Improving health

Zawad smiles after clubfoot surgery on hospital bed.

Our impact last year

60k doctors, nurses and other medical professionals trained
27k people treated for mental health conditions
278k wheelchairs, walking frames and other orthopaedic devices were distributed

People in poor communities are much more likely to be disabled than those living in wealthier parts of the world. One of the main reasons is they are at much greater risk of diseases or conditions that can cause disability.

Also, people living with disabilities in developing countries often don’t get the healthcare or medical support they need – such as physiotherapy, a hearing aid, a wheelchair or surgery.

We work in the world’s poorest places to prevent and treat conditions that cause disability, and to enable people with disabilities to access the medical care that they need.

As mental health conditions are among the leading causes of disability and ill-health worldwide, improving access to mental health treatment and support is a key part of this work. Read more about our mental health work.

To read more about our work preventing blindness, visit our Saving Sight page.