Never before did I think health--access, treatment, and indicators---is a free human right. Of course there are limitations within the system's available resources, but more specifically, I never thought that I could have free health treatment outside of the free clinic (which is now sliding scale fee). We are taking a Public Health and Human Rights course that is opening my eyes to what rights are and how my health is a right. We've been talking about what are human rights, the interrelationship between health and human rights, the international and domestic policies surrounding health and human rights, and the individual's responsibility to be educated and properly informed of his/her right.
We also spoke freely about the rights of SA citizens, legal inhabitants, and illegal inhabitants....and under the public sector (government funded) NO ONE can be denied health care regardless of citizenship or legal status.
For example, there are Zimbabwean refugees here in Khayelitsha near Cape Town and their living conditions and health conditions have become a question of human rights. They were invited to a People's Health Movement meeting on July 1, to share their experiences for a future violations case (declared refugees are legal and protected), and also make clear the role of PHM in attaining rights to unpaid wages, nutritional hot food (it's winter), health care for pregnant women, TB treatment, etc.
The Zimbabwean guests also expressed concerns of exploitation by non-profits and NGOs that have been buzzing around, asking for meetings and various interviews with the 1000s that live in the Desmond Tutu facility and then they disappear never to be seen again. They wanted to know that PHM would not be another case of one-sidedness and that they would be disclosed of the outcomes of their interviews and testimony.
This particularly struck a chord with me and my experiences in a post-Katrina New Orleans. Many people experienced one-sided relationships where government, private and NGOs were perceived to be the beneficiary of funding based on the status of displaced New Orleanians. This accountability and trust is a global issue, and a value of communication and transparency is proudly a part of Consciously Rebuilding.
We also spoke freely about the rights of SA citizens, legal inhabitants, and illegal inhabitants....and under the public sector (government funded) NO ONE can be denied health care regardless of citizenship or legal status.
For example, there are Zimbabwean refugees here in Khayelitsha near Cape Town and their living conditions and health conditions have become a question of human rights. They were invited to a People's Health Movement meeting on July 1, to share their experiences for a future violations case (declared refugees are legal and protected), and also make clear the role of PHM in attaining rights to unpaid wages, nutritional hot food (it's winter), health care for pregnant women, TB treatment, etc.
The Zimbabwean guests also expressed concerns of exploitation by non-profits and NGOs that have been buzzing around, asking for meetings and various interviews with the 1000s that live in the Desmond Tutu facility and then they disappear never to be seen again. They wanted to know that PHM would not be another case of one-sidedness and that they would be disclosed of the outcomes of their interviews and testimony.
This particularly struck a chord with me and my experiences in a post-Katrina New Orleans. Many people experienced one-sided relationships where government, private and NGOs were perceived to be the beneficiary of funding based on the status of displaced New Orleanians. This accountability and trust is a global issue, and a value of communication and transparency is proudly a part of Consciously Rebuilding.
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