On Tuesday, Vzw Straatverplegers, together with Icar Wallonie asbl and t’Hope vzw, won the federal anti-poverty prize for its efforts towards more accessible healthcare. The organizations each received a check for 10,000 euros from Minister of Social Integration and Poverty Reduction Karine Lalieux during a ceremony at the Vaudeville Theater in Brussels.
Vzw Straatverplegers is an organization that is committed to helping the homeless in our capital. The non-profit organization is also no stranger to BRUZZ, because this year they will receive the proceeds from the annual solidarity campaign Brussel Helpt, for which money will be raised this Saturday with a spaghetti battle.
Every year, the federal government uses the prize to put a number of projects, organizations or individuals in the spotlight that deserve special recognition for their approach to combating poverty. This year the focus was on projects that lower the threshold for healthcare. Last year it was about projects that promote digital inclusion.
A jury selected nine candidates. They were able to explain their project in a video and the public selected the three laureates through a vote. The winners, one from each region, were chosen online by 4,580 people. The other organizations were Alias asbl, Project Lama asbl, Doctors of the World Belgium, Relais Social du Pays de Charleroi, the OCMW of Mechelen and Vagevuur Open Jeugdwerk vzw.
Very vulnerable groups
“This is the fourth time that I, as minister, have the honor to present this award,” said a delighted Karine Lalieux. “In Belgium, vulnerable people too often experience difficulties in accessing healthcare. This has a direct impact on their general health status, even more so in the very vulnerable groups and who require attention and appropriate healthcare.”
She referred to, among other things, menstrual poverty among women, reproductive health, homelessness, people with disabilities and vulnerable families with children.
This article is originally published on bruzz.be
