Guinea

Mother and child health and nutrition, Help for children needing special protective measures, Specialised medical treatment

Terre des hommes (Tdh) has been working in Guinea since 1987, looking after the health and nutrition of children and mothers, and protection for children who need it. In 2010, nearly 170,000 people benefited from the work of Tdh.

The context

Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world. Although it has abundant natural resources, its economy remains extremely weak and the country is subject to considerable political instability, which impairs its development. The capital, Conakry, a casualty of the rural exodus, is a place where poverty is both concentrated and increasing. The south of the country, Forested Guinea, remains a place for migration and transit, due to the conflicts raging in the bordering countries. In the two areas where Tdh intervenes, child rights are not respected, so that many children become the victims of violence, abuse, trafficking, exploitation and negligence. The health system is to a large extent inadequate, and there is a desperate shortage of infrastructure and basic services.

Our intervention

Mother and child healthcare – Tdh enables access to primary healthcare for the mothers and children from several parts of Conakry. Tdh supports the communities and health centres so they can prevent and treat malnutrition. The mothers learn in particular the importance of breastfeeding and practical ways of giving their children a balanced diet. Since Autumn 2011, the component of water, hygiene and sanitation helps to increase the prevention of diarrhoeic illnesses in the health centres supported by Tdh.

Specialised medical treatment – Tdh offers disadvantaged children specialised treatment if their state of health requires it. If they cannot be treated on site, they are sent to Europe (mainly to Switzerland) to be given surgery there.

Assistance for children needing special measures of protection – Tdh brings aid to children living on the streets, young victims of violence or exploitation, former child soldiers from the armed conflicts, and youngsters arrested or detained. Tdh helps them to become reintegrated with their families, as well as going back to school or getting job training. At the level of juvenile justice, Tdh offers services of mediation, alternatives to detention and speeding up the legal procedures. Professionals in the courts attend training courses on child rights. Since July 2011, Tdh supports the prefectural committees for child protection in its area of intervention.

• -13.677406 9.551526

  Conakry (Dixinn, Matoto and Ratoma districts)

• -8.833551 9.237332

  Kissidougou

• -10.133615 8.568545

  Guéckédou

• -8.822937 7.765423

  Nzérékoré