PHM-Exch> Fwd: Bulletin #3: Reclaiming rights and equity

Fri Jul 2 07:41:29 PDT 2021

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From: Ana Vračar <ana at phmovement.org>
Date: Fri, Jul 2, 2021 at 3:40 PM
Subject: Fwd: Bulletin #3: Reclaiming rights and equity
To: PHM Europe <phm-eu at phmovement.org>

Bulletin #3: Reclaiming rights and equity
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/bulletin-3/>
By People's Health Dispatch – 01 Jul 2021 – View online →
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/bulletin-3/>

This fortnight

Near the end of June, we celebrated the 113th birth anniversary of Salvador
Allende, whose efforts to build a strong public health system in Chile
remain an important contribution in the global struggle for the right to
health. Allende’s idea of a comprehensive health system included accessible
social services such as education and pro-worker legislation, to ensure
holistic well-being of the whole society. The dictature of Pinochet
undermined those ideals and the consequences are strongly felt today as
Chileans demand a complete rehaul of the Constitution: more in our *In Case
You Missed it* section.

As we marked Public Services Day on 23 June, community health workers
across the Global South continued to face problems caused by the
informalization of their work. The People's Health Dispatch reports on
their protests and strikes in India and South Africa, and the importance of
giving them the much-needed recognition in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the world's richest states convened in Cornwall
for a G7 meeting at the beginning of June. The attention of the world was
focused on discussions concerning Covid-19 vaccines. The summit was a
potential turning point for rich countries, who could have chosen to take
steps to address global vaccine inequality by letting go of patents for
Covid-19 products. Quite expectedly, they failed to do so and issued a
declaration full of empty promises. We bring you an analysis.

Two weeks later, delegates from the Third World met at the Summit for
Vaccine Internationalism hosted by the Progressive International. Their
discussions stood in complete contrast to the G7 meeting, as they discussed
solidarity-based alternatives to Big Pharma’s monopoly on vaccines. We
report on the summit and possibilities of building vaccine
internationalism, challenging the ways of the Global North.

At the same time, mainstream media in the Global North has been running a
campaign against Covid-19 vaccines produced in China. BBIBP-CorV-2 and
CoronaVac from Sinovac and Sinopharm, both approved by the World Health
Organization, have been criticized for an alleged lack of efficacy. We
bring an analysis of China's contribution to the global sharing of
vaccines, technology, and know-how, and how it provides a breather for
developing countries that are scrambling for vaccine supplies hoarded by
the West.

Finally, in the second part of our interview with social justice activist
Mark Heywood, we speak about the parallels between the HIV/AIDS and
Covid-19 pandemics, and the lessons to draw from the HIV/AIDS movement.

*People’s Health Dispatch is a fortnightly bulletin published by Peoples
Dispatch, focusing on the politics of health and people’s initiatives for
the right to health, including actions organised by workers. By publishing
news and views on the resistance to commodification of health and
progressive analyses of health politics, and highlighting events in the
Global South, we aim to build a counter-narrative to the corporate media’s
take on this sector.*
------------------------------
Featured articles

*South-south solidarity to challenge vaccine inequity
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/07/01/south-south-solidarity-to-challenge-vaccine-inequity/>*

The Summit for Vaccine Internationalism organized by Progressive
International in June sought to address the pressing issue of global
vaccine inequality and come up with concrete solutions.

*China's vaccine project offers new prospects of global collaboration
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/07/01/chinas-vaccine-project-offers-new-prospects-of-global-collaboration/>*

Vaccines by the Chinese firms Sinopharm and Sinovac are being administered
across the world on terms far more favourable than those of US and UK-based
pharma giants.

*The G7 reality check
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/07/01/the-g7-reality-check/>*

In early June, the leaders of the world’s seven richest countries met in
the UK to discuss global health, climate, and tax issues. Although the
world is still in the midst of a pandemic, their actions leave little hope
— or room — for changes for the better.

*Public Services Day: a focus on community health workers
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/07/01/public-services-day-a-focus-on-community-health-workers/>*

Although they have played a key role for securing access to health care in
epidemic conditions, including the Ebola epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic,
community health workers are still under-recognized and underpaid.

*VIDEO INTERVIEW: Big Pharma continues to brazenly exercise power over
countries
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2021/07/01/mark-heywood-big-pharma-continues-to-brazenly-exercise-power-over-countries/>*

Mark Heywood from the Treatment Action Campaign talks to Kajal Bharadwaj on
how Big Pharma’s regressive role remains unchanged, the dangers of the
rejection of science and the questions posed by public health crises such
as COVID-19.
  <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVCJyI3uMVM>
------------------------------
In case you missed it
Will Neoliberalism Finally End in Chile?
Chile voted for sweeping structural reform and an end to neoliberalism.
It’s a repudiation of Augusto Pinochet and the economic regime he cemented
in the country.
•René Rojas
<https://www.jacobinmag.com/2021/06/rene-rojas-interview-democracy-new-constitution-constituent-assembly-plebiscite-left-chile>
Exponential Spike in Delta COVID-19 Cases in South Africa, Restrictions
Tightened | NewsClick
In 24 hours, 15,036 new cases and 122 deaths were reported from
complications caused by COVID-19, largely attirbuted to Delta variant.
NewsClick•PTI
<https://www.newsclick.in/Exponential-Spike-in-Delta-COVID-19-Cases-in-South-Africa-Restrictions-Tightened>
Hospitals Already Had a Nurse Staffing Crisis. Then Covid-19 Came Along.
Studies have reported a link between staffing shortages and higher rates of
hospital-acquired infections.
The Intercept•Matthew Cunningham-Cook
<https://theintercept.com/2021/06/25/hospitals-nurse-staffing-shortage/>
Maps and data: Tracking COVID-19 and vaccine rollouts
Updated data and maps tracking COVID-19 developments – plus the latest on
vaccine rollouts in humanitarian emergencies.
The New Humanitarian•GENEVA
<https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/maps-and-graphics/2021/coronavirus-humanitarian-update-map-data-vaccine-aid-response>
COVID-19: How India and COVAX failed the South Asian Countries | NewsClick
Countries in South Asia are grappling with domestic vaccine shortages and
only a fraction of their population has been vaccinated till date. As the
threat of new COVID-19 variants looms large, the countries are trying their
best to secure more doses, knocking on every door.
NewsClick•Richa Chintan
<https://www.newsclick.in/COVID-19-India-COVAX-failed-South-Asian-Countries>
Africa’s lost psychiatrists
Many of the continent’s most highly trained mental health professionals
migrate outside Africa. The result, sadly, makes global inequalities in
access to mental health, worse.
•Victor Makanjuola
<https://africasacountry.com/2021/06/africas-lost-psychiatrists>
*People’s Health Dispatch is an initiative of Peoples Dispatch*
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-- 
Ana Vračar
PHM Europe
--
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