Children's Health Care Centers and Clinics

The right to healthcare still isn’t a reality for millions of children around the globe, and more particularly in low income countries. Every year, over 13 million children under the age of 5 years die from illnesses which could have been avoided or treated. The poor populations in low income countries are most at risk of food shortage, lack of drinking water, and of a proper sanitation system. Therefore, these populations, and especially their children, are most likely to become ill. Infectious diseases are all the more frequent and serious with children suffering from malnutrition and/or having no access to drinking water. In many countries the populations do not benefit from health coverage. Thus, they do not have access to healthcare that remains beyond their means. Some must save up for years before being able to see a doctor or a specialist. Additionally, the large pharmaceutical companies because of their medicines’ extreme prices compound the precarious situation of the populations at risk. These are the people most in need of the medicine.

In low income countries, vaccination levels are very low, children from the poorest countries do not have access to the basic vaccines. Yet, the vaccination of these children could decrease the death rate of children linked to infectious diseases by 45%. In addition, these countries usually don’t have enough staff and healthcare equipment to offer healthcare access to the most in need. The countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia only count 1 doctor for over 2000 inhabitants; this is 6 times less than in developed countries. Additionally, care cannot be given to everyone and many children die because of a lack of health coverage or having waited too long before undergoing examination or vital care. In low income countries, pregnancies and deliveries are often very risky for the mother’s and the children’s health. Very few of them benefit from regular check-ups during their pregnancy and have no information on their health status and that of their unborn child. Any complication during the pregnancy, which could have been detected and treated with regular check-ups, can lead to the death of the mother and/or the child. As we write, there are still 40% of mothers in low income countries who give birth without any medical assistance. Furthermore, many die leaving behind a new-born who will be 10 times more at risk of dying before his fifth birthday.

Karamazou working in conjunction with its global partners in the health care industry, develops, manages and provides free health care services for children in the countries we operate in. Health issues are often the main factor plunging families in low income countries into poverty. Living in poverty can mean inadequate health and dental care, chronic malnutrition, poor hygiene and unsafe sanitation conditions, a lack of education about reproductive health and mental health, and preventable diseases going untreated. Karamazou invests in children’s health care programs, helping them envision a future they never thought possible. Our programs teach children healthy behaviors and provide life-changing access to health care programs, medicines and early education about hygiene, nutrition and more. Our children health care programs also includes the following;

(i) Education around healthy behaviors

Oral health - Reducing sugar intake and increasing tooth brushing to twice daily.

(ii) Hand washing and safe water facilities

Increasing handwashing and implementing household water treatment and safe storage. Handwashing helps prevent the transmission of diarrhea and pneumonia — two of the leading global causes of death in children. Safe water treatment and storage reduces the risk of malnutrition, diarrhea, malaria and other water-borne infectious diseases.

(iii) Nutrition rehabilitation

Our program supports moderately to severely undernourished children. We also work to reduce risks of chronic disease from obesity in children and educate caregivers on nutrition practices. Malnutrition is responsible for almost half of all deaths for children under 5 and keeps millions of others from reaching their full potential.

(iv) Accessing health care services

We operate our own health centers and dental clinics for children ensuring all our sponsored children have access to the health services they need.

(v) Medical services

We provide access to medical care through direct children primary care, referrals and payment for outside services, health care education and emergency financial support.

(vi) Dental services

We provide access to dental services, including screenings, direct care, dental education and financial assistance.

(vii) Special health care programs

We have heath programs that target issues such as obesity, tuberculosis and other illnesses.