HealthRight International – A global health and development organization ...
HealthRight International

IMPACT

REPORT 2023

Raffaella
D'Angiolino-Bush
Chair of the Board of Directors
Peter Navario, PhD, MPH
Chief Executive Officer
Dear friends,

In 2023, HealthRight programs in Kenya, Uganda, Ukraine, and the US helped more than 5 million people access healthcare. This Impact Report shares country- and program-specific results, brought to life by inspiring stories of some of the individuals we reached this past year. For example, you will read about how we are bringing community-based HIV testing and mental health screening to an at-risk population, increasing access to reproductive and maternal health care for women in an underserved community, connecting immigrant populations with essential services, and providing humanitarian assistance to those displaced by war. 

This incredible impact is made possible by our donors, Board of Directors, and a dedicated staff of more than 300 around the world. It is also thanks to the generosity of our pro bono partners including Deloitte, Bloomberg, Accenture, Morrison Foerster, and Resolution Economics. Collectively we achieved an outsized impact in 2023, and we look forward to an even more impactful 2024.

With thanks,
Peter & Raffaella
MISSION
Expand equitable access to quality health systems for marginalized communities.
VISION
The gap in health outcomes between marginalized populations and the general populations is eliminated.

OUR IMPACT

We are running 25 projects in 5 countries

United States

Project: 1
People Reached: 688

Ukraine

Project: 12
People Reached: 5,301,280

Vietnam

Project: 3
People Reached: 1,256

Kenya

Project: 5
People Reached: 235,528

Uganda

Project: 7
People Reached: 157,880

people benefited from our programs

...this is 3x more people than in 2022

Our Peter C. Alderman Program for Global Mental Health (PCAP) provides organizational capacity strengthening and tools for rights-based mental health and psychosocial support programming. We train community health workers to deliver respectful care and support.

people supported

Violence, gender inequity, stigma, and substance use are common drivers of the HIV epidemic. In partnership with communities, we create holistic, integrated programs for HIV prevention, treatment, and wellness that address the structural challenges that impede healthcare.

People Supported

We advance the well-being of marginalized women, children, and adolescents through programming in these priority areas: maternal and newborn health, reproductive and sexual rights and health, prevention of gender-based violence, child survival and protection, gender equality.

people supported
Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health

We help communities prevent and recover from violence through capacity building, early intervention with at-risk groups, and assistance for survivors of violence. Recovery efforts include medical, psychosocial, and mental health services to improve the health and well-being, social links, and resiliency of people affected by violence.

people supported

Our Peter C. Alderman Program for Global Mental Health (PCAP) provides organizational capacity strengthening and tools for rights-based mental health and psychosocial support programming. We train community health workers to deliver respectful care and support.

people supported

Violence, gender inequity, stigma, and substance use are common drivers of the HIV epidemic. In partnership with communities, we create holistic, integrated programs for HIV prevention, treatment, and wellness that address the structural challenges that impede healthcare.

people supported

We advance the well-being of marginalized women, children, and adolescents through programming in these priority areas: maternal and newborn health, reproductive and sexual rights and health, prevention of gender-based violence, child survival and protection, gender equality.

people supported
Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health

We help communities prevent and recover from violence through capacity building, early intervention with at-risk groups, and assistance for survivors of violence. Recovery efforts include medical, psychosocial, and mental health services to improve the health and well-being, social links, and resiliency of people affected by violence.

people supported

Jack, a 21-year-old boda-boda rider in Lira city, first encountered HealthRight's outreach efforts through Phillip, a for our and then, through the town Public Address System that moves around the city mobilizing drivers to come for HIV and mental health screening. Phillip informed him about the organization's activities, including HIV/AIDS education and awareness campaigns targeting boda-boda men and other transporters in Lira City. Jack learned about HealthRight's services through town drives and announcements.

During an outreach event in October, Jack underwent HIV and mental health screening. He tested negative for mental health illness but was unexpectedly diagnosed as HIV positive. Despite never being sexually active, Jack suspected he must have been born HIV positive. His parents had passed away in a traffic accident when he was young, so he was unable to confirm. He was promptly enrolled in but soon requested a facility change to avoid potential stigma due to familiar faces.

With the help of a member, Jack transferred to a new facility, where he continued treatment. He praised HealthRight's support, emphasizing the need for continued and expanded initiatives like HIV and mental health screening in other cities. Jack's story underscores the impactful nature of HealthRight's approach in providing crucial healthcare support to individuals like him.

*Client names changed to protect confidentiality

80+ outreach events were held, sensitizing the community to HIV and mental health

In the heart of the turmoil engulfing the Kherson region, amidst the reverberations of military conflict, Maria and her daughter, Yevheniia, found themselves grappling with the harsh realities of war. Their lives were upended when the fragments of a missile hit their front yard, compelling them to flee, leaving behind the familiar comforts of their surroundings.

Fleeing to Kyiv, they found refuge with a distant relative. Maria secured a job as a hotel maid while Yevheniia resumed her education and joined clubs for solace. At this time, they also began seeing a psychologist at our in Kyiv.

Haunted by the trauma of war, Maria withdrew into herself. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the center's psychologist stepped in, forging a bond of trust with Maria and outlining a roadmap towards stability and emotional well-being. Through motivational kits, group and individual counseling, and immersive masterclasses, Maria and Yevheniia’s psycho-emotional state improved. Regular sessions with the psychologist fostered a warm and nurturing relationship between mother and daughter, laying the foundation for a brighter future.

As the dust of uncertainty begins to settle, the family's resilience shines through, and Maria contemplates a fresh start in a new apartment. Yet, the journey towards healing is far from over. Maria requires ongoing counseling and support, while Yevheniia continues to benefit from social and psychological guidance. Both mother and daughter remain a testament to the transformative power of compassion, perseverance, and unwavering support in times of crisis.

+20,000 women and children received assistance in Day Centers and Halfway Houses.

Mercy Ezinya, at the age of 18, resides in Mathare North with her parents and siblings. A student at Glorious Friends Academy, her life took a turn when she became pregnant at 16. Her parents withdrew their support for her education, leaving her feeling isolated and judged by both her family and community. Overwhelmed by mixed emotions, Mercy fell into depression. Navigating the challenges of prenatal care took a toll on her, with her reluctance to engage with nurses due to potential stigma. 

However, hope emerged when she connected with a former neighbor-turned- under our . Initially hesitant, Mercy eventually confided in him, finding his empathy and genuine desire to help reassuring. Through the CHV's support, Mercy's parents were persuaded to support her. Counseling sessions conducted at her home provided a safe space. At the clinic she was also able to share experiences with other expectant mothers who altered her perspective and gave her courage. These sessions, coupled with visits to health centers, not only alleviated her depression but also equipped her with valuable knowledge on mental health and self-care.

Mercy's family welcomed her back and supported her return to school, as well as her childcare responsibilities. Empowered by her journey, Mercy now extends her support to others facing similar challenges, offering guidance to young couples and stressed teachers alike. Mercy is now determined to combat the stigma around mental health in her community.

Provided integrated maternal, family planning, and child services to +4,700 community members.

Lucia, a native of Honduras, faced grave danger after revealing her political affiliations, enduring relentless threats and violence from gangs. One day while running errands, shots were fired at the truck she was in with her daughter. Lucia relocated far away, but peace didn’t last long, and the gang murdered multiple of her family members.

Lucia lived in extreme fear that gang members would find and kill her wherever she went in Honduras. Despite not knowing anyone and having no resources, she felt she had no choice but to flee her country for her and her children’s safety. With only enough funds for her and her youngest child to make the journey, Lucia sought asylum in the US. Her husband, son, and eldest daughter had to stay behind.

Once in the US, she received word that her son had been kidnapped on his way home from school, and was tortured and killed. Her family’s deaths made her hopeless, fearful, and disillusioned. Lucia experienced intense fear in her daily life and constantly felt danger would come to her and her daughter and no one would come to their aid. During her evaluation with a psychologist through our Human Rights Clinic, Lucia was diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. As a result of the evaluation, the psychologist was able to highlight the imminent danger Lucia faced.  Five years later, on October 2023, her hearing day came. The Immigration Judge granted asylum to Lucia and her daughter. Lucia burst into tears on site as soon as she heard the news. This victory was made possible with the help of our expert report, which highlighted the imminent danger Lucia faced.

*Client names changed to protect confidentiality

Over 90% of HRC clients are granted asylum or other relief

Highlights of the Year

click a picture to read more
Human Rights Clinic 30th Anniversary
Ukraine Country Director Halyna Skipalska is awarded Voices of Courage Award
20th Anniversary of the Peter C. Alderman Program for Global Mental Health
2023 Peter C. Alderman Health + Human Rights Awards
Empowering Youth in Vietnam through Photovoice
Community-Based Solutions: Self Help Plus

EVENTS

Human Rights Clinic 30th Anniversary

In October, our longest running program, the Human Rights Clinic (HRC), celebrated its 30th anniversary.

For 30 years, the HRC has provided support to asylum seekers – especially victims of trauma and torture, connecting them to volunteer physicians and mental health professionals who provide forensic evaluations, translating scars and symptoms into pivotal evidence for immigrants seeking asylum and other relief in the U.S. These evaluations can make the difference between a grant and a denial — over 90% of HRC clients are granted asylum or other relief, compared to the below 50% nationally are granted asylum.

Given NYC’s current influx of migrants, the HRC’s work is essential. With the help of volunteers, we are able to offer services and provide a compassionate and equitable landing space for victims of violence and torture.

We are grateful to our volunteers, who are the backbone of the clinic, and are proud to have supported over 7,000 asylum seekers since the project’s start

2023 Peter C. Alderman Health + Human Rights Awards

On June 7, 2023, the 2023 Peter C. Alderman Health + Human Rights Awards perfectly encapsulated our theme “It takes a Village to Give Hope''. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we raised over $440,000. During the ceremony, we honored the First Lady of Ukraine, Ms. Olena Zelenska, with our Health + Human Rights Leadership award in recognition of her tireless efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues and increase access to mental health services throughout Ukraine. We also honored Deloitte with the Corporate Partner Award and the Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University with the Community Partner Award.

We are grateful to our supporters for their ongoing generosity and encouragement. Thanks to our amazing supporters, this event became our most successful fundraising effort in over a decade

Global Mental Health Awareness in October

During October, recognized as Depression and Mental Health Awareness month, HealthRight representatives renewed their commitment to strengthening mental health, recovery, and resilience for communities devastated by violence and armed conflict.

On October 9-10, HealthRight Kenya and Uganda representatives participated in the International Youth Mental Health Learning Summit titled Rising Above Stigma in Nairobi. The summit focused on mental health stigma in youth as a major barrier to human rights and recovery across Kenya, Africa and globally, and the progress of youth anti-stigma initiatives in Africa.

In Ukraine, the First Mental Health Forum was held in Kyiv on October 18-20. Our HealthRight Ukraine team had the opportunity to present the models of two projects they have been successfully implementing for several years: our Day Centers and Halfway Houses, and the Brave&Safe response and care integrated units in the South and East of Ukraine.

Community-Based Solutions: Self Help Plus

HealthRight Uganda’s Self Help Plus (SH+) project was featured in an Elhra R2HC (Research for Health in Humanitarian Crisis) article “Importance of community-based interventions to address stress and alcohol problems.”

In Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement, we’ve implemented SH+, a 5-session group stress management course developed by the World Health Organization, along with the Alcohol Smoking, Substance Involvement Screening Test – Brief Intervention (ASSIST BI), which operates based on findings that show harmful correlations between psychological distress and uptake of alcohol. The article also featured the story of Mr.M, a South Sudanese refugee who struggled with stress and coping with alcohol. After participating in SH+ and ASSIST BI, Mr.M learned to manage his stress free from alcohol and began working  to support his family.

Our team at HealthRight Uganda also assisted the World Health Organization (WHO) in adapting
the Self Help Plus (SH+) manual into Juda Arabic, a dialect spoken by the people of South Sudan.

Ukraine Country Director Halyna Skipalska is awarded Voices of Courage Award

On May 11, 2023, Ukraine Country Director Halyna Skipalska was awarded a Voices of Courage award by the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC). The event, hosted by the WRC, was held to celebrate and honor the achievements of exemplary leaders who stand for justice, gender equality, and the lives and rights of refugee women and children.

Skipalska is a human rights activist and renowned gender expert. She works tirelessly for the cause of women and girls, catalyzing specialized services for survivors of domestic violence/gender-based violence. In response to Russia’s military offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, she has led HealthRight Ukraine and the Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health in providing social, psychological, and legal services to more than 400,000 women and children in Ukraine.

“For decades, I’ve been pursuing a big and ambitious goal: to make Ukraine a better country with zero tolerance to violence against women; a Ukraine where every woman is aware of her rights and can pursue her goals; a Ukraine where women live healthy and happy lives.” – Halyna Skipalska

FINANCIALS

Revenues

Expenses

Hover for more information

Financial data based on unaudited cash-basis financials.
For the latest Audit Reports, please visit healthright.org/financials
HealthRight International on Charity Watch
HealthRight International on Charity Navigator

LEADERSHIP

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Raffaella D’Angiolino-Bush, Chair
  • Stephen Alderman
  • Arjun Bedi
  • Chuck Burke
  • Dorraine Burrell
  • Erica Coletta
  • Dom DiPasquale
  • Tracey Edwards
  • Dale Favors
  • Kevin Foley
  • Amy Fuller
  • Jon Herrick
  • Joe Kansao
  • John Kelly
  • David Miller
  • Stefan Palmer
  • Shilpa Rao
  • Greg Reh
  • Isabel Rohrbeck
  • Tricia San Cristobal
  • David Stark

STAFF LEADERSHIP

Peter Navario, PhD, MPH, Chief Executive Officer
Gabe DiClerico, CPA
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer
Theresa Castillo, EdD, MA, CHES
Chief Program Officer
Nawaraj Upadhaya, PhD, MSc
Program Director, Peter C. Alderman Program for Global Mental Health
Halyna Skipalska, MA
Country Director, Ukraine
Michael Kabugo, MBA
Country Director, Uganda
Peter Ofware, MA
Country Director, Kenya
Wietse Tol, PhD
Senior Technical Advisor on Mental Health

Designed by Naile Ruiz and Robert Morton  •  Edited by Naile Ruiz
Photos by Daniel Lyons and HealthRight Field Staff

Empowering Youth in Vietnam through Photovoice

Since 2000, we have partnered with local organizations to promote and advocate for social protections for vulnerable youth and children, including those at risk of exploitation and human trafficking. All our programs and activities take on a child- and youth-centric, trauma-informed approach to avoid further marginalizing these communities.

This summer, HealthRight partnered with the Pacific Links Foundation to implement the Photovoice project to empower youth to explore and address mental health issues. After a series of online workshops, participants created a dynamic community exhibition vividly depicting issues like peer pressure and the role of communities in addressing youth mental health. The exhibition was the highlight of a summer camp attended by over two hundred peers, sparking insightful conversations.

Ukraine Country Director Halyna Skipalska is awarded Voices of Courage Award

On May 11, 2023, Ukraine Country Director Halyna Skipalska was awarded a Voices of Courage award by the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC). The event, hosted by the WRC, was held to celebrate and honor the achievements of exemplary leaders who stand for justice, gender equality, and the lives and rights of refugee women and children.

Skipalska is a human rights activist and renowned gender expert. She works tirelessly for the cause of women and girls, catalyzing specialized services for survivors of domestic violence/gender-based violence. In response to Russia’s military offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, she has led HealthRight Ukraine and the Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health in providing social, psychological, and legal services to more than 900,000 women and children in Ukraine.

“For decades, I’ve been pursuing a big and ambitious goal: to make Ukraine a better country with zero tolerance to violence against women; a Ukraine where every woman is aware of her rights and can pursue her goals; a Ukraine where women live healthy and happy lives.” – Halyna Skipalska

Community-Based Solutions: Self Help Plus

HealthRight Uganda’s Self Help Plus (SH+) project was featured in an Elhra R2HC (Research for Health in Humanitarian Crisis) article “Importance of community-based interventions to address stress and alcohol problems.”

In Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement, we’ve implemented SH+, a 5-session group stress management course developed by the World Health Organization, along with the Alcohol Smoking, Substance Involvement Screening Test – Brief Intervention (ASSIST BI), which operates based on findings that show harmful correlations between psychological distress and uptake of alcohol. The article also featured the story of Mr.M, a South Sudanese refugee who struggled with stress and coping with alcohol. After participating in SH+ and ASSIST BI, Mr.M learned to manage his stress free from alcohol and began working to support his family.

Our team at HealthRight Uganda also assisted the World Health Organization (WHO) in adapting the Self Help Plus (SH+) manual into Juda Arabic, a dialect spoken by the people of South Sudan.

2023 Peter C. Alderman Health + Human Rights Awards

On June 7, 2023, the 2023 Peter C. Alderman Health + Human Rights Awards perfectly encapsulated our theme “It takes a Village to Give Hope''. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we raised over $440,000. During the ceremony, we honored the First Lady of Ukraine, Ms. Olena Zelenska, with our Health + Human Rights Leadership award in recognition of her tireless efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues and increase access to mental health services throughout Ukraine.  We also honored Deloitte with the Corporate Partner Award and the Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University with the Community Partner Award.

We are grateful to our supporters for their ongoing generosity and encouragement. Thanks to our amazing supporters, this event became our most successful fundraising effort in over a decade.

20th Anniversary of the Peter C. Alderman Program for Global Mental Health

September 11 marked the 20th Anniversary of the Peter C. Alderman Program for Global Mental Health, which was created by Liz and Steve Alderman in 2003 following the loss of their son in 9/11.

During October, recognized as Mental Health Awareness month, HealthRight representatives renewed their commitment to strengthening mental health, recovery, and resilience for communities devastated by violence and armed conflict.

On October 9-10, HealthRight Kenya and Uganda representatives participated in the International Youth Mental Health Learning Summit titled Rising Above Stigma in Nairobi. The summit focused on mental health stigma in youth as a major barrier to human rights and recovery across Kenya, Africa and globally, and the progress of youth anti-stigma initiatives in Africa.

In Ukraine, the First Mental Health Forum was held in Kyiv on October 18-20. Our HealthRight Ukraine team had the opportunity to present the models of two projects they have been successfully implementing for several years: our Day Centers and Halfway Houses, and the Brave&Safe response and care integrated units in the South and East of Ukraine.

Human Rights Clinic 30th Anniversary

In October, our longest running program, the Human Rights Clinic (HRC), celebrated its 30th anniversary.

For 30 years, the HRC has provided support to asylum seekers – especially victims of trauma and torture, connecting them to volunteer physicians and mental health professionals who provide forensic evaluations, translating scars and symptoms into pivotal evidence for immigrants seeking asylum and other relief in the U.S. These evaluations can make the difference between a grant and a denial — over 90% of HRC clients are granted asylum or other relief, compared to the below 50% nationally are granted asylum.

Given NYC’s current influx of migrants, the HRC’s work is essential. With the help of volunteers, we are able to offer services and provide a compassionate and equitable landing space for victims of violence and torture.

We are grateful to our volunteers, who are the backbone of the clinic, and are proud to have supported over 7,000 asylum seekers since the project’s start.