Georgia is bordered by the Black Sea to the west, Russia to the north, and Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey to the south. More than a third of people living in this country in the Caucasus live in very basic conditions in mountain villages.

Since gaining independence in 1991, the country's economic situation has been extremely unstable. Energy crises and shortages of food and consumer goods are frequent occurrences. Separatist movements in Abkhazia, Adjara, and South Ossetia have led to conflicts in recent years with Russia.

The public health service is sorely lacking. While free health care was guaranteed during the Soviet era, health services worsened after wide-scale privatization, with the result that the population's poorest members cannot afford many services. According to official figures (WHO), there are more than 130,000 disabled people in Georgia. Of them, some 10 percent – roughly 13,000 people – are in need of orthopedic treatment due to an impaired musculoskeletal system. In addition to war and landmine injuries, the main causes of physical disability in the country are diseases such as diabetes and vascular disease, as well as insufficient preventive measures, accidents and genetic defects.

Disabled people are among the poorest members of society in Georgia, and thus have very limited access to education, training, jobs, and health and social services. In addition, social participation and the inclusion of disabled people in social networks is rare. More often than not, they lead a very isolated life and are dependent on family members and caregivers. Further deficits in the health care system can be found in the area of cancer prevention and treatment. In this respect, health care facilities are lacking both resources and capacity.