Damien Foundation Belgium
Boulevard Léopold-II 263
B-1081 Bruxelles
BELGIUM

Tel: +32/2 422 59 11
Fax: +32/2 422 59 00

info@damien-foundation.be
www.actiondamien.be
(website in French)
www.damienfoundation.org
(website in English)

History

The Association was founded in 1964, from various groups of the Picpus Fathers, the congregation to which Father Damien of Molokai belonged. These groups had been working since 1957 to sensitise the Belgian population to the problems of people with leprosy. Inspired by the example of Father Damien, the association aims to fight leprosy and other diseases of poverty by all the means at their disposal today. Acting on a suggestion of Raoul Follereau, DFB have organised a day of action for the International World Leprosy Day, on the last weekend in January every year since 1957. World Leprosy Day is a significant annual information and fundraising campaign, well known by the Belgian public and the principal source of financial assistance to the projects overseas. DFB was a founding Member Association of ILEP.

Priorities

Currently Damien Foundation Belgium extends Damien's actions in a number of countries, in collaboration with the governments of the countries concerned and the World Health Organization. Damien Foundation Belgium has responsibility for projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It provides technical and financial assistance, drugs and equipment, and also attaches a great importance to local staff training. In addition to its anti-leprosy and tuberculosis field projects, Damien Foundation Belgium has for many years also supported scientific research directed towards these two diseases and related illnesses.