Location: Egypt - Cairo

Situation:

Social inequalities are very marked in Egypt and even more so in Cairo, home to about 20 million people. There are growing numbers of street children, often fleeing violent homes, and they are increasingly  discriminated against in terms of access to healthcare. Local organisations provide social services, but these services do not include medical and psychological skills.

Activities:

Doctors of the World (DOW) trains the social workers and medical staff of five local partner organisations in better quality medical and psychological care for street children. We are also working directly with the children to improve health education and to support a specific clinic for them within a  prevention centre in one Cairo teaching hospital. DOW co-ordinates a network of actors working with street children, to promote their access to mainstream health services. As a result of the project 827 consultations for boys and girls were carried out in Basma Clinic for street children, in the premises of a teaching hospital.

Outlook:

In 2010, the work will continue along the same lines, with better links with the Ministry of Health. The staff of several health centres in Cairo will be trained on the situation and specific needs of street children.