Key Issues

What we do

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder affecting red blood cells. Normal red blood cells contain hemoglobin A. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells containing mostly hemoglobin S, an abnormal type of hemoglobin. The abnormal “S” hemoglobin causes red blood cells to become sickle-shaped (crescent-shaped), and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels. There are several different types of sickle cell disease; the most common types are sickle cell disease(SS disease), sickle hemoglobin C (SC Disease), and sickle-cell beta thalassemia (Sß+ or Sß0 disease)

Women Empowerment

Women and girls make up the majority of the 1.4 billion people living in extreme poverty. At RHIF, we are committed to ending poverty — by attacking its root causes, not only its consequences.

In practice, this means that we can’t just build a school — we must ensure girls’ rights to education. It means not only providing HIV and reproductive health information, counseling and testing, but also fighting for every individual’s right to be free from abuse or violence.

We are committed to uncovering and transforming the political, social and economic relationships at the heart of poverty — our work to improve the health and well-being of women and girls is critical to that fight.

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Globally, one out of three women will be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. We offer support and services for victims and educate community members to prevent further violence.

CHILD MARRIAGE

In the last 30 seconds, 13 girls under the age of 18 got married. And not happily. Child marriage is a gross human rights violation that keeps girls out of school, endangers their health and sentences them to a lifetime of poverty.

Health

Maternal and child survival. Water access. Family planning. HIV and AIDS education. Our community-centric health programs are critical to lifting families out of poverty.
A wide array of interventions have been included n maternal and child health and nutrition, sanitation, homestead food production and income generation.

SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS

When women and their partners have access to family planning information and services, everyone benefits. Maternal mortality rates drop, children are healthier and incomes rise

CHILD SURVIVAL

Each year, almost seven million children under age five die due to malnutrition, poor maternal health and diseases like malaria. We train health workers, educate parents and distribute needed supplies to keep children healthy.

WATER

Water can change lives. Because our work helping communities access clean water and sanitation isn’t just about reducing the risks of illness. It also saves time that can instead be spent on activities that improve livelihoods.

HIV & AIDS

More than seven million HIV+ people have no access to treatment — and half of all new infections occur among women. We offer education, support, treatment and prevention services to combat the pandemic and help affected families.

Education

When you invest in education, children will pay it forward. Equipped with knowledge and confidence, they will grow up to lead healthier, more productive lives.

We train teachers and other school personnel to improve the quality of education while linking education programs to interventions in health, nutrition and livelihoods to better address the reasons children don’t attend school. We also help communities assess and overcome their unique barriers to learning.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

Of the world’s 1.8 billion youth aged 10-24, 90 percent live in developing countries. We provides job training, mentorship and other services to ensure they grow into healthy, productive adults.

GIRLS’ EDUCATION

School gives girls a chance at life, especially in areas of the world where child marriage, early motherhood and poverty are the only other options. We work to remove obstacles keeping girls from leading healthy, empowered lives.

Child Rights & Equity

Children are born with the same dignity, citizenship and rights as adults. This compels World Vision, along with partners and governments, to seek the progressive fulfilment of those rights.

Children experience poverty differently than adults do because of their vulnerability and lack of legal and economic status in society. How children are doing, in all aspects of their lives, reflects the overall health and development of the family, community and society they live in.

A thriving society values all children, especially the most vulnerable, and upholds their human rights.

Ready to Support RHIF?

Your donations will sponsor an event that raises awareness about sickle cell disease and help to save the next generation from the ailment.