Delivery of medications provides hope amidst fear and uncertainty

Children Believe’s Christelle, director of West Africa, presents medicine to Dr. Lionel Wilfried Ouédraogo, secretary general of the Ministry of Health in Burkina Faso. They’re joined by Carol McQueen, ambassador of Canada in Burkina Faso

Children Believe supports growing number of internally displaced people in Burkina Faso who need assistance

We’re celebrating the donation of an estimated $2 million worth of medicine — including antibiotics, antihistamines and vitamins — to the Ministry of Health in Burkina Faso. This comes as the country continues to face a complex national situation.

Terrorist attacks have plagued Burkina Faso for the past four years. Many people have died, homes have been destroyed and more than a million people have been displaced, according to reports from the state and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The country’s infrastructure is deeply impacted, as recorded by the government and OCHA. More than 1,500 schools remain shuttered, 135 health centres are closed and 140 health centres are functioning with the bare essentials. It’s why 2,000,000 people are in need of humanitarian assistance and in urgent need of safety, food, healthcare and access to education.

“This donation has come in due time and meets a real need,” confirmed Dr. Lionel Wilfried Ouédraogo, secretary general of the Ministry of Health, representing the minister of health for Burkina Faso, upon receiving the gift.

The donation was made possible thanks to Health Partners International of Canada. Carol McQueen, ambassador of Canada in Burkina Faso, was glad to be part of the celebration: “The [donation] is something we are all proud of; first as Canadians, but also and above all as human beings. It is a gesture that also reflects the excellent relationships between the two countries. We already know the work Children Believe has been doing in Burkina Faso and in other countries since the organization was founded. It is therefore always a pleasure to participate in occasions or events organized by Children Believe.”

Apart from this gift, Children Believe is also working with internally displaced people in the Eastern and Central North regions of the country, with support from UNICEF. So far, 25,000 kids have benefited from child-friendly spaces to play and grow while their parents are learning new skills to earn an income and get back on their feet.

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About Children Believe

Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.

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