Enrolled nurse, Miriam Chisizwa, takes the blood pressure of patient Agnes Colinto. Credit: Abbie Trayler-Smith/Oxfam

Good health care is a fundamental right.

Health

A doctor when you need one. Medicines you can afford. Clean water to drink. Millions of people are going without these basic things, every single day.

We’re working hard to get free health care – for everyone.

Making health care for all a reality

Every minute, a woman with no medical care dies in pregnancy or childbirth

Every hour, 300 people die of an AIDS-related illness

Millions of people in poor countries get low-quality health care, or are forced to go without it altogether. Fees are too high, hospitals and clinics are too few, and lack of medical staff means people struggle to get treated.

The right to health care

Good health care is a fundamental right, not a luxury. People everywhere should be able to visit a local clinic or hospital, and get care and affordable medicines.

Oxfam is determined to make this a reality.

Start locally, act globally

We work directly with people around the world, helping them to get better health care.

Oxfam famously provides clean water and sanitation in emergencies, too. More than half a million displaced people in Darfur, Sudan, for instance, have been helped in this way.

Health care for all is a massive challenge, but an achievable one. All that’s needed is the will, and the funding.

Governments of developing countries have to invest in their health services. And rich countries, backed by international organizations like the World Bank, must solidly support them. And we’re pushing governments and drug companies to ensure developing countries get cheaper and better medicines quickly.
This is the main focus of our Health and Education campaign.

HIV and AIDS

More than 40 million people live with HIV and AIDS, and around 8,000 of them die every day as a result – mostly in the world’s poorest countries.

Oxfam is working directly with people affected by HIV and AIDS, and we lobby governments and other donors to provide funding for universal HIV and AIDS prevention work, treatment and care.