Why Amref Health Africa?

"Because Amref is based in Africa and its staff is predominantly African, it is run by individuals who respect and listen to local people. It does not dictate healthcare solutions from the outside. Instead, it believes in listening to communities."

Nice Leng'ete, Amref Health Africa's Global End-FGM/C Advisor and author of 'The Girls in the Wild Fig Tree'

Lasting change is only possible when it's community-led.

Ruth Lusike - Flying Doctor, Kenya

"I'm proud of the person I've become: able to help people from all these different communities. I can make a change in a person's life, old or young. Even when we don't speak the same language, I feel the appreciation in the sparkle in their eyes."

We seek to remove the barriers – whether physical, geographical, financial, or cultural – that prevent people from accessing healthcare.

Amref started life in 1957 as the Flying Doctors of East Africa. 65 years later, our core mission remains the same: to bridge the gap between people and healthcare.

Good health opens up the possibility of freedom from poverty. It is directly linked to access to education, economic empowerment, political participation, and the whole spectrum of human rights.

Since spring 2020, Amref has been at the forefront of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in East, West, and Southern Africa. As the continent continues its battle against COVID-19 and works to limit the impact of the pandemic on other, vital health services, our unique expertise has rarely been more needed.

Our commitment

When you make a gift to Amref Health Africa UK, you can be sure that it will be spent to have the greatest possible impact.

We take the trust placed in us by our supporters very seriously, and we work hard to ensure that every pound we spend - on our projects in Africa, or here in the UK - works hard, too.

We raised:

£5,105,332

Of that:

£3,257,116

For every £1 we spend:

We were

The Flying Doctors of East Africa

We started life in 1957, when our founders used a fleet of aircraft to connect some of the continent’s most remote and marginalised communities with high-quality healthcare.

The African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF)

Our name later changed to the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), before the name in its current form: Amref Health Africa.

We are

Africa's leading health NGO

More than six decades later, we work in 35 countries, supporting millions of people every year. We develop mobile and online learning solutions that make top-class training available to health workers. We run the continent’s leading air ambulance service. And our university in Nairobi is shaping the health workforce of the future.

Amref's work has won high-profile international awards such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Award for Global Health and the Conrad Hilton Humanitarian Award. In 2021, we were among the beneficiaries of MacKenzie Scott’s generous philanthropy.

Pictured: Graduates of the Maridi Health Sciences Institute in South Sudan, supported by Amref Health Africa.

If you:

can imagine a future where everyone can exercise their human right to health
believe international development can and must be done differently
know that lasting change must be community-led
want to hear more African voices and perspectives...

Amref is the organisation you’ve been looking for.

Images: Amref Health Africa archives, Khadija Farah. Banner image: Dr Ruth Lusike (c) Gregg Telussa.

Speak to the team

Need some help?

Our team loves to hear from supporters, partners and friends - existing and new! In early 2022 we are slowly returning to the office, but there will always be someone available to answer your call, letter, or email. You can also message us on socials during office hours.