Annual Report 2005
With a total of over 13.6 million euros, DAHW financed 338 projects in 40 countries in the past year. Together with nine cross-national projects (such as training for Leprosy work) this resulted in total sponsorship amount of exactly 13.973.412,76 euros.
Our Achievements
The DAHW has continued to make progress with its Tuberculosis and Leprosy work in 2005 and at the same time has set a new course. To give an indication of this new direction, DAHW is establishing health services in slums and medicinal therapy for HIV-infected TB patients and is also providing support to Leprosy Villages helping to transform them into communities with equal rights.
DAHW wishes to protect inhabitants of New Delhi’s slums against Tuberculosis. Photo: DAHW/Ursula Meissner
Projects in the slums
Tuberculosis (TB) is especially widespread in the narrow, overcrowded and heavily polluted slums in the „Third World“. In 2005, DAHW initiated projects in metropolitan areas such as New Delhi and Rio de Janeiro with the aim of reducing the extreme poverty found there. For example, we have recently set ourselves the task of assisting TB victims in a heavily populated district in New Delhi, who to date have been unable or insufficiently supported by the State Health Department.
Health centres are often located a very long way from the patients‘ homes and as a result many ill people are discouraged from taking this long journey and will only arrive for treatment when their condition has seriously deteriorated. Others stop their long-term therapy as soon as they are feeling a little better. Therefore, together with the Indian State, it is an important aspect of our work to ensure health services are readily accessible for all patients. Patients will have their medicine administered to them by trained staff and are given regular medical examinations by qualified doctors.
DAHW supports health centres in Indian slums. Photo: DAHW/Ursula Meissner
A large aspect of our work involves education and educational campaigning. We are supportive of voluntary workers in slums, especially younger people who are trained by us as Health Workers. A large aspect of their work involves increasing public awareness of TB and the treatment that is available. One innovative group of young people performed a road show on the subject of “Infectious Diseases”.
Tuberculosis of the lungs is very com-mon in India. Photo DAHW/Ursula Meissner
We offer social help to some families who suffer from extreme poverty, e.g. initial financing of a general goods store which ensures them a better income. In doing so, we can help reduce malnutrition and provide some protection against illnesses such as TB.
Medicine for people with AIDS
In Sub-Saharan Africa, Tuberculosis is on the rampage – and is being exacerbated by the immunodeficiency of AIDS. In Tanzania alone, the incidence has increased sixfold in the past twenty years. DAHW is supporting a local partner in Dar es Salaam, “Pasada”, which is currently providing treatment and care for people living with TB and HIV/AIDS. As well as providing anti TB drugs, patients who are HIV positive, receive preventive treatment (the antibiotic Cotrimoxazol, CTX) against other concurrent infections. These efforts are resulting in increased survival chances for these people.
This CTX treatment is recommended by the World Health Organisation. People living with AIDS have a compromised immune system and are not capable of tolerating other pathogens, concurrent to the Tuberculosis. The CTX intervenes at this stage and reduces the impact of additional illnesses, which frequently result in fatality when combined with Tuberculosis.
DAHW hopes that this pilot scheme will provide a model for the Tanzanian Health Ministry and that CTX therapy will soon be introduced nationwide.
40 years‘ relief in Togo
In 2005, the DAHW observed a significant anniversary in Togo, their initial contact with this African country was 40 years earlier. Back then, medicine and donations of food and clothes were supplied. DAHW helped to establish a National Leprosy Control Programme one year later.
At the outset, we helped in a step-by-step way, to support two large Leprosy villages, Akata and Kolowaré. Following this, a programme was built up and proceeded to provide nationwide coverage.
During the course of these 40 years in Togo, we have achieved several milestones, inclusive of the construction of 19 health centres for Leprosy treatment, and the re-integration of people affected by leprosy into society. DAHW was able to contribute to a significant reduction in the number of patients in Togo. In 1985, 898 new Leprosy cases were found in Togo, whereas in 2004 the number was reduced to 176 new cases.
This considerable improvement in the Leprosy situation made it possible for DAHW to also engage in the fight against Tuberculosis. DAHW started with Tuberculosis control in addition to Leprosy work in 1992.
Photo: DAHW/Martina Vornberger
Medical care in Southern Sudan
Medical care in Southern Sudan remained critical in 2005 after the end of its civil war. Only twenty percent of the population have access to basic medical care. Until now, it has been primarily the work of churches and relief organisations to provide medical care. Unfortunately, however, it by no means covers the needs as until now the state is missing as a partner. As a result, more than 2,000 cases of Tuberculosis are being treated in 15 regional DAHW projects. However, the number of unreported cases of new infections in the entire rebels‘ area is considerably higher, at least five to ten times higher.
Amongst other things, DAHW provided medicine for treatment centres and financed 4-wheel-drive vehicles in order to enable the treatment of people in remote areas which were difficult to access in 2005. DAHW supported a Leprosy clinic in Rumbek where severely disabled are given assistance. This relief work will also be continued in 2006.
It was also very difficult to find local, qualified staff in 2005. Many doctors and health workers fled or were killed during the decade-long conflict.
DAHW is training health staff in Uganda for the Southern Sudan to help bridge the gap.
Undernourished children in Bisimido are provided with food supplements. Photo: DAHW/Ursula Meissner
Food for children
As was noted earlier, DAHWs longest running project is in Bisidimo, in the Ethiopian Highlands. As in previous years, DAHW has been involved again in 2005 with the provision and distribution of therapeutic food supplements for children under five years of age. Again and again there is no rain in the region around Bisidimo and the crops wither away. This leads to droughts and hunger. Undernourished children are more susceptible to illnesses such as Tuberculosis.
Plans are now underway to construct new wells in order to improve the water supplies. Bisidimo‘s wells are not deep enough to provide sufficient water for the settlements next to the hospital if the drought doesn‘t come to an end. Geological expertise was sought and with the help of the Federal State Oromiya four new deep wells have been created. Bisidimo‘s future depends on them.
Children and grandchildren of leprosy sufferers also suffer from the stigma of leprosy in Senegal. Photo: DAHW/Rolf Bauerdick
Better rights for Leprosy villages
DAHW has supported several Senegalese villages in their endeavours to become communities that hold equal rights within the scope of a social programme since 1978. Years of effort by social workers and village inhabitants have paid off and now more and more villages have attained an equal status to others in 2004 and 2005.
These settlements comprising 7,600 inhabitants were founded as early as during colonial times in order to isolate the ill and until recently were excluded from all state and regional country development program-mes.
During the past ten years, amongst other things DAHW social workers organised training courses for the village locals in the fields of self-organisation, formation of village groups and an administrative village structure.
The ownership of the plots of land in the village of Sowane was transferred to the families in 2004. The intention is to ensure that there is full participation in the district administration by elected village representatives in the coming years. Three further Leprosy villages (Koutal, Fadiga and Teubi) followed suit in 2005 and their inhabitants now also own small plots of land.
DAHW ensures that they are provided with school education. Photo: DAHW/Rolf Bauerdick
Some inhabitants have already independently been able to purchase a plot of land and have made a modest income in the two largest villages, Mballing and Peycouck, which are closer to larger towns and provide better income possibilities.
Self-help efforts in Nepal
A five-year-long project was successfully completed in Nepal in 2005. It had been supported together with the International Nepal Fellowship (INF). The project was realised with co-funding of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.
Thanks to DAHWs support, local organisations and self-help groups are integrating formerly excluded leprosy sufferers and other disabled persons within society. Moreover, we succeeded in providing more than 2,000 people affected by Leprosy and other disabled persons with targeted social and economic help. As well as providing loans for small business ventures, this support has included: agricultural training, teaching arts and crafts, providing further education, on-the-job experiences and arranging work placements.
A project planned from the middle of 2006 to the middle of 2009 is intended to both strengthen and develop community-based re-integration.
-> The German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (DAHW)
-> 5.000 People Die of Tuberculosis Every Day
-> Millions of Disabeld an Marginalised Leprosy Victims Urgently Need Help
-> Relief for Earthquake Victims
-> Fishermen′s Future Restored
-> Supporting Rufht Pfau′s life′s work
-> Numerous Donations Thanks to Voluntary Helpers
-> Anne Will Visits a DAHW Project in Sudan
-> DAHW CEO on the VENRO Board
-> "Würzburg Plays in the Highest League"
-> Ruth Pfrau is Awarded the "Marion Dönhoff Prize"
-> Order of the Merik of the Federal Republic of Germany for a DAHW Emploee
