Notes from IPHU at US Social Forum

Day One

We commenced with introductions. It was evident that we had a rich mix of different backgrounds and a deep reserve of experience and expertise.

Sarah Shannon introduced PHM Globally and PHM US. She spoke of the particular responsibilities of PHM US arising from the global role of the US in perpetuating an unjust and unhealthy global regime.

Makani Themba-Nixon spoke about racial disparities and health in the US and spoke about the role of race and culture as determinants of health.

David Legge then presented a brief introduction to globalisation and health.

Laura Turiano spoke about primary health care, the rights perspective and PHM's Right to Health Care campaign.

We then discussed the project topics on which we will work during the remaining three days of this course. We adopted the following topics and assorted ourselves into these groups and commenced our project work:
• Right to Health Care Campaign (US & globally) and education, culture change, paradigm change
• Trade and health and access to essential medicines (and related intellectual property issues)
• Environmental justice and health; commodification of food and water; health impacts of militarization
• Vulnerable peoples, incarcerated juveniles, immigration and health

The brief given to the groups was to develop a project proposal for PHM US to be presented for plenary discussion on the final day of our course. However, the purpose of the group work was not just the development a project proposal; it was also about sharing our knowledge and analysis of the issues and, in particular, sharing our experence and insights into the practice of health development (activism, political struggle, organising, popular education, etc).

Day Two

We continued the globalisation theme on Day Two.

Lily Walkover from CPATH presented an overview of Trade and Health.

Tanya Wansom of the AMSA, provided a further description of TRIPS and related issues and then a case study of the current struggles of access to medicines in Thaliand.

These presentations elicited a wide ranging discussion.

We then changed direction somewhat with a presentation / discussion presented (facilitated) by Jeff Conant on the Right to Water.

This was followed by a presentation by Maureen McCue on Warring and Warming, linking global environmental issues to the drivers and effects of militarism.

We then re-assembled into our project groups.

Day Three

Commenced with an overview and update on various proposals for Single Payer reform in the US by Laura Turiano, focusing on HR676.

We then had four presentations from different participants:

These were followed by a presentation by Hani Serag, Do health systems serve people's health?

We then re-assembled into our four project groups and continued to work on our project tasks.

Day Four

Day Four commenced with a presentation by Cedric Edwards, the first US graduate of Cuba's Latin American Medical School.

Following this we had presentations by representatives of the four project groups:

We then undertook an evaluation of the IPHU experience involving completion of the questionnaires plus an informal discussion.

Finally Katie handed out certificates, congratulated each of us and celebrated the completion of the course. See photos (you may need to search for 'iphu.atlanta')

Evaluation Report here

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