PHM-Exch> Fwd: Bulletin #68: WHO’s Executive Board discusses health conditions in Palestine

[Health PD]

This fortnight Israeli attacks on healthcare in the Gaza Strip are causing
a near-total collapse of health services in central and southern Gaza,
following a similar situation in the North. Health workers, patients, and
displaced people are forced to move into smaller spaces amid bombardments
and bad weather conditions, leading to the looming threat of infectious
disease outbreaks, especially among children and pregnant women.  Despite
their predicament, health workers in Gaza remain steadfast

Bulletin #68: WHO’s Executive Board discusses health conditions in Palestine
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/ebc7ee28?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
By People's Health Dispatch • 27 Jan 2024 View in browser
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This fortnight

Israeli attacks on healthcare in the Gaza Strip are causing a near-total
collapse of health services in central and southern Gaza
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/9fd22b4b?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>,
following a similar situation in the North. Health workers, patients, and
displaced people are forced to move into smaller spaces amid bombardments
and bad weather conditions, leading to the looming threat of infectious
disease *outbreaks*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/8a28daa4?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>,
especially among children and pregnant women.

Despite their predicament, *health workers*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/2b59ffc6?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
in Gaza remain steadfast, continuing to provide care even as supplies run
short. However, they also continue to be targets of the Israeli Occupying
Forces: many were kidnapped weeks ago, their status unknown, and over 400
have been killed
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/926a4fb7?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>in
Israeli attacks.

The health situation in Gaza was addressed at the most recent meeting of
the World Health Organization’s *Executive Board*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/f835508d?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>.
In addition to discussing the war on Palestine, WHO members covered topics
such as the agency's finances, plans for responding to ongoing health
emergencies, and climate change. They also dedicated time to evaluating
progress made in the field of *Universal Health Coverage*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/7171181e?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
and discussed the upcoming Pandemic Treaty.

Part of the WHO’s efforts are devoted to monitoring and responding to
outbreaks. Unfortunately, the UN’s health agency noted an increasing number
of *cholera *
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/f364120a?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>outbreaks
worldwide, with African countries being the most affected.

Meanwhile, health workers continued their fight for dignity and
improvements to their rights. In Andhra Pradesh, India, *Anganwadi *
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/43cbded0?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>workers,
who work in rural childcare centers, secured a major victory after more
than 40 days of strike. In *Morocco*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/a40960dc?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>,
nurses announced a new wave of actions as their contribution to the health
system remains unrecognized by the government.

Most *European *
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/60fc43b2?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>countries
are now facing a severe shortage of health workers. Health ministries and
government officials are finally acknowledging the problem, but they have
yet to move away from strategies rooted in care extractivism and the
exploitation of the health workforce in the Global South.

In *France*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/5c73bc9b?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>,
largely due to the efforts of women’s groups and left parties, the
parliament has initiated a discussion about the constitutionalization of
the right to abortion. If enacted, this would provide stronger formal
protection for sexual and reproductive health rights, although it wouldn’t
guarantee that reproductive health services are adequately financed and
organized.
------------------------------
In focus: Health in Palestine

*Healthcare in southern Gaza facing a fate similar to that in the North*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/bfe0c501?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

Israeli Occupying Forces continue their attacks on healthcare in the Gaza
Strip, moving towards hospitals and health centers in the central and
southern regions

*Israeli destruction of health infrastructure in Gaza places women and
newborns in danger*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/209847b3?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

All health services have been decimated by Israeli attacks, making it
virtually impossible for people in need of urgent care, including women in
labor, to reach hospitals and health centers

*Fate of Palestinian health workers kidnapped by Israeli forces remains
uncertain*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/9fa59589?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

The status of health workers arrested by Israeli Occupying Forces in
northern Gaza remains uncertain as attacks on health infrastructure continue
------------------------------
In review: WHO Executive Board discussions

*Will WHO members seize the moment to fight against inequities?*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/d8e80fbf?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

The WHO’s Executive Board is meeting for its 154th session in Geneva from
January 22-27. Countries are edging towards the set deadline for finalizing
the Pandemic Treaty, yet much more remains to be discussed

*New round of Universal Health Coverage policies lies ahead despite missed
targets*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/90707b92?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

The WHO Executive Board is poised to propose enhanced Universal Health
Coverage policies despite disappointing outcomes. UHC-based policies are
failing in achieving the goals of increased access to healthcare and
financial protection from health expenditure
------------------------------
Featured articles

*Anganwadi workers in Andhra Pradesh declare victory after 42-day strike*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/56776445?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

Terming the strike as a “grand victory,” the All India Federation of
Anganwadi Workers and Helpers said in a statement that it “proved the
strength of the working people”

*Nurses in Morocco call for recognition and respect*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/84feafea?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

Nurses and medical technicians in Morocco are escalating industrial action,
demanding adequate hazard pay, improvements to working conditions, and
professional recognition

*Europe struggles with health workers shortage but fails to address demands
for decent salaries*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/6dd0644f?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

Worries surrounding the health workforce shortage in Europe continues to
grow, yet plans largely fail to include pay rises for workers in the sector

*French parliament considers constitutionalization of right to abortion*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/af87147f?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

Parliamentarians in France begin discussing a motion to enshrine the right
to abortion into the constitution, offering stronger protections of women’s
health rights
------------------------------
Short reads

*Concerns grow over global cholera trends*
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/b8070059?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>

The number of cholera cases worldwide continues to grow, with countries in
eastern and southern Africa being the most heavily affected. Experts call
for improving access to hygiene and clean water and are concerned about the
shortage of vaccines
------------------------------
In case you missed it
The chlordecone health and racism scandal in the French Antilles: case
dismissed, but the fight goes on
“They’re poisoning us! They’re killing us!” read the placards at the
anti-chlordecone demonstration held in Martinique on 28 October 2023. The
protest was the culmination of a week of mobilisation held under the banner
Simenn Matinik Doubout - Gaoulé kont klordecone (‘Martinique Rise Up Week -
Protest against Chlordecone’ in Creole), launched by a collective bringing
together some 30 organisations from the French overseas departments and
mainland France. “We want the French state to acknowledge (...)
Equal Times •Pascalinah Kabi
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/8e1a8049?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
‘Giving us oxygen’: Italy turns to Cuba to help revive ailing health system
Almost 500 Cuban health workers deployed across Calabria amid severe
shortage of doctors
The Guardian •Angela Giuffrida
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/a5d8590f?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
Health Workers’ Union of Maldives appreciates PSI’s support for passing of
IR and OSH Bills
Public Services International is a Global Union Federation of more than 700
trade unions representing 30 million workers in 154 countries. We bring
their voices to the UN, ILO, WHO and other regional and global
organisations. We defend trade union and workers’ rights and fight for
universal access to quality public services.
Public Services International The global union federation of workers in
public services •Comms
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/fe9830d6?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
Sudan Restrictions and lack of medicines deprive people in Khartoum state
of lifesaving care | MSF
In Sudan’s ongoing conflict, healthcare access is limited in Khartoum state
due to closed facilities, scarce medicines, and restrictions on travel.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International •Press Release18 January 2024
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/8f951a71?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
Bihar Govt Raises Monthly Honorarium of Thousands of Contractual Health
Workers | NewsClick
This decision will benefit 17,000 contractual health workers, including
8,000 ANM, who are working under the National Health Mission (NHM).
Newsclick •Mohd. Imran Khan
<https://peoples-health-dispatch.ghost.io/r/ef6774c0?m=7fbe802b-41b0-46c0-a257-5e71e0284f0a>
*People’s Health Dispatch is an initiative of Peoples Dispatch and the
People's Health Movement*
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