Our Story
AIFO Organizational Profile
INTRODUCTION
The Italian Association Amici di Raoul Follereau(AIFO) is a non governmental organization(NGO) for international cooperation which operates mainl in the social health sector. The asociation was founded in 1961 thanks to the action of volunteers groups who, inspired by the thought of the French journalist Raoul Follereau, mobilized themselves in the fight against leprosy and against all leprosies, namely against the etreme forms of injustice and marginalization.
The organization has been approved by the Directorate General for Cooperation to Development of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affaris(DGCS-MAE) as an authorized organization for the implementation of emergency and development projects financed by the Government of Italy under the Law 49/87. At present, AIFO promotes and supports the following initatives:
1) Cooperation programs in developing countries(DCs);
2) Education to development in Italy (education, training, awareness campaigns, advocacy, conferences, and exhibitions);
3) Supporting activities(scientific research, publications, and international workshops).
The areas of AIFOβs cooperation programs in developing countries are:
a) leprosy prevention, care, physical and social rehabilitation(leprosy control);
b) rehabilitation (physical, mental, social and economic) with particular attention to vulnerable groups, through the strategies of Community Based Rehabilitation(CBR). http://www.who.int/disabilities/cbr/guidelines/en/
In this line, activities developed are:
a) preventive and curative medicine, through the organization of basic services;
b) physical rehabilitation of services, mental, social and economic;
c) professional training of health personnel;
d) vocational training associated with revolving funds and micro-credits schemes;
e) community development with promotion of women, through participative approach;
f) emergency in response to war or natural disasters that exacerbate health, economic and social status of the population.
AIFO is at present in 14 countries in Africa, Asia and South America, with 55 projects.
GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS
AIFO has a well structred globla position resulting in a number of partnerships with different international organizations such as ; WHO, International Federation of Anti-leprosy Associations (ILEP), International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC), Disabled Peoplesβ International(DPI), Peopleβs Health Movement(PHM), Italian Global Health Watch(OISG), Disability Research Resource Centre (FIRAH), Italian Network on Disability & Development (RIDS), Italian Society of Leprologits(SIHAN).
AIFO IN LIBERIA
In Liberia, AIFO started with a local NGO SSBI as back as 1997 with relief items to be distrubuted to the comunities including the most civil-war affected vulnerable groups.
Since then it has maintained the presence in the country through the implementation of different initiatives among those the EU project titled: βFrom Exclusion to Equality. Promoting Community Based Rehabilitation in Liberiaβ through which the CBR program was institutionalized. The disability issue in Liberia has since then much developed and AIFO has gradually gained importance in this area and is now at the heart of all the dynamics of the sector.
At national level AIFO act as TA for institutions and organizations such as: National Commission on Disabilities(NCD), MoH, MoE, National Union of Organizations of the Disabled(NUOD), UNMIL Human Rights Session and the Liberia National Alliance on Disabilities. AIFO has also played a distinctive role in lobbying with the GoL for the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. AIFO has also partnered with Handicap International(HI) in the implementation of an EU Project titled: βMaking it Workβ, which sought to develop Liberian DPOs capacities to advocate and become acknowledged counterparts of authorities and stakeholders in the development and implementation of policies targeting people with disabilities. AIFO is therefore actively involved in the capacity building of self help groups,, civil society organizations, community based organizations and Disabled People Organizations to especially strengthen their management capacities.
Another important partnership has been established with The Carter Center(for Mental Health). In 2011, AIFO launched a three year project on Mental Health, funded by EU titled: βMulti-Country Pilot Initiative for Improving Care for Persons with Mental Health Problemsβ, which was managed from Liberia, targeting 4 countries: Brazil, Indonesia, Liberia and Mongolia. In Liberia AIFOβs action was carried out in partnership with the MoHSW and with whom AIFO established a model for communities linking CBR program to local mental health services which resulted in a unique communityb mental health model. AIFOβs work in the mental health area benefitted from the TA of WHO, Franco Basaglia Mental Health Permanent Conference and DPI.
It shouldnβt be forgotten that AIFO is one of the few INGOs in Liberia that actively supports the Ganta Leprosy Hospital, in Nimba County, the only leprosy treatment center in the whole country. This is done in partnership with GLRA(German Leprosy Relief Association and the American Leprosy Missions(ALM). The three INGOs support the implementation of the National Leprosy Strategic Plan(2014-2018). During the Ebola emergency
No. County Districts Communities Population
1 B**g Salala Kapakolokoyata 1,000
2 Marshansue 700
3 Salala 2,600
4 Wre-Puta 500
5 Suakoko Leprosy Rehab Colony 407
6 SKT 5,090
7 Jorquelleh Wainsue 4,400
8 V.I community 934
9 Nimba Garr Bain Gbeisella-Wuos' Town 4,200
10 L. P. R. C. 2,510
11 Tokey Hill 2,465
12 Meinpea-Mahn Kpain 3,200
13 Project 571
14 Sanniquellie Mahn Whentia 885
15 Air Field Zone #1 3,000
16 Dahnlorpa 4,500
17 Air Field Zone #2 3,500
18 Farngalo Street 4,900
19 Margibi Mambah Kaba Chinese Farm 1,000
20 Kissi Camp 1,250
21 Kataka Benla # 1 3,019
22 Benla # 2 2,950
23 Mandingo Quarter 885
24 Jenieta 2,500
25 Maryland Harper Harper City 24,018
26 Grand Gedeh Cavala Solo Camp 374
27 Gboleken 845
28 New Solo 18
29 Old Solo 3
30 Tuzon 528
31 Old Tuzon 392
32 Zai 1,001
33 Tchien Zwedru 23,349
34 River Gee Putopo Fish Town City 3,566
Total 6 12 34 113,060
AIFO MAIN OFFICE (MONROVIA)
POI: Mr. J. Sylvester Roberts
ADMIN: Mr. Willie D. Peters
Program Coord.: Mr. Luther S. Mendin
Region Coord.: Mr. Jonathan Davies
D: Mr. Joseph Bealded
SERV.: Ms. Yah
CENTRAL REGION
SOUTH-EASTERN REGION
B**G
CBRWs: 2, No. Comm. Covered: 9
NIMBA
CBRWs: 3, No. Comm. Covered: 11
MARYLAND
CBRWs: 1, No. Comm. Covered: 6
RIVERGEE CBRWs: 1, No. Comm. Comm. Covered: 12
GRAND GEDEH
CBRWs: 2, No. Comm. Covered: 9
