Location: Bogandé and Manni health districts

Situation:

Burkina Faso has one of the poorest health records in West Africa and economic growth has yet to bring better living conditions for the population. The political will to create an effective health system is still lacking. Access to healthcare remains difficult for most Burkinabés-45% of whom live below the poverty line. Doctors of the World's (DOW) activities focus on preventing malnutrition and providing mother and child healthcare and dental care.

Activities:

The DOW project carried out a community health assessment and information and awarenessraising activities. It also provided equipment to rural health structures and training/refresher courses for different levels of health professionals involved in the field of mother and child health. Currently, the second phase of the programme aims to support our local partner organisation, ICODEV, in the management, monitoring and evaluation of this type of programme. The project is also formalising the establishment of obstetric emergency management teams-first in every village within the project area, then across the eastern region.

Outlook:

DOW will withdraw at the end of the programme. This will enable the methodology and implementation of the emergency obstetric management teams to be validated. Other elements include long-term training on health programme management for a local NGO and building up partnerships with civil society, health institutions and the population.