AIFO - PHM Africa International Competition
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African Dreams
Turning the Dreams in Reality for Right to Health in Africa
AIFO-PHM Africa International Competition 2004-05
Summary:
AIFO/Italy and PHM Africa invite articles in English, French,
Portuguese and Italian from activists, non-governmental organi-
sations and grass-roots organisations based in Africa related to
experiences of innovative approaches linked to promotion of any
aspect of better health for different community groups. Articles
selected by an international jury will be part of a book to be
released and distributed at Second People's Health Assembly
(PHA-II) in Ecuador in 2005 and will also be made available on
AIFO website http://www.aifo.it. Three best articles will re-
ceive a cash prize of 500 Euros each. Last date for sending en-
tries is 15 October 2004.
It is possible that some selected partners from this initiative
will be sponsored by AIFO to participate in the PHA-II. A deci-
sion regarding this will be taken before the end of 2004. In ad-
dition, authors of the three prize winning entries may also be
invited to an award ceremony in Italy.
Background:
After the Alma Ata Declaration on primary health care in 1978
and the launching world-wide objective of "Health for All by the
year 2000", there were many impressive gains in terms of im-
provement of health status in developing countries. However, the
last 15 years have seen stagnation in many of these gains and
especially in Africa, many of these gains have been lost.
Decrease in average life expectancy at birth, rising infant and
maternal mortality rates, stagnating or decreasing cover of ba-
sic vaccinations, cuts in health budgets, devastation created by
epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, lack of access to
essential medicines, etc. are some aspects of the dramatic
situation in Africa.
At the same time, for many international organisations, Africa
is seen as a "lost cause", while international assistance is be-
ing diverted to other "more productive" areas of the world.
There is little knowledge and awareness at international level
about African grass-root organisations, movements and non-
governmental organisations and about their work with communi-
ties.
The initiative of African Dreams:
AIFO is an international organisation with its head office in
Bologna (Italy). AIFO is an active member of People's Health
Movement (PHM) and strongly supports the People's Health Char-
ter, a consensus document produced in December 2000 at the first
People's Health Assembly (PHA) in which more than 1450 persons
from 92 countries participated.
The initiative of African Dreams is being launched by AIFO in
collaboration with People's Health Movement Africa (PHM-Africa)
to strengthen the participation of Africa in the second People's
Health Assembly planned for 18 to 23 July 2005 in Cuenca (Ecua-
dor).
Objectives of African Dreams Initiative:
The objective of this initiative is to give international voice
and better visibility to activists, non-governmental organisa-
tions and grass-roots organisations involved in health care re-
lated activities. At the same time, the initiative aims to advo-
cate greater international support for Africa. Finally the ini-
tiative aims to strengthen networking and involvement of repre-
sentatives from Africa to People's Health Movement (PHM).
Conditions and Norms of the Competition:
1. The competition is open to all individuals and non-
governmental organisations based in any African country.
2. There is no limit to the number of entries that an individual
or an organisation can send for the competition.
3. Each article should be between 2000 to 4500 words. The arti-
cle can be sent to AIFO in any electronic format or by fax or by
post.
4. Articles received at AIFO office in Bologna latest by 15 Oc-
tober 2004 will be considered for the competition.
5. The articles can be in any of the following languages - Eng-
lish, French, Portuguese or Italian.
6. The themes of the articles can be linked to innovative ap-
proaches linked to community involvement, community participa-
tion, community awareness, new strategies related to improving
access to sustainable health care, new approaches for improving
awareness and care for specific disadvantaged groups like ethnic
minorities, children, women, disabled persons, etc., new ap-
praoches linked to specific diseases, use of creative methods
like circus or theater, activities dealing with sensitive issues
such as female genital mutilation, strengthening of local or-
ganisations, etc.
7. Style of writing: The articles should be targetted at general
population and thus should use simple, easy to understand lan-
guage. Accademic style with long list of references should be
avoided.
8. Criteria for selection: Innovation of approach, discussion of
both positive and negative aspects of approaches, simple techno-
logical solutions that can be replicated easily, community-based
participatory approaches and easy readability of the articles.
9. Decisions of the international jury will be final and can not
be contested.
Selection process:
Confirmation about the receipt of each article will be sent
along with some PHM materials. All the articles will be first
examined by an internal jury at AIFO/Italy under the guidance of
Dr. Sunil Deepak. The better articles identified by the internal
jury will be judged by an international jury composed of Ms.
Mwajuma Masaiganah (PHM, East Africa), Dr. Ravi Narayan (PHM in-
ternational coordinator) and Dr. Pam Zinkin (PHM, Europe).
Time Frame:
15 October 2004: Last date for submitting articles to AIFO/Italy
15 November 2004: Finalisation of pre-selection by AIFO/Italy
internal jury
31 December 2004: Finalisation of selection by International
jury
30 January 2005: Announcement of winners
15 April 2005: Award ceremony (? In Italy - to be decided)
15 June 2005: Publication of the selected articles in a book
18-23 July 2005: Second People's Health Assembly, Cuenca, Ecua-
dor for formal release of the publication
How to send entries:
There is no specific format to be respected for writing the ar-
ticles. On top of the article, in one corner write "African
Dreams 2004" and along with the article remember to provide the
following information:
(a) Name of village or commune or sub-district or state etc.
where the activity was carried out
(b) Name of the country
(c) Full name and postal and street address of the organisation
based in Africa, responsible for the carrying out of activities
reported in the article, including telephone fax number and
email address, if available.
(d) Name and nationality of person/s writers of the article
along with a brief identity kit (education, role, experience,
etc.).
Where to send entries:
Remember to write 'African Dreams' on the letter or in the sub-
ject of fax or e-mail.
1. By Post: Articles can be sent by post at the following ad-
dress:
Medical Support Department
AIFO
Via Borselli 4-6
401356 Bologna, Italy
2. By fax: Articles can be sent by fax to the following AIFO fax
number in Bologna, Italy -
+390-51-43-40-46
3. By e-mail: Articles can be sent by e-mail to the attention of
Ms.Felicita Veluri
Medical Support Department of AIFO
at the following e-mail addresses:
mailto:felicita.veluri@aifo.it
or
mailto:info@aifo.it
FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATIONS SEND AN E-MAIL TO
Dr. Sunil Deepak
mailto:sunil.deepak@aifo.it