The Eastern region of Burkina Faso in Africa is one of the poorest regions in the country. Not surprisingly, it has alarming healthcare challenges.
State annual statistics note that more than 45 percent of the population lives under the poverty line. The facts also confirm the infant and child mortality rate is estimated at 142.6 per thousand and 45 percent of the region’s 1.6-million inhabitants live 10 km or more from a health centre, which serves more than 12,000 people.
A few weeks ago, Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC) joined with ChildFund Korea — both members of the ChildFund Alliance, comprised of child-focused international development organizations — to address access to healthcare in Burkina. We introduced a mobile clinic to the village of Thiouré, approximately 300 km from the capital city of Ouagadougou.
“This mobile clinic will soothe [villager’s] pains and help them overcome challenges related to the access of health services in their area,” says Souangri Diabouga, the community health agent who coordinates patient care using the local language and basic healthcare skills.
The mobile clinic will provide geographic, financial and cultural access to health centres and services, particularly for women and children. The primary goal is to reduce infant and maternal mortality by providing women in labour access to professional care.
A healthcare worker will cover three municipalities, representing 155 villages and five sectors of Thiouré, in the new vehicle.
Our goal is to eventually put more mobile clinics on the road, improving access to healthcare across other remote regions of Burkina Faso.