PHA-Exchange> Conference in Manila

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From: <bdelapaz at uplink.com.ph>

International  Conference on
Challenges in Health Work in a Globalized and Terrorized World:
Continuing Our Resistance

Manila, Philippines
November 2-10, 2003

Organized by:   International League of People's Struggles - Ad Hoc
                    Health Commission
                People's Health Movement - Philippines
             International People's Health Council - Philippines


Background
The bankruptcy of imperialist globalization is becoming clearer to the
millions of marginalized people. The ever-increasing gap between the
world's richest and world's poorest; the rapidly spreading poverty and
hunger among nations, even the industrialized ones; the swelling
numbers of malnourished children and the resurgence of diseases of
poverty ---these are among the proofs of globalization's inherent faults.

More than ever before, world health is determined by the politics of
monopoly capitalism and has turned it from a social service into a
lucrative source of superprofits. Privatization of health services,
tightening control over health technology and tools of cure thru the
TRIPS and the expanding General Agreement on Trade and Services which
now directly involves health personnel are concrete and real issues to
be addressed.
The dangerous trends towards more aggressive U.S. interventionism and
resurgent militarism in the wake of the September 11 attack need our
critical attention. The new U.S. national security doctrine focusing on
"terrorism" is itself a threat to global security and must be seen also
as a severe public health menace. Many health  workers have often
encountered difficulties in fulfilling their humanitarian function and
have themselves become targets of harassments and killings. More in-depth
analysis and concerted international response need to be undertaken by the
health sector on the Bush government's borderless war on terror and its
implications for the interlinked issues of peace, security, human rights and
its impact on the lives and health of vast numbers of people already
marginalized by globalization.
Certainly, in our own little and big ways, we all have continued to respond
to the health needs of the peoples of the world: delivery of quality health
care services at the grassroots level, advocacy and lobbying for better
people's health, organizing the health sector and helping in the over-all
empowerment of people to chart their own development where health as a right
can truly be realized. However, the challenges confronting us are enormous
but certainly can be overcome.
 It is in this light that the International League of People's
Struggles-ad hoc Health Commission, People's Health Movement-Philippines and
the International People's Health Council-Philippines  organize this timely
and relevant conference to unite health workers worldwide in understanding
these critical issues and confront the challenges in our current health
work. 25 years after the Alma Ata Conference, and with our 30 years of
Community-Based Health Programs in the Philippines, we dare provide the
milieu for our collective reflection.
 Objectives:
 1. to gain a coherent understanding on imperialist globalization in its
various forms and its impact on people's health and people's lives
culled from the different country experiences;
2. to share analysis on geopolitical trends globally in the wake of the
US' borderless  war on terrorism;
3. to draw up the difficulties and successes on how health work and
resistance against imperialist globalization and terrorism are being
done;
4. to promote international advocacy, networking and lobbying against
imperialist globalization and US war of aggression and military
interventionism;
5. to discuss courses of actions and alternatives to the dismal global
health care system
 Program:
 To be held on November 2-10, 2003 in Manila,  the conference is divided
into two parts:
 I. EXPOSURE AND INTEGRATION  PROGRAM (Nov 2-7)
 A five-day exposure and integration with community-based health
Programs (CBHPs) and organized groups from the peasants, fisherfolks,
national Minorities and urban poor where the negative impact of
globalization and US interventionism are most felt.
    Luzon : a) Isabela CBHP - one of the pioneer CBHPs in the Philippines.
Started in 1973, community health workers of predominatly peasant
communities are not only attending to regular primary health care services
but also to enormous social issues impacting heavily on people's health:
Monsanto's BT field testing, massive land conversion from rice to the
exportable cassava plant by the country's biggest landlord, and government's
stubborn contruction of environmentally polluting charcoal plant.
        b) Cordillera Region - learn from the health work of one of the
Philippine's indigenous people's groups, their struggle against the
construction of dams and the disaster brought by the unwarranted mining of
TNCs in the area.
     Visayas:  Cebu/Bohol - Two islands, two different settings, health work
in rural and urban communities. The Visayas Prmary Health Care Services did
a pilot community-based AIDS education, women empowerment and cultural
workshops for children. These are some additions to their regular
community-based health program services.
     Mindanao : Tandag CBHP - Continually neglected and exploited by TNCs,
Mindanao remain impoverished as ever. The "land of promise" has been a
virtual ground for US troops who help clear the region for foreign
investors, especially U.S. under the guise of helping flush out the Abu
Sayaff and other rebels. Tandag, far way from the Abu sayaff lair and the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is a mirror of abject poverty, neglect and
oppression. But on the upside, they boast of highly skilled and organized
health workers sustained by people's efforts.
 II. CONFERENCE PROPER ( November 8-10)at the  Pearl Hotel, Manila
    (just across the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office and US Embassy)
         Tentative Program:
Day 1 -  AM   Opening Ceremonies
              Keynote Addresses:
The Onslaught of Imperialist Globalization and Terrorism on People's Health
-        Congressman Satur Ocampo
o        BAYAN MUNA Party List Representative
o        Member, Congressional Committee on Health
                    Health for All by the Year 2000: the failed
                    Promise and the Challenges before us.
-        Ms. Maria Zuniga
o        International Coordinator, International People's Health Council
               Orientation to the Conference

         PM  Panel Discussion 1 : The Impact of Globalization on
                    People's Health
· Privatization of Health Care: Profit not Service - Grassroots Women
Coalition-Canada
· WTO and TRIPS - Making Drugs More Unaffordable
Dr. K. Bala - Health Action International-Asia-Pacific     (to be confirmed)
· GATS and the further disaster on Public Health
Dr. Pam Zinkin - PHM Europe (to be confirmed)
· Is there Life without IMF/WB - the Cuban Experience.
             Simultaneous Workshops:
· Evolving Privatization Schemes
· Accessibility, Affordability and Appropriateness of Drugs and Health
Technology
· Brain Drain, Brain Gain? The Problems of Massive Migration of Health
Professionals and health Caregivers
· Globalization and Environmental Degradation: New Health Problems
                Evening Cultural Event: Creative Presentations of the
                Exposure Programs
Day 2   AM        Brief Recap
                Plenary Reports of Workshops
Panel Discussion 2 : Health Work and Continuing Resistance in a Terrorized
World
· Afghanistan and Iraq - the 9/11 Aftermath
- Medical Aid for the Third World, Belgium
· Palestine - The Terror and Agony Continues
- to be confirmed
· Philippines - The Second Front for U.S. Aggression    And Military
Interventionism
-        Health Action for Human Rights, Philippines
· U.S. - Resistance from Within the Belly of the Beast
- Dr. Hillel Cohen, International Action Center (to be confirmed)
        PM        Simultaneous workshops: Country sharings on the impact
                Of the US borderless war on terrorism; state terrorism
                And the massive human rights violations; and people's
                Actions.
                Plenary
                FREE EVENING  for video presentations/ caucuses or
                    Special issue discussions
                Drafting of Conference Declaration
Day 3  AM        Brief Recap
                Ratification of Statement
                Action Plan
                Closing Ceremonies
                Press Conference
        PM        Mobilization
                SOLIDARITY NIGHT
Participants:
Leaders / representatives of progressive, anti-privatization,
anti-globalization, anti-war, anti-imperialist health organizations
Representative of NGOs which are active in their country's social
movements
Advocates and those who value supporting people's health issues and
people's opposition to privatization, globalization and wars of
intervention International  Conference on Challenges in Health Work in a
Globalized and Terrorized World
Conference Registration Fee: $250 (to cover hotel accommodation and
conference kits.
Exposure Progam: (Optional)
Luzon area : $200 (to cover land transportation and modest accommodation
during stay)
Visayas area: $250 (to cover airfare, boat fare and modest accommodation)
Mindanao area: $300 (to cover airfare, land transportation
And modest accommodation)
 Manila, Philippines
November 2-10, 2003
 I. PERSONAL INFORMATION
 Name:
__________________________________________________________________

               (Surname)   (First Name)
(M.I.)
Nationality: ______________________________
Occupation/Profession: __________________________________________  Age:
_____
Sex:   Male (   )        Female (   )
Passport No.:  ______________________________  Date of Expiry:
_______________
Mailing Address:
_________________________________________________________
       _________________________________________________________
       _________________________________________________________
E-mail:  ____________________________      Fax:
_____________________________
Tel:  _______________________________________
 II. ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION
 name of
Organization:_____________________________________________________
Nature of Organiation:
_____________________________________________________
    _____________________________________________________
Mailing Address:
_________________________________________________________
       _________________________________________________________
       _________________________________________________________
E-mail:  ____________________________      Fax:
_____________________________
Tel:  _______________________________________
Position in Organization:
___________________________________________________
 For integration: particular area or sector of interest  (peasants,
workers, women, indigenous peoples, etc.)
___________________________________________________
 Please e-mail accomplished form to --- THE CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT
         chd at compass.com.ph
         head at pilnet.com