About the World Care Council
The World Care Council is a NGO (non governmental organization) registered in India, France and the Democratic Republic of Congo, that strives to raise the standards of care for people with Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and Malaria.
Driven by people living with HIV and/or TB, the World Care Council advances a Rights and Responsibilities approach to confronting the pandemics that devastate communities around the globe, and practices the principle of greater and more meaningful involvement of people with the diseases.
Since its establishment in 2005, the World Care Council has pioneered a twin-track strategy of developing or influencing policy in international bodies such as the WHO, UNITAID and the Global Fund, and then initiating projects on the ground in communities in high burden countries to implement these guidelines. This strategy turns noble words on paper into practice in hospitals, clinics, dispensaries and health centers by forging partnerships with governments, public and private sector providers, civil society organizations and health experts.
Consistently breaking new ground, the World Care Council has developed a number of innovative tools to both improve care and to mobilize people in the communities to participate in the process. These include: the Patients' Charter for Tuberculosis Care, adopted as a key element of the WHO Stop TB Strategy; a global system of consultation on health issues under the banner of 'Outreach for Input'; The GIPT Principles; Community Care Clubs to mobilize a broad base of people, organizations and authorities on district level; the PLHIV Charter for HIV Care (Read 'Write Your Rights!'); and national SMS / Phone Hotlines to provide social support for people with the diseases. Each of these tools are designed to contribute to healthcare scale-up, from the bottom-up.
After four years, the World Care Council has begun to make a 'healthy' difference on both global, national and local levels, and has done so with virtually no funding and no salaried staff. An activist organization and network, it has concentrated more on headhunting other committed people living with the diseases than on hunting for funds for offices, salaries and materials such as vehicles and equipment. As its Board believes that activists should be motivated by collective good for the community and not for individual benefit, the World Care Council has remained driven by volunteers, sustained mostly by contributions. However, as the number of its initiatives has grown, the organization is now finally seeking funds to solidify its core operations and establish the structures needed for sustained growth, powered by those with a proven commitment to the community.
Driving forward, mobilizing communities to act on Rights and Responsibilities, the World Care Council is striving to raise the standards of care for millions of people worldwide burdened by tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria and the other neglected diseases.
"This is really a strategy co-owned by all: top-down and bottom-up converging!"
Dr. Mario Raviglione, Director. StopTB / WHO