[Ip-health] Kenyan activists: "Patents over patients, we need your support in protesting"

[Asia Russell]

Pasted below is a request for international support from from Kenyan
treatment activists who are opposing efforts to amend the Kenyan Industrial
Property Act, because of the impact proposed amendments would have on acces=
s
to affordable medicines. Please reply to Mercy Otim of the East African
Treatment Access Movement: ottymercy@yahoo.com with your endorsement or
questions.

Asia Russell

------ Forwarded Message
From: Mercy Otim <ottymercy@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: <ottymercy@yahoo.com>

The Kenyan Civil Society is collecting protest signatures. If you want  to
join us, please read below and sign in support of Kenyans. It looks  like
someone is trying to make amendments to the IP Act in Parliament,  but sinc=
e
our parliamentarians are ignorant of the implications this  will have on
access to medication, no one seems to be giving it much  attention in
parliament.

  So far, the civil society has met and sensitised the media and other
civil society organisations on the issue and what is at stake and we  are
planning a media conference on Monday and then a protest and match  to
parliament on Tuesday as it might be tabled for the second reading.  If thi=
s
happens and the miscellaneos ammendments are passed, we are in  BIG TROUBLE=
.

The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2006 has amendments to
Kenya=B9s IP Act 2001, section 58(2) and 80(1A)(1B)(1C).  If passed, they w=
ill
affect our ability to  access the medicines we need.

We  achieved a public-health friendly IP Act in 2001.

It put  our lives above profits.  It valued  Kenyans=B9 lives over commerci=
al
interests.

Troublesome  amendments to it were rejected in 2002.

Today Kenya=B9s  IP Act is under attack again!

Affordable  treatments are at risk!

Profits  are being prioritized above Kenyans=B9 lives!

If the amendments to the  IP Act are passed in Parliament,

Kenya=B9s treatment programs are at risk.

Persons living with HIV  are at risk!

Orphans and vulnerable children living with HIV are at risk!

Thousands of Kenyans fought for this Act in 2001,

and many more are benefiting from its effects today.


WE, THE  UNDERSIGNED APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA,  THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT TO REJECT THE  CURRENT
AMENDMENTS TO THE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY ACT.

SIGNED,

NAME                                   ORGANISATION,  COUNTRY
  ------
  1.JAMES KAMAU                KETAM, KENYA
  2. MERCY  OTIM                    EATAM, KENYA
  3. DOROTHY ONYANGO      NEPHAK/WOFAK, KENYA
  4. ANGELINE SIPARO          HEALTH POLICY , KENYA
  5. CHRISTA CEPUCH              HEALTH ACTION INTERNATIONAL , KENYA
  6. LUDFINE ANYANGO            ACTION AID, KENYA
  7. PATRICIA ASERO                DACASA, KENYA
  8.FRANCIS APINA                    OPLAK , KENYA

--
Asia Russell
Health GAP (Global Access Project)
tel: +1 267 475 2645
asia@healthgap.org
http://www.healthgap.org