Damien Foundation is a Belgian medical non-profit organisation that works to support people with tuberculosis, leprosy, and other diseases that primarily affect the most vulnerable communities.
Our ambition
Our mission is to provide equal access to health services throughout the world, and to ensure that no one suffers or dies from diseases that can be prevented and cured.
Our strategy
Access to healthcare as a lever for a fairer world.
Many factors such as poverty, malnutrition, and poor living conditions influence the spread of epidemics. To give every patient the best chance of recovery, we strive for high-quality diagnosis, treatment, and care. At the same time, we organise awareness campaigns, trainings, invest in research, and conduct targeted medical interventions.
And we go even further! Our holistic approach aims at removing obstacles at every stage of the patient’s pathway. It is about providing essential socio-economic support to the most vulnerable, stopping discrimination, and forming sustainable partnerships with local organisations, public health structures, governments, and NGOs active in the countries where we operate.
Our way of working
WHERE?
At request
Damien Foundation only intervenes at the request of a country’s public authorities, because they know best where and why medical assistance is needed.
FOR HOW LONG?
Long term
Damien Foundation works hand in hand with local authorities to support health systems. We are committed to sustainable involvement in the countries where we operate.
WITH WHOM?
Local staff
In the countries where we operate, we primarily work with national staff (99%), who speak the patients’ language and can earn their trust more easily.
UNTIL WHEN?
Until the goal’s achieved
We withdraw once the country has the technical, medical, and financial capacity to provide appropriate treatment for patients and therefore ensure a sustainable impact.
Our values
Damien Foundation is an organisation open to all. It rejects any form of discrimination among beneficiaries, volunteers, and staff members. In its health programmes, Damien Foundation cares for the people affected by illness, regardless of their nationality, language, skin colour, age, sex, social background, culture, or philosophical, religious, sexual, or political convictions.
Damien Foundation sets its own priorities inspired by the vision of the organisation without political or religious interference. Income from various sources ensures financial independence. Damien Foundation determines its strategy and activities autonomously, in consultation with the local partners and according to internationally recognised standards.
Within Damien Foundation people take responsibility and initiative. The organisation itself, everyone in the entire organisation and all cooperating stakeholders have the duty and obligation to contribute as much as possible to achieving the objectives pursued and to make optimal use of the means available. They also have the duty and obligation to report on results through open and regular communication.
Damien Foundation applies generally accepted social and ethical principles. This applies to all its activities and relationships through words, actions, and behaviour.
Damien Foundation puts people at the heart of its activities: beneficiaries, donors, employees, volunteers, partners. The organisation attaches great importance to the way people treat each other and show consideration for each other. Respect means esteem and appreciation for people considering their strengths, skills, and achievements.
Activity Report
Would you like to learn more about Damien Foundation and its achievements? Check out our latest activity report.