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<DIV><FONT color=#800000 size=4><STRONG><U>PHM Right to Health Care Campaign
Update</U></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#800000 size=4>May 2007</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#800000 size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>In this email:</DIV>
<DIV>1. <FONT color=#ff0000>**Very important**</FONT> Campaign clarification,
including new flexible timeline and participation criteria</DIV>
<DIV>2. Country information needed for web site</DIV>
<DIV>3. New campaign committees and PHM country circles formed in Benin, Congo
Brazzaville, South Korea and others!</DIV>
<DIV>4. How you can help the campaign</DIV>
<DIV>5. Campaign organizer update</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><STRONG><FONT size=4><FONT color=#800000>
<HR>
</FONT></FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><STRONG><FONT size=4><FONT
color=#800000></FONT></FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><STRONG><FONT size=4><FONT color=#800000>1.
Clarification on the Implementation of the Right to Health Care
Campaign</FONT> </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><EM><FONT size=3>This was prepared as a response to concerns and questions
raised by the PHM Steering Council at its last meeting in Bhopal</FONT></EM></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>1. As originally designed, the
RTHHC campaign uses a participatory process to inform people about their right
to health and actually involves them in preparing the assessment of the right to
health care in their country -- at the same time that it builds and mobilizes a
sustainable PHM network. The idea is that information gained during the
mobilization and assessment processes leads to the development of active
lobbying strategies aimed at improving government health policies. </FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>2. Collecting the data that
brings out the evidence of the violations of the RTHHC does not, by itself,
mobilize the sufferers of such violations into action. They must be present when
the important issues to include in the assessment are defined, when doing the
assessment itself, when selecting the concrete cases to be looked into, and when
the data are analyzed. By going through this process, they themselves will learn
about what the right to health and health care is all about and will thus
meaningfully contribute to its operationalization.</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>3. The national PHM RTHHC
campaign committees will also work to plan and carry out international level
actions that will further pressure national governments by influencing
international/multinational organizations and institutions that currently play a
major role in health policy. </FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>4. Country-level activities
are the heart of the campaign, and need to be developed with flexibility and
context-specific innovation. How the RTHHC campaign is organized in Country X is
up to the campaign committee in that country. PHM’s overall concerns are that
the process involves as many people from different sectors and tendencies as
possible, and that the final assessment report, as closely as possible, covers
the different parameters described in the campaign’s RTHHC Assessment Guide. As
written, the Guide provides a step-by-step explanation of the reasoning process
to be followed to identify violations of the right to health. Therefore,
regardless of how country circles end up using the Guide, it is recommended they
consider its five steps in reporting their findings. </FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>5. The most important goal of
this campaign is to empower and involve ordinary people to represent their own
interests in a political process/movement that has the power to influence both
the national and international level of decision making. Because PHM as an
organization is seen as representing the interests of hundreds of thousands of
people [what we call the (lower-case) people's health movement], we have
achieved a certain level of recognition and access at the international level.
We want to bring people’s claims for their health rights to that level in a way
that cannot be ignored. </FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>6. The point of this campaign
is not to produce RTHHC reports. It is not a "desk exercise." The reporting
process is a strategy to find evidence, to educate people about their rights and
about key principles of public health, as well as to bring them together behind
shared, common goals. This is what is needed to make effective demands on
governments. The final report should preferably include documentation of
testimonies of denial of health care, and participatory case studies of health
care facilities or health-related services carried out by participating
organizations. Such activities simultaneously build evidence and generate
involvement. Holding of dialogues between groups of health activists and health
authorities, public hearings, workshops on the Right to Health, and/or carrying
out symbolic protest actions of various types can be important features of the
campaign --keeping in mind the situation prevailing in each country. These
actions can be carried out<FONT size=3> right from the beginning. (The
campaign coordination team can give interested PHM circles referrals to other
PHM circles or affiliates that have carried out such actions and can offer
support).</FONT></P></FONT>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>7. For the above reasons, we
think that <U>before</U> engaging in the actual assessment, it is crucial to set
up a credible network of strategic allies. Country focal points for the campaign
are thus to contact such allies (individuals and institutions) at the same time
that they identify potential opponents to the campaign (and work out means to
neutralize their opposition)</FONT><FONT size=3><FONT size=3>. The local
political scenario has to be analyzed by the PHM circle so that committed
strategic allies can be aligned and given concrete responsibilities, as part of
an ad-hoc plan for the whole campaign. The question also has to be asked, then,
whether the timing for launching the campaign is right given the concrete local
political realities.</FONT></P></FONT>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>8. Establishing such a
critical-size network to get started is more important than following the
campaign coordinators’ originally proposed timetable (i.e., March to October
2007 for phase I of the campaign). Participating countries are to build-up their
own initial mobilization momentum to go ahead with the assessment. To arrive at
a point when the time is right, they ought to take as many weeks or months as
needed to insure success. The original timetable recently circulated to all
interested countries and through pha-exchange is thus now considered to be too
rushed. As we now see it, c</FONT><FONT size=3>ountries do not have to do their
assessments at the same time or finish at the same time. But there does have to
be a certain critical mass of countries in a region that have gone through the
assessment process and the national strategic action planning before it makes
sense to have a regional meeting (phase II). Each of the regional meetings
should also happen within a reasonable period of time so that an
international momentum can be generated. </FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>9. Consequently, the criteria
for proof of social mobilization preceding the launching of the actual phase I
of the campaign are being tightened and now are: </FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>- Organizing at least two
national level meetings to discuss the campaign, involving participants from
various organizational backgrounds, preferably including some from different
regions of the country.</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>- Formation of a first
campaign coordination group which will take collective responsibility for
expanding and developing the campaign.</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>- A formal agreement on the
provisional decision-making mechanisms for the development of the
campaign.</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>- Existence of a functional
e-group/listserver or other means of communication among the participating
organizations/individuals to facilitate campaign communications.</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>10. The campaign will require
that, early-on, the national PHM circle develops the capacity to reliably review
and monitor intermediate results and outcomes so as to be successful in
institutionalizing the campaign in the years to come. </FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>11. The small funding
available on a first-come-first-serve basis will be released for two purposes:
a) to allow for organization and mobilization activities to go ahead, and b) to
launch the actual assessment (phase I) of the RTHHC. Modalities of the release
of these funds will be kept flexible to fit specific cases.</FONT></P></FONT>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3></FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3></FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>12. The first countries to
succeed in completing the mobilization and assessment process will be asked to
mentor countries just joining or countries that have had a weak performance of
their campaign.</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>13. The regional traveling
‘organizers’ to be trained by the campaign coordinators (to help setting up
national PHM circles and to help in the launching of the actual campaign) will
have previous social mobilization experience. With the change in time line we
will re-open recruitment of organizers, since some people were interested in the
position but were unable to fit it into their schedules.</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>14. Some countries may center
their mobilization around already strongly felt needs in the population and, as
an entry point to the campaign, address these issues as they relate to the RTHC,
e.g., in Central American countries the negative health effects of the FTA they
are locked-in into; in Palestine the unnecessary deaths caused by the
occupation, etc. Connecting the campaign to ongoing national popular struggles
is a good idea. Moreover, building alliances with related campaigns, such as
groups or networks working on social sector issues, i.e., the right to water, to
food, to education, to a safe environment, to housing, as well as with the
existing struggles against privatization in its various forms should be actively
considered.</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>15. The campaign will not
attempt to be confrontational, unless needed. The lobbying strategies outlined
in the Assessment Guide show ways to work with duty bearers in a
constructive manner. </FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>16. Particularly in the health
sector, health professionals' stated aim to conform to ethical and quality of
care standards of practice can be used to engage them in the campaign. With
claim holders mobilized and front line health providers appropriately motivated,
chances of a positive response from duty bearers is much more likely.
</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>17. Because of this, the
campaign highly encourages the early involvement of health workers and their
unions. They are, at the same time, claim holders and duty bearers (i.e., claim
holders of decisions made at higher-up levels), and their involvement will give
the campaign access to valuable information, as well as greater depth and
additional credibility. The endorsement of the campaign by well known
personalities and prestigious institutions is also invaluable. </FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>18. Finally, to reiterate, the
campaign’s Assessment Guide does give a very good comprehensive overview of what
needs to be done to assess the RTHHC. It does emphasize the needed mobilization.
It is quite user friendly -- given the complexity of some of the issues to be
covered. It takes the user(s) by the hand, in a step-by-step manner, to cover
all aspects that will result in a good, standardized diagnosis of the state of
the RTHHC in each country. As stated in the Guide, it should be applied with
flexibility to adapt it to the different national realities. Key in this
flexibility is to skip those sections or questions for which there are no data
available or for which data would be extremely difficult to get; on top of
giving space to address additional issues of particular local
concern. <FONT size=3>Each country will decide for itself how to use the
assessment process as a tool for additional mobilization. For example, certain
questions or areas of interest can be assigned to particular groups with a
connection to those issues -- with the national campaign coordinating committee
then combining the work of those groups into the final report.</FONT></P></FONT>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>19. The two main campaign
co-coordinators have asked for at least two more PHM members to join them to
help them lighten their heavy workload. Dr. Ghassan Issa from Lebanon has
volunteered to join and is being incorporated - thank you, Ghassan! We need at
least one other person to work at the global coordination level.</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>Please contact us if you have
any questions.</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>Claudio Schuftan,</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>Laura Turiano</FONT></P>
<P dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT size=3>Ghassan Issa</FONT></P>
<P><FONT color=#800000><STRONG>2. Send us your photos!</STRONG></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>We want to have information about the campaign in every
participating country on the PHM website. We will be including contact
information for each country so people can get in touch with you if they
want to join. Without photos the site will be very boring. When you send
photos, please identify the organizations present by their full names - no
acronyms please! Take pictures of your kick-off meeting or of any events you
hold and send them to Pacome Tometissi at <A
href="mailto:tometissi1@yahoo.fr">tometissi1@yahoo.fr</A>, and Ghassan Issa at
<A href="mailto:arcgi@mawared.org">arcgi@mawared.org</A>.</FONT></P>
<P><STRONG><FONT color=#800000>3. New PHM Circles and Campaign committees
being formed</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Congratulations to Benin, Congo Brazzaville, and South
Korea - they have formed new PHM circles and RTHCC committees.
Campaign organizing meetings have been held recently in Uruguay,
Nigeria, Kenya, Peru, Mexico, Morocco, Australia, Argentina and we have had
inquiries from many other countries. The response has been truly exciting.
Concern about privatization of health care and inadequate health
systems is global. Working together our demand for health for ALL cannot be
ignored!</FONT></P>
<P><STRONG><FONT color=#800000>4. How you can help the Campaign (besides
mobilizing in your country)</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P><FONT size=3>* Sign up as a translator</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>* Join the web site team</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>* Create a resources page for the web site (The papers,
web sites, organizations have been identified. You would organize and anotate
the links)</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>* Help with data entry into a spreadsheet (boring, but necessary
and important!)</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>* Work on grantwriting and fundraising on either a regional or
global level. Tell us about any potential funders you know.</FONT></P>
<P><STRONG><FONT color=#800000>5. Campaign organizer update</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P><FONT size=3>As mentioned in the campaign clarification above, the timeline
of the campaign has been extended and so we are reopening our request for
volunteers to be campaign organizers. The organizers will travel to
participating countries to assist them in their mobilization and provide
training on the use of the Assessment Guide. They will receive training about
the campaign and their duties. We need people who speak/write English
and at least one other language spoken in region where they will work. They must
have time and schedule flexibility to be able to travel and to
communicate with the countries they are working with between trips. We
anticipate that the traveling will be more intermittent than originally planned.
The positions are voluntary but all expenses (flights, buses, food, lodging,
incidentals) will be paid by the campaign while traveling. In
particular we need a French-speaking African to work in the francophone
countries now joining the campaign, but people from any region are invited to
apply. We thank those who have already submitted their applications.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>To apply please send to <A
href="mailto:phm@turiano.org">phm@turiano.org</A> and <A
href="mailto:claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn">claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn</A>:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>- a CV or summary of your related experience (in health, human
rights, community organizing and mobilization, etc) and the organizations you
are affiliated with (full names please - no acronyms)<BR></FONT><FONT size=3>-
2-3 references (preferably including one from someone known to
PHM)<BR></FONT><FONT size=3>- your contact information<BR></FONT><FONT size=3>-
a brief statement about why you want to do this work and what you would bring to
it.</FONT></P>
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