Health

Children with a disability face various challenges when it comes to their right to good health. Access to health care often proves difficult, especially in poor rural areas, slums and suburban settings. Medical practitioners may treat these children disrespectfully rather than as people entitled to receiving health care. Doctors do not always seek the consent of the child or its parents when it comes to treatment. Such situations are not only degrading – they are a violation of the children’s rights.

Access to health care and rehabilitation
The Liliane Foundation and its partners provide the best possible access to health and rehabilitation services. The local context of the child is taken into account and help is tailored to individual needs. (Para)medical rehabilitation includes treatments such as surgery, medical check ups, provision of medications and physiotherapy. It also involves providing equipment, such as wheelchairs, prostheses, adapted bikes, hearing aids, spectacles, braces, crutches and orthopaedic shoes. The partners also provide access to medical rehabilitation services that address the use of the equipment and devices.

Important as it may be, (para)medical assistance is not an objective in its own right. It is a way to fight discrimination and promote inclusion of children and youngsters with disabilities.