On February 7, "Civil Society Symposium on Global Health -What world's civit societies expect Japan toward TICADIV and G8 Summit-" took place in Tokyo. Global Health working group in Poverty and Development Unit acted as a main organizer.
As many as 100 audiences gathered at "The Center for the Advancement of Working Women" in Minato-ky, Tokyo, for this symposium.
At the symposium, Ms. Sumie Ishii from JOICFP started her speech with telling a life story of one African woman and went into the issues of infectious deseases, health system and gender with emphasis on the importance of global health. In the review of MDGs whose attainment due is 2015, the delay in the field of global health has been likely to pointed out.
Japanese government has made in Okinawa summit a catalyst for setting up the global fund, and Ms. Ishii said that she was expecting Japanese government of expanding both quantity and quality of investment for global health in the Toyako summit this year.
Secondly, Ms. Mohga Kamal-Yanni from Oxfam Great Bliten explained about strengthening health system. According to Ms.Kamal-Yanni, the health system consists of four pillars -infrastructure, human resource, medical supply, and information system-, and health system would not function if even one of these pillars collapses. Also, she clarified that the lack of fund and lack of collaboration among donors can be obstacles for strong health system.
She emphasized that it is necessary that government and citizens both in donor countries and developmeing counties ought to make action plans togather and provide long-term supports.
Thirdly, Mr. Rotimi Sankore from African Public Health Rights Alliance/"15% Now" campaign had a lecture. In order to face issues of Africa, he said, it is needed to understand its historical background; i.e. Atlantic slave trade and colonial policy devided people; national foundation became quite vulnerable; policies of World Bank and International Monetary Fund forcibly tighten national finance causing limited investment to the soical sectors such as global health and education.
He further indicated the severe situation that was brought up by lack of doctors and medical assistants. This situation is caused by "brain drain" -- medical personnel goes to Europe and the United States from Africa. And he indicates that the factitive policies of Europe and the United States underly this situation.
In addition, Mr. Sankore decleared that Japan, who is not a part of this "brain drain" ourght to lead other G8 countries and correct current international policies.
Finally, Ms. Lucy Chesire from Kenya AIDS NGOs Consortium talked mainly about tuberculosis and HIV complex infection from a view of MDG6 (Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases). She stated that infectious deseases spread beyond borders, and in order to halt this spread, continuous support for examination, care, prevention, and midical treatment are essential. She added that it is important for civil society to demand the government to take a responsibility of providing accessible health services for everyone who needs it.
After the lectures from the guest speakers, quite a few audiences actively participated in Q&A session, making the discussion substantial.
As regard to "brain drain", two prominet points stood out. One was the unfairness of slave trade and colonial domination over the past five centuries which prevents development of Africa even today that half a century has past since its independence.
Another point was the continuous impact of unfairness of policy making by Europe and the United States. These points made it clear how policies in international society affect the life of developing countries.
To resolve this situation, NGOs should not only work in the local comunity but also appeal to the government of their nations and international society so that current system which brings up poverty can be changed.
At last, it was recomfirmed that health is human right, and in order to insure this human right to everyone, each one of us as global citizen and as tax payer is required to do "advocacy", demanding implementation of promises and accountability for the government.
The symposium was closed with some homework for each of us as a member of civil society.
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