The Health Program is one of the major intervention areas of Equitable Health Organization (EHO), a registered non-governmental organization supporting children with disabilities under 18 years old in Rwanda.

Currently, EHO is directly supporting 12 children with severe disabilities and medically critical conditions, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, neurological disorders, severe physical disabilities, and chronic health complications. Approximately 70% of these children are unable to sit, stand, walk, or independently perform basic daily activities. Most of them are unable to attend school due to severe medical conditions and mobility limitations.

These children live with continuous medical crises, including recurrent convulsions, multiple body deformities, severe muscle contractures, malnutrition, infections, poor hygiene conditions, and psychological suffering. Their caregivers, especially mothers, experience emotional distress, social isolation, family conflicts, and financial hardship while providing long-term care without adequate support.

During EHO community assessments and home visits, it was identified that many families continue to face stigma, discrimination, and harmful cultural beliefs associated with disability. Some communities wrongly associate disability with curses or satanic causes, leading families to hide children with disabilities from society. Women and mothers are often abandoned or blamed for the disability of the child, increasing their vulnerability to emotional violence and poverty.

In addition, there is a critical gap in rehabilitation services within the district and surrounding regions, where physiotherapy services are extremely limited and, in some areas, non-existent. To respond to this urgent need, EHO plans to establish a Community Physiotherapy Room to provide accessible rehabilitation services for children with disabilities, as a sustainable and community-based solution.

The program, therefore, focuses on sustainable interventions, including:

Establishment of a Community Physiotherapy Room;
Medical insurance coverage;
Access to healthcare and treatment services;
Hygiene and sanitary materials;
Nutritional support and balanced diet;
Psychosocial counseling and caregiver support;
Community awareness and anti-stigma campaigns;
Wheelchairs and mobility support.

The program is implemented as a continuous intervention with annual evaluation and transparent monitoring systems to ensure accountability, measurable impact, and sustainable improvement in beneficiaries’ lives.

EHO is committed to transparency, accountability, and responsible management of donor support through regular monitoring, beneficiary follow-up, financial reporting, and annual evaluations to demonstrate real-life impact and transformation.

The health program is expected to cost 35,000 USD a year in the initial phase. Through donor partnership, EHO aims to restore dignity, improve health outcomes, strengthen families, and build an inclusive society where children with disabilities can access essential rehabilitation and live healthier lives.

Ongoing Projects

Health Ongoing Projects

EHO-Sustainable Health and Protection Program for Children with Disabilities

Project Document