Alma Ata Anniversary - News Brief # 10 & 11
Nov. 2003
Alma Ata Anniversary - News Brief # 10 & 11
Asia | Middle
East | Europe | The
Americas | Africa
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Alma
Ata Anniversary
September 1978 was a defining
moment in the struggle of the people, especially the poor, of the world for
health. The health decision makers from 131 countries endorsed the Alma Ata
Declaration, a document so much ahead of its time and so radical that the
participants expected resistance to its implementation. Resistance to and
subversion of the primary principles of Alma Ata was so widespread that in
September 2003 as we look back on the last twenty-five years, the gains have
been limited and the health status of the poor around the world continues to
be abysmal. In between, another moment, health for All 2000 came and went
without causing any ripple. There are several reasons why this happened,
some of them being: the reduction of the scope of Primary Health Care
through the concept of selective PHC, neo-liberal economic policies, the
debt crisis, trade imbalances and such on the one hand and the prescription
of the IMF and the World Bank in the form of Structural Adjustment Programs,
on the other.
Conspicuous in its absence has been
political will, either of the implementers or people themselves around the
world. The results are plain to see: vital indicators such as infant
mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, malnutrition levels have
deteriorated around the globe, diseases thought to have been contained or
eradicated such as Leishmaniasis, Leptospirosis, Plague have reappeared.
Malaria and Tuberculosis have returned in virtually untreatable forms, TB
killing 500,000 people per year in India alone, HIV-AIDS, Ebola virus and a
host of other newer diseases have appeared on the scene. Just to reiterate
the point, in Alma Ata itself, since rechristened as Almaty, IMR which was
12 per 1000 live births in 1978, is now 60/1000. A sad but apt commentary on
the state of public health in the world.
The 25th Anniversary, therefore,
does not call for any celebration but rather calls for a deep introspection
on why things have come to such a pretty pass. It is also the moment when
meaningful efforts to reaffirm the principles and practice of PHC that would
make health a reality for those who need it most need to be started and
nurtured. One lesson that has been recognized is that unless people take
charge of their own health, no systems would work.
People’s participation was indeed
one of the bedrocks of the Alma Ata Declaration. People’s Health Movement
of which all of us are a part, is one very hopeful step in that direction.
PHM and its constituents across the globe will mark this year as the Year of
Alma Ata to raise the consciousness of people and decision makers to the
founding principles of Alma Ata and to re-establish the primacy of PHC in
our struggle for equity in health. One hopeful sign is already on the
horizon – Dr. Lee, the new DG of WHO has already started a serious
initiative on primary health care. ( PCJ)
1.
The Alma Ata Declaration was finalized at the Alma Ata
Conference in September 1978. So September 2003
is actually the 25th anniversary month. For purposes
of our local regional and global reflections, we
could focus on 2003 as the year of the anniversary reflection.
2.
The coordinates in the post Alma Ata reflections should
include not only what happened to the Primary Health
Care Strategy at the Global and country levels but
also reflect on special initiatives and programme like
Essential Drugs strategy; the code for Marketing Breast
Milk substitutes; the expanded programmes of
immunization and a series of international initiatives
all the way from the GOBI-FFF, safe motherhood
to RBM, TFI, GAVI, MMV, Global fund for
AIDS, TB, Malaria and others.
3. The Alma Ata Declaration and the Peoples Health Charter
could be used as the framework of analysis. With the changing visions and
roles of international health agencies
like WHO and UNICEF who were co-sponsors
of the Alma Ata meeting; and the growing
development of World Bank as a key health player;
and the effects of neo-liberal economic policies
of liberalization, Globalization and privatization; and evolving international instruments
of
governance like WTO, IPR, GATT etc., The whole primary
health care/community health/peoples health context
has changed drastically and our analysis must
be both historical and contextual. The role of other
actors including NGOs and civil society can also
be discussed.
4. The changing leadership of WHO and UNICEF over the
years including the change in WHO in 2003 must be
added to the analysis and the opportunity used to discuss
not only international health concerns and international
health programmes- initiatives and trends
but perhaps also significantly the type of international
health leadership we have and what we need.
5. With PHA and WSF and similar, visible, international, solidarity
and collectivity, this is also an important year
to reflect on all our own networking, lobbying and
advocacy efforts around the world. Since while it
may be easier in our analysis to focus on WHO/UNICEF/World Bank and national
governments – the NGO-civil/society
and peoples networks will also have to
take the responsibility for not becoming an adequate
countervailing power to this neo-liberal distortion
in the HFA goals. While we too failed the people,
– PHA and PHM at different levels may be the
beginning of a new phase, a new collective commitment
and 2003 must include a critical self reflection
of our own initiatives, campaigns and perspectives
before 2000 AD. We need to build sustainable
mechanisms of functioning so that the momentum
continues and gets more deeply socially rooted
6. The biggest challenge for all of us in
PHM is to ensure that the PH Charter
does not go the same way as the Alma Ata declaration
- forgotten, distorted, selectivised, verticalised, commercialized
and ignored. PHM was meant to be a global challenge
to this global amnesia. We need to evolve a different
strategy this time and use 2003 as a launching pad
for it. As we celebrate the Alma Ata Anniversary, let us also
celebrate the evolution of the People’s Charter for Health.
Two documents that support the struggle for Health for
All, Now.
| The
Alma Ata Anniversary Pack
The PHM
Secretariat has prepared a pack of materials that would make it easy for our constituents to
mark this event. This pack consists of
several papers such as: Why Alma Ata
Anniversary, Some suggestions for the celebration,
The Declaration of Alma Ata- September 1978,
The People’s Charter for Health-December 2000, The
Million Signatures on the Internet to Demand “Health for
All, Now”. Some background papers with
excellent analysis of the problem based
on available empirical data by well known thinkers
and activists such as David Werner, Debabar Banerji
David Sanders and Prem John are also there. This
compilation done by Unnikrishnan, the media coordinator
of PHM, was released in PHM related events
during October 2003 in the form of a booklet titled
“Health for all Now! Revive Alma Ata!’ first in Che and
Espejo Forum in Ecuador followed by Italy, Canada,
Philippines and India.
|
A-Z of ideas for celebration of the Alma Ata
A. DISCUSS the Alma Ata
Declaration and the People’s Charter
for Health
B. SIGN the million signature campaign for Health for All Now
C. TRANSLATE the signature campaign note into your own
language and release a vernacular language website
version
D. REVIEW the primary health care experience in your state
or country and present it at this meeting
E. IDENTIFY case studies of primary health care projects by
government or NGO/civil society initiative in your state
or country and invite project leaders to share their experiences.
F. RELEASE a press statement or media brief for the occasion
and release it through a press conference
G. CELEBRATE your Country’s Health Policy if it has been Primary
Health Care oriented or has tried to reach Health for
All in your country context.
H. HONOUR Primary Health Care workers in
your state or country.
I. ORGANIZE a small exhibition on Alma Ata Declaration principles
and the action points of the People’s Charter for Health.
J. ORGANIZE a convention of Primary Health Care workers and community
level PHC volunteers. Listen to their experiences. Endorse
their work.
K. WRITE articles in bulletins and journals on the Health for All / Primary Health Care and People’s Health Movement
Themes.
L. ORGANIZE a street event, a public march; a candle light vigil; a human chain; a children’s rally; a cycle rally; a
walkathon; a run for health; to express
solidarity with the Health for All Now campaign.
M. ORGANIZE street theatre or folk culture events that express solidarity with the theme through skits and songs and
other forms of cultural expressions [Themes :
Explore the distortions done by the market
economy to the Primary Health Care; celebrate
how the people have resisted these distortions or how
they have taken health in their own hands].
N. ORGANIZE talks in schools on the theme – People’s Health in People’s Hands. Thereby inspiring the next
generation to the Health for All challenges.
O. ORGANIZE a Radio talk on the theme.
P. ORGANIZE a Television show – an interview or a panel discussion
with Primary Health Care activists in your area.
Q. WRITE a letter from your PHM Circle to the Government of your
country (Health Ministry and other related ministries, i.e., women,
child, labour, rural development, environment, etc.,
R. TRANSLATE the Charter into your own language and release it
at the anniversary celebration.
S. DISTRIBUTE the Charter or translated version actively on this
occasion and or present it to key health officials.
T. ORGANIZE a rewriting of the Charter into a simpler local language
version with examples, drawings and case sheet and
release it / distribute it at the meeting to members of the community.
U. ORGANIZE a public signing of the Charter and the Million Signature
Campaign in the town square or town hall or some central point in the
bulletin.
V. ORGANISE Alma Ata Anniversary meetings in Schools of medicine,
nursing schools, health worker schools and sensitise
the next generation of health professionals to the Health
for All Now campaign.
W. ORGANISE a musical evening or cultural programme. Have a
few health and development songs to endorse the HFA campaign.
X. LAUNCH a PHM Circle in your institution / local area / state / country – do so as part of the celebration.
Y. INNOVATE other ideas that are more creative, more collective,
more in solidarity with the theme.
Z. FINALLY, SEND us a report, copy of invitation, programme, poster, photographs, video clippings, press releases,
background paper/s, educational materials or any other handouts about your event (whatever you do for the
Alma Ata Anniversary) – so that we can put it
on the PHM exchange or Website.
|
The Million
signature campaign launched
to demand Health for
All Now! in this Alma Ata Anniversary year is now
available in 2 other international languages namely Italian and German.
Similar efforts can be undertaken
by different countries to translate the website
in their country languages. For further information
and help on this please contact unni@phmovement.org |
Enlarging the
Network:
The validity and
strength of any
movement depend on how far and how wide we are
able to spread (not to speak of how soon and how
much in depth). Every new contact, every new network
brings hope and joy. Here are a few new places
where PHM’s foot print has been implanted:
1. West Africa:
a) A new
country contact established in the Western
African region E-mail: asdebtg@yahoo.fr
b) Sierra Leone
c) Cote D’Ivoire
d) Ghana
2. Southern African
region: Mauritius
3. East and Central
Africa : Congo
4. Europe: Bulgaria
5. South America: Bolivia
6. India: The
states of Jharkhand, Uttaranchal
News from the
Secretariat
1. The new PHM
Global Secretariat in Bangalore, India inaugurated by Mr. Olle Nordberg and
Dr. Qasem Chowdhury:
Mr. Olle Nordberg
from Dag Hammerskjold Foundation, one of the founding networks of the PHM
inaugurated the PHM Global secretariat in Bangalore, India on 19 February
2003. Dr. Qasem Chowdhury, the outgoing coordinator of the PHM Global
secretariat was also present during the time. Besides Dr. Ravi Narayan, the
Coordinator, the secretariat consists of Prasanna Saligram as the
Communications Officer and Srindhi as Secretariat support staff. The PHM
secretariat in Bangalore is hosted by the Community Health Cell. Besides
electronic communication systems, the secretariat also houses a lot of
resource materials from various parts of the world and in various languages
2. Jagdishwar Goburdhan, former Health Minister of Mauritius visited the Secretariat
Mr. Jagdishwar Goburdhan, former health minister of Mauritius who was responsible for
setting up a people responsive “Community Health Fund” in
Mauritius, spent two days at the Secretariat starting July 4 sharing his
experiences in the field of Primary Health Care. Since his visit a new
initiative called “Mouvement Sante Communitaire” (People’s Health
Movement) has taken root there. They are also sending a delegation of 7
people to the International Health Forum, Mumbai, India preceding the World
Social Forum in order to learn the process of Health Forum so that a similar
meeting can be held in Africa.
3. Meeting in
Bangalore of some of the Steering committee members to finalize the proposal
for PHM
Some of the
Steering group members: Zafrullah Chowdhury, Prem John, K. Balasubramaniam
and Mira Shiva met on July 2003 to finalize the proposal for PHM Global
activities.
4. A meeting on the
Traditional systems of medicine (TSM)
30 people -
activists, academics and practitioners people involved in Traditional
systems of Medicine (TSM), met on 29 July 2003. The meeting focused on
bio-piracy involving herbal plants as well as the increase in
commercialization of the traditional systems of medicine. An urgent need to
systematically document these systems of medicine was felt. Also discussed
were WHO’s initiatives in traditional systems, whether they promote
pluralism or hamper it with a new set of regulations? A small PHM- TSM
circle was formed. A TSM workshop at the World Social Forum highlighting
people’s voices in TSM is planned.
5. Funding group
meets in London
Most of you
may not be aware that PHM secretariat (Global) and most of the PHM
activities have so far been running on the pitiful remnants of funds that
were raised for PHA 2000. This is of great concern to all of us. Therefore
the funding group consisting of Andy Rutherford, Prem John, Ravi Narayan,
Olle Nordberg as well as Pamela Zinkin, Dave McCoy, Alifia Chakera, Mike
Rowsen and Udayakumar met in London on 23 and 24 of October 2003 to discuss
the strategies for future funding and to finalise the Proposal.
6. Dialogue with
WHO in Madrid:
From London Ravi
Narayan went to Madrid to participate in the WHO meeting entitled “Future
strategies for Primary Health Care”. This was an opportunity used by PHM
to present people’s perspectives as expressed in the People’s Charter
for Health. This opportunity was also used to present the PHM’s concerns
on WHO’s policies.
7. Planning
Strategy
A three-year
strategy planning exercise has been initiated by the Secretariat through a
series of communications to all members of the Steering Group and the
Secretariat support group. The process is ongoing and will be completed in
October 2003.
8. A communication
strategy
A communication
strategy is being evolved so that all the methods presently being used
including website; PHM exchange; news brief; press releases; publications
and email communications are better focused and directed towards specific
objectives to support the growth of the movement. The strategy evaluation
was stimulated by a thought provoking paper by Andrew Chetley entitled ‘PHM
Communication Matters’. (chetley.a@healthlink.org.uk & webmaster@phmovement.org)
9. PHM – Global
Website
The baton of the
Global web site has been transferred to Prasanna (PHM Communications
Officer) from Nand Wadhwani (PHM - Cost Rica), who was the website
consultant and manager till recently. We hope all of you will actively
participate in telling us of your activities to help us update / upload the
website actively. As a PHM policy, we are now suggesting some standardized
methods of communication regarding events and initiatives (A separate
communication follows).
10. The Global
Health Equity Watch project
The PHM / GEGA /
WEMOS joint initiative for a Global Health Equity Watch report has
progressed well with a detailed framework evolved by Dave McCoy, Mike Rowson
and an informal advisory group through e-group discussion.This has now been
circulated for wider comments.(David.McCoy@lshtm.ac.uk & mikerowson@medact.org).
|
WHO and PHM
After the close interaction at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, May
2003 when we introduced PHM
to the incoming DG, Dr. Lee Jong-wook, PHM received
a letter from him expressing his desire to work
closely with PHM in the coming years. This is good
news indeed! |
News from the Regions
1. SOUTH AFRICA REGION
A South African Alma Ata
Anniversary meeting entitled ‘Twenty Five years after Alma Ata’ was
held end of August 2003 supported by David Sanders and the PHM Circle <lmartin@uwc.ac.za>
2. EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA REGION
Kenya
PHM Kenya Circle was launched on
23rd August 2003 at Mombasa. Participants from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and
Netherlands participated in solidarity. A post launch seminar was held,
attended by 20 participants from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, which chartered
the way forward for PHM Kenya and its collaborators and partners in health (phmkenya@yahoo.com)
Tanzania
Mwajuma has continued to establish
contact with other networks and the Alma Ata Anniversary pack was mailed to
150 addresses in Africa (masaigana@africaonline.co.tz)
Uganda
‘Uganda Coalition for Access to
Essential Medicine’ was
formed to be a stronger voice for advocate and campaign for fair legislation
and access to essential medicine(heps@utlonline.co.ug)
3. MIDDLE EAST / NORTH AFRICA
REGION
Palestine
A regional meeting of PHM contacts
was held on October 17 in Cyprus( jihad@shabaka.net)
Egypt
AHED conducted a one day seminar on
25th year Alma Ata Declaration in Egypt at the end of August 2003. The PH
Charter was distributed / promoted during this meeting (hserag@yahoo.com).
Cyprus :
A PHM Regional meeting was
organized in Aya Napi, Cyprus, on 17-18th of October 2003 to make a year
plan for the region. 13 countries were represented. Documents in Arabic and
English are being prepared <jihad@shabatic.net>
Portugal :
The World Consumer Congress,
facilitated by Consumer International, was held between 17 to 19 October
2003, at Lisbon, Portugal. bala@haiap.org and <carmelita@ciroap.org>
4. INDIA REGION:
The National Working Group of the
Jana Swasthya Abhiyan (PHM India) met in Bangalore on 26-27 July 2003 to
plan for PHM activities and the Alma Ata Anniversary in India.The
discussions included themes such as The Right to Health Care campaign to
be launched by PHM India on 6 September 2003 at Mumbai as part of the
Anniversary campaign; planning the initial framework of the International
Health Forum in Mumbai on 14-15 January 2004. cehatpun@vsnl.com. In August
2003, PHM India held a workshop on ‘Hunger Watch’ in Bhopal. On 5
September 2003, a Workshop for activists from 18 states on the “Right
to Health Care” campaign was organized by PHM India, at Mumbai, as
part of the Alma Ata Anniversary celebration and over 250 people attended
the meeting. On 6th September 2003, a National Public Consultation of PHM
India with the National Human Rights Commission was also held. Testimonies from many states on the
‘Denial of the Right to Health Care’ were
recorded. PHM meetings and workshops have taken place in several states –
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan.
5. SOUTH ASIA REGION:
Bangladesh
PHM Bangladesh Circle management
committee met on 5 June 2003 to review the experience of Bangladesh
participants at PHM Geneva, May 2003 (dorpco@bangla.net, afmimam@dhaka.net
& phmbc@dhaka.net). A National Health
Convention on 25 years of Alma Ata Anniversary was held on 6 September 2003
at Dhaka (dorpco@bangla.net, afmimam@dhaka.net & phmbc@dhaka.net).
Sri Lanka
Prem John of ACHAN/PHM visited
Colombo on 29 August to 1 September 2003 to meet PHM contacts and increase
their involvement in PHM (hariprem@eth.net & prem_john@vsnl.net).
6 . SOUTH EAST ASIA REGION:
Philippines
Health Action Information Network
and Health Link Exchange Worldwide, UK, organized a 6-day Communication for
Advocacy Training workshop in Manila from July 22-26, 2003 <hain_sj@kalusugan.org>.
A forum on 25 years of Primary Health Care was held in
Manila on 12th September 2003
(bdelapaz@uplink.com.ph)
Philippines :
An International Conference on ‘Challenges
in Health work in a Globalized and Terrorized world: Continuing
our Resistance’ was organized in Manila, from 2nd – 10th
November 2003 by the International League of People’s Struggles – Adhoc Health Commission,
PHM Philippines
and IPHC – Philippines (bdelapaz@uplink.com.ph).
7. NORTH AMERICAN REGION:
USA
As a follow up of PHM -USA 8- city tour in March 2003 of
Zafrullah, Ravi and Thelma (PHM South Asian leaders) the
coordination of PHM-USA activities is evolving. Four circles
have been launched - War and Health Circle; Health and
Trade Circle; Environmental Justice Circle; and US Health
Care Access Circle (sarahs@hesperian.org).
A coordinating group has been set up to address different
needs including listserve, relations / monitor; website; conference
coordination; publications; finances and PHM International
relations (sarahs@hesperian.org)
Alma Ata celebrations were organized at the Doctors for
Global Health Annual Meeting at Berkeley - end of July
2003 dghinfo@dghonline.org
Canada :
The Canadian
Conference on International Health on the themes :
The Right to Health influencing the Global Agenda and
How Research, Advocacy and Action can shape the future
was held in Ottawa, 26-29th October 2003. ‘A Right to
Health Care Now Campaign’ from the perspective of PHM
and IPHC was organized by Maria Zunega (maria@iphcglobal.org).
A workshop on ‘Public Private Partnerships’ was organized by Jose Utrera with WEMOS
and
IPHC participation (jose.utrera@wemos.nl). Another Workshop
on “Liberation Medicine and PHM” was organized by
Lanny Smith (vze2x6qm@verizon.net). Abhay Shukla
from PHM India presented a paper on “Right to Health
Care” campaign (cehatpun@vsnl.com)
8. CENTRAL AMERICA, MEXICO & CARIBBEAN
Guatemala
A meeting of PHM
activists took place to share
experiences and to plan action strategies from the
Mexico
A workshop on ‘WTO – Food and Nutritional security : A
Global Concern’ was organized by WEMOS for
delegates on 12th September during the 5th WTO
Ministerial conference at Cancun, 10-14th September 2003 (trade@wemos.nl). Many PHM members
including Mira Shiva and Carmelita Canila attended the Cancun meeting.
Nicaragua
The E-mail list serve called
REDLATINOAMERICANASALUD has been very active.
This list serve is moderated by the IPHC office in
Nicaragua and is open to all Spanish language persons
who attended PHA 2000, as well as others who have
subscribed to the list serve.
Apart from the above, this region has a network called
“The Regional Committee for the Promotion of
Community Health” founded in 1975, which is vital to
PHM Mexico, Central America and the Spanish speaking
Caribbean and is fully involved in PHM and its activities.
Efforts are on in most countries for the Million-Signature
campaign. Regular activities are being carried out in the framework of the 25th Anniversary of Alma
Ata. Activists
document.
Ecuador
An International Primary Health Care Forum in Quito was 2003 (aquizhpe@yahoo.com).
9. SOUTH AMERICAN REGION
Brazil
Sr. Ani, PHM Brazil,
informs us of the PHM campaign Hearing the Voices of the Unheard is going on well, of
special significance in a country affected by the
domination of Banks and Multinationals and where the
vast majority of people do not have computers. PHM is
promoting pamphlets explaining the campaign, adding a
slip for signatures and enclosing a copy of the declaration
of Alma Ata. All these are presented in assemblies –
local and regional meetings as well as individually
among poor communities. Hundreds and thousands of
grass roots folk are signing up.
[Can other countries adopt (adapt) this simple low
cost method to their own cultures and situation? (Acwlepalis@aol.com).
Bolivia
MAP
International, Bolivia, has informed that they are endorsing and promoting the spirit of the People’s
Charter for Health in their educational activities as
well as in the different projects. (mapbol@supernet.com.bo)
10. EUROPEAN REGION
UK
Reaching the 40th
Translation of Charter
A recent list
from Pam Zinkin who is coordinating / tracking
translations of the Charter, brings great news.
Finalised and on
the website –
Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, Danish, English, Farsi,
Finnish, Flemish, French, German, Greek, Hindi,
Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Kannada, Malayalam,
Ndebele, Nepalese, Philippines, Portuguese, Russian, Shona, Sinhalese, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish,
Tamil,
Urdu, Ukrainian. Promised Cambodian, Tonga, Lithuanian,
Norwegian, Welsh, Thai, Dari, Pastun, Creole, Vietnamese,
Welsh and Bulgarian. Also available Audio in
English and in English with Braille titles [If you have done translation into your own language
not in the above list, please let us know
immediately to add to the list. Can we reach
the 50th Mark by the PHA anniversary on 8th
December 2003? (pamzinkin@gn.apc.org and gksavar@citecho.net)]
Russia
A Conference was
held in the Medical Academy of Postgraduate study
in St. Petersburg on Alma Ata - Health for All is
necessary and possible. 300 participants attended including
over 32 social and medical NGOs. The Charter was
published in the Medical Academy Newspaper and a special
Russian edition of Charter distributed to all participants. This
was reported widely in the popular press (simb@comset.net).
The materials of
the conference were also used during the Hearing on
the Medical compulsory insurance reformation at St.
Petersburg legislative assembly (simb@comset.net).
Netherlands
The Women’s
Access to Health Care campaign was launched by
WGNRR in collaboration with a large network of organizations
including PHM on 27 May 2003. In many parts of the
world, there have been local and national launch and related
events (wahc@wgnrr.nl).
Germany
PHM was invited
for a meeting on Genetics Research in Germany to
discus the profound challenges of the new human
genetic technologies and the need for social controls. The
conference was held,October 12-15, in Berlin. It was organized
by the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Institut Mensch,
Ethik und Wissenschaft (in Berlin), and the Center for
Genetics and Society in California (Dr. Sigrid Graumann - graumann@imew.de).
PHM was represented by Gilles de Wildt (gillesdewildt@yahoo.com).
A Seminar on ‘Public,
Private Partnerships – Hand in Hand with
Industry? was organized by BUKO, in Bad Boll, in Germany,
3st October – 2nd November 2003. Panelists will included
Zafar Mirza (Pakistan), Thelma Narayan (India), Jose
Utrera (The Netherlands), Judith Richter, Christiane Fischer
and Andreas Wulf (Germany). This was followed by a
series of smaller meetings in different towns of
Germany, with Zafar Mirza of Pakistan and Thelma
Narayan of India as resource persons.
Switzerland
Dr. Bala and
David Woodward represented HAI and PHM respectively
in the Millennium Development Strategy Task Force
on Access to Medicine Workshop at Geneva in June 2003.
David presented a paper on ‘Medicine and Pharmaceutical Technology
as Public Goods’ (bala@haiap.org and woodwarddavid@hotmail.com).
Bulgaria
An IBFAN linked
Bulgarian NGO called NM – Women and Mothers
against Violence which has more than 1600 members
and volunteers has offered to translate the Charter
into Bulgarian and spread PHM in their country. They
work on protection of mothers and children’s health,
support of breast feeding, infant feeding and trade
issues <ibfanbg@rtsonline.net>.
Italy
A PHM Italy
meeting was held in Bologna, Italy in July 2003
facilitated by AIFO. Dr. Thelma Narayan, PHM India
was a special invitee and resource person in Health.
A discussion with Medical faculty and students of
the University of Bologna was also facilitated by her and
Sunil Deepak of AIFO (sunil.deepak@aifo.it).
The AIFO biennial
conference was held in Rome on 25th and 26th
October 2003. A three member PHM team (Ravi, Maria
and Mwajuma) received a Human Rights Award on
behalf of PHM.
Spain
A WHO Global Meeting on
‘Future Strategic Directions for Primary Health Care’, was organized
in Madrid, Spain, 27- 29th October 2003. PHM was represented by Ravi Narayan,
the Global Coordinator. secretariat@phmovement.org
Switzerland
Forum 7 of the Global
Forum for Health Research, will be held in Geneva from 3rd to 7th December 2003.
PHM participation in many sessions is evolving. (lmartin@uwc.ac.za)
11. AUSTRALIA, NEW
ZEALAND AND PACIFIC REGION
Australia
The Government of South
Australia launched a Revitalised Primary Health Care policy on 12th September
2003. Fran Baum and other PHM colleagues were involved. PHM has sent a
congratulatory message. Fran had also requested PHM friends to send short
messages of how they could support struggles for health in other countries (fran.baum@flinders.edu.au)
Macmillan Education,
Australia, publisher of secondary school textbooks in Melbourne had requested
permission from the PHM Secretariat to reproduce a screen shot of the PHM
Website in their forthcoming book – Achieving Health and Human Development. A
print run of 10,000 copies to be distributed in Australia and New Zealand in
November 2003 is planned. School children will be invited to visit the PHM
website and answer a set of questions about what they find there (Karen Forsythe
- kforsythe@copperleife.com).
12. CHINA REGION
Our efforts to re-start
the process in China have not yet been very successful. Unnikrishnan will be
visiting China shortly for an Action Aid workshop and will try and make some
contacts with PHA-I participants. [Suggestions and volunteers to follow up in
this region are welcome]
| FORTHCOMING
EVENTS
Australia
:
An
International Health Education and Health Promotion Conference
will take place in Melbourne, Australia, in
April 2004. PHM Australian colleagues are exploring
how to organize a PHM event in the Conference. Please
contact the Conference authorities after visiting
the web page < 2004.com.au> and request for nomination
for a scholarship if you are keen to attend. You
will need to send your name, address, email,
age, area
of interest and whether you would present a paper.
Send this information also, urgently, to Fran Baum
at fran.baum@flinders.edu.au
ONWARD
TO MUMBAI
India :
The
International Health Forum in defense of the Health
of the People is being organized by PHM on 14-15th
January 2004 at Mumbai, India. This Forum will
precede the World Social Forum, which will be held
from 16-21st January 2004 at Mumbai. (For further
information see Section B) (ctddsf@vsnl.com)
and (secretariat@phmovement.org)
|
Coordinating
Office
The Coordinates of the new
office:
Mailing Address:
People’s Health Movement
Secretariat (Global)
CHC, # 367, Jakkasandra 1st
Main,
1st Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore – 560 034, India.
E-Mail contact IDs: secretariat@phmovement.org
E-mail pertaining to
communications/website should
be addressed to:
communications@phmovement.org
Telephone numbers are:
+91-80-5128 0009 (Direct
line)
+91-80-552 5372 which
number is also the fax
Gonoshasthaya Kendra, Savar,
Bangladesh will continue
to be in charge of publications, the News Brief
and also the Archives. Dr. Qasem Chowdhury, the
outgoing Coordinator will handle this. He
is at: gksavar@citechco.net.
Dr.
Prem Chandran John helps edit the Newsbrief. He
is at: prem_john@vsnl.net |
|
Coordinating Group of the PHA:
Asian Community Health Action Network (ACHAN);
Consumers International (CI); Dag Hammarskjold Foundation (DHF); Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK);
Health Action International - Asia Pacific (HAIAP); International People’s Health Council (IPHC);
Third World Network (TWN); Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights
(WGNRR)
PHM Secretariat
email: secretariat@phmovement.org |
