|
|
Change Your Life! |
People's Health Assembly inaugurated |
|
News
|
|
|
August 28, 2000
Dhaka (UNB) - To rectify role of the World Health Organization (WHO) and ensure 'equitable health services' to all, a new international forum titled People's Health Assembly has emerged. "As the WHO apparently failed to reach basic health services to all, mainly the grassroots people living in the less- developed and developing countries, this kind of health forum has been formed," said Dr Morshed Chowdhury, Coordinator of PHA Secretariat and Director of Gonoshastha Kendra. The goal of the PHA is to identify problems, trends and challenges in order to develop strategies to achieve health for all, especially grassroots people, around the globe in future. To hear the unheard people in health matters over 700 representatives from above 100 countries will attend the first assembly of the PHA in Bangladesh December 4-8 this year. The idea of PHA was mooted in 1985 and preliminary works began in 1999. The activities are distributed along five regional coordination offices: Asia, America, Europe, Australia-Oceania and Africa. Its main secretariat is located at CI office, Penang, Malaysia. Chowdhury said WHO declaration in 1978, "Health for All", was formulated basing on western perspective which mainly secures western and developed countries' business interests. "The western formula failed to ensure basic health for all as general people's voice was not reflected in it. Rather it alienated us from our traditional system," he said in a serious critical appraisal of the world body. In this context, the PHA wants to hear the unheard people what kind of healthcare or health system they deserve actually. And the assembly will explore ideas and wisdom of the people for the causes of their suffering and appropriate solution according to their need. Nobel laureates, including Prof Amartya Sen of India and Farid Murad of Albenia, WHO Chief Brutland, present and former ministers of different countries, researchers, physicians, health workers and NGO representatives, are expected to attend the maiden assembly in Dhaka. The meet will be held in the Gonoshasthaya Kendra premises at Savar, the organizers said. Currently there are 25 members that constitute Coordinating Group (CG). Action plan will be worked out and refined on the basis of their needs which will be trying to influence health planners and governments to rectify their health policy so that 'equitable health service' could be ensured for all classes of people. Chowdhury said the whole PHA is a process which aims to bring forth and strengthen people's voice for establishment of human rights for better health at the international, regional an national levels to build and promote just and equitable health and healthcare. Dr Mostaq Hossain of ASA, who is involved in PHA program, said though the role of PHA, which incorporates NGOs and related agencies, would be supportive to the WHO. In some cases, however, it would be a challenge for the UN organ. The assembly will develop a process to hear majority people about their concerns and initiatives for heath and community development. These voices were never heard before for the planning in the national and regional levels. A People's Heath Charter will be formulated in light of thorough analyses of the world health problems as well as existing policies and programs. Concrete recommendations regarding policy and practice will be made to governments, international organisations, the business sector, non-governmental organisations and people's movements. Reports from different countries will be presented in the first assembly in Bangladesh that will formulate a draft health policy for all. In Bangladesh, around 25,000 NGOs working directly or indirectly in various sectors on healthcare and medicare are collecting data and case study. "I think the PHA 2000 assembly will help massive change in health service quality throughout the world," Dr Morshed Chowdhury hoped. |