273275 Central America health rights movement: History, effectiveness, relevance for today

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 : 12:45 PM - 1:00 PM

Alan F. Meyers, MD, MPH , Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
The movement in support of progressive change and against U.S. intervention in Central America in the 1980s to early 1990s had an active health/public health wing. This presentation will review the history of these efforts, including actions taken within APHA -- resolutions, publications, and presence at the annual meeting. Was the movement effective in promoting its goals? Are there lessons in this experience for today's activism?

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe the forms that solidarity work has taken within the health and public health spheres, especially in the Central American conflicts of the 1980s; Assess the merits, problems, and outcomes of such efforts; Evaluate the implications of the Central America health rights movement for the current situations of conflict.

Keywords: Public Health Advocacy, War

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a physician and public health professional and have published and spoken widely on the public health impacts of conflicts in Central America.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.