Donate Give Monthly

Menu

Donate Give Monthly


Email SignUp

Stay connected and receive updates from Opportunity International Australia.

Follow Us

Search


PO Box A524
Sydney South NSW 1235, Level 11, 227 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000

Telephone: 1800 812 164

© 2024 Opportunity International AustraliaABN 83 003 805 043


Healthy families,
    resilient communities

When you empower individuals with knowledge and improve access to healthcare, entire communities thrive.

Combining health training, community-based care and finance, we partner with women to keep their families healthy.

1 billion people worldwide experience health impoverishment every year – pushing them further into poverty.

For a woman living in poverty, running her own business, health is her main asset – her family and livelihood depend on it. Opportunity’s health initiatives focus on women and families beyond the reach of traditional health services.

Our local microfinance partners are uniquely positioned to understand their community’s needs and provide health solutions to families in need, whether it’s increasing health knowledge or supporting those in need with their health expenses.

By building on the base of existing small loan clients, and the trust these community members have in our partners, Opportunity's Health program takes a unique approach, delivering health alongside small loans, to build more resilient communities.

It’s a smart, scalable way to address gaps in existing healthcare systems, and improve access to quality healthcare.

 

HOW WE HELP

Our goal is to improve the overall health of communities living in poverty and prevent illness and catastrophic health spending through through education, finance and access to better health services.

Opportunity’s health program aims to serve entire communities – particularly women and their families – by empowering community leaders in India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Nepal – with plans to expand to the Philippines and Africa. 

The result: improved health for the community, a reliable source of income for health leaders, and options around health care for rural and remote areas outside of urban centres.

Opportunity's unique solution

health leader symbol

Empowering Health Leaders – training women to deliver health education and provide health services and products, including telehealth, to improve health and resilience in their communities and improve their income.

health entrepreneurs

Train Health Entrepreneurs – providing holistic, end-to-end support to improve the products and care provided by community pharmacies, often the first point of contact for families when experiencing health issues or requiring primary healthcare.

 

Health finance

Developing health finance solutions – supporting financial institutions to fund health entrepreneurs and develop innovative products for people living in poverty to prevent and manage catastrophic health expenses.

 

How a Health Leader improves her community

A small loan gives a woman the opportunity to start a small business and improve the lives of her family with increased income.

Health Leader training is offered in the community and the Health Leader signs up to attend six months of training in essential healthcare and sanitation.

The Health Leader maps needs within her community during her training allowing her to more fully understand the community's health issues and solutions.

Families are reached in the local community, and community health improves as essential health and hygiene knowledge is shared and sanitation practices are improved.

90%
of essential health services that people need is primary care – from healthcare providers who work in the community
1 in 2
child deaths globally are linked to child and maternal malnutrition
18 million
health worker shortfall is expected in low income countries by 2030, deepening inequality inaccess to healthcare

In 2023, we reached 

926,695 families

through our health programs in India, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

LABONI'S STORY

Small steps make big difference to family’s health

Laboni is a mother from Bangladesh and her husband, a migrant worker, works away from home for long periods of time. During her first pregnancy she was unaware of the need for regular check-ups. She continued her domestic duties and didn’t eat nutritious food. She became anaemic, experienced stomach aches and weakness throughout the pregnancy and the birth of her daughter Nafia was challenging.

Laboni first met Health Leader Ujala during her second pregnancy, when she conducted community health training in her local village. Laboni attended the training as she was eager to keep herself and her unborn child healthy.

“I am very thankful to BURO (Opportunity’s local partner), for taking such a good initiative to improve rural life and people like me,” Laboni said. “Now I know how small steps can save a person or a family from facing big danger.”

This project is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Learn more

The vision of Universal Health Coverage is that all people can obtain the quality health services they need without suffering financial hardship. Financial inclusion and private sector investment can bring that vision to life."

Annie Wang, Head of Global Health at Opportunity International

Make a lasting impact on global health

By supporting Opportunity’s health program, you're improving the overall health of families and communities living in poverty, and helping to prevent medical impoverishment by providing education, finance and access to much-needed health services.

To date we have reached 7.8 million families through our innovative approach to health.

Will you help us to expand our health initiatives to help more women and families in rural and remote communities in Asia and Africa to improve their health and thrive?

Donate today to help Opportunity International Australia reach more communities in need.

GIVE NOW