Matching Need & Resources in the
Philanthropic Healthcare Space

What Is VFMatch?

VFMatch is an innovative technology platform that intelligently matches need and resources in the healthcare sector. Its primary goal is to reduce inefficiencies in the delivery of healthcare by matching the needs of underserved populations around the world with the resources of governments, non-profits, companies and individuals.

VFMatch, a byproduct of the Virtue Foundation Actionable Data Initiative, is a stand-alone resource that serves as a complementary tool to the World Compendium of Healthcare Facilities and Nonprofit Organizations, a comprehensive directory of global healthcare facilities and nonprofits, recently published by Taylor & Francis.

The Virtue Foundation Actionable Data Initiative developed VFMatch, a first-of-its-kind digital tool that matches need and resources in global health through five key features:

Nonprofit Organization Listings

Presents a curated directory of nonprofits providing healthcare services in 72 low- and low-middle-income countries, as classified by the World Bank.

Featured Nonprofits

Operation International

Offers medical aid to adults and children suffering from lack of quality healthcare in impoverished countries.

Hernia International

Aims to provide relief from sickness, and protection and preservation of health, for persons affected by groin and abdominal hernias and residing in low- and middle-income countries.

Rheumatology for All

Increases access to rheumatology care in under-resourced regions through the creation of self-sustaining rheumatology training programs, by funding the education of local physicians to become rheumatologists and providing educational programs for local physicians.

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Healthcare Facilities

Provides curated listing of hospitals and other healthcare facilities in 72 low- and low-middle-income countries, as classified by the World Bank. The listing includes information about hospital and health facility departments, medical and surgical specialities, and services.

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Volunteer Opportunities

Offers demand-side data that enables medical professionals to identify where medical and surgical volunteer opportunities are available in underserved areas around the world or where additional assistance is needed.

Cirujanos en Acción (Surgeons in Action)

Teams provide surgery and anesthesia, capacity building and training. To register with Hernia International as a Volunteer, please complete the following form https://www.herniainternational.org.uk/personal-information-of-volunteer/.

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Freetown, Sierra Leone

Social Workers Needed

As the crisis rocking the North West and the South West regions continue unabated, women continue to bear the brunt.Women’s rights activists and civil society partners have flagged increasing reports of Gender based violence as the crisis rage and have and have warned that if nothing is done urgently, thousands of IDP women and girls will be left without any life-saving assistance to recover from GBV and rebuild their lives.It’s as a result of this, H4BF has decided to open a Women/Girls Empowerment Centers in Baffousam in the West Region, and Bameda and Nkambe, Donga Mantung Division North West region of Cameroon.  This center is enabling displaced women, returnees and host communities to get together and discuss issues affecting them and use the center as a place to conduct their income generating activities (IGA) and get informal education on numerals. The center will also provide specialized Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) case management and reintegration of IDPs, GBV and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). H4BF after training staffs at the center on GBV case management to improve the quality of lifesaving GBV service provision. They have better knowledge on the use of the GBV referral pathways to ensure safe referral of survivors of GBV to specialized services. We are in need of social workers to boost activities in these centers.

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Bamenda, Cameroon

January 15, 2022 - October 29, 2022 (9 months and 14 days)

Surgeon Volunteering Opportunities

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Bewal, Pakistan

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Insights

Presents country overviews, detailed information and maps for 72 low- and low-middle-income countries, as classified by the World Bank. Includes country life expectancy estimates, physician and hospital bed density, maternal mortality rates and other significant information.

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Lesotho

Boasting one of the highest adult literacy rates in Africa, the Kingdom of Lesotho is a small country bordered entirely by South Africa. The population of about 2.2 million resides in an area of about 30,000 square kilometers. Most people live in the western half of the country, and around a few major urban areas, such as Maseru, the capital, home to 202,000 residents. The overwhelming majority of the population consider themselves ethnically Sotho, and speak Sesotho, English, Zulu, and Xhosa. The country is predominantly Christian, with most people identifying as Protestant, Roman Catholic, and other denominations. About two-thirds of Lesotho consists of mountains, with its lowest point 1,400 meters above sea level. Tall mountain ranges form a natural barrier with South Africa. Lesotho is also the source of two of South Africa’s largest rivers: the Tugela River and the Orange River. With no other shared borders, Lesotho must depend heavily on a good relationship with South Africa.Since gaining independence from Britain in 1966, Lesotho has been transformed and modernized, yet not without some initial growing pains. A number of rebellions, military coups, and contentious elections have plagued the country. Lesotho has also struggled with high levels of poverty: More than half the population lives below the poverty line. There are few natural resources, and the country is susceptible to food insecurity and shortages. Many people cross the border to work in South Africa, as opportunities are lacking in Lesotho. Remittances account for 17 percent of the country’s GDP, highlighting the scope of the problem. Despite these challenges, Lesotho has made great progress in the area of education and is on track to achieve universal primary education.Lesotho has the second highest HIV/AIDS rate in the world—25 percent of the adult population is HIV positive—and it is the leading cause of death in the country. Other causes of death include tuberculosis, lower respiratory infections, stroke, diarrheal diseases, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, neonatal disorders, road injuries, interpersonal violence, and COPD. The risk factors that contribute most to deaths and disabilities include unsafe sex, malnutrition, air pollution, alcohol and tobacco use, high fasting plasma glucose, high body-mass index, high blood pressure, intimate partner violence, and insufficient water, sanitation, and hygiene. In addition, rates of maternal and infant mortality have remained high over the past decade.

7 Doctors/100k
130 Beds/100k
544 Deaths /100k

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Vietnam

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in Southeast Asia, is on the eastern edge of the Indo-Chinese Peninsula. Vietnam is bordered by China, Laos, and Cambodia. It is the sixteenth most populous country in the world, with 102.8 million people. About 38 percent of the population lives in urban areas, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, and Hanoi, the capital. Major ethnic groups include Kinh (Viet), with smaller groups being Tay, Thai, Muong, Khmer, Mong, Nung, and Hoa. About 80 percent of the population does not identify with any particular religion, but small portions do identify as Buddhist, Catholic, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, and Protestant. English and Vietnamese are the most commonly spoken languages. Vietnam is known for intriguing geographical features; at its narrowest point, the country is only 50 kilometers wide. It is also home to the world’s largest cave.North and South Vietnam unified after the Vietnam War in 1975, and the country has since grown substantially, with one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Tourism, manufacturing, and exports have led to increasing per capita GDP. Poverty rates have decreased from over 70 percent to around 6 percent since political and economic reforms were launched in 1986. Improvements have been made across many sectors, including education and health. Literacy rates are high due to the strong network of public schools, while life expectancy has also steadily increased. However, corruption runs rampant and continues to be a persistent issue.Alongside progress in poverty reduction, Vietnam has made tremendous gains in addressing major health issues. Rates of malaria have decreased substantially, and illness due to poor sanitation has also decreased as more people gain access to clean water. In addition, tuberculosis remains a persistent health concern and a leading cause of death. Other leading causes of death include stroke, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, COPD, lung cancer, road injuries, cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease, lower respiratory infections, Alzheimer’s disease, and hypertensive heart disease. The risk factors that contribute most to deaths and disabilities include high blood pressure, high fasting plasma glucose, dietary risks, air pollution, alcohol and tobacco use, high body-mass index, kidney dysfunction, occupational risks, high LDL, and malnutrition.

83 Doctors/100k
318 Beds/100k
43 Deaths /100k

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Myanmar

Myanmar (also known as Burma) is located between Bangladesh and Thailand, and bordered by the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. With an asymmetrically adult population, Myanmar has about 57.1 million people. Myanmar is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia. The more than 135 officially recognized and distinct ethnic groups are broadly categorized into eight major national groups: Bamar, Chin, Kachin, Kayin, Kayah, Mon, Arakanese, and Shan. Though there are more than 100 languages spoken in Myanmar, two-thirds of the nation’s population speak Burmese, the official language. With bustling markets, and numerous parks and lakes, Yangon is the country’s largest city, while Naypyidaw, called “the abode of kings,” is the capital. The main religions include Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism.Following Japanese occupation, Myanmar was reconquered by the Allies and granted independence in 1948. The country became a military dictatorship under the Burma Socialist Programme Party in 1962 after a coup d’etat. Since independence, civil wars have become a feature of the country’s sociopolitical landscape. Contributing to its vulnerability, Myanmar is prone to persistent and highly destructive natural disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones, flooding, and landslides. With a nominal per capita income of $1,400, unemployment nearing 37 percent, and 26 percent of people living in poverty, Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia.The life expectancy of the Burmese people is 67 years, the lowest in Southeast Asia. Despite a steady increase in health expenditures by the government in recent years, the health system is still weak due to decades of neglect. Non-communicable diseases increasingly contribute to the most deaths in the country, including stroke COPD, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis, and asthma. Other ailments such as lower respiratory infections, neonatal disorders, and diarrheal diseases continue to cause significant numbers of deaths. While incidence of death due to HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis has decreased over time, they still continue to pose a major threat to the country’s healthcare system, as well as being a significant cause of death.

74 Doctors/100k
104 Beds/100k
250 Deaths /100k

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