[afro-nets] Whether "health" is an isolated issue

[Dr. Shamim ul Moula <shamimul.moula@gmail.com>]

Whether "health" is an isolated issue
-------------------------------------

Whether the "health" is a isolated issue? Whether there are fac-
tors those affect the health socially or personally? What should
we write or read in AFRO-NETS? Now, there are decisions by many!
Deprivation, exploitation and others are the factors affecting
health of the population in general. Do we refuse that fact?

I am now afraid to write anything to AFRO-NETS as I am scared of
the people who are now dictating us the subjects of the mails.
But still, I am writing the mail, if I see anything such, defi-
nitely I shall take my decision whether I shall participate in
future in a network where my voice can't be raised (although I
know, it may not make any difference to many including the AFRO-
NETS authority).

We are not in happy state as we are just back from Hon Kong WTO
without anything for our people (that also affects health in the
region I can guarantee!). I know, name and incidences of this
conference may be also in the prohibition list of AFRO-NETS de-
cided by the decision makers who are now dominating the network.

We from Bangladesh share similar opinions with Mr. Philip Coti-
celli in the regards. Again, the health and the issues declared
eligible for discussion in AFRO-NETS are closely interlinked
with other right based activities. So, naturally other issues
can come in to the discussions and in our perception, those will
benefit our subscribers as it happened with Malaria issues.

So, we request to deal the matter with a broader and wider look-
out. Sometimes, we also write issue based mails which are simi-
lar to the others who are now criticized bitterly as I per-
ceived. Did they write anything too bad or did they write every-
thing wrong? It may be a wrong forum to publish that I under-
stand, but it was also possible that those issues were thought
to be related with the discussed subject in their perception. In
fact, many of us, can't refuse those information morally. Abu
Ghraib and other incidents are established facts and are the im-
portant learning for the world and can come to the discussion
sometimes as it is coming in many forums. It is not the poli-
tics, but words of justice can come in relation to the other is-
sues in the popular forums as we, all the readers are from the
planet earth.

It is true that we should be polite, gentle and not abusive, but
the acts of crime against humanity should be condemned in appro-
priate languages as we all love the forum and we think ourselves
as the valued participants. But after the debate starting with
the issue of "American Fundamentalism" we are perceiving differ-
ent attitudes from many. First we just thought it as normal, but
now we are seeing that it is taking the shape of "Rambo" which
can't be supported any more. I request to close the chapter as
simply we don't want to listen their "abusing words" in the way
they are delivering! If any quarter dictates us about the sub-
jects and mode of approaches, I think that will be another abu-
sive act. Recent languages from the self claimed "cleans" are
not gentle enough to us. So, it is the AFRO-NETS, who will de-
cide whether they want the different opinions about the issues
that can affect health and related matters can be raised by the
readers from less developed countries. If they don't want those,
then the people even may be of small numbers, may pull back
themselves from the network (I know, it may not make any differ-
ence to many or to the AFRO-NETS itself!).

We are respectful to you all, please give scope to everyone to
describe their problems as these can affect health of the popu-
lation groups. Please forgive if any body is hurt in my write
up.

Sincerely,

Dr. S.M. Shamim ul Moula MBBS, PGDHHM, Ph.D.
Dhaka, Bangladesh
mailto:shamimul.moula@gmail.com