The Zapatistas' Autonomous Zapatista Health System: World Leaders in Global Health Look at Change from Below

It is known that poor and marginalized people all over the world suffer the most in terms of health inequities. Communities around the world are addressing this in different ways. In the Mexican state of Chiapas a group of indigenous people have taken matters into their own hands. The Zapatistas are most known for taking up arms against the Mexican government in 1994 but have since gotten recognition for their efforts in promoting health, education, and human rights in communities around the state.

In 2007, a branch of the World Health Organization did a study of the healthcare aspects of the Zapatista movement. They described their system, the Autonomous Zapatista Health System, as a “sensitive and participatory model” which has led to positive health outcomes for the communities such as:

-          Significant maternal mortality rate reductions through increased pregnancy monitoring

-          Making healthcare coverage available throughout Chiapas

-          Preventing illness through increased availability of immunization

-          As well as through, education, food, and agriculture

There are many approaches to tackling public health issues and typically the conversation reflects a top-down approach to remedy problems. For example, this could look like a large public health organization creating a policy or stating urgency around a particular health concern then implementing smaller programs to fit within the scope of that policy. While this is beneficial, the Zapatistas demonstrate the range of positive impacts a small grass roots movement can have. When the largest institution in global health is recognizing such efforts of those who insist that real change come from below we move toward a more sustainable, balanced, and equitable set of solutions worldwide.

We can also get a sense of how things have changed through words of Zapatistas themselves, women in particular. We know that empowering women improves the health of populations. If you would like to know more about what they are currently doing, check out TIME’s article from the end of 2012.

By: Jessica Savara, Janelle Grant, Charity Piliponis, Catherine Hull

Photo credit: http://xojobil.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html (top pic)

http://www.edinchiapas.org.uk/16_de_febrero (picture of women and children)