Established in 1984, we're now over 30 years old
HealthProm began as a Medical Exchange Programme between the United Kingdom and the former USSR, set up by doctors and allied professionals to promote health education and development through tours, conferences and exchange visits.
With an early emphasis on public health, child psychiatry, paediatrics and obstetrics, it evolved to develop a more concentrated focus on Safe Motherhood and the prevention of maternal and neonatal mortality.
Over subsequent years, HealthProm has expanded its scope to respond to additional needs in the region, thus working more broadly in the social care of vulnerable children and families and advocacy on their behalf.
A brief history
1984
UK-USSR Medical Exchange Programme established, focusing on general public health, child psychiatry, paediatrics and obstetrics.
1991
Name changed to HealthProm.
1992
HealthProm advises the UK Government on the development of a health cooperation programme between the UK and Russia, aimed at supporting professional exchange on best practice, awareness raising and evidence-based training.
1994 - 2006
HealthProm strengthens its existing focal areas, whilst simultaneously developing new expertise in the areas of social care for vulnerable children and children with disabilities. It expands into several new countries.
Highlights:
- Supporting child mental health services in Russia
- Safe Motherhood training & capacity building for medical professionals in Azerbaijan, Russia and Uzbekistan
- Addressing perinatal depression in Russia
- Raising awareness of the impact of residential care on children in Russia and the creation of the film: The Road Home
- Young Child Attachment Project to increase professional understanding and knowledge of children’s psycho-social needs in Russia
- Social care and prevention of institutionalisation, with a focus on children with disabilities in Kazakhstan
- Integrated approaches to working with disabled children and their families in rural areas of Siberia
2006 - 2016
HealthProm developed new programmes to support children with disabilities and develop community-based alternatives to institutional care of young children in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Work in maternal and child health continues with a programme to address maternal and under-5 mortality in Afghanistan.
HealthProm developed its work in promoting inclusive education for children with disabilities in Moldova and Russia.
New areas of focus were developed within the charity, including mobilising advocacy mechanisms for the rights and needs of children with disabilities through civil society engagement in Ukraine, and supporting palliative care services for children with severe disabilities and terminal conditions in Belarus.
2016 - Present
Since 2016, HealthProm has continued our work supporting vulnerable women, children and families in Afghanistan, Belarus and Tajikistan. We have also developed a new programme to assist migrant women from our focus regions navigating life in the UK.
To read more about our active projects, please see our Where We Work page.