Who we are
AMREF is Africa’s principal health care organization. We are committed to improving the health situation of vulnerable groups of people in that continent. Everybody has a right to good health. That is our strong opinion. Because whoever lives in good health has a better chance to escape poverty.
Over 50 years of expertise
AMREF is an international organization based in Africa as well as in Western countries, with an extensive network in the medical and political field. Our expertise started over 50 years ago with an outreach program using medical flights to reach the most isolated regions of Africa. Today, the `flying doctors’ still bring health care to those areas. However, our main aim is improving and strengthening the health care system itself.
Our focus
AMREF works for the most vulnerable groups in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, including nomadic people and slum dwellers. In addition, we offer technical support and expertise to health organizations working in other African countries.
We focus our programs and strategies on two main themes, one of which is sexual and reproductive health. This includes pregnancy, birth, family planning as well as hiv/aids, all of which still cause widespread health problems in Africa. The second theme is environmental health, including safe water as well as sanitation and hygiene.
Our method
We work with communities as well as local and national authorities, in order to make our programs as effective as possible. On the community level, we consult with the local population and empower them to make their own improvements in the health system. We train health volunteers as well as professional health workers, enabling them to spread their knowledge.
Also, we assist the public sector, including governments, in making sustainable improvements in the health care system. On an international level, we contribute to political and NGO forums on health in developing countries.
AMREF in the Netherlands
AMREF Flying Doctors in the Netherlands is one of 13 Western organizations in the AMREF network. One of our main activities is fundraising among the Dutch public and corporate donors. These funds are invested mostly in health programs for young African women.
In addition, we share and spread our expertise in Africa and in Western countries and we are involved in the Dutch and European political debate about health care in developing countries.
AMREF Flying Doctors receives funds and subsidies from private donors, large companies, the Postcode Lottery and the Dutch government.
For more information (in English): http://www.amref.org.
