The Millennium Development Goals & The Health Professionals Rubina Sohail Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore

Right to Health - Evolution Universal Declaration of Human Rights International media barely reported 2005: Now, the worlds most translated document By the year Goal: Health for all Attention to economic, social and cultural rights Commitments: Majestic failure to live up to expectations

September 2000 September 2000 Reduce poverty & hunger by half by the year 2015 MDGs MDGs Eight targets - Help meet these basic needs for most people One of the most striking features of the Millennium Development Goals is the prominence they give to health UN Special Rapporteur Paul Hunt

The Millennium Development Goals 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Develop a global partnership for development

Promoting & Protecting - Right to Health Rapporteur For promotion and protection of the right to health Objectives Raise the profile of health as a fundamental human right Increase jurisprudential understanding of the right to health. Identify good practices on how the right to health has been respected, protected and fulfilled

MDGs – Ground Situation Slow & uneven progress towards MDG targets At the current rate, many may be missed altogether The mere existence of MDGs does not empower the poor people & governments The government can provide an arena for critical engagement

Participation can transform country-owned strategies into development strategies owned and implemented by a wide range of stakeholders, by a wide range of stakeholders, making them more effective & sustainable

The Role of Health Professionals The Role of Health Professionals Health professionals are both victims and perpetrators of human rights violations Constitute an essential element in ensuring the fulfillment of the right to health Concern about the role of health professionals in human rights violations in the context to stigma and discrimination

Health Professionals – Current Situation Minimal awareness amongst health care professionals for health as a human right Need to create a platform for human rights concerns within the medical profession Need for a paradigm shift for health professionals

Health Professionals – The Way Forward Before Compassion Good clinical practice After Broaden perspectives Increase responsibilities Protect and fulfill the human rights of individuals based on universal standards Guided by medical code of ethics

Workshop on Poverty, RH & the MDGs 31 st March 2005 (Islamabad) Recommendations Information, prevention, diagnosis & treatment for STIs and HIV/AIDS Information, prevention, diagnosis & treatment for STIs and HIV/AIDS Training and commitment of health professionals to Training and commitment of health professionals to –Ensure that rights of their patients are respected –Correct medical ethics are adhered to

Workshop on Poverty, RH & the MDGs 31 st March 2005 (Islamabad) Strengthening of health systems Strengthening of health systems Policies for availability of EmOC Policies for availability of EmOC Increasing the number of SBAs Increasing the number of SBAs Inclusion of the sexual and reproductive health in the future implementation of the MDGs Inclusion of the sexual and reproductive health in the future implementation of the MDGs

WSRR Project - Pakistan FIGO & SOGP FIGO & SOGP Duration: 3 years Duration: 3 years Objectives Objectives –Development of code of ethics –Sensitization –Inclusion in curriculum Activities Activities

WSRR Project - Pakistan Lessons learnt Limited awareness in health professionals and medical students about WSSR Limited awareness in health professionals and medical students about WSSR Reluctance to discuss Reluctance to discuss Need of capacity building Need of capacity building Medical students response was encouraging Medical students response was encouraging

Health Professionals & MDGs Conclusions Recommendations Awareness & sensitization Awareness & sensitization Defining roles Defining roles Capacity building Capacity building Participatory approach for achieving goals Participatory approach for achieving goals Responsibilities EmOC EmOC Sexual & reproductive rights Sexual & reproductive rights RH for all RH for all

Health Professionals & MDGs Conclusions Planning for the future Inclusion in curriculum Inclusion in curriculum Teaching medical students Teaching medical students Sensitizing for the future Sensitizing for the future Weightage in assessment Weightage in assessment Hands-on approach Hands-on approach