The Union of the Comoros consists of three islands in the Indian Ocean, sheltered against most cyclones but not against the political forces regularly unleashed against it for thirty years now. However, the situation seems to have calmed down and this we hope will safeguard the development of its health services.
One of a few
The Damien Foundation is one of the few foreign NGOs which continue to invest in the Comoros. We have been supporting the anti-leprosy programme there since 1980. The anti-tuberculosis programme was incorporated eight years later. The Foundation's support is financial and technical. We provide medical as well as administrative backup for programmes against leprosy and tuberculosis. The detection and cure rates are as satisfactory for leprosy as for tuberculosis. This may be considered a success for there are numerous difficulties.
Start of the project
1979
Type of project
• Starting with leprosy only
• Since 1988, leprosy and tuberculosis
Population covered in 2007
635.669
Patients detected and treated in 2007
• Tuberculosis, 99 new cases
• Leprosy, 111 new cases
