PHM Africa Learning Space

By Claudio Schuftan My column this month comes in two parts linked by one word. This is 'target' in two of its meanings. These are 'targetry' and also 'setting targets'. The concepts that I want to get across to you are self-evident as you read along. In the name of greater equity, many currently proposed approaches to resolve the problems of nutrition still very often favour and select actions covering, for the most part, strategies that target services to the disadvantaged and malnourished, such as the measurements of weight and height of little children as shown above. This strategic approach, it is purported, represents a move towards equity. But is it really? Many of us rather think that what is needed is to mobilise a strong popular movement that demands a comprehensive, truly equity-oriented nutrition policy (1). TARGETRY AND EQUITY 'FIXING THE WORST CASES' DOES NOT AND CANNOT ADDRESS THE BASIC ISSUES' Many of us also think it is wr...

People's Health Movement Ghana (PHM/Ghana) Health for All Now!! Ref: PHM-GH-WHO/AFRO/RC-1 30th August, 2011. Hon. Joseph Yieleh-Chireh Minister of Health, Accra. Dear Hon. Joseph Yieleh-Chireh, Issues for consideration at the 61st WHO Regional Committee for Africa We, the People’s Health Movement Ghana (PHM-Ghana) and representatives from a number of civil society groups from across the country, write to you in connection with the 61st World Health Organisation Regional Committee Meeting for Africa scheduled to take place in Yamoussoukro from August 29th to September 2nd, 2011. The Regional Committee meeting provides an opportunity to deliberate and commit to crucial issues of health in the WHO African region. PHM-Ghana is a registered civil society organization in Ghana, and is an affiliate (the Ghana circle) of the People’s Health Movement (PHM). PHM is a global network of organizations working locally, nationally and globally for ‘health for all’. Our basi...

Dear PHM colleagues PHM Ghana is in the process of developing a position paper in the lead up to the 61st WHO Africa Regional Committee Meeting. Please see email below. They are calling on friends and members for input which you can send to the PHM Ghana email phmghana@gmail.com. Regards Linda Dear Colleagues and Friends of PHM-Ghana, Next week our Minister of Health will be attending the 61st WHO Africa Regional Committee Meeting in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivore, together with 45 other Ministers of Health from other African countries. The documents and resolutions that will be discussed at this meeting have now been uploaded on the website: http://www.afro.who.int/en/sixty-first-session. We are calling on friends and members of PHM-Ghana to contribute to discussions on the agenda items through a joint position paper to Ghana's delegation (most likely civil society will not be included in this delegation). Note that unlike meetings of the WHO Headquarters, where ther...