Mobilizing civil society for better health: Building a health advocacy movement in Kenya” ‘A meeting with civil society organizations in Kenya’

Dear Friends in Kenya,

 Invitation to Kenyan Civil Society Meeting

The state of health in Kenya has been characterized by high maternal and infant mortality rates, high HIV AIDS prevalence, in-effective health financing systems and growing health inequalities.

Please find attached a detailed description of the Kenyan health challenges as base for discussion and common understanding to strengthen health advocacy and activism in Kenya.

PHM Global, AMREF, KAPLET and HENNET with support of HAI-Africa would like to invite you to the

“Mobilizing civil society for better health:

Building a health advocacy movement in Kenya”

‘A meeting with civil society organizations in Kenya’

17^th of April 2010

8.30h to 14h

At

AMREF auditorium - AMREF Head Quarter

Langata Road, opposite Wilson Airport, Nairobi

(Wilson is different from the main Nairobi airport – Jomo Kenyatta).

The language of the meeting will be in English.

In the run up to the International People’s Health University (IPHU) in Kisumu, PHM Global (www.phmovement.org), AMREF (www.amref.org), KAPLET (ericotienoss@yahoo.com) and HENNET (www.hennet.or.ke) would like to jointly convene civil society representatives interested in discussing a way forward to strengthen and support health advocacy and activism in Kenya within the principles of comprehensive primary health care and with a focus on social determinants of health.   

The suggested outline of the meeting would include:

-          Review of civil society advocacy and activism around health in Kenya and link to the global health movement

-          PHM as a  global actor for change (Right to Health Campaign, GHW3, PHA3, etc) – a vehicle for advocacy and activism towards Health for All

-          PHM as a model for national and regional activism

-          Agreeing on key activities - Civil society engagement, role of NGO’s, activists and government in promoting health.

The desired outcomes of the meeting are:

-          A network of interested organizations ready to support actions related to health activism in Kenya.

-          Commitments focusing on activities to promote the primary health care principles towards health for all.  (who, what, timeframes, etc)

-          A core group of interested people, committed to implement the agreed upon key activities to take this network forward in dialogue with other interested partners using the PHA3 as vehicle for mobilization.

We strongly believe that our organizations can work together in a number of meaningful ways to build a strong network.

For the first session on health advocacy and activism in Kenya, we invite all organizations attending to prepare a one page summary or digital pamphlet-poster of their organization with the following information:

-          History of the organization

-          Objectives

-          Location and structure

-          Membership

-          A picture representing health issues in Kenya

Please send the above requested information together with your confirmation of attendance to linda@phmovement.org and anneleen@phmovement.org (0027 (0) 21 447 3037) by the end of Monday the 12^th of April.  Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further information.  .

We will be looking forward to your participation 

AMREF, KAPLET, HENNET, PHM Global  With support of HAI Africa