National Consultation  on “Improving the Health of the Urban Poor: Lessons Learned and the Way Forward” 30 June – 1 July 2003, Bangalore, India

With support from USAID/India, a national consultation on “Improving the health of urban poor: Lessons learned and the way forward,” is being organized by EHP/India together with the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The conference will take place in Bangalore, June 30-July 1, 2003. This consultation provides a unique platform for policy makers and implementers from the national, state, and local governments, donor agencies, academic and research institutions, and civil society to exchange information and experiences on urban health programming issues.

Mr. SS Brar, Joint Secretary, Department of Family Welfare, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in his invitation to conference participants indicated that, “Urban Health is one of the thrust areas under the National Population Policy – 2000, National Health Policy – 2002, and the Tenth Five-year Plan.  The Draft Project Implementation Plan for Urban Health Program under RCH-II based upon the recommendations of the expert group on Urban Health has already been prepared.  A key requirement is the matter of building technical capacity, drawing lessons from experiences gained, formulation of the guidelines concerning this program.  Since the recommendations of this consultation will be helpful in the formulation of e guidelines to enable the States to develop Urban Health proposals in the identified cities, the participation of all the stakeholders connected with the planning, implementation, supervision, research, and funding of the program is necessary.”