News

Along with Kavita Srivastava, Dipankar and Pranhita (Binayak's brother and daughter), I had a chance to attend the hearings of Binayak's trial on 30 and 31 July at Raipur. As expected we witnessed the bizarre features of this trial which have been already observed by many others - large presence of armed police in and around the court, all entrants to the court being physically searched and checked with metal detectors, Binayak and the other accused (Narayan Sanyal and Piyush Guha) being continuously surrounded by armed police and required to stand in court for long periods of time.

In a joint press release today, health professionals and toxicologist belonging to RESIST Agrochem TNCs (Resistance and Solidarity against Agrochemical TNCs) called on the government on intense danger of Endosulfan and said that people's welfare is in serious jeopardy. The group warns that Endosulfan is a potential catastrophic global disaster.

At the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the 1978 Alma Ata Conference, Dr. Halfdan Mahler, who used to be the WHO director general at that time, talks about his love affair with the People's Health Movement. (Photo: WHO/Peter Williams)

Subtitles are available in Spanish and Arabic.

See video

 

 

The Community Working Group on Health and PHM Zimbabwe posted their analysis of health issues in Zimbabwe. The position paper includes more detailed analysis of the socio-economic background; the main current issues; the role of the state and some specific recommendations towards the realization of the right to health.

Health in Zimbabwe: PHM Zimbabwe Position Paper June 2008

At the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the 1978 Alma Ata Conference, Dr. Halfdan Mahler, who used to be the WHO director general at that time, talks about his love affair with the People's Health Movement.

Geneva, 25 May (Sangeeta Shashikant) -- The highlight of the 61st World Health Assembly was the adoption of a resolution that strengthens the mandate of the WHO to undertake work on the inter-related issues of public heath, intellectual property, innovation and access to medicines.

The resolution, adopted at the end of the WHA during the plenary session, last Saturday afternoon, covers the Global Strategy (GS) and agreed parts of the Plan of Action (POA) on Public Health, Innovation & Intellectual Property.

Geneva, 29 May (Sangeeta Shashikant) -- Both developed and developing countries vigorously questioned the WHO Secretariat during the WHO's Executive Board meeting on 26 May on its publications policy and called for further discussion on the matter.

Prior to the 61st World Health Assembly (WHA), the Third World Network (TWN) in collaboration with the People's Health Movement (PHM) and Health Action International (HAI) called for a civil society meeting. The meeting was held in Geneva on Sunday 18th May and discussed the civil society contribution during the 61st (19-24 May 2008).
The workshop was participated by around 50 participants from civil society organizations/networks, academic institutions and few official representatives. The discussions can be concluded as follows:

23rd April 2008 turned into the Black Wednesday. At Venkatapuram village and Pennaloorpettai of the Thiruvallur district, four Dalit children died shortly after vaccination. The children were given injection for immunization against measles at the weekly camp for Immunization Program. They, however, resulted to be suffered spasms, and frothing at their mouths. The victimized children were buried without proper autopsy.

The Tamil Nadu Government immediately suspended Village Health Nurse (VHN) who had administered the vaccine.

Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General
World Health Organisation
Avenue Appia 20

CH - 1211 Geneva 27

15 May 2008

Concerns Regarding WHO's publications policy

Dear Dr. Margaret Chan