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 Our approach
InvitationThe anti-tuberculosis struggle requires a long-term approach. Usually, the bodies best able to guarantee continuity are the National TB Programmes (NTP) . NGOs and the private sector complete the activities of the NTP. The Damien Foundation shall support a country or part of a larger country only if invited to do so in writing by the Ministry of Health of that country. This invitation shall be followed by an evaluation of the needs and support potential of other intervening parties. If the Damien Foundation is convinced it can bring added value and if there is an urgent need, the Foundation shall endeavour to reach a written agreement with the Ministry of Health. Find out more about our working principles. Integrated careThe kind of support given by the Damien Foundation will depend on the needs and the know-how it can provide. Our support always consists in a mix of material aid and technical support to complete efforts made by the local Ministry of Health and other donors. The Damien Foundation prefers to give integrated care concerning tuberculosis (i.e. after a front-line health centre detects, diagnoses and attends a patient), at least when all the conditions have been met, i.e. free diagnosis and treatment, quality of care and trust by the population. In the interest of the patientTo guarantee quality of care, we can say from experience that the supervising, monitoring and training must be carried out frequently by agents who are familiar with the tuberculosis programme. This is especially so where high-level activities are concerned. When we are unable to offer free, quality care within an integrated structure, specialised tuberculosis dispensaries may be the solution. For the Damien Foundation, the patient's interests will prevail. However, no one system can safeguard these interests on a global level. So we ought to be flexible. 270.308 TB patients in 2007The support of the Damien Foundation is always long-term. Indeed, we have been working in the D.R. of the Congo and in India for over 40 years now. In other countries, our support is more restricted in time. Thanks to the Damien Foundation's support, 270.308 tuberculosis patients were detected in 2007. The following table shows the population covered and patients detected in areas supported by the Damien Foundation.
Combined programmesRather than programmes to fight only tuberculosis, the Damien Foundation privileges combined leprosy-cum-tuberculosis programmes. Let us not forget that leprosy indeed was the first disease which the Damien Foundation fought against. Find out more about our combined approach |
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