SHARE (Services for the Health in Asian and African Regions) is an international cooperation NGO whose vision is "Health for All!", a world where everyone can live in good health. It was founded in 1983 by doctors, nurses, students and others who wanted to act from a grassroots standpoint.
Its work is built on the primary health care approach: helping local residents take the lead in protecting their own health. SHARE sends specialists to the field and works with local people over the long term. Today it runs child nutrition improvement in Cambodia, and maternal and child health services and reproductive health programs in Timor-Leste.
In Japan, SHARE supports the health of foreign residents and carries out awareness activities about conditions in developing countries. Its website notes that medical interpreters have been dispatched 2,146 times in total. Annual and financial reports are also available to the public.
Key points
- Health programs in three countries (Cambodia, Timor-Leste and Japan) built around training people who protect lives
- Emphasis on community-led, sustainable health care that does not rely on outside support
- Strong activities in Japan too, including medical interpreter dispatch and learning content on global health
Why this organization's work stands out
Rather than only delivering supplies, SHARE focuses on nurturing the people who support health in their own communities. For example, it works on mechanisms in which local people train the next generation, such as health education through teacher training.
Because it works both overseas and with foreign residents in Japan, it offers a way to think about global health starting from our own communities. There are many ways to get involved, including donating, becoming a member, volunteering and joining events.
Editor's comment
The phrase "protect our own lives, by ourselves" seems to capture the heart of global health. The accumulated work of more than 40 years is also reassuring.
Details of the activities and event information are on the official website. Please take a look.