PHM-Exch> imaxi: An opportunity we can't afford to miss

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: <access at imaxi.org>
Date: 27 October 2011 12:34




During the last few weeks we've been watching two lines of march coming
together. With one arriving from the top and the other from the bottom, a
unique opportunity to advance the rights of people to decent health care
has developed.

In Rio de Janeiro, the WHO brought together a few hundred Ministers, UN
agencies and health experts  to discuss the Social Determinants of Health
(SDOH). They spent Oct.19-21, speaking about the great inequities in health
around the world. Two finely worded Declarations came out of this World
Conference - one from the Ministers / WHO and another 'alternative' from
the Peoples Health Movement. Unfortunately, neither have many connections
with the communities most affected by health inequities and neither
bothered to consult before the meeting or enable the participation of the
community during the Conference. Yet although these two Rio Declarations
are mostly noble but empty words, they may serve to remind the signatories
that they said they would act.

While the WHO High-Levelers were holding their 5-Star meeting, a few
patients and frontline health workers from the Bronx (New York) began
raising their voices within the new 'Occupy Wall Street' movement.
Connecting the health conditions and services in the community with the
growing inequities of society, the term "OccupyHealthCare" began to
circulate on social media including Twitter, Facebook and blogs. Quickly, a
few people in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific realized that
there are similarities and common cause between their communities, from the
Bronx to Borneo. The social determinants of health are now beginning to be
discussed by those around the world that live with the realities that the
WHO and Ministers in Rio were talking about, and making Declarations on.

This is an opportunity that should be seized. Together and globally.
Perhaps never before has there been such a chance to spark a broad based,
diverse movement of right to health advocates and community activists
around the world. Crossing over the silos of specific diseases and health
programs, bridging the gap between the North and South, 'Occupy HealthCare'
is a term that can unite communities wherever there is hunger, poverty,
discrimination and other determinants of poor health. We all should get
involved and participate. OccupyHealthCare is a great first step forward,
together.

http://www.imaxi.org/content/opportunity-we-cant-afford-miss
Twitter Search #OccupyHealthCare #SDOH
- - - -
IMAXI Cooperative
Kannur, Kerala, India
http://www.imaxi.org
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