Representatives from Council for Health and Development and IBON Foundation completed their short course on “Action for Equitable Health Systems – Advancing universal comprehensive primary health care in pandemic times” by International People’s Health University (IPHU) in Bangkok, Thailand from December 6-11, 2022.
This short course aims to build a better understanding among health activists of why health and healthcare is an entitlement of all human beings, how this right can be realized, and current best practices in different areas. It is also a capacity-building initiative for health activists to effectivelly mobilize people and advocate towards #HealthForAll.
During the short course, CHD shared to the participants the dire situation of healthcare system in the Philippines during the height of COVID-19 pandemic, the government’s militaristic response, and human rights violations during the lockdowns. CHD also explained why devolution and the current Universal Health Care aggravate a deteriorating healthcare system.
CHD also shared the people’s struggles and victories in the campaign for the right to health in the Philippines and highlighted the collective and indispensable role of the people, health workers and health advocates in pushing back against the targetting of health workers and rights activists, privatization of health, and other neo-liberal policies that promote inequities in health.
IPHU is a program of the People’s Health Movement (PHM) that aims to contribute to “health for all” around the globe and share opportunities for people’s health activists particularly from third world countries. PHM is currently present in 70 countries including the Philippines. CHD and the Coalition for People’s Right to Health (CPRH) are among the core members of PHM-Philippines.
Council for Health and Development (CHD) 