What we do at CHI

Child Health International exists to improve healthcare for children, especially those with cystic fibrosis. We send volunteer clinical teams from the UK to anywhere in the world.

CHI is a charity based in Winchester UK, with a proven record of success in enhancing the healthcare of children in Russia, Eastern and Central Europe and a project to help children with Cystic Fibrosis in India.

It is no exaggeration to say that such initiatives, some of which are described here, really can make the difference between death and life for children suffering from chronic illnesses such as cystic fibrosis (CF).

Children coping with chronic health problems in less developed countries often suffer and die unnecessarily or prematurely. Sometimes, the lack of both awareness of CF and of appropriate medical equipment hinders the early diagnosis of CF. This early diagnosis is so vital to the subsequent health, and life expectancy, of the affected child.

Since the intervention of CHI in the 1990s, children with CF in Russia have benefitted from the organisational changes in the delivery of care and improved skills of medical staff. There is now a network of 2 "Centres of Excellence" in Moscow and St Petersburg and 22 regional CF specialist centres. Parent Support Groups are more involved in the care of the children.

CHI helps to change the lives of these children and their families by creating a bridge to enable UK medical specialists and nurses to transfer their expertise to countries that can benefit from such help and support.