Organization: International Medical Corps

All Photos International Medical Corps (IMC) is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization.

Focus Areas:	Children, Disaster Relief, Economic Development, Education, Health, Microfinance
Countries Served:	All 22 countries: Afghanistan Azerbaijan Burundi Congo, The Democratic Republic of The Central African Republic Cameroon Ethiopia Iraq Jordan Kenya Lebanon Sri Lanka Liberia Mozambique Nepal Pakistan Sudan Sierra Leone Somalia Chad Uganda United States   Summary by region: Asia Africa Northern America

Description of Services:
Our mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.
History:
International Medical Corps was founded by Dr. Robert Simon, who, as a young emergency-room physician at UCLA Medical Center, was moved to take action after reading of the tragic plight of the Afghan people as a result of the 1979 Soviet invasion and subsequent occupation. All but 200 of the country?s 1,500 doctors had been executed, imprisoned, or exiled, and all relief agencies had been ordered out of the country, leaving ill and injured civilians, pregnant women and developing children with essentially nowhere to turn for basic health care.
Accomplishments & Progress:
Integrateing mental health care into community-based primary health care progrms, International Medical Corps is increasing the level of care for those with mental illnesses, while also educating the community in order to reduce stigma throughout the countries where we work.