Improving the lives of people with disabilities – in pictures

Francis Augusto Ulsso, aged three, has cerebral palsy. He is receiving treatment and support from a programme at the Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation disability hospital in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, and is showing steady improvements. The hospital is supported by CBM Photograph: Evelyne Jacq/CCBRT/CBM

Saranyah, aged four, was born with cerebral palsy and her disability was considered a curse by her family in Tamil Nadu, India. A community-based rehabilitation worker supported Saranyah with regular exercises to increase her muscle tone. She is now accepted by her family and plays with other children Photograph: Marie Maroun/CBR

Marcia Alexandra Arias Villamar, aged 10, lives in a slum in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She has cerebral palsy and was discovered thirsty and lying in soiled clothes by a community-based rehabilitation worker. Since then she has received rehabilitative treatment and has begun to speak Photograph: Hansjörg Baltensperger/CBM

Seven-year-old Kevin’s left foot was operated on about eight months ago in Rwanda. He had neglected club foot. He receives regular follow-up from fieldworkers. Club foot is on the way to being eliminated in Rwanda Photograph: Keith McAllister/CBM

Dora, aged three, has cerebral palsy. She is pictured with Mama Kitenge, a rehabilitation worker at CCBRT disability hospital in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, where Mama works
Photograph: Dieter Telemans/CCBRT/CBM

Santosh, who lives in Appukonam, Vadakkinkara in India, suffered traumatic paraplegia when he had an accident while working on a building site six years ago. Through rehabilitation and a loan from CBM, he aims to set up his own business Photograph: Geoff Oliver Bugbee/CBM