Kenyan activists: "Patents over patients, we need your support in protesting"
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Cross-posted from HEALTHGAP:
Pasted below is a request for international support from Kenyan treatment activists who are opposing efforts to amend the Kenyan Industrial Property Act, because of the impact proposed amendments would have on access to affordable medicines. Please reply to Mercy Otim of the East African Treatment Access Movement: mailto:ottymercy@yahoo.com with your endorsement or questions.
From Mercy Otim:
The Kenyan Civil Society is collecting protest signatures. If you want to join us, please read below and sign in support of Kenyans. It looks like someone is trying to make amendments to the IP Act in Parliament, but since our parliamentarians are ignorant of the implications this will have on access to medication, no one seems to be giving it much attention in parliament.
So far, the civil society has met and sensitised the media and other civil society organisations on the issue and what is at stake and we are planning a media conference on Monday and then a protest and match to parliament on Tuesday as it might be tabled for the second reading. If this happens and the miscellaneos ammendments are passed, we are in BIG TROUBLE.
The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2006 has amendments to Kenya's IP Act 2001, section 58(2) and 80(1A)(1B)(1C). If passed, they will affect our ability to access the medicines we need.
We achieved a public-health friendly IP Act in 2001. It put our lives above profits. It valued Kenyan lives over commercial interests. Troublesome amendments to it were rejected in 2002. Today Kenya's IP Act is under attack again! Affordable treatments are at risk! Profits are being prioritized above Kenyans' lives!
If the amendments to the IP Act are passed in Parliament, Kenya�s treatment programs are at risk. Persons living with HIV are at risk! Orphans and vulnerable children living with HIV are at risk! Thousands of Kenyans fought for this Act in 2001, and many more are benefiting from its effects today.
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT TO REJECT THE CURRENT AMENDMENTS TO THE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY ACT.
SIGNED,
NAME ORGANISATION, COUNTRY
1.JAMES KAMAU KETAM, KENYA
2. MERCY OTIM EATAM, KENYA
3. DOROTHY ONYANGO NEPHAK/WOFAK, KENYA
4. ANGELINE SIPARO HEALTH POLICY , KENYA
5. CHRISTA CEPUCH HEALTH ACTION INTERNATIONAL , KENYA
6. LUDFINE ANYANGO ACTION AID, KENYA
7. PATRICIA ASERO DACASA, KENYA
8.FRANCIS APINA OPLAK , KENYA
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KAIPPG
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