The commemoration of World Health Day forces us to look at the importance of health in the lives of all people. The right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health is established in various international legal frameworks, such as Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is listed as a goal in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The General Law of Health says this standard is the state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or illness. In Mexico, Article 4 of the Constitution guarantees the right to the protection of health.
The Human Rights Platform expresses concern over ongoing inaction and the worsening conditions in recent months taking place at Dr. Aurelio Valdivieso General Hospital, located in the city of Oaxaca and serving the entire state. As part of our work to defend human rights, we recently went to the federal courts to file an injunction in which we point out the lack of action by the state and federal governments.
Because of this situation, today, we are urgently seeking a work session with the Secretary of Health, IMSS Bienestar, the Security of Government, and the Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office of the People of Oaxaca to effectively address the health crisis in the state.
As a Human Rights Platform, we seek the attention of the authorities to the health crisis that is ongoing in the state. Our initiative, #OaxacaSaludYa (Oaxaca Health Now), seeks appropriate and timely medical care in public hospitals and health clinics, sufficient and adequately-trained personal, supply of medicines and other equipment necessary for their functioning, as well as the existence of a functional and quality infrastructure as part of the guarantee of the right to health.
The Constitution guarantees the right to health, which should occur regardless of any restructuring of state health systems in the transition to IMSS Bienestar (@Tu_IMSS).
Therefore, we urgently underline the need for an institutional response to prevent further violations of access to health for women, children, teenagers, people with disabilities, and indigenous peoples that utilize hospitals and public clinics in the state of Oaxaca.
Caminos A.C., Centro de Acompañamiento a Migrantes A.C., Centro de apoyo al Movimiento popular Oaxaqueño A.C. (CAMPO), Centro de Derechos Humanos Indígenas “flor y canto” A.C., Centro de estudios y Fortalecimiento Comunitario Mano Vuelta A.C., Centro Profesional Indígena de Asesoría, Defensa y Traducción A.C. (CEPIADET), Centro Regional de Derechos Humanos “Bartolomé Carrasco Briseño” A.C. (BARCA DH), Circulo Profesional para la Formación con Equidad de Nduva Ndandi A.C., Colectivo de Mujeres de Ayutla, Comité de Defensa Integral de Derechos Humanos Gobixha A.C. (CODIGO DH), Defensores por la Justicia, Iniciativas para el Desarrollo de la Mujer Oaxaqueña A.C. (IDEMO), Las Consejeras Oaxaca, Luna del Sur A.C., Piña Palmera A.C., Red Oaxaqueña de Mujeres Indígenas Trenzando Saberes, Servicio para una Educación Alternativa A.C. (EDUCA), Servicios del Pueblo Mixe A.C. y Tequio Jurídico A.C.