International People's Health University launched in Cuenca, Ecuador

bolivia / peru / ecuador / chile | community struggles | other libertarian press Wednesday July 13, 2005 05:02 by Unni - Peoples Health Movement unnikru at yahoo dot com +593 919 6 17 12

"The IPHU is a turning point in the history of the health movement and is crucial towards fighting the corporatisation of the health sector” say health activists and academicians.

Cuenca, Ecuador, 11 July 2005: The struggle for ‘Health for All’ received a boost here today. International People’s Health University (IPHU) was launched in a simple ceremony attended by people from over 35 countries.

The IPHU is a project of the International People's Health Council and part of the global People's Health Movement.

“Slogans are key in any people-based movement and they can capture the knowledge and strategy in ways that support action. But we need to back up the slogans, the languages of the masses, with evidence and critical analysis” said Prof. David Legge. Dr. Legge is a director of the IPHU and a well-known public health expert from Australia.

61 students from 25 countries and various walks of life as well as public health and medical experts from 10 other countries are participating in the course.

“This is a much needed program. We are timing it with the second People’s Health Assembly as a gesture of solidarity” said Maria Hamlin Zuniga, Co-ordinator of IPHC.
Over 1500 people from all continents (Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe and Americas) will be coming together for the second People’s Health Assembly (PHA- 2) in the historic mountain city of Cuenca from 17-22 July, 2005. ”The mass mobilisation is unprecedented” said Dr. Prem John, an organizer of PHA-2 from India.

“I can do a medical course in my country (Australia), but what I gain from the IPHU course is the people’s touch” said Ms.Victoria Saint, a student from Australia.

“The course will help to serve as a tool to do reality check on issues that block health for poor people, both in developed and developing countries” said Ms.Tawnia Queen, a student from USA.

The presence of students from developed countries is seen as a signal of soul searching amongst the public health constituency there.

“For me it is a satisfaction to represent the indigenous people of Ecuador and to exchange the challenges and solutions in different communities” said Ms. Martina Puculpala from Ecuador. Ms. Puculpala, a student on the IPHU course, is the president of the Federation of Indigenous Women and Agricultural Workers in Ecuador.

The presence of indigenous people from Ecuador, Australia, Guatemala and other places is a highlight of this unique course.
“Health is no more about fighting viruses” said Dr. Arturo Quizphe, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Cuenca and a faculty of IPHU course. “It needs to be located in the context of increasing poverty, inequalities, new diseases, casualties from wars, conflicts and disasters and unfair trade agreements” he said.

“This is a rare opportunity to learn about the various initiatives and struggles to defend the health rights” said Mr. Naveen Thomas, a student from India.

“We are trying to create a cadre of professionals who can show the courage to challenge the stereotypes and fight inequalities” said Dr. Hernan Hermida during the inaugural speech. “This is the first step to ensure health for all, especially for the poor in today’s world” said Dr. Hermida, a leading public health expert, from Ecuador.

The International People's Health University aims to contribute to the ‘health for all’ campaign by strengthening people’s health movements around the globe, by organising and resourcing opportunities to learn, share and plan for health activists, particularly from Third World countries.

The IPHU will
• organise and resource short course opportunities for health activists
• develop an on going program of short courses for Third World health activists
• develop a broad range of learning opportunities; a growing collection of resource materials; and a wider network of resource people to progressively enhance its programs.
For media enquiries for IPHU and PHA-2, please call:
+593 919 6 17 12 (Dr. Unnikrishnan PV- unnikru@yahoo.com ) or
• Gloria (Eng and Spanish): 0 9873 9376 (From abroad : dial +593 9873 9376)
• Fabiola (Spanish) : 0 9453 0115 (From abroad : dial +593 9453 0115 )