International Federation of Anti Leprosy Associations

Damien Foundation India Trust        

The roots of Damien Foundation in India can be traced to the establishment in 1953 of a Leprosy control project in Polambakkam situated about 100 Kms from Chennai, in Tamil Nadu State by Dr.Frans Hemerijckx, a dynamic force in Leprosy control programme in India.  Dr.Claire Vellut who was associated with Dr.Hemerijckx right from the beginning continued the tradition of providing humane service to the people affected by leprosy in the project area.  She was responsible for founding the Damien Foundation India Trust (DFIT) in 1992.  From a single project in Polambakkam the organisation has grown with extensive reach in India.

Damien Foundation India Trust consisting of 7 members with the President of Damien    Foundation, Belgium (DFB), being the Chairman, executes all the leprosy & TB control activities through the Secretary of the Trust.

Objectives

Support and strengthen the Government public structure so as to render leprosy and TB control programmes self-sustainable

 

Strategy

- Health care for the less privileged with focus on leprosy and TB by Providing technical and financial assistance to organisations (GOI, Government health system and NGO) in providing essential service.

▪ — Training of various cadres of health staff.  

▪ -  Dissemination of correct technical information to the stakeholders

▪  

Activities…

Damien Foundation is currently involved in supporting leprosy and tuberculosis control in several states in India, the activities include….

· Support to Government of India at the National level in monitoring and evaluating Leprosy control.

·  Support to the State Government by placing District Technical Support Teams (DTSTs) to augment the capacity of all the cadres of the government staff in providing Leprosy and TB services.

·  Support to NGOs in establishing Tuberculosis Unit and Microscopic centers.

· Establish referral system for management of patients with complications.

·  Establish Reconstructive surgery unit in Medical college hospitals.  Reconstructive surgery facilities in 3 NGO centers.

·   Support supply of MCR footwear in sponsored NGO projects.

·   External Quality Assurance (EQA) in laboratory services in TB control supported by DFIT.

·    Produce and supply Sputum cups with WHO specifications at cost price.

·    Quarterly publication of “UPDATE” to enhance the technical knowledge of the health personnel.

·  Continuing Medical Education (CME) to health professionals on Leprosy.

· Seminar on leprosy by Post Graduate medical students.

· Endowment prize examination in leprosy for undergraduate medical students.

· Training of project staff in areas of management, supervision, communication, computerized data processing etc.

· Conduct annual internal and external evaluation of all the projects supported by Damien Foundation India Trust.

· Construction and repair of Health Centres in Bihar and Jharkhand with the help of Chantier Damien.  

 

 

International Federation of Anti Leprosy Associations

To contact us:

Damien Foundation Belgium,

Boulevard Leopold-II  263,

B-1081 Bruxelles, Belgium,

Tel: 00-32-2-422 5911

Fax: 00-32-2-422 5900

Email: info.projects@damien-foundation.be

Web : damienfoundation.org

Damien Foundation India Trust,

No 14, Venugopal Avenue,

Spurtank Road,

Chetpet,

Chennai—600 031.

Tamil Nadu, India.

Tel : 0091-044-28360496/28361910/42148401

Fax : 0091-044-2836 2367

Email : damienin@airtelmail.in

Web: damienfoundation.in

 

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