This article evaluats opportunities for action on social determinants of health (SDH) requires a historical perspective. Plans for addressing SDH should be developed with an awareness of past similar efforts and factors that contributed to their success or failure. The study was a review of published historical literature on analysis and action on SDH, in particular from the Latin American social medicine movement. Concluding comments state that opportunities exist today for significant progress in addressing SDH through national action and global mechanisms such as the Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Historical analysis suggests that civil society participation will be crucial for the success of these efforts.
Governance and participation in health
Social determinants, political contexts and civil society action: a historical perspective on the Commission on Social Determinants of Health
Solar O, Irwin A: Health Promotion Journal of Australia 17: 180-15, 2006
The role of the People's Health Movement in putting the social determinants of health on the global agenda
Narayan R: Health Promotion Journal of Australia 17 (3), 186-8, 2006
The People's Health Movement (PHM) is a global network of people oriented health professionals and activists, academcis and researchers, campaigners and people organizations that have actively promoted the re endorsement of the 'Health for All' principles of the Alma Ata Declaration and the importance of social determinants of health and health care. The paper outlines a series of ongoing advocacy initiatives through a PHM - WHO advocacy circle that has consistently since 2001 nudged WHO to reaffirm the Alma Ata principles and focus on the social determinants of health. This has led to an evolving dialogue with PHM and the setting up of the WHO commission on social determiants of health, in which the PHM, is actively engaged.
Unconventional gathering: The Nyeleni 2007 Forum for Food Sovereignty in Mali
Bangkokpost, 18 March 2007
The Nyeleni 2007 Forum for Food Sovereignty in Mali was not your usual global conference of diplomats and policy makers; the six-day programme initiated by and for the underprivileged worldwide was marked by a spirit of international solidarity. The shabby conditions, however, seemed a perfect fit for the theme of the Nyeleni 2007 Forum for Food Sovereignty. The six-day programme was initiated by and for the underprivileged worldwide, whose major concern may be their next meal. Among the five hundred-plus in attendance were small-scale farmers and fishermen, indigenous peoples, landless migrant workers, pastoralists, and NGOs who have been working with the rural and urban poor.
Aids, TB and malaria: Africa declares commitment
Ogbonnaya R: This Day (Lagos), 18 February 2007
Friends of the Global Fund Africa popularly referred to as Friends Africa, a new pan-African advocacy organisation, chose Kigali as the venue for the inauguration of its board and first board meeting to chart the way forward in the fight against HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria, the three diseases it claimed have been dealing a great blow to African continent. In Kigali , Friends Africa brought together some of the most committed, credible and influential voices of Africa as an indication of African leaderships' determination to lead the fight against the three diseases.
Home-based management of fever in rural Uganda: community perceptions and provider opinions
Nsabagasani X, Sabiiti JN, Källander K, Peterson S, Pariyo G, Tomson G: Malaria Journal 6:11, 26 January 2007
Uganda was the first country to scale up Home Based Management of Fever/ Malaria (HBM) in 2002. Under HBM pre-packaged unit doses with a combination Sulphadoxine/Pyrimethamin (SP) and Chloroquine (CQ) called "HOMAPAK" are administered to all febrile children by community selected voluntary drug distributors (DDs). In this study, community perceptions, health worker and drug provider opinions about the community based distribution of HOMAPAK and its effect on the use of other antimalarials were assessed.
Local Primary Health Care Committees and community-based health care workers in Mkuranga District, Tanzania: Does the public recognise and appreciate them?
Mubyazi GM, Mushi AK, Shayo E, et al: Ethno Medicine 8
A study was conducted to explore the views of villagers on the existence and functioning of local primary health-care (PHC) committees, village health workers (VHWs), skilled staff at government health facilities and their responsiveness to community health needs in Mkuranga district, Tanzania. Information was collected through separate group discussions with some members of households, local PHC committees and district health managers and semistructured interviews with individual household members, clinical and nursing staff at peripheral government facilities, and indepth interviews with officers in central and local government departments at district level. See the full report.
Hitting malaria where it hurts: Household and community responses in Africa
id21 9, August 2006
Preventing and treating malaria are now firmly on the international public health and global poverty agendas. However, despite a considerable increase in funds over recent years the malaria burden in much of sub-Saharan Africa shows little sign of decreasing. This report outlines issues on managing malaria in communities, and explores social roles. It notes that research has been largely concerned either with individual perceptions about the causes and symptoms of the disease or with the implementation of specific interventions. It fails to provide essential information on the context in which communities and households cope with their day-to-day problems, including malaria.
HIV positive men as responsible citizens and patients
id21 Insights 64, November 2006
South Africa's national anti-retroviral therapy programme and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) have been at the forefront in fighting HIV/AIDS. Rolling out anti-retrovirals nationally and ensuring treatment adherence is far from easy, however. HIV positive people can help themselves and others by being responsible citizens.
Civil Society campaign against gender violence
Longwe SH: E-Civicus, 20 November 2006
The International Day of No Violence Against Women Campaign does not only concern those sections of civil society dealing feminist issues. Not true. Instead the campaign illustrates the need for all sections of civil society to unite around fundamental issues of human rights, democracy and good governance.
Civil society misled on uranium mining in Malawi
Chimwaga J: Nation Online, 21 November 2006
Civil society organisations accused government Monday of misleading President Bingu wa Mutharika and the nation in its dealings on a prospective multi-billion kwacha uranium mining project at Kayelekera in Karonga for the impact it will will have on people’s lives. Civil society questions the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its lack of independence, participation, inclusiveness, cultural sensitivity and equity.