PHA-Exchange> WHA-EVENT Circular letter from CHC

[aviva]

Dear WHO/WHA Circle of Friends and PHA friends

This is the third circular letter on the WHO/WHA events in May
2002.process. to keep you updated on the developments. It is also being
posted on PHA Exchange.

1. First , the week of the PHA event at WHO-WHA 2002 in Geneva is the
week 13-18th May 2002. As of today it will include the following:

a. The Technical Briefing Session at WHO-WHA 2002 on the People’s
Health
Charter is on 17th May 2002 from 12:30 – 01:30 pm. This is under the
auspices of WHO-CSI and we are evolving the PHA agenda and framework of
presentation (write to Ravi Narayan – sochara at vsnl.com if you will be
at
WHO – WHA 2002 and wish to attend)

b.  An informal ‘battery charging’ one day get together and sharing of
post Savar PHA initiatives and processes from all over the world – of
delegates who can make it to WHA-2002 on their own travel grants or
sponsored by NGOs  in official linkage with WHO etc is scheduled for
16th February 2002 at World Council of Churches (Confirm with Manoj
Kurien if you wish to attend

c.  The NGO Forum for Health session in WHO-WHA is on 14th May 2002 and
the theme and panellists will be announced shortly. This is another
opportunity for PHA enthusiasts who are attending WHO-WHA. (Write to
Eric Ram at .. if you would like to attend)

d.  Other events still on the anvil are a PHA solidarity march to WHA
venue or a PHA solidarity rally at a place to be announced; dialogue
meeting with local NGOs; other UN organisations, educational
institutions and networks (write to Eric Ram/ Ravi Narayan with
suggestions)

e. A media strategy with a focus on web, TV, radio and print media and
other elements is being planned and has been posted on the PHA exchange
recently. (write to Unnikrishnan with suggestions)

f. We need short papers on current health issues. The media note
circulated on PHA exchange lists out some of these. Any contributions
will be welcome.

g. So far we have confirmation of participation and presence in Geneva
from Zafarullah, Bala, Prem John, Joel Fernandez, Sunil Deepak, Pam
Zinkin, David Sanders, Ravi and Thelma Narayan, Claudio Schuftan. 
There
must be many more. Do inform immediately. It has been suggested that
participating as member of an NGO in official relations with WHO would
be the easiest entry mode. So do work this out and let us know soon.

h. We have no special grants or projects for advocacy so everyone is
invited to raise his or her own travel grant unless you are already a
panellist in one of the sessions. Locally we are exploring the
possibility of a NGO centre or institution for low-cost accommodation
so
that even if only temporarily there could be a small PHA global
community living together perhaps from 12th to 17th.  Do send us
confirmations if the ideas seems reasonable. Many local PHA friends and
enthusiasts have also offered accommodation. So do write in and let us
know your needs.

i. There are many useful ideas about lobbying from Bala including a
briefing document to make the lobbying more effective. Similarly there
are good ideas from Claudio and David Sanders about a PHA document that
integrates all that is happening all over the world with a summary of
the charter so that the sense of a growing movement is conveyed
proactively. I am suggesting that Bala, David Sanders, Claudio
Schuftan,
Thelma and Pam form a sub group of WHA-WHO circle and work on this
documentation immediately. Any contributions, news, suggestions may be
sent to one of them promptly.

j. We shall send a small registration form in the first week of April.
But till then all responses /ideas/suggestions should be mailed to Ravi
Narayan at CHC India at sochara at vsnl.com or tnarayan at vsnl.com and  to
some of the others as mentioned in specific paragraphs above.

All communications also to CHC India at sochara @vsnl.com should also
be
marked to tnarayan @vsnl.com so that we can continue to coordinate and
respond till the event. Looking forward to hearing promptly specially
from those who can join us in Geneva 13-17th May 2002.

Best wishes

Ravi Narayan
Community Health Advisor. CHC
PHM-WHO/WHA Circle.


PS: The next communication will reach you in the first week of April
with further details. Till then do send us promptly your ideas,
suggestions and confirmations.