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On: Oct. 21, 2011 Alternative Civil Society Declaration on Protecting the Right to Health through action on the Social Determinants of Health

With the WHO Conference on the Social Determinants of Health wrapping up today, the official Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health has just been released. While this will likely garner the most media attention, it is also important to take note of the Alternative Civil Society Declaration on Protecting the Right to Health through action on the Social Determinants of Health, which was released yesterday.

The Alternative Declaration, which so far has been endorsed by 22 civil society organizations and many individuals, lists 10 areas for urgent action by member states and the WHO on the social determinants of health, including developing publicly-funded health systems, implementing progressive taxation, enhancing democratic and transparent decision-making, and improving monitoring systems.

Margot Lettner, Principal at Wasabi Consulting and an Associate of The Wellesley Institute, is in Rio de Janeiro and will be blogging about reactions to both the official Rio declaration and the Alternative Declaration.

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On: Jul. 30, 2011 “All Cuts Aren’t Created Equal”: Wellesley Weighs In On the Core Service Review with an Editorial in The Toronto Star

In an editorial in The Toronto Star online, Wellesley Institute’s Rick Blickstead looks at the health implications of the proposed service cuts at the City of Toronto and advises readers that cuts come with a price that must be considered.  As we build the future of the city, Torontonians need to think about the kind of city we want to live in, who exactly we’re asking to make sacrifices, and at what cost. Read the rest of this entry »

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Addressing Social Determinants of Health in a Complex World: Climate Change Adapatation and Equity

The roots of pervasive and damaging health inequities lie deep in fundamental structures of social inequality and exclusion such as income inequality, racism, precarious work, poor housing and homelessness, and inadequate access to health and social services. These social determinants are incredibly complex and dynamic, and policy directions have to be comprehensive and coordinated to address the many inter-dependent and constantly changing forces that shape health. Read the rest of this entry »

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On: Mar. 18, 2011 Building Equity and Social Determinants of Health Into ‘Healthy Communities’ Planning

View more presentations from Wellesley Institute.
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On: Feb. 15, 2011 Driving health equity into action: Bob Gardner at Ryerson Conference

Policy makers, community partners, scholars, and students explored the challenges and issues surrounding a more equitable Canada last Saturday. The Wellesley Institute’s Bob Gardner gave a keynote speech arguing that health equity can be realized, and outlined a roadmap with the strategies, tools, policy changes and community mobilization needed to make it happen. Read the rest of this entry »

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On: Feb. 3, 2011 What can Toronto learn from Calgary when it comes to ending homelessness? Lots, actually!

What can Toronto learn from Calgary when it comes to ending homelessness? Quite a lot, actually, and Tim Richter, the dynamic CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation, will be in town early next week to meet with a variety of groups and share their success in housing more than 2,300 previously homeless people over the past three years. The Calgary Homeless Foundation is almost one-third of the way through their 10-year plan to end homelessness in that city, and the latest progress report shows remarkable achievements. A new video also documents the personal accomplishments. In addition to pointing to the lessons and challenges that Calgary has learned, Tim is working to build support for a new national alliance to end homelessness in Canada – an initiative that the Wellesley Institute is also supporting.

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On: Jan. 20, 2011 Housing and health: Research issues, policy solutions – presentation to George Brown students

Canada is one of the richest countries in the world, yet millions of Canadians are precariously housed. The Wellesley Institute’s Michael Shapcott outlined a century of critical housing and health research and policy issues, and set out a practical and pragmatic agenda for action, in a presentation to George Brown students. His presentation builds on the major themes in the Wellesley Institute’s Precarious Housing in Canada 2010 report.

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On: Jan. 17, 2011 Poverty and inequality has powerful impact on lives, health of Torontonians: Video from TVO’s The Agenda

The Three Cities research is a powerful part of a growing body of evidence that documents deep and persistent poverty and growing income inequality in Toronto and Canada, and underlines the devastating impact that this is having on the health and lives of people and communities. In the first video link below, University of Toronto Prof. David Hulchanski discusses his review of growing income inequality in Toronto over the past three decades. In the second video link below, the Wellesley Institute’s Michael Shapcott joins Dr. Hulchanski and other urban experts for a panel discussion. Read the rest of this entry »

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On: Jan. 17, 2011 Local Action on Population Health

The Role of Local Government in Promoting Wellbeing is a very interesting British report written by the New Economics Foundation for Local Government Improvement and Development and the National Mental Health Development Unit. It highlights the levers local governments have, in collaboration with community organizations, that can enhance overall population health. Read the rest of this entry »

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On: Dec. 1, 2010 World AIDS Day

HIV/AIDS is above all else shaped by the social determinants of health.  Incidence — and inequitable access to vital treatment and support services — is worse among Aboriginal people, women, racialized communities, IV drug users and other poor and marginalized communities, and in poorer countries.   But it has also been massive mobilization out of the communities most affected that has led to major advances — from the Trillium drug plan here in Ontario that provides access for those facing catastrophic illnesses to a community-driven research and treatment agenda that has transformed HIV/AIDS into a chronic manageable condition for many (see a brief history by a leading activist)  At the same time,  HIV/AIDS remains intensely political — illustrated by the current federal government’s refusal to accept the extensive scientific evidence of the effectiveness of harm reduction and failure to fund proven prevention and treatment services.  Community groups across the country mark this day by reinforcing their commitment to continuing mobilization (see a video of one such group and critical analysis).

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