PHM-Exch> Fwd: Bulletin #40: Right to health remains elusive as world marks Human Rights Day

[Health PD]

This fortnight The world marked another Human Rights Day on January 10.
Even on this day, thousands of people around of world saw their right to
health denied and attacked. In some places, this happened because of rising
inequalities and the impossibility to access essential necessities,
including food. This was particularly true in Africa: in Data speaks, we
look at the changes in hunger and malnutrition indicators in sub-Saharan
Africa as reported by the WHO. The right to health found itself

Bulletin #40: Right to health remains elusive as world marks Human Rights
Day <https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/bulletin-40/>
By People's Health Dispatch – 15 Dec 2022 – View online →
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/bulletin-40/>

This fortnight

The world marked another Human Rights Day on January 10. Even on this day,
thousands of people around of world saw their right to health denied and
attacked. In some places, this happened because of rising inequalities and
the impossibility to access essential necessities, including food. This was
particularly true in Africa: in *Data speaks,* we look at the changes in
hunger and malnutrition indicators in sub-Saharan Africa as reported by the
WHO.

The right to health found itself under attack as health workers and
activists were targeted by oppressive governments and occupation forces.
The organization Viva Salud works <https://www.vivasalud.be/en/notatarget/>with
the human rights defender who have been experiencing this kind of
repression. In this issue, we bring insights from their partners in
the Democratic
Republic of the Congo
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/12/12/violence-against-health-workers-in-the-drc-continues/>,
the Philippines
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/12/11/as-long-as-we-are-here-we-will-keep-fighting-filipino-health-brave-repression/>,
and Palestine
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/12/11/israeli-repression-harms-palestinian-health-as-world-marks-human-rights-day/>
.

While health activism and healthcare delivery are jeopardized by conflicts
and oppression, health systems struggle with unforeseen disease outbreaks
and obstacles in access to medicines. The cholera outbreak in Lebanon
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/12/13/cholera-outbreak-a-warning-to-strengthen-health-and-wash-standards-in-lebanon/>prompted
a competent response by the Ministry of Health and health organizations. It
was also a warning to strengthen health, water, and sanitation
infrastructure.

In Brazil
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/12/15/pharma-companies-attempt-to-overturn-brazilian-supreme-courts-historic-decision-on-patents/>,
an important decision by the Supreme Court which limits the duration of
patents and protects the people’s right to health is being threatened by
Big Pharma. Health organizations are preparing to counter the attack,
calling for Brazil to become an inspiration to other countries when it
comes to putting people's health over private profit.

Health workers continue to mobilize in different countries. Primary health
care doctors in Madrid
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/12/12/for-madrids-health-workers-the-strike-for-better-conditions-is-about-the-spirit-of-primary-care/>are
now in the third week of strike, while nurses in the National Health Service
<https://youtu.be/m4-yminL_SY> in Wales, Northern Ireland and England just
launched their biggest industrial action ever.

*The next issue of the People's Health Dispatch will be published in the
week of January 2, 2023*
------------------------------
Featured articles

*Pharma companies attempt to overturn Brazilian Supreme Court’s historic
decision on patents
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/12/15/pharma-companies-attempt-to-overturn-brazilian-supreme-courts-historic-decision-on-patents/>*

Pharmaceutical companies are trying to undermine a decision of the
Brazilian Supreme Court from 2021 which puts health ahead of private profit

*Cholera outbreak a warning to strengthen health and WASH standards in
Lebanon
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/12/13/cholera-outbreak-a-warning-to-strengthen-health-and-wash-standards-in-lebanon/>*

As the number of new cholera cases in Lebanon stagnates, health workers and
activists call for the outbreak to be taken as a warning to increase
preparedness ahead of future flare ups

*Violence against health workers in the DRC continues
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/12/12/violence-against-health-workers-in-the-drc-continues/>*

The escalating armed conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC) is exacerbating the humanitarian and health situation in the
region

*As long as we are here, we will keep fighting: Filipino health activists
brave repression
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/12/11/as-long-as-we-are-here-we-will-keep-fighting-filipino-health-brave-repression/>*

Following the election of Bongbong Marcos as president of the Philippines,
health activists remain worried about the impact his presidency might have
on the status of human rights in the country

*For Madrid’s health workers, the strike for better conditions is about the
spirit of primary care
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/12/12/for-madrids-health-workers-the-strike-for-better-conditions-is-about-the-spirit-of-primary-care/>*

Primary health care physicians in the Madrid region have been on strike
since November 21, fighting for a higher budget allocation for primary
health care and a better health system for all
------------------------------

*Video: Nurses in UK's public health system NHS start historic strike*
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4-yminL_SY>

NHS nurses across UK voted to take this strike action in their fight for
fair pay and safer working conditions. On December 15 and 20, 100,000
nurses are set to walk off their jobs across England, Wales, and Northern
Ireland
  <https://youtu.be/m4-yminL_SY>
------------------------------
Short reads

*Israeli repression harms Palestinian health as world marks Human Rights
Day
<https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/12/11/israeli-repression-harms-palestinian-health-as-world-marks-human-rights-day/>*

Israel is targeting health and social organizations in Palestine and
deliberately disrupting their work. The impact on the health of
Palestinians is enormous
------------------------------
Data speaks

*Hunger in Africa continues to grow: Atlas of African Health Statistics*

Hunger and malnutrition have been on the rise all over the world. In 2021,
there were 150 million more hungry people than in 2019. The situation
remains particularly bad in Africa, where more than 20 percent of the
population was facing hunger last year, according to a new report
<https://aho.afro.who.int/atlas-context/af>by the World Health Organization
(WHO) African Region.

Africa recorded the highest prevalence of undernourishment among all
regions. In 2020, 20.83 percent of the population in East, West, and
Southern Africa was undernourished, compared to 8.41 percent in WHO’s
Middle East and North Africa region, and 2.52 percent in the European
Union. New data indicates that undernourishment in Africa rose even more
the following year,  reaching 21 percent in 2021.
Source: Atlas of African Health Statistics 2022: Health situation analysis
of the WHO African Region. Brazzaville: WHO Regional Office for Africa;
2022.

Sub-Saharan Africa was also the region facing the biggest increase in food
insecurity since 2015. The prevalence of food insecurity in this part of
the continent was double the global average. Data from the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows that food insecurity in the region
rose steadily between 2015 and 2020. In 2020, 60 percent of the population
in sub-Saharan Africa was undernourished. That means that one quarter of
the population of Africa - 346 million people - was facing the consequences
of a food crisis as they were living through the first year of the COVID-19
pandemic.

*Prevalence of food insecurity in the WHO African Region, 2020, FAO*
Source: Atlas of African Health Statistics 2022: Health situation analysis
of the WHO African Region. Brazzaville: WHO Regional Office for Africa;
2022.
------------------------------
In case you missed it
Around the World, Nurses are on the Frontline of the Fightback
Nurses provide some of the most vital health and care services in our
society. This past year has seen several PSI affiliates representing nurses
take industrial action. The action looks only set to continue into 2023-
until governments and employers listen to their demands, nurses will
continue to…
Public Services International The global union federation of workers in
public services•Baba Aye
<https://publicservices.international/resources/news/around-the-world-nurses-are-on-the-frontline-of-the-fightback?id=13552&lang=en>
Meghalaya: Salaries of Nurses and Grade IV Workers Paid After Six Months |
NewsClick
The employees who were not paid for months said they struggled to manage
their expenses without their salaries, with some complaining that they have
not been paid since July 2022.
Newsclick•<a href=”/taxonomy/term/7554″ hreflang=“en”>Newsclick Report</a>
<https://www.newsclick.in/Meghalaya-Salaries-Nurses-Grade-IV-Workers-Paid-After-Six-Months>
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Why nurses should be paid the same as neurosurgeons - Cost Of Living
Why nurses should be paid the same as neurosurgeons
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<https://www.cost-ofliving.net/why-nurses-should-be-paid-the-same-as-neurosurgeons/>
Video: Watch PHM’s Deepika Joshi on the Our Future is Public Conference in
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Global Secretariat Member at PHM Global and PHM India Associate, Deepika
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People's Health Movement•Miguel
<https://phmovement.org/phm-at-the-our-future-is-public-conference-in-chile/>
*People’s Health Dispatch is an initiative of Peoples Dispatch and the
People's Health Movement*
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