Hesperian Foundation

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The Hesperian Foundation is a nongovernmental non-profit organization publishing health guides for trained and untrained people to care for themselves and others. The foundation is based in Berkeley, California. Among their best-selling publications is Where There is No Doctor, first published in 1972^[1] and updated every few years;^[2] the book has been translated to more than 80 languages and the World Health Organization estimates that it may be the most widely used public health manual in the world.^[3]

Hesperian's publications are known for their simplicity of expression and copious illustrations, both intended to make them suitable for use by ordinary people in home and community contexts. Where There is No Doctor in particular was praised by those who felt it "demystified and politicized health care," communicating that "although some health problems require expert medical attention, there is much that we can do on our own to positively affect our health," a message also communicated in subsequent works.^[4]

The Foundation often works with other organizations to create new publications and revise older ones. The short work Water for Life: Community Water Security was published in conjunction with the United Nations Development Program.^[5] In 2006 the Foundation received a US$40,000 grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to develop a book on environmental health^[6], and in 2004 the Firelight Foundation provided a small grant to fund the revision of the 1999 book HIV, Health, and Your Community.^[7]

As of 2007, the organization had a rating of three out of four stars from Charity Navigator for efficient use of donated funds.^[8] Complementing its other activities, the organization includes a Gratis Fund that sends free copies of its publications to those who cannot afford them, a translation fund providing seed grants to cover the costs of local translation and adaptation in international communities, and a grant fund to assist health education programs in developing creative ways to use Hesperian publications by such means as street theater and radio broadcasts.^[1]^[9] Access to the publications also is fostered through the organization's policy of permitting copying, reproduction or adaptation of any part of a publication to meet local needs "provided the parts reproduced are distributed free or at cost—not for profit," resulting in the availability of online copies of various publications.^[10]^[11]

1 Reviews
2 Selected publications
- 2.1 In English
- 2.2 In languages other than English
3 Notes
4 External links

[edit] Reviews

The Hesperian Foundation "is responsible for countless miracles in various parts of the world by providing basic health care books to those who either cannot afford medical treatment or cannot survive the long, arduous journey to the nearest doctor," says the San Francisco Chronicle. ^[12]

Hesperian's publications are widely praised by a variety of sources, and Hesperian involves organizations from all over the world in the development of its books. "Where There Is No Doctor is an indispensable resource... This book has been, quite literally, a lifesaver for the poor - even where there is a doctor." says Paul Farmer, Professor of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School. "Helping Children Who are Deaf" was praised in The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education for its "broad perspective. Parents, teachers, deaf adults, and health care workers from around the world—over 17 countries—advised and reviewed draft materials of the book. A very long and impressive list of individuals and organizations from Bangladesh to Zimbabwe are given credit and thanks for sharing their experiences, stories, and knowledge."^[13] Another review criticized the book as not sufficiently overcoming Western cultural assumptions about areas such as privacy.^[14]

[edit] Selected publications

[edit] In English

Where there is no doctor^[15]^[9] ^[4]
Where women have no doctor^[15]^[9]^[4]
Where there is no dentist^[15]
A book for midwives^[15]^[9]
HIV, health and your community^[15]^[10]
Disabled village children: A guide for community health workers, rehabilitation workers, and families^[15]^[11]
Helping children who are blind: Family and community support for children with vision problems^[15]^[16]
Helping children who are deaf: Family and community support for children who do not hear well^[15]^[14]
A health handbook for women with disabilities^[3]
Water for life: Community water security^[15]
Helping health workers learn^[15]
Sanitation and cleanliness for a healthy environment^[15]
Pesticides are poison^[15]

[edit] In languages other than English

Most of the titles listed above are available from Hesperian in Spanish, and a few are available from the Foundation in French, Vietnamese, and Chinese.^[17] Publications are distributed by a variety of other organizations in over 100 other languages, including: