PHM-Exch> [PHM News] Reflections form the International People's Health University (IPHU) taking place in Greece at this moment!

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: PHM Global Secretariat <globalsecretariat at phmovement.org>


PHM health activists have gathered in Thessaloniki, Greece, for the
International Health Peoples University -  The Struggle for Health.

The course participants have traveled from over 20 countries, as far
reaching as Brazil, Nepal and Uganda. The first day was an opportunity to
meet the other participants and form an idea of what the PHM and IPHU means
for each person. Tasnim, a physician and public health specialist working
for the World Health Organisation in Palestine, left Ramalah on Thursday to
reach Greece for Saturday. She hopes the course will provide "a new
approach to making real sustainable change". Others see the PHM as a way to
"move and work outside the traditional networks of academic or
institutional forms" and a way to "bring the Alma Ata Declaration to life".

[image: Inline image 2][image: Inline image 3][image: Inline image 1]

The decision to come to Greece was not accidental- Greece is bearing the
brunt of the global economic crisis. Since 2007 the Greek GDP has fallen
year on year with devastating impacts on health. 30% of the Greek
population is without health insurance and austerity has massive
implications on the health system and the social determinants of health.

As the week goes on, participants will be experiencing the Greek struggle
and see ways that the PHM in Greece is mounting solidarity and resistance.

The take-home message for today has been one from Amit Semgupta's
presentation about the Peoples Health
Charter<http://www.phmovement.org/en/resources/charters/peopleshealth>,
where he outlined the process through which PHM aims to achieve its
outcomes:

[image: Inline image 4]

EDUCATE! more people about health issues;
MOBILISE! people under different organisations, banners and slogans;
ORGANISE! Work as a body of people and as a community of believers in...
CHANGE! and make our voices heard.

*Participants are posting daily interviews and reflection on their IPHU - *
*BLOG* <http://www.phmovement.org/en/IPHU-Thessaloniki>* , you can follow
their activities on the** Facebook page
*<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peoples-Health-Movement/228820500472434>*and
via #phmovement.*


--
Global Secretariat
People's Health Movement (PHM)
Email: globalsecretariat at phmovement.org
Web: www.phmovement.org
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