[Alma Mata] 4th December - the Big Debate

[Tom Yates]

THE BIG DEBATE: How can British activists assist developing country 
activists to build better health-care?  

From the anti aparteid movement to the Ilisu Dam Campaign, over the years
British activists have played an important role by supporting key struggles in
the developing world. This meeting will explore health and activism today.
Please join us to tackle questions such as...

In the modern world, which are the movements that need to be supported?What is
the best way to do this? And is this legitimate or a new form of colonialism
?

The Treatment Action Campaign and the People's Health Movement are arguably
the two most significant health activist groupings in the world today . We are
very happy to welcome representatives from these organisations to UCL. 

The Treatment Action Campaign is a group of 16,000 South Africans who are
mostly poor, black and unemployed. Many of their members are HIV positive. 

Using a combination of street protests and the courts, the TAC have made
significant  progress in securing access to medicines in the public sector for
the 5.4 million HIV positive people living in South Africa. In 2002 they
secured the right to medicines to prevent HIV passing from mother to child. In
2003 they  won the right to a government antiretroviral programme. This summer
they were again in the streets and in the news. Our first speaker is Nathan
Geffen, Treatment Action Campaign's head research and communications. 

Active in over 60 countries around the world, the People's Health Movement is
another grassroots organisation. Based in Cairo, it is a network of health
activists that share a common belief in the principles of the 1978 Alma Ata
Declaration - namely the importance of primary healthcare, community
empowerment and equity. Our second speaker, David McCoy, is a public health
Doctor at UCL.  He is very active in the PHM as a council member and is 
Co-managing Editor of the Global Health Watch.

When - 4th December, 6-8pm,
Where - Pearson Lecture Theatre, Pearson Building (UCL), Gower Street (Warren
St or Euston Square Tube).
Map -  http://www.geog.ucl.ac.uk/images/map.jpg 
For more details contact Tom on ghapteam at medsin.org.