For Terre des homes (Tdh), as for every individual, health is a priority objective. Whilst, on an individual level, it’s relatively easy to remain in good health in developed countries, this is obviously not the case in developing countries. The problems there are clearly more complex, and Terre des hommes works on such areas as improving access to basic healthcare, or running campaigns in culturally different communities to raise awareness of the best hygiene practices, sometimes going against deep-rooted social and cultural rules.


Amongst its priority objectives, Terre des hommes has developed a mother and child health strategy. In most of the countries where we intervene, the infant mortality rate is extremely high. To start to remedy the situation, Terre des hommes sees the problem not from the point of view of the child alone, but from the point of view of the inseparable unit of mother and child.

In fact, a young child’s chances of survival are much greater if the young women are made aware, as soon as they are pregnant, of the importance of a healthy diet and safe hygiene. The sanitary conditions in which they give birth are also a risk factor that we try to control. Finally, during the first months, it is vital that the infant is well fed, and in particular that it benefits from exclusive breast-feeding during the first 6 months, and preferably for as long as possible.

Malnourished children are one of the biggest causes of mortality. Consequently, Terre des hommes runs programmes focusing on nutrition. This can include awareness campaigns within the community, or the setting up of treatment facilities, the centres for nutritional recuperation. In addition, we support existing private or public facilities, by giving them medical, technical or financial advice, in order to help them manage malnutrition more effectively.

Whilst access to basic healthcare is still a battle in itself, our specialised healthcare programmes also stand out, and that since the historic beginnings of the Terre des hommes movement. The most difficult medical cases, which cannot be treated in their own country, are identified and Terre des hommes organises the transfer of children to Switzerland, and also to France or Spain, so that they receive the medical operation that they require.

Finally, more recently, our interventions in the field of healthcare have been completed by an approach linked to environmental management: water and sanitation. This is especially relevant in the context of emergency situations, such as big natural disasters or refugee camps, where there is a high risk of epidemics due to the lack of infrastructure and promiscuity.