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“NO MORE LIES.  NO MORE COMPROMISES!”

PHA-2 to demand “Health for All Now!”

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

Quito, Ecuador, 14 July 2005:

Tired of violations of peoples right to health by corporations and compromises offered by governments, over 1500 people from all over the world are gathering in Cuenca, Ecuador. The second People’s Health Assembly (PHA-2) will be held in Cuenca in Ecuador from 17-22 July, 2005.

PHA-2 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.

PHA-2 presents a unique opportunity for solidarity, synergy and to develop common strategies for future. Delegates are expected from all over the world- Asia, Africa, Europe, America, Australia. The Assembly also provides an opportunity for academic debate, reflection and exchange of experiences. The struggle for health for all is expected to get a big boost.

“The assembly is happening at a time when wars and conflicts and unfair trade agreements that boost profits of corporations (known as `free´ trade agreements) across different regions of the world frequently demolish peoples´ right to health” said Dr. Arturo Quizphe, professor of paediatrics, University of Cuenca and the co-ordinator for the assembly.

“The mass mobilisation is unprecedented” said Dr. Prem John, an organizer of PHA-2 from India.

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 GHW is emerging as an important tool in the fight for global health justice” said Jaime Breilh, Director, of the Centro de Estudios y Asesoría en Salud and a leading epidemiologist.

The report combines reality checks with political analyses and is expected to increase accountability and transparency in the global health arena.

“Health is fundamentally related to issues of land alienation, war and militarization and to the struggles of the indigenous peoples. Numerous plenaries, forums and cultural events taking place over the assembly will reflect this” said Dr. Adolfo Maldonado, the lead researcher on health and environment, Accion Ecologica, Ecuador.

“Our key demand is to put health first. This assembly will galvanise the aspirations of thousands of health workers worldwide who have been struggling to make health for all a reality” said Dr. Unnikrishnan (India), a spokesperson for the PHM and the assembly.

“We 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” he said.

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.

Ongoing PHM campaigns include – “Lets Write Peace”, “Health NOW! NO War! NO WTO!”; “Women's Access to Health”, “Health for All NOW ! Revive Alma Ata”.

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