Hands for life: Neonatology for newborns in Benin

Dear Donors,

Thanks to the news coming from our local representatives we would like to update all of you about the general situation in Benin and in particular about our activities. In September all the schools have reopen and the lessons have restarted after the summer break.

In October our volunteer and surgeon Piero Buffa has spent one month in Benin, travelling in order to supervise our projects in the Country, visiting all the children and families supported. We can’t deny that the general situation of Benin is worsening: the inflation rate has reached unsustainable levels and in particular the prices of food, building materials and imported goods are increasing; the rise in poverty is involving 80% of the population. The biggest and really urgent problems are hunger and malnutrition and drag a great number of young people and children.

The Central Government does not provide the population with economic contributes: that’s why the role of local and international associations is really important, even if the economic, health and social emergency has reduced their resources and possibilities.

During the first 3 weeks of the trip, Piero Buffa has operated without a break in the Hospital of Tanguéta and has visited the Hospital “L’Abbraccio” of Sokponta, our local partner. Our aim is supporting the pediatric Hospital of Sokponta creating a neonatology efficient department. With the project “Hands for life” we want to monitor the health of premature newborns, underweight children, children with infections or malformations and their mothers, providing advanced medical treatments. Piero has finally delivered the new endocavitary probe which will allow doctors to prevent and face serious cases.

We know that the entire world is facing a really challenging phase that is deeply toughing every one of us. We are sure that the value of solidarity and cooperation is still strong and thanks to your help we will be able to support always more children, ensuring them a better future!

Thank you!

Dear Donor,

As announced in the previous report, at the end of May our Country Manager Antonio Carettoni with the President of Aleimar Sergio Sali, the Head of the Project Office of Aleimar Ilaria Ventura and the Volunteer and Counselor Daria De Siero came back to Benin for the periodic monitoring trip.

This eleven-day journey has been the opportunity to visit all our project in the Country and to tie stronger relationships with our local representatives on the field that work every day in favor of all the children supported also thanks to your help. In particular, our team visited the pediatric hospital “L’Abbraccio” of Sokponta, monitoring their activities and understanding their needs.

Despite we have reached some of our important goals, our actions never stop! Our local representatives work every day in the hospital and they have reported that there is the necessity of improving the screening activities in the villages in order to prevent cases at risk. That’s why we want to provide a more advanced equipment that will allow an early identification of health problems of mother and children already before the delivery. In particular, we will send a new endocavitary probe that enables doctors to carry out more thorough examinations.

Thanks to your support we can give a concrete contribution to a lot of mothers and children of Sokponta!

Thank you!