Access to health care is an essential step toward social inclusion.

Whether through the prevention of disabling diseases, creating local health services or providing psychological support, all our actions serve one purpose: To ensure that every man, woman and child has access to quality health care.

The prevention of disabling diseases: a new challenge

Disabling diseases are the scourges of many developing countries, especially in Africa. Diseases like HIV/AIDS, lymphatic filariasis, epilepsy, poliomyelitis, diabetes and leprosy all leave their sufferers severely disabled and often socially excluded. However, with health precautions, information, vaccination and screening campaigns, populations can be protected from these diseases and early detection can reduce or delay the onset of the most seriously disabling consequences.

Once disabling diseases are better understood they are also better treated and better accepted by a patient's family and friends. This is the reason why we work in close collaboration with local organizations, institutions and health workers to carry out vaccination and awareness-raising campaigns, set up information and screening centers and provide training for trainers.

Protecting the right to health care

Our health projects aim to establish or reinforce access to high-quality health care for the most vulnerable.

This is achieved by setting up community health services and local pharmacies, improving how patients are received and the follow–up care they receive, training health workers, and providing technical, methodological and financial support.

Psychological support

Handicap International offers support to a range of people suffering from psychological problems, including victims of war and conflict, refugees, child soldiers and children with autism or learning difficulties.

In every situation, our teams work in close collaboration with the individual, their family and local health workers to ensure that each individual receives appropriate treatment.