The establishment of a new and ambitious mother and child health project in Burkina Faso reduced the rate of malnutrition of 25% in the two intervention districts.

In this country of extreme poverty there is very little overall coverage in terms of healthcare. In two rural districts Terre des hommes (Tdh) is intervening in communities to ensure they take better care of children’s health and refer them if necessary to one of the 48 health centres supported by Tdh. Care is provided free of charge to children under 5, and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Tdh also supports paediatric units in two hospitals for the most severe malnutrition cases.
The project covers a population of 450,000 persons and will target more than 70,000 children long-term, allowing a significant reduction in cases of maternal and infant mortality. Nevertheless this plan is only viable if the state of Burkina Faso also commits to this. This will require a tough advocacy work for Tdh and its partners.

children

High rate of malnutrition comparable to that of a country where there is conflict: 14%

Places of intervention

Districts of Tougan and Séguénéga

Beneficiaries of the project

• 14’597 children cared for individually
• 201’697 children and parents receiving a service
• 242 people benefiting from training

Budget 2011

CHF 1’116’823