The Access to Healthcare Group emerged in 2021. Sitsi, Marion, Dan, Ahmed, Hidaya, Faisol, Mohammed and Annette – all part of the Amstedam City Rights coalition and representatives of various organisations – started a collaboration with Athena Institute of the VU University, supervised by assistant professor Elena Syurina. Elena, Sitsi and Annette applied for funding to conduct Action Research in the Access to Healthcare. Research question: From problem analysis to new tactics and tools facilitating the access to healthcare for undocumented people (people from outside Europe) who are in need of basic medical assistance.
During the practical investigation the core group expanded with motivated VU students, with Erna, Dhynes, Patrick, Eunice, Lucien and Harvey. By 2023 Utrecht Migrante, Rotterdam IMWU joined.
In 2023, as individuals, ngo’s and grassroots organizations we decided to change our name. We started to formalise our cooperation. From a group to: Access to Healthcare Committee, @a2hc.
So here we are.
Our ongoing efforts in the access to healthcare are in loving memory of Harvey. He passed away in June 2023. He died of medical complications, he lost the courage, his friends said. He motivates us to keep on going to achieve proper and accessible healthcare for undocumented people. His memory remains, we say his name.
Core team as of 2023: Athena students with members of the Indonesian Migrant Worker Union (IMWU), Migrante, Right to Create. Partners of the committee are: AHRU, FNV Migrant Workers Union, OKIA Den Haag, BAK Utrecht, Pinay sa Holland Gabriela, Here to Support.