The Salaam Centre
Where are they?
What do they do?
Who benefits?
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Cairo
Deliver three main programmes – a hospital, child health care and a school for children with mental or physical disabilities.
Over 1,000,000 people of all ages in the immediate area and seven surrounding suburbs. |
More Infomation:
Founded: 1976
Director: Sister Maria
Beginnings:
Overwhelming levels of poverty affect a majority of the Egyptian population with those from rural areas often migrating to Cairo in search of work. One extreme case of poverty can be found in Ezbet El Nakhl, a rubbish dump housing 15,000 people. These people, the Zabaleen (meaning ‘rubbish pickers’) live in small huts built from the rubbish that surrounds them. The Salaam Centre for Medico-Social Services was founded by Sisters from the Convent living in a small hut in the middle of the rubbish dump, visiting every family, sharing their experiences and building relationships with them.
Activities:
Health
- The Under Fives Health Care Programme began in 2001 for young children who are particularly susceptible to many diseases due to working on the rubbish dump. The Centre aims to improve the health of these children and teach basic health care to families. Children receive twice yearly check-ups and those with special needs are given the appropriate treatment or referred to a nearby hospital.
- Each child receives immunisation and the Centre gives vitamins to 800 children whose parents pay 10p per child per month. The Centre has a fund to help pay for emergency medical care that children may need if their families are unable to afford treatment costs. Each child who attends the clinic has their own medical records – a fairly new concept in Egypt. Community nurses make home visits and provide pre and post natal care.
Downloadable documents:
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