Million Message March to UN for right to health

The Million Message March 2011 is a collaborative communication campaign to mobilize community support and political commitment for the Right to Health and Universal Access. It aims to reach out globally to collect one million messages (by SMS, Tweets) from people in need of treatment and care (for HIV, cancer, TB, diabetes, hepatitis and other life threatening diseases) and their families, care-givers and allies.

These 'Voices' will be amplified, disseminated and projected along the 'March' starting at the World Health Assembly in May, through two UN High Level Meetings (HIV in June and Non-Communicable Diseases NCDs in September), and other major health events. The Million Message March will 'arrive' on Human Rights Day, the 10th of December, at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) so that the messages can 'Speak-Up' and be heard at the top of the UN and its Member States.

On Monday, 16th of May, from the Institute of Palliative Medicine in Calicut, Kerala, India, the Million Message March to the UN begins. The Institute, a WHO Collaborating Center, is a global model for participatory community based care, and a fitting starting point for the March. First Steps: the 2nd World OPEN Health Assembly (WOHA2011), in tandem with the World Health Assembly, 16-24 May.

WOHA features a non-stop global 'chat' and dozens of 'Speak-Up Sessions', moderated live by partners in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, on diverse topics they choose. These partners include the Institute of Palliative Medicine, INPUD (International Network of People Who Use Drugs), the Lawyers Collective, the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance, INP+, People's Health Movement, International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO), Foundation for Hospice in Sub-Saharan Africa, African Palliative Care Association, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (US), Human Rights Watch, The International Community of Women with HIV/AIDS (ICW Asia-Pacific), World Care Council and others.

The Million Message March to the UN (MMM2UN) is a civil society initiative, spearheaded by the iMAXi Cooperative with the dynamic participation of many comrades and partners. Together, we're forging a new tool for social mobilization via social media.

Join the Million Message March to the UN.  Tweet @MMM2UN  Follow #Right2Health


CNS

Published in:
Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand
Elites TV News, California, USA
Silo Breaker News, UK
CNS Diabetes Media Initiative, India 
CNS Stop TB Initiative, India
Sathi Health Group, India
Wikio News, Africa
The Non Profit Blogs,   
World Care Council,   
i maxi.org   
IFHHRO.org,   
Open Health News,