Hands for life: Neonatology for newborns in Benin

Our volunteer Piero Buffa finally left last October to visit our centers in Benin and to operate some children with complex cardiac anomalies. He went to Benin for a month to dedicate 15 days to operate children and adults at the Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Tanguieta. He also visited our neonatology department and he said that “it’s a little gem”! He reported us in his travel diary that the facility is operational and fully equipped. When he visited the center there weren’t many children but he referred us that several children present challenging cases.

The Republic of Benin is an extremely poor country characterized by a lack of health services. The only hospital center who can offer constant assistance and care is "The Embrace" in Sokponta. Unfortunately, it can’t offer enough services for everyone. Due to COVID-19 spread the situation is more alarming and pregnant women are the most affected by this situation.

By CIA World Factbook 2020 with respect to the enfant mortality rate in Benin, each year 59 out of 100 children do not survive their first year or die at childbirth. It also must be considered that a lot of women die during childbirth or because of post-partum complications. 

Thanks to you support we will change this situation! We are planning the opening of a new maternity unit to support mothers during and after childbirth. In our centre we will take care of mothers and newborns from the beginning of pregnancy to childbirth moment. For this reason, we need your support in order to guarantee a safe pregnancy and life for mothers and babies. Our fully equipped Center will provide health care services to mothers in need. With this goal, we expect the recruiting of several specialists to follow each pregnancy stages.

We are sure that we can count on you to make this dream come true! Once again we would sincerely thank you for your future support.