PHM-Exch> PHM Kenya Circle update.

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Erick Otieno Owuor ericotienoss at yahoo.com


  Greetings from Nairobi.
The main objectives of PHM are:-

   - To promote the Health for All goal through an equitable, participatory
   and inter-sectoral movement and as a Rights Issue.
   - To encourage government and other health agencies to ensure universal
   access to quality health care, education and social services according to
   people's needs and not people's ability to pay.
   - To promote the participation of people and people's organisations in
   the formulation, implementation and evaluation of all health and social
   policies and programmes.
   - To promote health along with equity and sustainable development as top
   priorities in local, national and international policy making.
   - To encourage people to develop their own solutions to local health
   problems.
   - To hold accountable local authorities, national governments,
   international organizations and corporations.

 Our activities will not tend to be confrontational; unless need be. The are
lobbying strategies that are put in place that will help us to work in
collaboration with duty bearers in a friendly and efficient way.

I am deeply grateful that at long last, we have established a team
of resource persons (committee members) in Kenya and after a brief
consultation with PHM global coordinators, we felt that your inputs will add
value not only to PHM Kenya, but to our relevant communities as well. I have
copied this message to all stakeholders to share information with one
another for the purpose of highlighting the need for the right to health and
health care campaign across the country. It is not an easy task, I have to
say, but through commitment and determination, we shall make a difference in
this nation. I know that this committee will not be just a name...it will
have  an active attitude!

Inadequate resources may be a challenge, but with whatever little available
resource that we shall receive for the purpose of this campaign work, I hope
we will use it in the right way and make a difference with it. Upon your
requests, Kaplet will be your fiscal manager. It will maintain *transparency
* and *accountability* for whatever resources may be channeled through it.
It is, however,  the PHM Kenya committee members that shall have the
executive powers to approve all resolutions for an action plan and use of
any grants that are strictly meant for PHM Kenya. I hope PHM global
secretariat, campaign coordinator and other Steering Committee members will
assist us.

In history, very well paid people have never brought real change that the
people need. It is volunteers (mostly activists and idealists like us) that
have changed the world. There are things that we can not rely on government
alone to make the *right to health* a reality. How long shall we stand on
the sidelines and watch *diseases of poverty* such as malaria, cholera,
HIV/AIDS and TB devastate our communities? How long shall we stand it to
watch our brothers and sisters be unlawfully evicted from their homes or
land, suffer at displaced people camps in their own country and perish in
drug and substance abuse? *Social health related problems* of this kind *need
social solutions...*.not guns and medicines or lawyers and advocates of high
courts to solve them! The time has come that we must combine our efforts and
move the masses to demand what is rightfully theirs through peaceful means.
Above all, *extreme poverty* must be combated. We have to ensure global
funds for poverty reductions are channeled to those who really need the
funds. It is not easy to fight corruption; because corruption fights back.
We all know that activists and idealists have of late proved to be among the
endangered species in Kenya. But this will not deter us from moving on. We
will apply our muscle on social issues. Let's inject *knowledge* into
people's veins; not drugs!

*Note:* On Sunday August 16 we will hold a strategic planning meeting in
Nairobi from 2:00 pm if the committee so agrees. Please, keep time and
confirm your attendance.

Should you have any comments or questions, please do not hesitate to ask or
to go through the PHM website at: http://www.phmovement.org Also, those that
have not read and or endorsed the *People’s Charter for Health* may do so
at: http://www.phmovement.org/cms/en/resources/charters/peopleshealth

In solidarity.

Erick Otieno Owuor,

Executive Coordinator,

Kamukunji Paralegal Trust (KAPLET) and PHM- Kenya Circle

Nairobi ,
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