Global Health Week of Action 2008
"The Many Sides of the Right to Health"
March 24-28, 2008

Welcome!

Thank you for taking part in the 2008 Global Health Week of Action presented by the member organizations of the University Coalitions for Global Health (UCGH).  There has never been a greater need for the voice of students to remind the nations of the world about their commitment to the right to health for all people. We need you to take action for the 1.3 billion people from around the world that may never see a doctor, nurse or midwife in their lifetime, for the 11.4 million people worldwide that are infected with both tuberculosis and HIV and for the children of the world of which 1 dies every 30 seconds from water borne diseases.

Through the empowerment of young people, UCGH aims to ensure that all people have the right to the highest attainable standard of health (As defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 25). During this Week of Action we are bringing students together to advocate for the right to health for populations that are underserved, or in some cases their right to health is outright ignored by the governments responsible for their welfare.

You have joined a community of thousands of other medical, nursing, public health, and undergraduate students from across the country in a national week of education and action to fight some of the greatest health challenges of our generation.  This organizing guide provides you with the information you need to get started.  In it you will find suggested activities, tips on student organizing, and links to an array of resources on the web.  We have also provided several issue-specific guides that include background information, suggested activities, and flyer/poster templates for promoting the week of action on your campus.  We look forward to working with you as you engage your classmates and your community to create a constituency of health advocates for an effective response to the health disparities of the world.

Thank you for joining us in the fight.

In solidarity,

University Coalitions for Global Health (UCGH)

Pete Witzler                               Stephanie Jamison                       Erin Burns        
Health Action AIDS Student Organizer        Global AIDS Fellow                                      National Organizer   
Physicians for Human Rights                         American Medical Student Association        Student Global AIDS Campaign

Courtney Matson                         Shelley Chinnan                          Lauren Smith
Global Health Organizer                               National Organizer                                        Legislative Advocacy Fellow
Americans for Informed Democracy           Student Campaign for Child Survival             Universities Allied for Essential Medicines

Stephanie Gutendorf                     Sarah Bittman
UCGH Outreach Fellow                             UCGH Outreach Intern
University Coalitions for Global Health        Global Health Council

Want to do something on your campus on:

Health Work Force?

Gender and Health?

Access to Medicines?

Trade and the Role of Universities?

Access to Clean Water?

HIV/AIDS?

Malaria?

Then download our toolkit and get started!

Want other resources on rallying, lobby visits, call-in days and more on health issues? Click here.

Questions? contact courtney@aidemocracy.org