As the United Nations Decade of the World’s Indigenous People comes to an end, a study reveals that, far from seeing improvements in their situation over the past ten years, the world’s indigenous peoples feel their voices are not being listened to, and that their health needs and rights are continuing to be ignored and marginalised.
"Utz’ Wach’il : health and wellbeing among indigenous peoples" is based on a study by Health Unlimited, a British NGO supporting poor people in their efforts to achieve better health and wellbeing, with support from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
In the report, indigenous people from many countries tell of their lack of access to health services, constrained by financial, geographic and cultural barriers.
Indigenous people know that they are seen as a low priority, especially when they live in remote areas where services are costly to provide.
When services are available, they are often reluctant or afraid to use them because staff can be insensitive, discriminatory or unfriendly.
Indigenous people view health and wellbeing as a community issue rather than an individual one, closely linked with ideas of living in harmony with family, neighbours and the village.
Physical factors such as the ability to work, the availability of work and of food and water are also important, as are environmental factors, with the exploitation of land belonging to indigenous communities having a detrimental impact on wellbeing.
