PHM-Exch> Meetings aim to address root causes of poor health

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Bridget Lloyd <blloyd at phmovement.org>


*Meetings aim to address root causes of poor health - *04.07.2012

Anso Thom

http://www.health-e.org.za/news/article.php?uid=20033609
 [image: text] *CAPE TOWN – Health and social justice activists as well as
health ministers and key policy makers from across the world will meet in
Cape Town this week to address the drivers of inequity which fundamentally
impact on the health of the poor.*

Despite unprecedented global wealth the world is experiencing a crisis of
economic instability, increasing inequality and environmental degradation.

Two major meetings will draw together various role players from South
Africa and the rest of the world to discuss the issues that are fundamental
to the planet and to the country’s health and future development, and plan
actions.

The South Africa and National Health Insurance-focused National Health
Assembly (NHA) kicks off on Thursday and will end on Friday when Health
Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi opens the global People's Health Assembly
(PHA).

The third PHA is described as “an assembly for and by people from around
the world”.

The first PHA was held in Savar, Bangladesh in 2000. More than 1 500 people
from around the world drew up and endorsed The People’s Charter for Health,
the PHM’s founding document. The second PHA was held in Cuenca, Ecuador in
2005.

“The PHA provides a space for strengthening solidarity, sharing
experiences, mutual learning and joint strategising for future actions at
an international and global level,” the PHM said.

Around 1 200 participants from across the globe are expected to attend the
Assembly, particularly from low and middle-income countries.

The main themes at this week’s PHA include the global political and
economic context of health; social and physical environments that destroy
or promote health; and universal coverage and equity in comprehensive and
integrated health systems

The NHA on Thursday and Friday will focus on South Africa, which faces a
health crisis with its quadruple burden of disease and its fragmented and
dysfunctional health system.

For a country that boasts the highest GDP on the continent, it has poor
health indicators and faces massive inequalities in access to health care.

The HIV/AIDS & TB epidemics, a growing burden of non-communicable diseases,
and high rates of injuries and fatalities impose a heavy burden of disease
on a fragmented and dysfunctional health system.

“Both the private and public sectors are themselves in crisis and
essentially unsustainable, and current government initiatives to transform
health care delivery are to be welcomed”, the PHM said in a statement.

“The twin keys to a transformation that meets the health and health care
needs of all are the National Health Insurance scheme (NHI) and the
Reengineering of Primary Health Care (PHC),” they added.

The NHA will bring together government representatives, community
organisations, trade unions, social networks, individuals and community
health workers with health activists, civil society organisations,
academics, and health professionals from across South Africa.
The University of the Western Cape will be the venue for the meetings with
grassroots activists from 60 countries attending. The PHA ends on
Wednesday.

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