Stories

Facts and Figures

Die_neue_wasserstelle_am_haus_ist_2International Order of Malta Worldwide Relief--Malteser International provides these facts and figures to help you understand more about the countries where we work and the issues and diseases they face.

Here are some basic terms to help you learn more as you read our facts.

LRRD
LRRD stands for ’Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development‘. The aim is to assess the extent to which short-term measures can contribute to sustainable development at as early a stage as possible – ideally in the emergency aid phase. This concept is based on experiences, where short-term emergency aid has had undesirable effects or side-effects on some population groups or the later development of the region.

To minimize these effects, Malteser International focuses on the concrete implementation of LRRD: at the planning stage for emergency aid measures, the existing structures in the affected region are assessed, together with consideration as to how to maintain the implemented measures once the aid organisation has left. A further aim during emergency aid planning is to ensure a smooth transition to rehabilitation and development. As a result of this process, after the early phase the project can usually be handed over to local organisations in a developed state that is sustainable in the long-term. Above all, this helps to reduce the vulnerability and susceptibility of the population to future crises and disasters.

CHOLERA
Cholera is a bacterial diarrhoea disease that spreads very rapidly, particularly in regions with a high population density, insufficient water supply and poor sani-tary conditions. Refugee camps and slum areas are frequently affected. Cholera treatment basically focuses on counterbalancing the extreme fluid loss; if needed, antibiotics are given. Fundamental contributions to treatment and prevention include sufficient pro-vision of clean water and sanitation facilities, waste management, fly control and the provision of soap.

ANTI-RETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART)
Anti-retroviral therapy is used to treat AIDS, an immunodeficiency illness. Al-though the anti-retroviral medicine cannot cure immunodeficiency, it can fight the viruses in the body and reduce their number. It reduces both the risk of associated illnesses and the pain, giving patients a longer, pain-free life. Many can even return to work and thus safeguard a living for their families and the future of their children.

VACCINATION CAMPAIGNS
Many children are still dying across southern Africa from infectious diseases such as measles or diphtheria, diseases that can be avoided through the use of vaccinations. Consequently there is a major need for vaccinations in these countries. The importance of the vaccina¬tions is explained to parents, so that they will allow their children to be vaccinated during the next major campaign. Vaccina¬tion campaigns must be extremely well organised and prepared, to treat as many children as possible. Teams often travel to the villages and regions days in advance of the campaign, announcing its start date via megaphone. Most vaccines need to be refrigerated and, in case of necessi¬ty, must be delivered quickly.

NUTRITION CENTRES
Nutrition centres are healthcare facilities for the special treatment of malnutrition and undernourishment. Mainly children are affected, although it also affects those who are chronically ill, e.g. those suffering from tuberculosis and / or HIV/AIDS. Specially trained personnel work in the nutrition centres, providing intensive care for the patients every day.

INCOME-GENERATING MEASURES
Poor families across the world want to find work for themselves and live on their own income, rather than receive alms. There is a crisis in terms of regularly paid work, which is hard to find in many poor countries. Malteser International is therefore running training courses that teach basic financial knowledge and then offer the participants small loans so they can start their own small business or provide a service. Many invest this starting capital in a sales or market stall, or a movable flat table, or cages for fish farming, or tools. If the new business is well planned and organised, most borrowers can pay back their small loans very quickly. The capital is then available again to help the next small business.

MOBILE CLINIC
Mobile clinics are fully-equipped health centres on wheels, travelling regularly to remote or hard-to-access villages to provide medical care for those who have little access to healthcare facilities. Mobile clinics also ensure that supplies are provided in regions where existing health centres have been destroyed by war or natural disasters and are no
longer functional.

HIV/AIDS:
Every day, 8,000 people die from AIDS. There are 40 million people infected with HIV worldwide.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is the last stage of a viral illness triggered by the HI virus (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). AIDS often results in pneumonia, skin diseases and diarrhoea – even meningitis, which in many cases leads to death very quickly. The HI virus is transmitted through sexual intercourse, blood transfusions and medical instruments (needles, tweezers, blades), but can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. Special blood tests can be used to detect antibodies against the virus in the blood.

AIDS is incurable, but the illnesses cited above can be treated, slowing down the progress of AIDS itself. In the meantime, even those living in poverty have access to modern AIDS medicine (so-called antiretroviral medicine) that hinders the progress of AIDS. This development offers a chance that one day the worldwide epidemic may be stemmed long-term. Up until now, around one million people have been reached, but six million require this medicine in order to lead a full life once more. 

WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE
The most cost-efficient method of preventing infectious diseases is the provision of clean water, sanitary facilities and hygiene equipment. In the context of poverty, each person must have access to a minimum of 15 litres of clean water a day. Access to sanitary facilities – latrines, bathrooms, washing facilities – is just as important as soap and toothbrushes. Waste and sewage water must also be removed to prevent the outbreak of dangerous diarrhoea infections.

Today, one billion people across the world have no access to clean water and 2.6 billion people have no access to sanitary facilities. 6,000 children die each day from diarrhoea infections, which could have been avoided through very simple actions.

PSYCHO-SOCIAL CARE
Care covers both psychological and social support for individuals or communities to improve mental health. Helping people in crisis by providing pastoral or psychological advice or bringing family members together are all part of the activities. Social support focuses in particular on the social needs relating to life in general, e.g. help finding a home, provision of medical aid, support when looking for a job or going to school.

Providing psycho-social care to help coping with trauma after disasters usually includes both advice and creative measures to release tension. Mental problems or illnesses are perceived and classified very differently in various cultures, so their treatment must also
be different.

MALARIA:
Malaria is a parasitic disease. Its pathogen is transmitted to humans via mosquitoes (Anopheles). The pathogens destroy the red blood cells. This causes fever, headaches and joint pain. After AIDS, ‘malaria tropica’ is one of the most frequent causes of death. Up to two million people die of malaria every year. However, it can be diagnosed via microscope or rapid test and can then be treated and cured. Our project activities also include preventative measures such as the distribution of impregnated mosquito nets. Malaria treatment costs EUR 5 on average as long as there are no complications.

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE:
Every human being should have access to fundamental medical care – a fact that is taken for granted, but which is not yet a reality in many countries. In addition to the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, the most crucial elements of primary health care are immunisation programmes and safe access to drinking water, food and medicine. Others include care for pregnant women, children and the chronically sick, as well as training for medical staff and health education. With as little as EUR 35, we can ensure primary health care for a child or an adult person in Africa or Asia for a whole year.

FOOD SECURITY:
In terms of humanitarian aid, differentiation is made between direct food aid and long-term food security. Food aid is the direct provision of foodstuffs in acute emergency situations. In contrast, the aim of our food security programmes is to enable long-term food supply without creating permanent dependence on food aid. We prepare seeds and agricultural equipment after a disaster, so that people can replant crops and harvest them. In regions where children are under-nourished, we help their mothers plant vegetables and fruit and teach them to prepare nutritious meals.

SLEEPING SICKNESS:
Sleeping sickness is an infectious disease that results in death if it is not treated promptly. It only occurs in a few countries, such as Sudan, Congo and Uganda. The trigger is a parasite transmitted by the tsetse fly. In its final stage, sleeping sickness leads to brain fevers that also cause sleep disorders (hence the name). The pathogen can be detected in the blood or through tapping cerebrospinal fluid in the spinal cord. Sleeping sickness must be treated, but this often triggers side-effects that can also result in death. However, for around EUR 1,000, a treatment can be provided that significantly reduces the mortality risk.

TUBERCULOSIS:
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs, but also other organs. Pulmonary tuberculosis is transmitted from person to person via the respiratory tracts and is therefore highly contagious. Symptoms include tiredness, weight loss and a slightly higher body temperature during the night. They often appear first after a few months or years. Tuberculosis can be cured with a combination of three to five antibiotics and treatment usually lasts between six and eight months. It is particularly crucial that patients receive continuous care. Failure to continue medication can lead to relapses and the further spread of multi-resistant tuberculosis germs, which are complicated and expensive to treat. A normal six-month treatment course for pulmonary tuberculosis costs around EUR 100.