Women's Access to Health Campaign

The campaign focuses on the specific objectives articulated in the Alma Ata Declaration of 1978 for the implementation of Health for All, such as: universally accessible health care; community participation; affordable and appropriate services; plans integral to social and economic development prevention, promotion, and curative care; and inter- and multi-sectoral collaboration. The central campaign strategy is pointing out what is missing from that framework in terms of women's health. The campaign also works to show solidarity for the concept of primary health care.

To cite one example, the 2003 campaign was directed at national governments. Materials, all of which were made available online, included the 2003 Call for Action (Governments: Take Responsibility for Women's Health! Primary Health Care and Women's Reproductive and Sexual Rights: Where are we today?); background material on the campaign; the Alma Ata declaration on Primary Health Care; a campaign sign-up sheet; and a poster. Activities, meetings, and conferences were organised. Participants regularly received updates; the reports/articles they submitted were distributed in order to stimulate and inform each other.

Women, Gender, Health, Rights.

According to organisers, since 1993 the World Bank (WB) has taken a greater role in the development and implementation of health policies for developing countries; in contrast, the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) has diminished. They claim that "Government health policies, with the support of WHO and the WB, have been redirected to focus on privatisation, cost-effectiveness and the development of public-private partnerships in the provision of health care. This development has dramatically affected peoples health in economically poor countries and specifically women's health. We find that the under the prevailing circumstances governments have had little say in protecting the needs and interests of their people since they are or claim to be dependent on the Bank for loans and hence have to agree to the conditions placed by this institution." These concerns motivated the 2003 Call for Action.

Organisers clarify their goals as follows, "While we wish to address womens needs for basic services..., we also want to address the enabling conditions that are essential for women to enjoy good health. International and national policies that result in greater poverty of populations and an ever-growing gap between the rich and the poor, as is currently the case, have a direct impact on womens possibilities to stay healthy or enjoy their reproductive and sexual rights."

WGNRR is an autonomous network of groups and individuals worldwide who aim to achieve and support reproductive rights for women.