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Development (2004) 47, 145-151. doi:10.1057/palgrave.development.1100044

This edition of Window on the World describes some of the professional groups, activists and civil society groups working on political campaigns to improve health and well-being around the world.

Consumers International

www.consumersinternational.org

Consumers International (CI) supports, links and represents consumer groups and agencies all over the world. It has a membership of over 250 organizations in 115 countries. It strives to promote a fairer society through defending the rights of all consumers, especially the poor, marginalized and disadvantaged level for policies that respect consumer concerns.

CI was founded in 1960 as the International Organisation of Consumers Unions (IOCU) by a group of national consumer organizations. The organization rapidly grew and soon became established as the voice of the international consumer movement on issues such as product and food standards, health and patients' rights, the environment and sustainable consumption, and the regulation of international trade and public utilities.

Consumer policy promotes the establishment of legislation, institutions and information that improve quality of life and empower people to make changes in their own lives. It seeks to ensure that basic human rights are recognized, and promotes understanding of people's rights and responsibilities as consumers.

Consumers also have responsibilities to use their power in the market to drive out abuses, to encourage ethical practices and to support sustainable consumption and production.

Developing and protecting consumers' rights and their awareness of their responsibilities are integral to

• eradication of poverty,
• good governance,
• social justice and respect for human rights,
• fair and effective market economies,
• protection of the environment.

CI's Head Office is based in London. It has Regional Offices in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Santiago (Chile) and Harare (Zimbabwe), and in London.

The Global Fund

www.theglobalfund.org

The Global Fund's purpose is to attract and disburse additional resources to prevent and treat AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. As a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities, the Global Fund represents a new approach to international health financing. The Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations, supporting their work through substantially increased funding.

The Global Fund relies on local ownership and planning to ensure that new resources are directed to programmes on the frontlines of this global effort. Its results - based approach to grantmaking - where grant awards are disbursed incrementally, based on measures of progress - is designed to ensure that funds are used efficiently to scale up proven interventions.

The Global Fund is an independent organization, governed by an international Board that consists of representatives of donor and recipient governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector (including business and philanthropic foundations) and affected communities. Also participating in ex-officio capacity are representatives of the WHO, UNAIDS, and the World Bank. The latter also serves as the Global Fund's fiduciary trustee. In January 2003, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson succeeded the Fund's first Chair, Dr Chrispus Kiyonga of Uganda. Dr Suwit Wibulpolprasert, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Thailand's Ministry of Public Health, serves as Vice Chair.

Gonoshasthaya Kendra

www.rightlivelihood.se

Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK, The People's Health Centre) was established in 1972 by Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury and some medical colleagues. From the beginning GK emphasized independent, self-reliant and people-orientated development. Working originally in the health field it has steadily expanded the scope of its work into additional important areas that affect the lives of the majority of rural-based Bangladeshis: education, nutrition, agriculture, employment generation, production of basic medicines and women's emancipation.

It is, however, in the health field that GK's work has been most innovative. It was the first place outside China to train paramedics seriously. About 160 paramedics now cover a population of 180,000 from the GK centre and ten sub-centres which have been established around the country. They are trained in preventive medicine of all kinds and simple curative medicine, and operate a health insurance scheme based on ability to pay. Thanks to their dedicated work, infant and maternal mortality in the operational area of GK have fallen to about half of Bangladesh's national average.

In education and training, GK has an extensive programme. It encompasses literacy for all age-groups and a special emphasis on women's development with a range of income-earning initiatives.

GK is controlled by a charitable trust, of which Chowdhury is one of the four trustees. The Trust now employs some 1500 people full time, with an additional 1000 part-time. About half of its budget is self-generated. An important principle is that, except to the absolutely indigent, GK never gives away its goods and services. They have to be paid for, however cheaply. This explains the relatively high self-sufficiency rate.

Health Action International

www.haiweb.org

Health Action International (HAI) is an informal network of more than 150 consumer, health, development and other public interest groups involved in health and pharmaceutical issues in more than 70 countries around the world. HAI has active participants in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Pacific region. HAI represents the interests of consumers in drug policy and believes that all drugs marketed should be acceptably safe, effective, affordable and meet real medical needs.

HAI believes that all drugs marketed should

• meet real medical need;
• have therapeutic advantages;
• be acceptably safe;
• offer value for money.

HAI campaigns for better controls on drug promotion and the provision of balanced, independent information for prescribers and consumers.

HAI works at many different levels: with health workers in developing countries; with academics and trainers, with government officials and national health associations; with regional decision-making bodies such as the European Commission of the European Union and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) , with the pharmaceutical industry, and at the international level with agencies such as the WHO. HAI contacts have taken part in many consultations and discussions organised by the WHO as part of its Revised Drug Strategy and has been active in mobilizing support for the WHO Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy department.

Healthlink Worldwide

www.healthlink.org.uk

Healthlink Worldwide works in partnership with organizations in developing countries to improve the health and well-being of poor and vulnerable communities by strengthening the provision, use and impact of information.

Healthlink Worldwide works in partnership with organizations in developing countries to improve the health and well-being of poor and vulnerable communities by strengthening the provision, use and impact of information.

Healthlink Worldwide works with partners in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Healthlink Worldwide is a partner in Source, an international information support centre designed to strengthen the management, use and impact of information on health and disability.

Healthlink Worldwide hosts Exchange, a networking and learning programme on health communications for development.

The International Baby-Food Action Network

www.ibfan.org

The International Baby-Food Action Network (IBFAN) consists of public interest groups working around the world to reduce infant and young child morbidity and mortality.

IBFAN aims to improve the health and well-being of babies and young children, their mothers and their families through the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and optimal infant-feeding practices.

Interactive Health Network

www.inasp.org.uk

INASP Health Links is a unique Internet Gateway to over 500 selected websites for health professionals, medical library communities, publishers and non-governmental organizations in developing countries. The site is hosted by the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications, a programme of the International Council for Science (ICSU). INASP Health Links is accredited by the Health on the Net Foundation.

IPPNW

www.ippnw.org

IPPNW is a non-partisan global federation of medical organizations dedicated to research, education, and advocacy relevant to the prevention of nuclear war. IPPNW seeks to prevent all wars, to promote non-violent conflict resolution, and to minimize the effects of war and preparations for war on health, development, and the environment.

At the height of the Cold War, a group of Soviet and American doctors founded IPPNW to educate health professionals, political leaders, and the public about the medical consequences of nuclear war. For this effort, which reached millions with the message that nuclear weapons must never be used again, IPPNW received the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize.

Today, IPPNW continues to unite people across political divides to prevent nuclear war. The global threat posed by nuclear weapons is more acute, immediate, and entrenched than ever. IPPNW works to divest the charter members of the nuclear club (the US, Russia, the UK, France, and China) of their huge arsenals. IPPNW is also active in South Asia, North Asia, and the Middle East where nuclear arms races are in early stages.

International Society of Doctors for the Environment

www.isde.org

Possessing official consultative status with WHO and the UN, International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE) is a global NGO of medical doctors, scientists and health professionals focused on the linkages between human health and environmental factors. We build local capacity through technical training, education, awareness-raising, and research. We work with medical communities, government policy-makers, corporate social responsibility, and civil society.

Medact

www.medact.org

Medact is a health professionals organization challenging barriers to health. It highlights the health impacts of violent conflict, poverty and environmental degradation, and with others act to eradicate them. The Global Health Watch is being developed to strengthen calls for equitable health for all. The Watch is being developed by People's Health Movement, Gega and Medact.

Médecins Sans Frontières

www.msf.org

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 80 countries. MSF has been setting up emergency medical aid missions around the world since 1971.

MSF works in remote health care centres, slum areas and provides training of local personnel. All this is done with the objective of rebuilding health structures to acceptable levels. In carrying out humanitarian assistance, MSF seeks also to raise awareness of crisis situations; MSF acts as a witness and will speak out, either in private or in public about the plight of populations in danger for whom MSF works. In doing so, MSF sets out to alleviate human suffering, to protect life and health and to restore and ensure respect for the human beings and their fundamental human rights.

It is part of MSF's work to address any violations of basic human rights encountered by field teams, violations perpetrated or sustained by political actors. It does so by confronting the responsible actors themselves, by putting pressure on them through mobilization of the international community and by issuing information publicly. In order to prevent compromise or manipulation of MSF's relief activities, MSF maintains neutrality and independently from individual governments. The organization also tries to ensure that the majority of funds raised for its work comes directly from contributions from the general public. In this way, MSF guarantees equal access to its humanitarian assistance.

NGO Forum for Health

www.ngo-forum-health.ch

The network was founded in the 1970's to promote the concept of Primary Health Care (PHC). Over the years, the group expanded its activities beyond PHC: In the wake of the Alma Ata conference, four further needs to make PHC a reality were identified and promoted

• Promotion of people's participation.
• Strengthen means of communication at all levels.
• Encourage cooperation between NGOs within countries.
• Find a new style of coordination at local, regional and international level.

In 1997, the organization decided to expand further and changed its name to its present NGO Forum for Health. The new name invites and encourages multi-sectoral presence and cooperation.

The NGO Forum for Health's mission is to make health for all a reality by promoting equity and justice in health care, by mobilizing resources, by advocating for the rights of all persons at all stages for their lives, and by creating an environment conductive to wholesome living. The forum places special emphasis on the rights and the improvement of health of the socially excluded and marginalized. It considers that the goal of health for all is a moral and ethical imperative and that the realisation of this health ideal will itself contribute to people's feelings of well-being.

The NGO Forum advocates the global dialogue and work on current health issues and trends. Its emphasis is on PHC, HIV/AIDS, gender issues, child survival, adolescent health, spiritual dimension of health, health at the workplace, and the healthy environment. Symposiums and panels, organized during the last few years include 'Health and Human Rights', 'Health and Poverty', 'PHC - 25 years after the Alma Ata declaration', 'Paths to Health - the spiritual dimension in health and traditional medicine' during the World Health Assembly, and the Health Caucus during the Commission on Human Rights.

The People's Health Movement

www.phmovement.org

The People's Health Movement (PHM) is a growing coalition of grassroots organizations dedicated to changing the prevailing health care delivery system. This system is considered to be failing to serve the deteriorating health of most of the poor worldwide. The PHM process began with a series of networking and discussion activities worldwide to consider key issues in preparation for an international gathering ¾ the first People's Health Assembly (PHA), held in Bangladesh in December 2000. The PHM is a collective effort in opening up opportunities for communities and civil society organizations that believe that the current health situation is unacceptable and therefore want to have a more significant voice in determining the direction of the future. The following objectives guide the PHA process:

• To hear the unheard.
• To reinforce the principle of health as a broad cross-cutting issue.
• To develop cooperation between concerned actors in the health field.
• To formulate a People's Health Charter.
• To improve the communication between concerned groups, institutions and actors.
• To share and increase knowledge, skills, motivation and advocacy for change.
• To use the Internet and Telehealth technology in innovative ways to supplement existing modes of global communication.

The civil society organizations involved in coordinating the PHM process include:

Asian Community Health Action Network (ACHAN),

Consumers International (CI),

Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation (DHF),

Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK),

Health Action International - Asia Pacific (HAIAP),

International People's Health Council (IPHC),

Third World Network (TWN),

Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR).

Physicians for Social Responsibility

www.psr.org

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is a leading public policy organization with 24,000 members representing the medical and public health professions and concerned citizens, working together for nuclear disarmament, a healthful environment, and an end to the epidemic of gun violence. PSR is committed to the elimination of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, the achievement of a sustainable environment, and the reduction of violence and its causes.

Founded in 1961, PSR led the campaign to end atmospheric nuclear testing by documenting the presence of Strontium 90, a byproduct of atomic test, in children's teeth. During the following two decades, PSR's efforts to educate the public about the dangers of nuclear war grew into an international movement with the founding of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, with whom PSR shared the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to IPPNW in 1985. During the 1990s, PSR built on this record of achievement by ending nuclear warhead production and winning a comprehensive ban on all nuclear tests.

Understanding that nuclear war continues to be the most acute threat to human life and the global biosphere, PSR reaffirms its commitment of nearly 40 years to the elimination of nuclear weapons and the reversal of the arms race and the national budgetary priorities that fuel that race, sacrificing our nation's health, social and economic needs.

Recognizing that new dangers now threaten us, PSR has expanded its mission to include environmental health, addressing issues such as global climate change, proliferation of toxics, and pollution. Facing an epidemic of gun violence that kills 28,000 Americans a year, PSR also works to address firearms as a major public health menace.

Four major themes infuse the work of PSR:

• A commitment to democratic political processes and traditions.
• An affirmation of the physician's role as a teacher.
• A belief that as physicians and teachers, as we empower our students and patients to choose healthy lifestyles and caring interactions, we can also convince people and nations to choose policies that contribute to our common health and security.
• Promotion of the physical and psychological health and well-being of humanity.

Third World Network

www.twn.org

The Third World Network (TWN) is an independent nonprofit international network of organizations and individuals involved in issues relating to development, the Third World and North-South issues.

Its objectives are to conduct research on economic, social and environmental issues pertaining to the South; to publish books and magazines; to organize and participate in seminars; and to provide a platform representing broadly Southern interests and perspectives at international fora such as the UN conferences and processes.

Its recent and current activities include: the publication of the daily SUNS (South-North Develoment Monitor) bulletin from Geneva, Switzerland, the fortnightly Third World Economics and the monthly Third World Resurgence; the publication of TWN Features; the publication of books on environment and economic issues; the organizing of various seminars and workshops; and participation in international processes such as UNCED and the World Bank - NGO Committee.

The TWN's international secretariat is based in Penang, Malaysia. It has offices in Delhi, India; Montevideo, Uruguay (for South America); Geneva; and Accra, Ghana. The Third World Network has affiliated organizations in several Third World countries, including India, the Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Peru, Ethiopia, Uruguay, Mexico, Ghana, South Africa and Senegal. It also cooperates with several organizations in the North.

WHO Media Centre

www.who.int/mediacentre/en/

The WHO, the United Nations specialized agency for health, was established on 7 April 1948. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

WHO's secretariat focuses its work on the following six core functions:

• Articulating consistent, ethical and evidence-based policy and advocacy positions.
• Managing information by assessing trends and comparing performance; setting the agenda for, and stimulating research and development.
• Catalysing change through technical and policy support, in ways that stimulate cooperation and action and help to build sustainable national and inter-country capacity.
• Negotiating and sustaining national and global partnerships.
• Setting, validating, monitoring and pursuing the proper implementation of norms and standards.
• Stimulating the development and testing of new technologies, tools and guidelines for disease control, risk reduction, health care management, and service delivery.

The WHO media center offers a free access to WHO press releases, statements, fact sheets, photographs and audio and video links on WHO and other partner activities.

Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights

www.wgnrr.org

The Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) is an autonomous network of groups and individuals in every continent who aim to achieve and support reproductive rights for women.

Reproductive rights are a series of rights that enable all women - without discrimination on the basis of nationality, class, ethnicity, race, age, religion, disability, sexuality or marital status to decide whether or not to have children. This includes the right of access to safe, legal abortion. Reproductive rights are basic rights.

WGNRR strives for women's right to self-determination in keeping with their freedom, dignity and personally held values. Transforming social, political and economic conditions are part of the reproductive rights agenda so that all women are able to fully enforce reproductive rights.

Women's Access to Health Campaign (WAHC) Health for All - Health for Women

From 2003 to 2005 the Coordination Office coordinates the WAHC, in close collaboration with the People's Health Movement. The core activities are elaborated around, but not restricted to May 28; International Day of Action for Women's Health. The Campaign will focus on the specific objectives laid down in the Alma Ata Declaration of 1978 for the implementation of Health for All as the central theme and show within that framework the missing themes vis-à-vis women's health. The campaign will both highlight the failure of the fulfillment of the Alma Ata Declaration, and also show solidarity for the concept of primary health care which is the larger theme taken up by the People's Health Movement for the next few years.

The campaign slogan will be Health for All - Health for Women. The three-year core demand is that primary health care is provided for all peoples everywhere, taking into account, in theory and practice, women's reproductive and sexual health needs.

Compiled by the Editor