Health

CARE’s health care initiatives aim to dispel myths and overcome discrimination in the health sector, as well as increase demand for and improve access to essential services. CARE works to promote essential newborn care and immunisation, reduce malnutrition in children, decrease infant and maternal mortality rates, and protect those affected by or susceptible to HIV/AIDS and TB. CARE works within the most vulnerable communities, providing reliable information and support that addresses the emotional and medical needs of affected families.

CARE also works with local organisations to improve access to high quality and cost effective family health interventions such as family planning, maternal, neo-natal and child health and nutrition through public sector programmes such as National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and private sector health services. We also work to improve family planning and reproductive health services in poor urban communities.

In support of health care reform, CARE helps ensure accountability in government programmes, increased water and sanitation services and sustained cooperation among health, nutrition, water, and sanitation service providers.

HIV/AIDS

CARE has built capacities of vulnerable people and marginalised communities to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS and also address issues that keep them vulnerable. We secure livelihoods and food security for the people affected with HIV/AIDS.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Through our TB programme, we have worked to decrease mortality, increase access to government programme and mobilised community to support TB affected patients.

Education

CARE’s education programme challenges the barriers that exclude girls from learning. CARE works to help girls complete primary education and access formal schools, provides onsite academic support to enhance the quality of teaching, and nurtures leadership skills amongst girls. CARE also supports social learning, which encourages students to explore complex issues like gender through dialogue, role-play, games, and projects.

CARE provides technical support to teachers and government departments, helps nurture school-community relationships, and offers alternative education opportunities for women and adolescents who never enrolled or did not complete their studies. These alternative education programmes emphasise science, technology, and mathematics, and challenge teachers, students, and parents to critically consider their beliefs.

Livelihoods

CARE’s livelihoods programme promotes microfinance ‘safety nets,’ supports small business – particularly owned by women – and fosters links between community collectives and financial institutions. CARE encourages the establishment of cooperatives, through which members can access emergency funds and technologies, enabling them to rebuild their lives in the event of future disaster. CARE also focuses on improved literacy, numeracy, and critical-thinking skills as foundations of sustainable livelihoods.

Disaster Response

CARE helps communities build their capacity to cope with and recover from disasters. With a close network of local authorities, civil society, and community-based partners, CARE acts quickly to fulfil community needs. Specifically, CARE provides immediate relief and essential supplies, offers rehabilitation support, and works to secure the long-term development of whole communities. Emergency response interventions address immediate vulnerabilities, and as well as create new livelihood opportunities for the most severely affected.