Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104215

Sarah Shannon, Hesperian Foundation, 1919 Addison St., #304, Berkeley, CA 94704, 510-845-1447, sarahs@hesperian.org

This call to action includes an introduction of the concept and strategies of the Global Health Watch and discussion on ways to promote the Watch Report (launched July 2005) and develop the 2006-2007 Report. A fragmented, disease- and issue-specific approach to health dominates research, advocacy and governance agendas, under-emphasizing health systems issues and underlying causes of ill-health. Further, disparities in health care have grown alarmingly within and between countries. Inadequate attention has been paid to the duties and obligations of society, governments, and multi-lateral institutions (such as the World Bank, donors, and others) towards ensuring the fulfillment of rights, including those of other countries. Together with the Global Equity Gauge Alliance and Medact, the People's Health Movement is calling upon progressive NGOs to participate in the development of the Global Health Watch – an alternative World Health Report that will be used to shift the health policy agenda toward an approach that recognizes important political, social and economic barriers to better health. Part of the mission of the report is to promote a new discourse around human rights and health, as well as the principle that civil society needs to be strengthened in its ability to monitor policies and actions by governments, corporations and global health institutions. The Watch will strive to place globalization, inequality, war, privatization and other great threats to health at the center of the political agenda.

This session is intended to initiate a US network for the Global Health Watch.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, the participant will be able to

• Identify and discuss public health threats due to globalization processes
• Articulate responses to public health threats in these areas, including fallacies in common perspectives as well as possible solutions and actions
• Describe methods for monitoring the actions of public health institutions to support or undermine public health
• Forumulate advocacy responses that can be taken up at the community, country, or international level
• Tap into, communicate, and coordinate with an emerging global civil society advocacy community

Keywords: Social Justice, International Health

Related Web page: www.ghwatch.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation