International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.
International Medical Corps Worldwide is a global humanitarian alliance that comprises the resources and capabilities of two independent affiliate organizations, International Medical Corps and International Medical Corps UK. Together, their mission is to save lives and relieve suffering through the provision of health care and training. With headquarters in the United States and the United Kingdom respectively, they collaborate to maximize resources for the delivery of appropriate relief and development activities.
THEIR APPROACH
International Medical Corps focuses on the delivery of community-based primary health care. They emphasize training and education, and prioritize hiring local staff – in fact, 96% of their field-based staff and health professionals are recruited from the local community. This helps to ensure that skills and knowledge are passed on and remain long after their programs have ended. Through the integration of specialties like emergency medicine, women’s health, nutrition services, water and sanitation, and mental health into the primary health care setting, they ensure that those they receive holistic, comprehensive care. The value of International Medical Corps’ integrated approach to community health and well-being and their emphasis on capacity building through training are critical for the long-term growth of conflict and natural disaster-affected communities and fragile states.
PROGRAM PRIORITIES
Within the foundation of primary health care delivery, they have developed the following program priorities:
-Emergency Response
-Health Capacity Building
-Women’s and Children’s Health and Well-Being
-Mental Health
-Clean Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
For more than 25 years, International Medical Corps has helped communities rebuild their health care capacities and basic institutions by leveraging their experience, technical expertise, and trust forged with local leaders. A significant number of their responses have included technical assistance for nutrition and food security programs as well as the surveillance, treatment and control of immuno-preventable and epidemic diseases. Their more than 4,000 field-based staff includes approximately 200 physicians and public health experts as well as 10 Medical Directors coordinating their activities at national and regional levels. Their health technical unit includes experts in:
-Nutrition & Food Security
-HIV/AIDS
-Infectious Diseases
-Livelihoods & Agriculture
-Refugee Populations
-Fragile States
-Pandemic Preparedness
