PHA-Exchange> (no subject)

[Qasem Chowdhury]

PHM Secretariat Shift

At the International PHM Steering Group Meeting held at Gonoshasthya Kendra 
(GK) Savar, Bangladesh, from 20-22nd November
2002, it was decided to shift the focal point of the PHM Secretariat from 
GK, Savar, Bangladesh to Community Health Cell (CHC),
Bangalore, India, over the next few weeks.

This shift will take place over a transitional period of three months (not 
later than 31st March 2003) starting from 1st of January 2003.
Dr. Qasem Chowdhury  the outgoing coordinator of the Secretariat will 
gradually hand over to Dr. Ravi Narayan, the incoming
coordinator over this transitional phase.  During this time December 2002 
till March 2003 both gksavar at citecho.net and
sochara at vsnl.com will be the email contacts of the PHM Secretariat.

During this Steering Committee all aspects of the Secretariat including the 
shift were discussed.  These included the period, method
of selection, location (all to be decided at Steering Committee meetings); 
the functions (planning, management, communications,
linkages, monitoring, evaluation and coordination); responsibilities 
(including project implementation, reporting to members, funders
and facilitators and financial management); criteria for selection 
(including experience both national and international; identification
with movement;  administrative and networking capacity, availability of 
senior full time professionals; and legitimacy  legal and
organisational support); pre-requisites (including institutional support, 
minimum infrastructure, human resource availability; legal
NGO status; financial management capacity).  The decision to shift the 
Secretariat from GK-Savar to CHC-Bangalore was taken
after considering all these considerations.

The Secretariat will now function under the newly evolving PHM Steering 
Group which includes representatives of core group
networks and regional coordinators.  A small secretarial support group will 
also shoulder different responsibilities from different
llocations.  GK-Savar will continue to be an active member of this support 
group especially continuing the publications, news briefs
and archival responsibilities.

The shift to CHC-Bangalore had been earlier endorsed by PHM India at its 
meeting on 15th July 2002 in Bhopal.  An International link
circle in India was formed consisting of Drs. Ekbal, Mira Shiva, Mohan Rao 
and Amit Sengupta who will support Dr. Ravi Narayan of
CHC in this new responsibility as coordinator of the global secretariat. 
Dr.Ravi will be the convener of this circle in India.

All correspondence to PHM Secretarial and coordinator may be marked to Dr. 
Qasem Chowdhury (gksavar at citecho.net) and Dr.
Ravi Narayan (sochara at vsnl.com) during this transitional phase.

Address of New PHM Secretariat:

Dr. Ravi Narayan
Community Health Cell
367 Srinivasa Nilaya, Jakkasandra 1st.  Main,
1st. Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore 560 034
India    Tel.: 91-80-5531518/ 5525372
Fax: 91-80-5525372     E-mail: sochara at vsnl.com
Website: www.sochara.com


Qasem Chowdhury
Out going Coordinator
PHM Secretriat