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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><u><span style="font-size:20pt;line-height:115%">LAUNCHING
OF GLOBAL HEALTH WATCH 5 IN SRI LANKA<span></span></span></u></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri"><span><img alt="Description: PHM 012.JPG" width="470" height="305"></span><span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri"><b><u><span><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></span></u></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%">On 3^rd September PHM’s 2018 Global Health Watch 5 (GHW5)
was launched in Colombo, Sri Lanka.<span>  </span>Many
prominent figures and Members of the Peoples’ Health Movement of Sri Lanka were
among the participants at this occasion. <span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%">The Welcome Speech and the Introduction was given by Sirimal
Peiris.<span>  </span>In his address, he mentioned
that GHW is an alternative report to World Health Report.<span>  </span>GHW talked about the present day health
issues and it invited participants to work closely to reduce the many health
inequalities.<span>   </span>The main speaker was Dr
Vinya Ariyaratne who emphasized points in GHW5’s 5 sections. He had a marching
Power Point Presentation to make his points.<span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%">After Dr Vinya’s presentation, the discussion began as an
open forum.<span>  </span>Many participants highly
appreciated GHW5 while some of the participants pointed out their concerns
about it.<span>  </span>Traditional medical
practitioners showed their grievances that GHW5 does not contain anything about
alternative medicine.<span>  </span>PLHIV explained
how they are still discriminated by the society and nothing has been mentioned
about their problems in GHW5.<span>  </span>Trade
Union activists claimed that more emphasis should be put on occupational health
matters.<span>  </span>The Forum also focused on the
insurance schemes being introduced by the Government which is a threat to free
health services in the country.<span>   </span>It was
further mentioned that the masses require proper health services from the
Government Hospitals and Government Institutions, but not such an insurance
scheme because it encourages the people to go to Private Hospitals.<span></span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%">Prepared by Sirimal Peiris<span></span></span></p>

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