Healthcare is in crisis. But around the world, workers·euse·s Healthcare workers are taking action to secure better working conditions and robust public healthcare. They are leading the fight for the right to health. Join us in caring for our carers, in particular by ordering your posters at the bottom of the page!
During the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone called workers·user·hero's health·ïne·Their efforts have been rightly applauded everywhere. But governments are still not doing enough to increase their salaries, improve their working conditions and strengthen public health services.. The lessons learned from the pandemic have been insufficient, and almost nothing seems to have changed. Staff are facing rising energy prices, and staff shortages are leading to a considerable workload. Fortunately, healthcare staff are not taking this lying down.
Healthcare workers everywhere are making their voices heard. 2023 has sparked a wave of protests in the sector, from New York to Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and several European countries. Around the world, healthcare workers are taking action and stepping up the pressure to secure better working conditions and robust public healthcare. Healthcare workers are leading the fight for access to this fundamental right. They deserve our solidarity.
Healthcare workers in action
« Staff shortages cost lives!«This message has been repeated several times in the UK over the last few months. For the first time, tens of thousands of nurses have been dismissed. Through their historic strikes, they are calling for the strengthening of the NHS, the British National Health Service. They do not accept the Conservative government's plans to further weaken the public health service through budget cuts and commercialisation. Patient safety is the number one priority.
In the Spanish capital, too, huge crowds have marched through the streets in support of public healthcare several times this year. On 12 February, nearly 500,000 people took part in an impressive demonstration. Doctors, patients and nurses stood alongside tens of thousands of citizens. They are concerned about plans by the Madrid regional government to weaken primary care.
In a manifesto, the organisers of the demonstration stated that the health policy of Madrid is increasingly focused on guaranteeing profits rather than on taking risks. responsible for each one. « We want to live in a place where your health does not depend on your money, where you were born, or your surname. Everyone has the right to live in good health. » echoed one of the demonstrators.
In Belgium, the health and wellbeing sector sent a strong signal during a national demonstration on 31 January. A broad coalition of trade unions, health organisations and thousands of workers from hospitals, nursing homes, youth support centres and nurseries has issued an important appeal to the government: «Take action now against the enormous workload and severe staff shortages! »Due to a lack of resources, more and more people are dropping out of school. This in turn increases the workload of other colleagues. It is like a vicious circle, which must be stopped immediately.
Solidarity with care
Without strong government action, public healthcare will continue to weaken around the world. There is no time to waste. The state of healthcare is unsustainable. And the climate crisis, rising inequality and other health crises will bring new challenges. What is needed now is a shift that puts patients and staff back at the forefront. We must care about people rather than profit. This is the best remedy for the challenges ahead.
The actions of healthcare workers around the world represent a unique opportunity for trade unions and social movements to force governments to make radical changes. The aim is to ensure that they provide sufficient healthcare personnel who are well trained, treated with respect and therefore able to save lives. The time has come to re-evaluate and strengthen public health services. And you can join us in achieving this!
Between On World Health Day, 7 April, and World Day for Safety and Health at Work, 28 April, we will show our support for healthcare workers around the world. Together with dozens of other organisations, trade unions and social movements, we will take action to strengthen public healthcare and demand better working conditions. Show your solidarity with healthcare workers and get involved to our poster campaign!
| This can be done in several ways: 1) Hang a poster in front of your window or in a prominent place in your neighbourhood. (e.g., a doctor's surgery). Order your posters here. 2) Join us for put up posters in Brussels or organise a local event. 3) Share our visuals on social media between 7 and 28 April.. 4) Viva Salud will soon launch a Caring for Care campaign on working conditions in the care sector. Join our brainstorming session on 25 April on the Let's Care for Carers campaign! => You wish to organise a local campaign or participate in discussions about campaign activities ? Then send an email to marilyse@vivasalud.be. |
Order your posters now!
