Health Unlimited
Encyclopedia
Health Unlimited is a British
non-governmental organization
founded in 1984 that aims to secure health care access for marginalized communities in developing countries. In March 2010 it changed its name to Health Poverty Action. It is working with communities and health service providers, they undertake long-term projects targeted at women and children in remote, often war-torn, areas. They prioritize projects focusing on indigenous communities and communities affected by conflict and political instability.
, where the founders of the organization recognized the strong link between war and health. They provided care and assistance to communities in Afghanistan during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. They have also aided communities in The Karen, Kachin and Wa, in the hills of Burma for more than 15 years.
Alerting local authorities to the need for better health service is a big part of the work of Health Unlimited. Equipping the affected communities to voice their concerns to their local authorities is an important part of this; however they also campaign to the governments of leading nations to lead the way in providing better health services to victimized and marginalized people. In theory this will help everyone, not just those people that Health Unlimited already runs programmes for.
• The San in Namibia
• The Maya K’iche’ in Guatemala
in the aftermath of the civil war
• The Quechua in Peru
• The Bunong, Jarai
, Kreung and Tapoeun in Cambodia
• The Taleang, Tampoeun and Oye in the southern Lao PDR
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
founded in 1984 that aims to secure health care access for marginalized communities in developing countries. In March 2010 it changed its name to Health Poverty Action. It is working with communities and health service providers, they undertake long-term projects targeted at women and children in remote, often war-torn, areas. They prioritize projects focusing on indigenous communities and communities affected by conflict and political instability.
Intro
Health Unlimited is a British non-governmental organisation founded in 1984 that aims to secure health care access for poor and marginalized communities in developing countries. The organisation aims to bring sustainable solutions to people suffering from poor health due to war, poverty, or marginalization from care for other reasons.History
Health Unlimited was founded in 1984. Its first programme was in Southern AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, where the founders of the organization recognized the strong link between war and health. They provided care and assistance to communities in Afghanistan during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. They have also aided communities in The Karen, Kachin and Wa, in the hills of Burma for more than 15 years.
Approach
Health Unlimited aims its work at those communities others have forgotten. They aim to improve health services and immunization programmes; however also look at the bigger picture, and target other areas such as nutrition, access to water, sanitation, and income generation. The idea is to give these people the boost they need to be self sustaining, rather than handing out short term health solutions.Alerting local authorities to the need for better health service is a big part of the work of Health Unlimited. Equipping the affected communities to voice their concerns to their local authorities is an important part of this; however they also campaign to the governments of leading nations to lead the way in providing better health services to victimized and marginalized people. In theory this will help everyone, not just those people that Health Unlimited already runs programmes for.
Current
Health Unlimited is now supporting programmes in 12 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. They have established relationships with many indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities such as:• The San in Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
• The Maya K’iche’ in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
in the aftermath of the civil war
• The Quechua in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
• The Bunong, Jarai
Jarai
The Jarai is an ethnic group based primarily in Vietnam's Central Highlands. The Jarai language is a member of the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family...
, Kreung and Tapoeun in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
• The Taleang, Tampoeun and Oye in the southern Lao PDR