African Dreams Turning the Dreams in Reality for Right to Health in Africa AIFO-PHM Africa International Competition 2004-05 Summary: AIFO/Italy and People’s Health Movement Africa invite articles and essays in English, French, Portuguese and Italian from activists, non-governmental organisations and grass-roots organisations based in Africa related to experiences of innovative approaches linked to promotion of any aspect of better health for different community groups. Articles selected by an international jury will be part of a book to be released and distributed at Second People’s Health Assembly (PHA-II) in Ecuador in 2005 and will also be made available on AIFO website. Three best articles will receive a cash prize of 500 Euros each. Last date for sending entries is 15 October 2004. It is possible that some selected partners from this initiative will be sponsored by AIFO to participate in the PHA-II. A decision regarding this will be taken before the end of 2004. In addition, authors of the three prize winning entries may also be invited to an award ceremony in Italy. Background: After the Alma Ata Declaration on primary health care in 1978 and the launching world-wide objective of “Health for All by the year 2000”, there were many impressive gains in terms of improvement of health status in developing countries. However, the last 15 years have seen stagnation in many of these gains and especially in Africa, many of these gains have been lost. Decrease in average life expectancy at birth, rising infant and maternal mortality rates, stagnating or decreasing cover of basic vaccinations, cuts in health budgets, devastation created by epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, lack of access to essential medicines, etc. are some aspects of the dramatic situation in Africa. At the same time, for many international organisations, Africa is seen as a “lost cause”, while international assistance is being diverted to other “more productive” areas of the world. There is little knowledge and awareness at international level about African grass-root organisations, movements and non-governmental organisations and about their work with communities. The initiative of African Dreams AIFO is an international organisation with its head-office in Bologna (Italy). AIFO is an active member of People’s Health Movement (PHM) and strongly supports the People’s Health Charter, a consensus document produced in December 2000 at the first People’s Health Assembly (PHA) in which more than 1450 persons from 92 countries participated. The initiative of African Dreams is being launched by AIFO in collaboration with People’s Health Movement Africa (PHM-Africa) to strengthen the participation of Africa in the second People’s Health Assembly planned for 18 to 23 July 2005 in Cuenca (Ecuador). Objectives of African Dreams Initiative: The objective of this initiative is to give international voice and better visibility to activists, non-governmental organisations and grass-roots organisations involved in health care related activities. At the same time, the initiative aims to advocate greater international support for Africa. Finally the initiative aims to strengthen networking and involvement of representatives from Africa to People’s Health Movement (PHM). Conditions and Norms of the Competition: 1. The competition is open to all individuals and non-governmental organisations based in any African country. 2. There is no limit to the number of entries that an individual or an organisation can send for the competition. 3. Each article should be between 2000 to 4500 words. The article can be sent to AIFO in any electronic format or by fax or by post. 4. Articles received at AIFO office in Bologna latest by 15 October 2004 will be considered for the competition. 5. The articles can be in any of the following languages – English, French, Portuguese or Italian. 6. The themes of the articles or essays should be linked to health care services and right to health. For example, these can be linked to innovative approaches linked to community involvement, community participation, community awareness, new strategies related to improving access to sustainable health care, new approaches for improving awareness and care for specific disadvantaged groups like ethnic minorities, children, women, disabled persons, etc., new approaches linked to specific diseases, use of creative methods like music, dance, circus or theatre for health education, strengthening of local organisations, approaches to combat effects of issues like privitization, activities related to stigma and prejudice linked to conditions such as leprosy, experiences and voices of people from the field, activities dealing with sensitive issues such as female genital mutilation, etc. These are only examples and participants are encouraged to look at other issues that are important for their lives and work. 7. Style of writing: The articles should be targeted at general population and thus should use simple, easy to understand language. Academic style with long list of references should be avoided. 8. Criteria for selection: Innovation of approach, discussion of both positive and negative aspects of approaches, simple technological solutions that can be replicated easily, community-based participatory approaches and easy readability of the articles. 9. Decisions of the international jury will be final and can not be contested. Selection process: Confirmation about the receipt of each article will be sent along with some PHM materials. All the articles will be first examined by an internal jury at AIFO/Italy under the guidance of Dr. Sunil Deepak. The better articles identified by the internal jury will be judged by an international jury composed of Ms. Mwajuma Masaiganah (PHM, East Africa), Dr. Ravi Narayan (PHM international coordinator), Ms. Maria Hamlin Zuniga (Convenor of the International Organizing Committee of PHA II) and Dr. Pam Zinkin (PHM, Europe). Time Frame: 15 October 2004 Last date for submitting articles to AIFO/Italy 15 November 2004 Finalisation of pre-selection by AIFO/Italy internal jury 31 December 2004 Finalisation of selection by International jury 30 January 2005 Announcement of winners 15 April 2005 Award ceremony (? In Italy – to be decided) 15 June 2005 Publication of the selected articles in a book 18-23 July 2005 Second People’s Health Assembly, Cuenca, Ecuador for formal release of the publication How to send entries: There is no specific format to be respected for writing the articles. On top of the article, in one corner write “African Dreams 2004” and along with the article remember to provide the following information: (a) Name of village or commune or sub-district or state etc. where the activity was carried out (b) Name of the country (c) Full name and postal and street address of the organisation based in Africa, responsible for the carrying out of activities reported in the article, including telephone fax number and email address, if available. (d) Name and nationality of person/s writers of the article along with a brief identity kit (education, role, experience, etc.). Where to send entries: Remember to write ‘African Dreams’ on the letter or in the subject of fax or email. 1. By Post: Articles can be sent by post at the following address: Medical Support Department AIFO Via Borselli 4-6 401356 Bologna Italy 2. By fax: Articles can be sent by fax to the following fax number in Bologna, Italy – +390-51-43.40.46 3. By email: Articles can be sent by email to the attention of Ms. Felicita Veluri, Medical Support Department of AIFO at the following email addresses: felicita.veluri@aifo.it