1908 – 2008, 100 Years of Commitment and Expertise

© CBM
Together with its partners, CBM reached 18 million people with medical and rehabilitation services in 2006. A considerable number – and yet, we cannot be satisfied with this impact. 500 million persons with disabilities live in low and middle income countries. They are often excluded from school, access to medical care, employment opportunities as well as family and community activities – in addition to experiencing difficulties in either seeing, hearing, walking, or mental well-being.
Life-changing miracles can be achieved through effective, medical, educational and rehabilitation services:

  • A 15 minute operation can remove a cataract – 17 million people who have lost their eyesight because of cataract could see the world around them again.
  • With the provision of hearing aids, 30 million people with hearing impairments could lead a more independent life.
  • With the right medical care, 100,000 children annually born with club feet could be treated and could learn to walk normally.
  • Inclusive education with appropriate resources for children with disabilities could offer normal schooling for the more than 90% who never attend school at present.
  • Community based rehabilitation can support persons with disabilities and their families to achieve independence and an improved livelihood, lifting them out of the vicious circle of disability and poverty.
Our Vision for the future is to improve the lives of persons with disability.
We share this Vision with more than 700 local partner organisations.

The Vision and compassion that drove Pastor Ernst Christoffel in 1908 continues to drive us 100 years later.

Prof. Dr. Allen Foster, cbm President