Dedougou: The Secretary General of the Bankui region, Adjara Sandrine Kientega/Ouedraogo, initiated the second phase of the multi-sectoral emergency project in health, nutrition, and protection, known as SANPROB, on Tuesday in Dedougou. This project aims to enhance the health, nutrition, and protection of the region's most vulnerable groups, particularly those in isolated areas severely impacted by crises.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Bankui region is grappling with increasing humanitarian demands due to insecurity, mass displacement, and fragile basic social infrastructure. To address these challenges, the NGO Terre des Hommes Lausanne (TDH), with financial backing from the Crisis and Support Centre (CDCS) of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is executing this large-scale humanitarian initiative.
This second phase, scheduled to last twelve months, seeks to build on the successes of the first phase while bolstering community resilience against precarious conditions and instability. The project includes specific actions such as the prevention and early detection of malnutrition, community care for malnourished children, distribution of food kits and essential household items, and improved access to health care, including mental health services.
The strategy involves deploying mobile teams or establishing advanced health posts, depending on the area's needs. Adjara Sandrine Kientega/Ouedraogo emphasized the importance of presenting the project content, gathering feedback, and securing stakeholder support for a concerted implementation. She praised the initiative for going beyond traditional humanitarian aid.
Furthermore, the project supports caring for children found during security operations and trains traditional midwives in areas lacking health centers, aiming to ensure safer childbirth conditions for women. Kientega hopes the activities will quickly yield tangible benefits for the communities.
Dr. Dramane Zongo, field coordinator of Bankui-Terre des Hommes Lausanne, noted that this phase represents an investment of over 300 million FCFA. The municipalities of Dedougou, Nouna, Kouka, and Solenzo, all severely impacted by the security crisis, are targeted by this program.
Dr. Zongo stated, "Through this program, Terre des Hommes aims to support the Burkinabe government in assisting vulnerable populations by combining emergency humanitarian response with strengthening community services."
The SANPROB project is structured around three pillars. The first pillar is health, focusing on reopening health facilities, supplying medical consumables, and providing free care. Community-based health workers will be trained in managing childhood illnesses in areas where health facilities remain closed.
The second pillar is protection, which involves revitalizing Municipal Child Protection Committees and aiding them in developing action plans. The third pillar addresses food security and emergency assistance by supporting 100 households through food kit distribution and deploying multidisciplinary mobile teams to address immediate health and psychosocial needs.
With this second phase, SANPROB aims to extend and deepen its efforts by integrating emergency and development approaches to fortify the resilience of populations and restore hope for families in the Boucle du Mouhoun affected by the crises.