Terre des hommes (Tdh) was the first NGO in Guinea to introduce a treatment for severe malnutrition based on Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food, thus largely improving the health of children in need.


Solutions proposed by Terre des hommes

Nutritional health –Tdh is working with 18 health centres in Conakry, concentrating on preventing and treating malnutrition in children under 5. The young mothers learn about the importance of breastfeeding as well as numerous practical ways of providing a balanced diet.

Special medical care – Tdh targets children suffering from serious illnesses which cannot be treated locally. They are evacuated for surgery and appropriate treatment. Their progress is followed after their return.

Protection of marginalised children – The objective is to allow family and socio-professional reintegration of children in a difficult situation in Conakry and Forest Guinea. In the area of juvenile justice, the project offers mediation services to the parties, alternatives to the detention of minors and the quickening of legal procedures. The training of professionals, the direct support to children and families and regular visits to detention centres all add to a significant amount of work in advocacy.


Results achieved in 2008

Nutrition and health – More than 1,000 children suffering from severe malnutrition were cured and around 12,000 children affected by moderate malnutrition monitored.

Special Medical Care – The Treatment Service has organised a medical evacuation to Europe of 28 children and 154 other children were treated locally.

Protection of marginalised children – the project has allowed 1,184 children to be identified, heard and guided, 277 of which have been integrated into a protected environment. Tdh has also actively participated in the revision and editing of the Code de l’Enfant (Children’s’ Code), and its defence before the National Assembly. Its adoption is a significant step for children’s rights in Guinea.


Challenges to be taken up

The political instability and worsening socio-economic situation of Guinea create an explosive context which does not facilitate humanitarian work. In the nutritional health context, Tdh will continue to work actively to resolve several problems: a lack of coordination between different healthcare agencies, a lack of knowledge of hygiene and nutrition which persists in the communities, a lack of medicines and the low motivation of certain health agencies. Regarding the protection, the poor socio-economic situation makes it harder to reintegrate children in difficulty: lack of adequately trained, competent and engaged human resources.


Visit to the jail of Conakry

Bernard BOËTON, Juvenile Justice resource person, Terre des hommes.

March 2008. Entrance through the office. To the question: “How many minors?”, a clerk said: “around 80”. The Director told us: “60”. The head clerk showed us the current figures: “858 prisoners in all [for a 300 person capacity], of which 90 are minors, on 27 March”. Only 7 minors were sentenced, 83 are being detained provisionally, sometimes for years, which is a flagrant breach of the Criminal Code, stating a maximum of one year.

One of the minors, imprisoned for a crime (involuntary homicide) committed at the age of 14 has been awaiting trial for seven years. Others have been waiting for one, two, or four, even five years. In certain provincial prisons minors are detained longer than actually sentenced simply due to files going missing. According to Tdh and our local partner Sabou-Guinée, 32 out of 90 minors are in prison, sometimes for several years because the highest criminal court has not ruled what is to happen to them. This court sits on an ad hoc basis when there is a sufficient stock of criminals (generally every 2 years). It rules first on the adults and then the minors. There is a specific budget for the costs of the judges. But in general this is already used up at the end of the adult session: the court ceases activity due to “lack of resources” The minors will thus wait until the next time.