342:. DGH supports the work of the Community Rehabilitation Center, currently managed by two community health promoters. The center has evolved since the 1990s to provide a wide array of services including physical therapy and other body work techniques, specifically developed to address the needs of war wounded, injured, and people suffering from chronic musculoskeletal conditions. DGH has consistently provided volunteer medical students and other health care providers to work alongside Salvadoran physicians, health promoters, and other staff at the Ministry of Health Clinic. Additionally, DGH also raises funds for COCOSI (COmite COntra SIda), a youth led organization which uses theater and role playing to educate their peers and adults on the risk of
167:; phone, fax, and travel expenses to volunteer overseas, attend board meetings and the Annual DGH General Assembly are all donated. Board members and members from around the world carry out the work of the organization, both domestically (e.g. through committee work) and internationally. The board of directors, international volunteers, and general membership include health providers (doctors, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, paramedics, and students in these disciplines), teachers, psychologists, engineers, artists, lawyers, and dedicated people from all walks of life.
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liberation medicine so that the poor can decide what they need and are empowered to explore different ways of achieving their goals. Once the poor are empowered, true development and liberation for health and healing can occur. By using studied action, DGH seeks ways for making a concrete, positive difference in people's lives by accompanying them in the process of attaining their own freedom and life-improvement, not 'liberating' them. Central to the concept of
Liberation Medicine is the act of community accompaniment and treating people with respect.
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that a new organization was needed to attend to the needs of these people in their struggle to implement primary health care and public health services. In July 1995, DGH was founded and incorporated in
Georgia as a 501(C)3 tax-exempt charitable organization. The foundation of DGH was underpinned by a philosophy that stressed the promotion of health and human rights around the globe.
428:, recovering ancestral knowledge of medicinal plants and natural therapies, and organizing and training groups of health promoters throughout the diverse regions of the Isthmus. Ongoing health promoter training takes place in 6 geographic regions, with over 150 health promoters. There is also a medical clinic in the city of Tehuantepec which offers
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in the mid-1990s. This remote mountainous area was heavily affected by loss and destruction during the country's twelve-year civil war. In 2001, members of the community joined to form La
Asociación de Campesinos para el Desarrollo Humano (Peasants for Human Development, C.D.H.), which was officially
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What's unique about our work and philosophy is the combined emphasis on health and human rights and our commitment to long-term accompaniment of the communities we support. We only work where we are invited and we try our best to 'accompany' communities and support them in pursuing the goal of better
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convened to form 'DGH-Europe'. The primary goal of the group is to support the work of DGH by taking action at a local level and to promote the organization in Europe, building networks with other like-minded groups. DGH-Europe is committed to raising funds to support existing projects and to assist
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DGH works with its global partners and other organizations to bear witness for human rights and against human rights violations. Advocacy work is carried out through various means including educational articles, position statements, and activism. As stated on the official organization webpage, DGH
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DGH has its own principles of action, which outline the basics of the organization's values, among these 10 principles are references to the use of artistic expression within the organization's work and commitments towards advocacy and social justice. Guided by these principles, DGH works locally
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As a registered charity, DGH mainly receives funds from individual donors who support its mission and goals. DGH is also supported by private foundations. DGH follows specific guidelines regarding foundation and corporate support that reflect the DGH principles of action, which state that 'DGH is
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DGH has a very active 18-member board and up to three board alternates who are elected by the DGH voting membership to serve 3-year terms. Six board members are elected each year to provide continuity while allowing new board members to be elected. Board members convene biannual board meetings in
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The community work inspired a new discipline called
Liberation Medicine, and resulted in the creation of the Salvadoran association Campesinos para el Desarrollo Humano (Peasants for Human Development). Dr. Lanny Smith was among the group of volunteers accompanying these communities who concluded
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The distinction between liberation and development is important to the work of DGH. Development has acquired a negative connotation in recent years because it usually implies a connection to groups that are closely tied to organizations and governments that control the world economy. DGH employs
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for the organization on a local level. Domestic volunteers can dedicate their time to the work of different committees such as the
Development and Finance Committee, the Human Rights and Advocacy Committee, the Communications Committee or the International Volunteer Committee. Additionally, DGH
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accompaniment. According to DGH, this term implies "being invited rather than arriving without prior community knowledge or approval, as well as a participatory process with the community rather than imposing our way of thinking or doing things." DGH only works in areas where it has received a
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DGH's stated mission is "To improve health and foster other human rights with those most in need by accompanying communities, while educating and inspiring others to action." The work of this organization is guided by a series of core values outlined in the DGH Principles of Action document.
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Hundreds of people of varied backgrounds and areas of expertise have assisted with the work of DGH both at home and abroad, including health workers, teachers, artists, students, and many others. Today, with a global membership of over 5000 people, DGH offers many opportunities for people to
424:, Doctors for Global Health works in partnership with El Centro Popular de Apoyo y Formación para La Salud (CEPAFOS- The Community Center for Health Training and Support). For over two decades, CEPAFOS has provided greatly needed health services to the marginalized populations of the
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440:. The promotion of traditional healing practices as natural and inexpensive alternatives to conventional medicine is the cornerstone of the vision of CEPAFOS to empower communities to strengthen their own wellbeing, and embodies the mission to put "la salud en manos del pueblo"
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The combination of capacity-building and friendship-building of volunteers is an essential component of the organization, which can be differentiated by the work of other organizations in that it seeks to build long-term solutions with communities where DGH is invited to work.
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funds and does not allow more than thirty percent of funding to come from any one source. Board members and international volunteers pay all of their own expenses, including airfare, room and board. This allows 92 percent of DGH funds to go directly to its program activities.
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The DGH Human Rights and
Advocacy Committee leads an ongoing series of campaigns on these and other topics. Recently, DGH has joined in letters of solidarity and action items for death threats and assassinations of community activists in El Salvador. DGH supports the
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Anyone who agrees with and affirms DGH's mission and principles can become a member. There is no membership fee. A DGH member who has been actively involved in the organization for at least a year, upon approval by the board, can become a voting member.
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related issues. Recently, COCOSI received international recognition for their work when they were awarded the 2010 Red Ribbon Award as a group demonstrating outstanding community leadership and action in reducing the spread and impact of
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for Health and Human Rights was recently awarded to Dr
Canales for his lifelong dedication to building community health services and speaking out against the violations of human rights among marginalized and excluded communities.
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DGH uses liberation medicine as a means to seek ways for making a concrete, positive difference in people's lives by accompanying them in the process of attaining their own freedom and life-improvement, not 'liberating' them.
111:. The decade-long war produced devastating effects throughout the country, during which countless violations of human rights were perpetuated, with more than 75,000 people killed, and many others disappeared or forced into
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Members of the DGH community have been instrumental in presenting the ideals of
Liberation Medicine at many venues. For example, DGH members conducted the first comprehensive Liberation Medicine Workshop at the
237:(APHA) Annual Conference in 1999. DGH has organized workshops and presentations on Liberation Medicine at subsequent APHA conferences, as well as at many other meetings and universities around the world.
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to join over 1,500 activists from more than 94 countries in the first People's Health
Assembly. The gathering culminated in the writing of the People's Charter for Health, of which DGH was a co-signer.
396:(MUST), one of only 2 Ugandan medical schools at that time. Today, the DGH collaboration currently sponsors a range of initiatives, including nursing and village health worker programs as well as
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in August 2004. Today, DGH supports C.D.H. as it runs the local community health center and six early childhood development centers as well as broader community health and development projects.
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autonomous municipalities. The work consists of teaching health promoters and conducting public health work, together with an in-country coordinator: Dr. Juan Manuel
Canales. The 2006
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Kasper J; Smith CL (2010). "Liberation Medicine and Accompaniment in El Salvador: The Experience of Doctors for Global Health". In Beracochea E; Weinstein C; Evans D (eds.).
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vigilant to ensure that its projects, programs, affiliations, and fund raising efforts don't involve even subtle compromise of its values.' DGH does not seek any
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student branch takes part in volunteer activities throughout the community and hosts educational events at the Medical and Public Health Schools. DGH-
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through the practice of "liberation medicine", defined as "The conscious, conscientious use of health to promote human dignity and social justice."
86:(DGH) is a private, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization promoting health, education, art and other human rights throughout the world.
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were accompanying local communities, working on a "Health as Reconciliation project", rebuilding lives and working with health promoters.
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in northeastern El Salvador. It was in this isolated region that, in the aftermath of the war, several medical volunteers with
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access. We join in solidarity with groups with which we are affiliated and support and encourage the advocacy work of the
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DGH works jointly with members of the Italian NGO Psicologi per I Popoli on several projects focused on improving the
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participate in its mission to improve health and social justice around the world, both locally and internationally.
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Human rights violations and local policies that negatively influence or affect the communities that we accompany;
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DGH continues to work closely with People's Health Movement to promote human rights internationally.
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since receiving an invitation by the local community in 1996. Here, DGH works with 6 of the
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health without imposing our own views of how to achieve the goals.
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597:"Building Health Where Peace is New in Near Post-War El Salvador"
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DGH is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 NGO founded in 1995 and based in
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Medical and health organizations based in Georgia (U.S. state)
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integrated with indigenous medicines and therapies such as
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DGH was born out of work that began in the communities of
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and other immigrants' rights issues, supports the work of
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Santa Marta is a rural community in the Department of
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DGH defends an inextricable link between health and
1049:"Going and Remaining Where Others are Afraid to Go"
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287:Immigration issues nationally and internationally.
103:From 1979 to 1992, widespread violence swept over
457:promotes the work of local groups in the US. The
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263:prioritizes its work to focus on the following:
245:DGH works with marginalized populations through
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1005:"UNDP Announces 2010 Red Ribbon Award Winners"
643:"Dr Lanny Smith and Doctors for Global Health"
63:Community healthcare, education, human rights
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574:"The Truth Commission Report to the UN 1993"
394:Mbarara University of Science and Technology
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735:"Liberation Medicine: Health & Justice"
163:. There is no office or paid staff in the
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733:Smith, Lanny; Ken Hilsbos (Spring 1999).
779:Rights-Based Approaches to Public Health
1248:Charities based in Georgia (U.S. state)
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392:since 1999, when it partnered with the
937:. Occupy Public Health. Archived from
444:United States – education and advocacy
281:for all in our own country and abroad;
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1243:Health charities in the United States
847:"Human Rights and Advocacy Committee"
758:. Albert Einstein College of Medicine
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1007:. United Nations Development Program
613:10.1057/palgrave.development.1100373
459:Tulane University School of Medicine
452:, DGH offers many opportunities to
388:DGH has been involved in Southwest
107:, immersed at the time in a brutal
913:"Close the School of the Americas"
235:American Public Health Association
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1199:"The People's Charter for Health"
308:Projects and worldwide activities
118:The civilian population of many
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1077:. Doctors for Global Health.
562:. Doctors for Global Health.
348:sexually transmitted disease
1157:. Doctors for Global Health
1135:. Doctors for Global Health
1113:. Doctors for Global Health
1091:. Doctors for Global Health
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985:. Doctors for Global Health
963:. Doctors for Global Health
871:. Doctors for Global Health
849:. Doctors for Global Health
827:. Doctors for Global Health
805:. Doctors for Global Health
714:. Doctors for Global Health
692:. Doctors for Global Health
670:. Doctors for Global Health
540:. Doctors for Global Health
326:recognized as a Salvadoran
302:Occupy Wall Street Movement
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1201:. People's Health Movement
983:"Santa Marta, El Salvador"
398:cervical cancer screening
193:Organizational philosophy
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84:Doctors for Global Health
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756:"Empowering Communities"
503:People's Health Movement
477:In 2007, DGH members in
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334:Santa Marta, El Salvador
275:People's Health Movement
151:Organizational structure
1179:. Universidad de Malaga
961:"Estancia, El Salvador"
641:Nambiar, Shyla (2008).
430:allopathic medical care
241:Community Accompaniment
781:. New York: Springer.
712:"Principles of Action"
560:"Principles of action"
426:Isthmus of Tehuantepec
328:nonprofit organization
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595:Smith, Lanny (2007).
271:Universal health care
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198:Principles of Action
1075:"Acceptance Speech"
377:Jonathan Mann Award
213:Liberation Medicine
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1055:(139). 1 July 2006
690:"Our organization"
647:Angels in Medecine
1027:"Chiapas, Mexico"
668:"Become a member"
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34:Abbreviation
935:"Resources"
915:. SOA Watch
891:"DREAM Act"
601:Development
463:Los Angeles
438:acupuncture
418:Tehuantepec
323:El Salvador
319:La Estancia
105:El Salvador
1237:Categories
1177:"Canal TV"
803:"About us"
538:"About Us"
524:References
507:Bangladesh
406:disability
402:psychiatry
186:government
124:war crimes
454:volunteer
373:Zapatista
298:SOA Watch
294:DREAM Act
247:community
120:guerrilla
109:civil war
73:dghonline
1205:7 August
1183:7 August
1161:7 August
1155:"Europe"
1139:7 August
1117:7 August
1111:"Oaxaca"
1095:7 August
1089:"Uganda"
1059:7 August
1033:7 August
1011:7 August
989:7 August
967:7 August
945:7 August
919:7 August
897:7 August
875:7 August
853:7 August
831:7 August
809:7 August
762:7 August
718:7 August
696:7 August
674:7 August
652:7 August
626:7 August
621:85140363
580:7 August
544:7 August
258:Advocacy
142:Overview
448:In the
434:massage
369:Chiapas
340:Cabañas
179:Funding
161:Georgia
157:Atlanta
128:Morazán
94:History
68:Website
60:Purpose
42:Founded
785:
619:
484:France
479:Europe
473:Europe
422:Oaxaca
412:Oaxaca
390:Uganda
384:Uganda
352:gender
825:"FAQ"
738:(PDF)
617:S2CID
492:Spain
488:Italy
113:exile
1207:2012
1185:2012
1163:2012
1141:2012
1119:2012
1097:2012
1061:2012
1035:2012
1013:2012
991:2012
969:2012
947:2012
921:2012
899:2012
877:2012
855:2012
833:2012
811:2012
783:ISBN
764:2012
720:2012
698:2012
676:2012
654:2012
628:2012
582:2012
576:. UN
546:2012
490:and
436:and
404:and
357:AIDS
346:and
75:.org
50:Type
45:1995
609:doi
416:In
344:HIV
54:NGO
37:DGH
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