Focus - Healthcare

Health is one of the fundamental universal human rights. Yet many people live in unhealthy conditions and do not have access to health care, with the poor, women, children and disabled people being particularly vulnerable.

Reducing maternal mortality. Tackling HIV Aids.

If healthcare is accessible, affordable and of good quality, there will be good information and education about pregnancies, proper family planning services and good care before, during and after delivery. With 33 million people living with AIDS every day, the integration of prevention and treatment into the mainstream health care sector is a crucial process.

Building the local capacity of health systems.

In many countries, health systems are weak. Essential medicines are not available and hospitals and clinics are not easily accessible or able to offer high quality care. Many countries struggle to put in place the right organisational and technical capacity, especially at a rural level, with doctors and nurses often draining away to other countries, or even to the local private sector, where salaries and conditions are much higher.

It's possible to overcome many of these difficulties through focused projects and programmes, such as the development of skills, improved medical infrastructure and by harnessing IT and communications to link patients and staff, spread information and break through to isolated communities.