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Solidarity, synergy and popular resistance to push the struggle for ‘Health For All’

The People’s Health Assembly-2,  17-22 July, 2005, Cuenca, Ecuador

Cuenca, Ecuador, 15 July 2005: Stage is set for the second People’s Health Assembly (PHA-2). Over 1500 people from over 80 countries are gathering in this city from 17-22 July, 2005.

PHA -2 is organised jointly by the People’s Health Movement and the Frente Nacional por la Salud de los Pueblos de Ecuador (National Front for the People’s Health, Ecuador).

“PHA-2 is happening at a critical time- Unfair trade agreements, unchecked privatisation, militarization and violence is blocking health for the majority of the people worldwide” said Dr. Arturo Quizphe (Ecuador), the co-ordinator of PHA 2.

The assembly will push for recognising the right to health by the governments all over the world and calling for a full stop of the corporate abuse of health.

Solidarity, synergy and resistance form the common theme of the assembly that will bring people from Asia, Africa, Europe, Americas, Australia. Several of them are frontline health workers from rural areas.

“I am here to acquaint myself with people who have the same belief of social justice” said Dr. Noluthando Ford-Ngomane (South Africa).“Working together and solidarity is needed to reduce health inequities to the disadvantaged” she said.

Africa is sending several delegates who are expected to critique the recently held G-8 summit and develop strategies to step up pressure on donor countries.

 “People’s Health Movement is essentially a grass root movement that was born out of the pressing need to take up the issue of health for all” said Dr. Prem John (India). “The movement has been growing by building alliances with a variety of groups and

movements” he said.

The assembly will be represented by people from various walks of life, like students, health workers, trade unionists, researchers, academics, medical professionals and journalists.

“Today, health means different things to different people” said Dr. Hani Serag (Egypt). “In the middle east, conflicts and militarization is one of the biggest blocks in achieving health” he said. A delegation from Palestine is expected to highlight the plight of people and devastation of health care in the Occupied Territories of Palestine. War, conflicts and militarization is a central theme of the assembly.

International launch of the first Global Health Watch Report (GHW), termed the Alternative World Health Report, will be one of the highlights of the Assembly.

“The PHM is striking a balance- between frontline activists and health workers and serious researchers and academics” said Dr. Claudio Shuftan (Vietnam / Mexico). “The launch of the International People’s Health University is a step to bring the rigour of academic research into health activism” he said.

International People’s Health University, launched this week as a build up to the assembly, is being attended by students and faculties from over 40 countries.

PHA 2 will challenge and confront the forces and empires of corporate greed, disastrous policies of the international financial institutions and the inaction of governments and UN institutions.

World Health Organisation is sending their representatives to the assembly. Representatives from several other international NGOs and national NGOs, consumer and environmental groups and others are also expected.

Peoples Health Movement is a coalition of peoples´ organisations, movements, civil society organisations, health professionals, academics, students working towards making HEALTH FOR ALL a reality.
 

PHA-1 took place in Savar, Bangladesh in  December 2000 with 1500 participants from 75 countries. PHA 1 came out with the People’s Charter for Health, the manifesto of the People’s Health Movement. The Charter is considered as the largest consensus document on health.

For media enquiries for PHA-2, please call:       

+593  919 6 17 12 (Unnikrishnan - unnikru@yahoo.com  ) or   

• Gloria (Eng and Spanish): 0 9873 9376 (From abroad : dial +593  9873 9376)
• Fabiola (Spanish) : 0 9453 0115 (From abroad : dial +593  9453 0115 )
• Sanjana / Satya (English):  0 9156 2935  (From abroad : dial +593  9156 2935) (sanjanab@yahoo.com)

www.phmovement.org  and  www.iphcglobal.org