to the positive
outcomes, either in economic terms or in terms of access and quality of
care, anticipated by the reformers. Rather, they reinforce the view that in situations of gross
structural socio-economic inequalities, the application of market principles acts
to reinforce poverty and inequality. Women and marginalized groups
suffer the most.
Full
Story
12th April 2004
PHM Tour of Australia
During the
month of April 2004 PHM members from Asia, Africa and Latin America are
touring Australia popularising PHM in Australia from 20th
April to 4th May 2004. The team includes Dr. Prem John from
India, Ms. Maria Zuniga from Latin America and Ms. Mwajuma Masaigana
from Tanzania, Africa among others. This is on an invitation from PHM
Australia to coincide with an informal seminars / workshops on the South
Australian Primary Health Care policies.
Full
Story
19 Mar, 2004
PHM joins other leading international mass
movements, networks, organisations in HEALTH
NOW! A Campaign supporting global Anti-war march on
March 20th 2004
On 19th March 2004, PHM joins other leading international mass
movements, networks, organisations in HEALTH
NOW! A Campaign supporting global Anti-war march on
March 20th 2004. On 19th March 2004 People's
Health Movement global secretariat in Bangalore India has released a Press
Release on the occasion. Also as part of this campaign individual
organisations within PHM / country circles are holding press conferences
and releasing press releases.
Full Story
09 Mar, 2004
PHM
India (JSA) to hold dialogue with Indian Political Parties
On 12th March 2004, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), PHM India, is holding
a dialogue with the various political parties of India to include,
Health in general and "Right to Health Care" in
particular, in the political manifestos of the Political Parties ahead
of the nationwide elections to be held in April. There will be a
discussion with the political parties along with the panelists and also
followed by a rally demanding "Right to Health Care". You
could have a look at the Policy
Brief published ahead of the meeting. For more
details write to the National Secretariat members Abhay Shukla (cehatpun@vsnl.com),
Vandana Prasad (chaukat@yahoo.com)
or Sarojini (samasaro@vsnl.com).
07 Mar, 2004
Mumbai Declaration released to coincide with
International Women's Day
Over 700 delegates from 44 countries, gathered at the III
International Forum for the Defence of the People’s Health at Mumbai on
14th and 15th of January 2004, debated and explored ways to counter the
increasing and serious threats to health in the early 21st century. Mumbai
declaration is a consensus outcome of the complex response that today’s
health challenges pose.
Full Story
18 Feb 2004
Global Health Equity Watch
(GHEW) launches its
"Global Health Watch" campaign
The Global Health Watch, currently being developed, is planned as a
regular report, that will be based on rigorous analysis and will form a
useful platform for the strengthening of advocacy and campaigns to
promote equitable health for all.
Full Story
22 Jan, 2004
III International Forum for Defence of People’s Health, Mumbai, India, 14 - 15 January 2004
Nearly 700 Activists, Professionals, Academics and artists from
Health as well as non-health backgrounds from about 44 countries
gathered in Mumbai on January 14th and 15th to
participate in the International Forum for Defense of People's Health to
identify and demonstrate that the path to sustainable development and
social and economic justice leading to Health for All does not lie in
the neo-liberal globalisation but in alternative models for
people-centered and self-reliant progress. This event was held as a run
up to the World Social Forum held in Mumbai from 16th to 21st
of January 2004.
Full Story
28 July, 2003
III International Forum for Defence of People’s Health,
Mumbai, India, 14 - 15 January 2004
People’s movements across the world are working to identify and
demonstrate that the path to sustainable development and social and
economic justice does not lie in neo-liberal globalisation but in
alternative models for people-centred and self-reliant progress. The
World Social Forum developed as a response of the growing international
movement questioning the neo-liberal economic policies being pursued in
most countries and imperialist globalisation.
In 2001, 2002 and 2003 the World Social Forum, held in Porto Allegre,
Brazil, has explored and proposed such alternatives, and questioned the
rules of governance and investment being set by the World Economic
Forum. The people’s argument is that Another World IS Possible. It is
an argument based on both vision and reality.
Full story
1 May, 2003
A
Call for Action: Campaign
on Women’s Access to Health
From 2003 to 2005 the Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR)
Coordination Office will coordinate the Women's Access to Health Campaign, in close collaboration with the People's Health Movement
(PHM). The core activities will be centered around, but not restricted to May 28; International Day of Action for Women's Health. The 3-year campaign slogan will be "Health for All - Health for Women". The 3-year core demand is that primary health care be provided for all people and peoples everywhere, taking into account, in theory and practice, women's reproductive and sexual health needs. In 2003 the Campaign's slogan will be directed at national governments: "Governments Take Responsibility for Women's Health". See the background booklet in three languages -
English, French,
Spanish - and a call for action - also in
English, French or
Spanish.
Interested in finding out about or getting involved with the Women's Access to Health Campaign
(WAHC)?
Then contact us at : wahc@wgnrr.nl or visit the WGNRR website
www.wgnrr.org
More information: English
| French
| Spanish
8th April 2003
Stop the war! Let the children of Iraq live.
Urgent Press Release: Bangalore (India)
As the World Health Organisation celebrated World Health Day (April 7th)
on the theme "Healthy Environment for Children" and
called everyone to join WHO in 'promoting healthy environment for
children and make a difference for the future', the Peoples Health
Movement (PHM), a global coalition, calls for an immediate stop to the war
on Iraq and demands " Let the Children of Iraq Live!". PHM also
expresses concern over the failure of the WHO and UNICEF to take the
leadership to campaign against the unjust and immoral war on Iraq.
Full story
24th March
2003
"Boycott US and UK Campaign" -
Drop their shops and STOP THE WAR!
Urgent press Release: Bangalore (India)
"BOYCOTT US AND UK CAMPAIGN" - Drop their shops and STOP THE
WAR! - a global campaign initiated by the People's Health Movement (PHM) on March 20th, is picking up momentum in many countries. The campaign was launched as a tactic to put pressure on the US and UK companies and thus influence their governments to stop the war on Iraq. Today, the campaigners released a second list of three dozen products to their “hit-list”. (On March 20th, while launching the campaign here, they released a list of ten products).
Full story
20th March
2003
"Boycott US and UK Campaign" -
Drop their shops and STOP THE WAR!
Urgent press Release: Bangalore (India)
The People's Health Movement (PHM) today launched "BOYCOTT US AND UK CAMPAIGN" that marks the beginning of a series of global campaigns to stop the American and British War against Iraq.
PHM calls upon its member organizations, health workers and medical professionals and people around the world to contribute individually and collectively to put pressure on the governments of US and UK to STOP THE WAR!
Full story
March 1-16, 2003
PHM Tour in the United States
Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, Dr. Ravi Narayan and Dr. Thelma Narayan will be touring the United States in early March to help build a PHM effort in the United States. Organized by the Hesperian Foundation and Doctors for Global Health, the PHM tour will include meetings, speaking engagements and community events in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, New York, Boston, and Washington D.C.
The Hesperian Foundation (Berkeley, California) and Doctors for Global Health (Atlanta, Georgia) are working to organize a PHM presence in North America. Given our strategic location in the United States, we have been asked to focus our initial organizing on providing networking and promotional support for the various country and regional campaigns of the
PHM, and work to raise consciousness in the United States about the challenges to health around the world posed by globalization.
Globalization is Bad for your Health will be the main theme of the PHM U.S. tour, which will emphasize how the goal of Health for All, has been replaced by the reality of Health for All Who Can Pay in our increasingly globalized economy.
The fledgling PHM-US Circle is also launching a list serve, web site and is planning other activities and tours. If you are a friend of the PHM and living in the United States, please contact us to learn more about the tour and get involved with PHM activities in the US. We need your help!
Contact:
Sarah Shannon sarahs@hesperian.org
Hesperian Foundation
26th January 2003
“Porto Alegre (Brazil) to host the PEOPLE’S HEALTH ASSEMBLY- 2
In July 2004.
People's Health Movement -
International People's Health Council -
ALAMES - Asociacion Latinoamericana de Medicina Social
Health Movements to amplify their fight for health for all now!
Urgent Press Release: Porto Alegre (Brazil)
Porto Alegre, the Brazilian city that has become a venue for pro-justice movements for the past few years through the World Social Forums, is all set to host another global event - the People’s Health Assembly-2 (PHA-2). This was announced here by a cross section of the representatives of the health movement like the People’s Health Movement
(PHM), International People’s Health Council (IPHC) and Asociacion Latinoamericana de Medicina Social
(ALAMES).
PHA-2, scheduled for July 2004, is expected to generate massive mobilisation world wide and will bring hundreds of grass root / village health workers, health activists, medical professionals, leading voluntary agencies, media and other civil society members together to Porto
Alegre. The event will strengthen the health movement worldwide, especially in Latin America and amplify the struggle for Health for all Now!
Full story
20th January 2003
“Health for all is necessary and is possible”
People's Health Movement -
International People's Health Council -
ALAMES - Asociacion Latinoamericana de Medicina Social
Health Movements pledge their solidarity to social movements.
Urgent Press Release:
Porto Alegre (Brazil) -
Health movements from all over the world pledged their unflinching solidarity to the social movements, being galvanised through the World Social Forum
(WSF).
During the inaugural day of the 2nd International Forum for the Advocacy of People’s Health as an Essential Human Need (popularly known as the Health Forum), participants
- varying from health workers, trade unionists, representatives from the Landless People’s Movement, peace activists and
journalists - reiterated their demand for Health for all NOW!
The 2nd Health Forum came down heavily on the neo-liberal policies promoted by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund
(IMF) that has destroyed the public health system in many developing countries. A cross-section of the speakers, representing people-based health movements and other civil society initiatives gave a blow-by-blow account of the negative impacts of
Globalisation, Liberalisation and Privatisation.
Full story
8th January, 2003
People’s Health Movement will observe 2003 as the “Year of Alma
Ata”
“Health for all Now”
Hyderabad (India),
The People’s Health Movement (PHM) has launched a global campaign at the Asian Social Forum to observe 2003 as the Year of Alma Ata.
The year long campaign involves a series of activities to remind governments, UN agencies and others of the key principles and strategies of the WHO’s Alma Ata declaration that promised to deliver Health for All.
25 years since the Alma Ata declaration Health for All by 2000 remains elusive and instead the world’s citizens are subjected to all the negative health impacts of wars, unregulated
globalisation, extreme poverty and discrimination.
Members of the PHM have participated in large numbers at the Asian Social Forum to extend their solidarity to other organizations fighting for a just and better world. The Year of Alma Ata activities began with the launch of the “The Million Signature Campaign- A march on the Internet demanding Health for All Now ! during the ASF meeting. This web-based campaign is being jointly organized by the People's Health Movement and its constituent
organisations, and is being endorsed by ordinary people from various walks of life and
organisations, institutions, people’s associations and others working for a just world.
Full story
5th January, 2003
Million Signatures on the Internet to Demand -
"Health For All Now"
PEOPLE'S HEALTH MOVEMENT and INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE'S HEALTH COUNCIL launches The Million Signature Campaign- A march on the Internet demanding HEALTH FOR ALL NOW !
"In the next 24 hours, over 30,000 children will die from preventable diseases on our planet earth. Today, while the world is writing a collective obituary of the future generation, we know why they are dying; we know who are responsible for these deaths. We know how these deaths can be stopped... Join 'The Million Signature Campaign', - a march demanding health for all."
These are not just statistics, but precious lives that the World Health Organisation promised to save 25 years ago. In 1978, World Health
Organisation, the apex UN body dealing with health, promised Health for all by 2000 through a historic moment, the Alma Ata declaration.
Full story
18 May, 2002
People's Health Movement at the World Health Assembly - 2002
The Peoples Health Movement (PHM) was invited by the World Health Organization to
participate in the first Technical briefing session at the World Health Assembly, organised
by the WHO-Civil Society Initiative and to present the Peoples Health Charter. Over 35
members of PHM attended the World Health Assembly, this year from 13-17th May 2002
and participated in various meetings and lobbying initiatives and also participated in the
technical briefing. The initiative was organised by the WHO/WHA Circle of the
PHM.
On 13th May 2002, the PHM participants attended the special briefing session organised
by WHO-CSI for NGO participants.
Full story
18 May, 2002
Brundtland sets out priorities at annual World Health Assembly
WHO plans to step up its campaigns against poverty-related diseases whilst also intensifying programmes aimed at tackling cardiovascular illnesses, obesity, and other ailments of richer nations, director-general Gro Harlem Brundtland told the annual world health assembly
(WHA) on May 13.
But as Brundtland set out WHO's priorities, activists criticised the agency for doing too little to further its once vaunted goal of health--and hence medicines--for all.
Full story
17th May, 2002
PHM marches on: From Dhaka to Geneva to Porto
Alegre!
The People's Health Movement (PHM) will carry out a series of actions in the coming year to force national governments and international
bodies to put 'Health for All' at the center of their policies.
Delegates from around the world attending a PHM caucus here warned that failure by the World Health Organization to change its current
corporate-friendly health strategies will be met with serious resistance by grassroots health movements all over the world. The PHM
caucus discussed plans to mobilize large numbers of activists to gather in Geneva by May 2003 to hold a People's Health Assembly parallel to
the WHO's official World Health Assembly.
Full story
17th May, 2002
People's Health Movement condemns ongoing attack on civilians in Palestine and the violence in
Gujarat
The delegates of the People's Health Movement (PHM) from Asia, Africa, Americas, Australia and Europe who are attending a PHM caucus at Geneva
(to coincide with the World Health Assembly -13th -17th May 2002) strongly condemn the state-sponsored massacres of civilians in the
occupied territories of Palestine.
The PHM condemns the violence perpetuated against civilians, particularly children and women. This should be considered a crime
against humanity. The health community has been targeted systematically for attack and their humanitarian work obstructed. This constitutes a
grave violation of fundamental humanitarian principles and conventions. PHM also condemns the random suicide attacks carried out against
Israeli civilians and other acts of violence.
Full story
15th May, 2002
People's Health Movement media coverage during WHA 2002 (May 2002)
By spending just 1 cent in every dlrs 10 of their wealth on health aid, rich countries could save millions of lives each year in
poor nations - and boost economic development - Harvard University economist Jeffrey Sachs said Wednesday.
"It's the best investment available in the world bar none," said Sachs, who is in Geneva for the annual meeting of the decision-making
body of the 191-nation World Health Organization (news - web sites).
"Health is essential for economic development - without it you can't achieve economic progress," he told reporters.
Full story
15th May, 2002
Global campaign to be launched: Revive the vision of Alma Ata!
With the 25th anniversary of the Alma Ata declaration on Health for All approaching in 2003, the People’s Health Movement will launch a year long global campaign to revive its vision of a holistic approach to healthcare which addresses the social, economic and political determinants of health.
The campaign will be undertaken in over 92 countries around the world – from where delegates came to attend the first ever People’s Health Assembly in Dhaka, Bangladesh two years ago. A focus of the campaign will be to promote the worldwide adoption of the People’s Charter for Health
(PCH), forged at the Dhaka gathering and which constitutes the largest consensus document on health since the Alma Ata declaration of 1978.
Full story
14th May, 2002
People's Health Movement calls on WHO to START ACTING AND STOP THE
RHETORIC.
WHO-Industry partnership-Who influences Who ?
The People’s Health Movement (PHM) welcomes the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General’s reiteration of her organisation’s ambition to tackle the ‘diseases of poverty’ in her speech to the 55th World Health Assembly but is deeply disappointed that the rhetoric is not backed by meaningful action on the ground.
Indeed the WHO with its selective approach and public-private initiatives for funding healthcare strategies is going back on its commitment towards taking a comprehensive approach on healthcare issues. There is no evidence at all that such public-private initiatives and excessive dependence on the private industry have had any positive impact on the health situation anywhere. Continuation of this strategy by the WHO will only be a case of triumph of empty hope over bitter experience.
Full story
20 October, 2001
New Structure of PHA Formed at International Meeting in Savar, Dhaka
A PHA International Meeting was held from 27 to 30 October 2001, at Gonoshasthya
Kendra in Savar, Dhaka. Ms Pam Zinkin, Maria Zuniga, Andy Rutherford, Andrew
Chetley,
Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Amitava Guha of the PHA International Group, and Dr Qasem
Chowdhury and M Farhad Hossain from PHA Secretariat were present at the meeting.
The meeting agreed plan to enable the development and strengthening of the People’s
Health Movement (PHM). The participants present at the follow-up meeting believe that it
will provide the foundation for the People’s Health Movement. By 2005 the People’s Charter
for Health should be ‘on the table’ and it and related documents, which share positive
people-centered practice should be seen as credible alternatives. The movement is
recognized as the People’s Health Movement as opposed to the People’s Health Assembly.
The People’s Charter for Health should be a guiding document both for the People’s
Health Movement, for a growing number of national governments (not just Ministries of
Health) and parts of the UN institutions, i.e., the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, etc.
Full story
18 May, 2001
PHA PARTICIPATION AT THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY
- meeting between People’s Health Assembly representatives and WHO DG
A meeting between the representatives of the People’s Health Assembly and the WHO
Director-General Ms Gro Harlem Brundtland was held on 18 May 2001 on the occasion of
the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. Zafrullah Chowdhury, Mira Shiva, Pam
Zinkin, Maria Zuniga and Mike Rowson were present there on behalf of the PHA. Ms Gro
Harlem Brundtland, David Nabarro (Chef de Cabinet), Anarfi Asmoah-Baah (Head of External
Relations) and Eva Wallstam (Director of new civil society initiative) were present for WHO.
Maria Zuniga opened the meeting by thanking the WHO DG for agreeing to meet the representatives
of the PHA. Maria commented positively about the Civil Society Initiative aimed
at improving WHO’s relationships with NGOs and other civil society actors. DG said that
she had initiated this project in order to scale up and systematise WHO’s response to
NGOs.
Full story
Aftermath of 11 September, 2001
|
Aftermath of 11 September 2001
The tragic events of 11 September have left the world in shock, teetering on the edge of a
global confrontation. People all over the world are grieving as the result of a loss of loved ones. Many more now live in terror, wondering
what will happen next.
The PH Movement joins with many other voices around the world to call for a time of reflection
and restraint in working through this tragedy.
In doing so, we reaffirm our commitment to a world that respects, appreciates and celebrates all life and diversity.
We have drawn out some messages from the People's Charter for Health that touch on the issues raised by this situation and invite people to look at these, and to
share their views. Please click on the line below.
|
Full story
British development agencies call for restraint
Fourteen leading British charities and aid organisations have today joined in a call
for the United States and its allies to show restraint in responding to the terrorist attacks in the United States.
In their statement, NGOs express their horror at the attacks. But they warn
against a "descent into a spiral of violence" if military retaliation causes the deaths of many more innocent people. "Thousands of
innocent people have died in the United States. We must now make sure that even more innocent lives are not lost", the charities say.
They urge the US and its allies to assess carefully the potential impact any proposed military action might have on "the poor, the innocent and the
voiceless". It is imperative, they say, "that hatred does not become the order of the day".
The 14 agencies are: Christian Aid, ActionAid, Amnesty International UK, CAFOD, Catholic Institute of International Relations, Oxfam
GB, Refugee Council, Saferworld, Save the Children UK, World Development Movement, Voluntary Service Overseas, Children's
Aid Direct, Concern and Tearfund.
Full story
Medact calls for development not destruction
As an organisation committed to non-violent resolution of
conflict, Medact regrets the use of military force in response to the attacks on New York and
Washington of 11 September.
These were terrible crimes against humanity, and the instigators must be duly tried before an appropriate court of law. However, we fear that the bombing of
Afghanistan will delay rather than promote bringing those responsible to justice. The attacks will claim more lives, and whether these are Taliban
fighters or civilians, they will be regarded as martyrs and their deaths will result in more terrorism. In the words of Richard Horton, Editor of the Lancet
(6 October) 'Principles of harm reduction are more realistic than false notions of a war on terrorism.'
Afghanistan is on the verge of a massive humanitarian crisis. The attacks could turn this into a worse disaster, and as such could be regarded as a
breach of international law. Aid agencies state that air-drops of food will be ineffective.
Military action has not been specifically approved by the UN Security Council. We call for an immediate end to military action and a massive aid programme to
prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from cold and starvation. International co-operation should be capable of apprehending Osama bin Laden
and bringing him and others to justice.
Like Richard Horton we conclude that 'Attacking hunger, disease, poverty and social exclusion might do more good than military action. Global security will
only be achieved by building strong and stable societies. Health is an undervalued measure of our global security.'
