Real Medicine Foundation (RMF) is a US-based

nonprofit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

public charity that provides humanitarian support and development around the world, helping communities recover from natural disasters, conflict, and poverty. RMF was created in response to the

2004 Indian Ocean tsunami An earthquake and a tsunami, known as the Boxing Day Tsunami and, by the scientific community, the Sumatra–Andaman earthquake, occurred at 07:58:53 local time (UTC+7) on 26 December 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of northern Suma ...

, which killed over 200,000 people and displaced thousands more. Pediatrician Dr. Martina Fuchs traveled to

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

, where she opened a small medical clinic in the Mawella Camp for tsunami survivors. Based on the needs she witnessed and patients requiring longer-term support, Fuchs founded Real Medicine Foundation in 2005. As of September 2018, the organization has grown to include over 70 active projects and has worked in 24 countries. Real Medicine Foundation defines holistic, or "real" medicine, as "providing medical/physical, emotional, economic, and social support." Because of this philosophy, the organization's projects often start with health clinics and disaster relief, but evolve into additional support that includes health research, mobile clinics and outreach, health systems strengthening, education and school support, vocational training, psychological trauma support, and

malnutrition Malnutrition occurs when an organism gets too few or too many nutrients, resulting in health problems. Specifically, it is "a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients" which adversely affects the body's tissues a ...

eradication. The end goal is "Liberating Human Potential"; by employing only nationals for in-country operations and working closely with communities in need, the organization works to empower local community members and leaders to create long-term solutions to

natural disaster A natural disaster is "the negative impact following an actual occurrence of natural hazard in the event that it significantly harms a community". A natural disaster can cause loss of life or damage property, and typically leaves some econ ...

s, conflict, and

poverty Poverty is the state of having few material possessions or little income. Poverty can have diverse social, economic, and political causes and effects. When evaluating poverty in ...

References

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External links

Official website
Emergency organizations Health charities in the United States Humanitarian aid organizations