Health Workers Under Attack

Dora María Téllez, Nicaragua -

Dora María Téllez, Nicaragua

Political prisoners banished from Nicaragua Early on the morning of February 9, 2023, 222 political prisoners, including former health minister Dora Maria Téllez, were removed from their cells or house arrest and were concentrated in an undisclosed place where they were informed of the decision of the Nicaraguan government to banish them to the United States. They were escorted to the international airport where a chartered plane took them to Washington, DC.

Zara Alvarez, The Philippines -

Zara Alvarez, The Philippines

1. Who is Zara Alvarez? 

Zara Alvarez (March 25, 1981) was a human rights leader and defender, a health activist, and the former education director of the human rights alliance Karapatan [i], well known for her steadfast commitment to supporting the struggles of farmers, agricultural workers, and other marginalized sectors in her home province of Negros.

Shatha Odeh, Palestine -

Shatha Odeh, Palestine


*Update of Shatha Odeh as of (June 3, 2022) 
After spending almost a year in illegal detention, Ms. Shatha Odeh was released to her family on June 3, 2022 (IAHP, 2021). She was given a 5-year suspended sentence, on the condition that she would not provide health services to people, and a USD 9.000 fine. Because of this, Ms. Odeh can no longer hold the position of director at the Health Work Committees.