Project implemented during the 2019–2020 academic year
Bouaflé is located in west-central Côte d’Ivoire, in the Marahoué Region, 60 kilometers from Yamoussoukro, the political capital, and 320 kilometers from Abidjan, the country’s economic capital. The Marahoué Region, where Bouaflé is located, has a population of 409,683 people: 220,722 men and 188,961 women.
The country’s main economic activity is agriculture and related industries, with more than two-thirds of the population working in rural farming. Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s leading producer of cocoa and cashew nuts. In an effort to diversify crops and reduce dependence on market and weather fluctuations affecting these two products, the country has also promoted the production of coffee, tropical fruits, and palm oil. The country also has extractive industries, including gold, oil, and gas.
Despite policies aimed at reducing poverty and promoting development, a very high percentage of the population in Côte d’Ivoire continues to live below the poverty line: 46.3% according to World Bank estimates from 2015. This means that a large share of the population lives on less than €1.13 per day. The situation is even more severe in rural areas, where access to formal or informal employment, assistance, education, emergency infrastructure, basic services, and development programs is even more limited.
The project
Access to a healthcare center makes a significant difference for people living in impoverished rural areas. In this context, where the lack of safe drinking water, endemic diseases, malnutrition, and limited medical care affect the health of the general population, the role of the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation Dispensary is vital.
The project aims to strengthen the capacity of the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation Dispensary in Bouaflé, a rural area in west-central Côte d’Ivoire where access to medical services is extremely limited. This situation is even more serious in rural communities, where resources are scarce and public healthcare infrastructure is insufficient.
The only state referral center, the Regional Hospital, is located 60 kilometers away in Yamoussoukro, making it inaccessible for most families in Bouaflé. In this context, the Sisters’ Dispensary plays an essential role by providing accessible, quality healthcare to more than 3,800 people each year, including babies, children, adolescents, and adults.
One of the most significant aspects of the project is its direct impact on the health and lives of women, especially those in vulnerable situations. In an environment where pregnancy and childbirth involve high risks due to the lack of adequate medical follow-up, the Dispensary’s Maternity Department has represented a decisive step forward. In its first year of operation alone, more than 576 prenatal consultations were carried out and 68 births were assisted, demonstrating a concrete response to the need for safe obstetric care in the area.
In addition to prenatal and obstetric care, women also have access to general medical consultations, preventive care, and support in complex health situations, expanding the project’s impact on their daily lives.
Objective
Through the purchase of new equipment — a linear probe, an incubator, and an electric generator — the project aims to:
- Provide more comprehensive pregnancy monitoring, early diagnoses, and childbirth care in dignified and safe conditions.
- Reduce maternal and infant mortality.
- Strengthen the role of women as a fundamental pillar of community development.
Beneficiaries: 3.899
Total project budget: €17,370.76