There is ample evidence confirming that access to effective health care is a major problem in the developing world. Millions of people suffer and die from conditions for which effective interventions exist.
Three diseases, diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria, are responsible for 52% of child deaths worldwide, even though for each of these diseases, at least one effective prevention method and one effective treatment exist.
Many factors are responsible for the underutilisation of effective health care interventions in the developing world. Most obviously, economic resources are often insufficient to support the provision of essential services.
Challenges
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In developing countries, women and children often have a more limited access to health care than the rest of the population, constituting a major barrier to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals;
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HIV infected people often lose their employment and have in general no access to credits;
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In developing countries, social health protection and complementary health insurances are very often non-existent;
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Lack of knowledge and awareness are other factors hindering access to health services;
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Geographical distance to quality health structures makes their access difficult.
Goal
Enabling the more vulnerable populations – in particular women and children – to increase their access to health services and thus to better care and cope with infectious diseases.
Approach
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Assist stakeholders in developing countries in the implementation of programmes of health micro-insurance;
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Help countries set up income-generating activities and micro-credit programmes for people affected by infectious diseases;
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Provide direct support to local NGOs providing health education programmes;
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Assist in building, equipping, refurbishing and managing health structures at community level.
Achievements
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Income-generating activities and micro-credit projects have been implemented in 2 countries and offers access to more than 2,000 women;
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Evaluation of complementary health insurance models;
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5 NGOs have received small grants for offering health education programmes to more than 20,000 women and youths;
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32 health structures at district and community level were built, equipped and refurbished. All of them are functional and staff training has been provided;
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Setting up of a hospital equity fund in Madagascar for the local inhabitants.