Sama has been actively involved in the activities / initiatives of the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan since its inception in 2000. Sama is a national resource group of JSA and was actively involved in the first National Health Assembly in 2000, in Kolkata.
Sama also played a substantial role in planning and coordinating various aspects of the second National Health Assembly (NHA2) held in March 2007 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh as a part of the programme committee for NHA2. Held to discuss issues regarding “Defending the health of people in the era of Globalization”, Sama focused on working on the theme of “Social Exclusions and Healthcare.”
The objectives of the Assembly were to rejuvenate, broaden, improve the organization and strengthen the people’s health movement at all levels; to develop a comprehensive analysis of critical health sector issues, addressing the present process of large scale health system restructuring; to build awareness about these issues among health activists and the general public; to network with coalitions and organizations working on health issues of various sections of the Indian people, helping to weave these issues into a common health agenda; to strengthen interlinkages with movements and organizations working on key health determinants, developing strategies for practical support and inputs; to initiate the process of developing critical alternatives in the form of People’s Health Plans at block, district, state and national levels; to present key demands and proposals and initiate dialogue with political representatives, especially at state and national levels.
Sama also coordinated and facilitated a session at the Assembly to initiate discussions for future action towards building coalitions, alliances and an overall strong campaign around women’s health rights.
About 2000 community based health activists from 20 states of India participated in the Assembly. Activists from Bangladesh and members of the global People’s Health Movement – from USA, Iraq, Palestine, South Africa, Nicaragua, Philippines participated in the Assembly to express their solidarity with the Indian People’s Health Movement (Jan Swasthya Abhiyan).