This
page presents some information about activities in Italy regarding
People's Health Movement. You may also wish to look at the international
website of PHM, where you can find People's Health Charter in
different languages and many other online resources. People's Charter of
Health is the manifesto of PHM.
Origins
of PHM
in
Italy:
Information
about People’s Health Movement (PHM) and People’s Charter on Health
were introduced in Italy in 2001 by AIFO, an organisation bringing
together about 40 grassroot volunteer groups spread all over Italy. Dr.
Sunil Deepak, medical advisor of AIFO is at present the
focal point for PHM in Italy.
Activities of PHM Italy in 2006-07:
1.
Organisation of a regional
seminar on role of traditional medicine held in Bangalore (India) in
December 2006, in collaboration with International People's Health
University and People's Health Movement India. Representatives from
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka participated in this
conference that was coordinated by K. Balasubramaniam (Sri Lanka).
During
this meeting a consensus statement on role of traditional medicine in the
goal of Health For All was also defined.
2.
A series of national meetings of PHM in Italy
in collaboration with Civil Society Forum of Milan, Lega Ambiente, European Network of Right to Health, Italian chapter of International
Society of Doctors for Environment, Italian Global Health Watch, Nursing
in Movimento, etc. were organised in April-May 2007.
The
first meeting was organised in Medical Faculty of Bari university
in south Italy on 27 April 2007, in which representative of Ministry of
Health also participated. This meeting raised up the possibility of
setting up an Italian Observatory on violation of right to health in
Italy.
A
second meeting was organised under the medical association of
Caserta in South Italy on 23 May 2007, in which two international
representatives of PHM (Dr. Mira Shiva/India and Dr. Armando de Negri/Brazil)
also participated. The focus of this meeting was on maternal and child
mortality. This meeting did not get good participation.
A
third meeting was organised in Rome on 26 May 2007. Dr Mira Shiva
from PHM-India participated in this meeting that brought together
representatives of different organisations networking with PHM in Italy
including Italian Lawyers without Borders, Save the Children Fund Italy,
etc. This meeting gave an opportunity to further discuss the idea of
setting up an Italian Observatory on violations of right to health. It was
decided in this meeting to prepare a draft document, that can be discussed
with Italian Ministry of Health.
3.
Participation in World Health Assembly in Geneva:
AIFO participated in the WHA and in PHM related events during the Assembly
in May 2007.
Pictures from PHM-Italy and WHA in May 2007
Impact of PHM in
Italy:
On AIFO itself the impact of PHM and the Charter has been very positive.
Since school teachers and health professionals are two major groups linked
with different AIFO groups, they feel that through PHM network, they are
better placed to raise their concerns and to promote positive change. This
has also allowed many new persons, especially younger age groups, to be
involved in AIFO awareness and
campaign activities in
Italy
. Some of the events linked to anti-globalization
protests, concerns about genetically modified food, concerns about
environment etc. have helped in raising the general awareness about this
issues and in such a situation, people find it useful to link with persons
from other countries, who also share similar concerns. Many of these
persons from AIFO groups have developed expertise about specific subjects
and these persons play the role of resource persons and speakers in
different meetings and events.
At
the same time, this has allowed us to reach other networks, federations
and groups such as Italian Health Watch, Attac-Italy, Liliput movement,
peace movement, etc.
Constraints:
Limitations of persons in the AIFO office to follow and promote more
activities is beginning to emerge as a problem. Ideas such as thematic
study groups require time and effort. Even following the volunteers
involved in translation of articles require follow-up. This creates some
frustration among persons in the field. Many persons while signing the
Charter offered their free services to be involved in other initiatives
and activities but nothing much has been possible to do for this.
Proposing
new activities and action to people who sign the Charter and other
campaigns is a limitation from international networks linked to PHM,
otherwise persons risk losing their enthusiasm.
At
the same time, many groups and persons are continuing to start new
initiatives but it is not easy to follow them and to collect information
about their work.
Report on PHM-Italy
activities in 2001-03
Report on PHM-Italy
activities in 2004-06
If
you wish to know more about PHM in Italy write to: sunil.deepakataifo.it
(for email, substitute "at" with "@")
