Helpster’s vision for global health equality

Healthcare is not just a luxury; it is a fundamental human right. Yet, in many parts of the world, the absence of adequate healthcare infrastructure prevents millions of children from accessing the care they desperately need. Governments worldwide are aware of this dire issue and invest substantial resources into improving healthcare systems, but the reality is that many nations continue to fall short. Whether due to inadequate funding, poor management, or systemic inefficiency, this chronic underinvestment is hampering the global progress towards universal health coverage by 2030.

The global healthcare crisis: Why we must act

The World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted the deepening healthcare crisis in its October 2023 report, warning that the world is off track to achieve Universal Health Coverage (SDG 3.8) by 2030. Since 2015, the progress towards expanding health services has stalled, and the financial burden on individuals has only increased. In Africa, for example, over half of the population lack access to essential healthcare services, despite the continent bearing 23% of the world’s disease burden. Meanwhile, global health funding remains disproportionately low for these nations, with Africa receiving just 1% of global health spending. In Asia, disparities are stark, with health insurance coverage ranging from just 1% in Afghanistan to 98% in Japan.

The combined effects of extreme poverty and inadequate health infrastructure leave millions of children and young adults unable to access essential medical treatments. Tragically, many of these children are dying from preventable conditions because their families simply cannot afford the necessary healthcare. These avoidable deaths not only affect individual families but undermine the long-term social and economic progress that every nation strives for.

Enter Helpster: Improving healthcare access through technology

In response to this crisis, Helpster has emerged as a beacon of hope for children in need. This innovative, tech-driven nonprofit organisation is making healthcare accessible in underserved regions across Africa and Asia. By harnessing the power of technology, Helpster connects children and pregnant women who need life-saving medical treatment with compassionate donors who want to make a real difference.

Through its network of local volunteers, NGOs, hospitals, and parents, Helpster identifies and validates medical cases from communities facing extreme poverty. Cases are rigorously assessed based on urgency, the level of poverty, and treatment plans. Only the most critical cases, with treatment costs below $1,500 (or up to $3,000 in exceptional circumstances), are uploaded on the Helpster website and mobile app. Donors can contribute directly to these cases, knowing their funds will go straight to local hospitals, ensuring transparency and accountability. The entire donation process is tracked in real time, allowing donors to see the direct impact of their contribution.

To maintain complete transparency, Helpster provides detailed financial documents and reports for each case, accessible through its app. Remarkably, 100% of donations go directly to the hospitals providing care, with only a small percentage (5-7%) going towards transaction fees and bank commissions.

Reducing child mortality: A focus on the most common illnesses

Helpster’s mission is clear: no child should die due to lack of access to essential healthcare. Across the regions they serve, Helpster sees a heartbreaking pattern of preventable illnesses. In sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, children are often affected by pneumonia, malaria, kidney infections, hernias and other treatable conditions.

Take Nigeria, for instance, where Helpster’s case records show that malaria, typhoid, hernia and urinary tract infections are among the most common illnesses affecting children. The treatment cost for malaria can be as low as $60, while hernia treatment starts at $89. These amounts, though relatively low in the context of global healthcare costs, are often out of reach for families in poverty-stricken regions.

In Kenya, severe malaria and pneumonia are leading causes of child mortality. Helpster’s case records indicate that treating malaria in Kenya averages $130, while severe pneumonia treatment costs about $100. Malaria alone accounted for a staggering 95% of the global malaria deaths in 2022, according to the WHO, with children under five being disproportionately affected. These children shouldn’t have to die from treatable diseases simply because their families can’t afford the necessary treatment.

Similarly, in Bangladesh, Helpster has recorded common ailments like pneumonia, tonsillitis, and complications during childbirth that could all be treated with access to basic healthcare. In fact, tonsillitis treatment costs an average of $300 in Bangladesh, a sum that’s often out of reach for many families.

A call to action: Join Helpster in saving lives

The statistics are grim, but Helpster is committed to changing the narrative. Since its inception in 2023, Helpster has already saved over 900 children through direct healthcare funding, and positively impacted the lives of over 5,000 individuals through regular medical outreaches. This success is only possible because of the generosity of donors, who believe that every child, regardless of where they are born, deserves the chance to live a healthy life.

Helpster’s approach is efficient, transparent, and life-saving. With a user-friendly mobile app and website, this charity is restoring hope in communities where it is needed most. You can be part of this life-changing movement by donating today. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps a child access the healthcare they need and deserve.

By joining Helpster’s mission, you’re not just making a donation- you’re helping to prevent needless deaths and ensuring a brighter future for children who need it most. Let’s work together to make sure no child dies because they can’t afford healthcare. Your support makes a world of difference.

Donate now on the Helpster website or through its app, and help save a child’s life today.