A new maternity ward was inaugurated yesterday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, at the Anonkoua Kouté urban health center thanks to the partnership between Doctors with Africa CUAMM, Eni Côte d’Ivoire, and U.R.S.S.C.I. – the Union of Religious Men and Women of Côte d’Ivoire. The ceremony took place on October 17, 2024, starting at 2:00 PM at the Anonkoua Kouté Community Urban Health Unit, Abobo, Abidjan, in the presence of Dr. Kpaho Bernard, Inspector General of Health, representing the Minister of Health, Public Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage, Madame Yao Gnamien Beugré, Deputy Mayor at Abobo and Luca Faccenda Director General Eni Ivory Coast.
The facility, managed by the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence and part of the U.R.S.S.C.I. network, is one of the largest centers by number of births in the district. Around 3,700 births are recorded here each year. By supporting the facility and inaugurating the new maternity spaces, the initiative aims to fulfill one of the objectives of the national strategic plan: to ensure universal health coverage across the country, with particular attention to vulnerable groups, especially women and children.
«I would like to thank the financial and technical partners who contributed to this project, particularly the NGO Doctors with Africa Cuamm and Eni Côte d’Ivoire – said Dr. Kpaho Bernard, Inspector General of Health, representing the Minister of Health, Public Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage during the ceremony. – The building we are inaugurating today will help improve access to quality maternal, neonatal, and child services, bringing the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage closer to the strategic objectives of our National Health Development Plan».
Abobo district in Abidjan which is home to about 1.5 million people and has the highest population density in Ivory Coast. It faces significant challenges in accessing quality maternal and child health services. The Anonkoua Kouté urban health center, managed by the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence, is one of the largest centers in terms of births in all of Abobo, recording around 3,700 births per year.
The new maternity unit, with its four postnatal wards and a prenatal care room, will provide essential support to pregnant women, mothers, and newborns, improving access to and the quality of healthcare services while reducing the pressure on higher-level healthcare facilities. It will also ensure adequate prenatal care, improve childbirth conditions, and guarantee quality postnatal care, thus contributing to the reduction of infant and maternal mortality.
This initiative represents a significant step forward for the well-being of the local population, addressing the healthcare needs of a growing community, in line with national plans and priorities. This goal will be achieved also through the training and capacity building of healthcare workers in the facilities, the provision of equipment, the improvement of patient referrals to healthcare facilities and the renovation of existing premises.
«It is with great pride that we witness today the tangible achievement of one of our results within this ambitious goal, which is at the core of the priorities of the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage, – said Anna Cavestro, Country Representative for Cuamm in Ivory Coast. Thanks to the commitment of our partners and the determination of national authorities, we have been able to turn this vision into tangible actions».
The construction of the maternity ward is part of the “Santé Pour Tous” – Health for All project promoted by Doctors with Africa Cuamm in collaboration with Eni Côte d’Ivoire and U.R.S.S.C.I. – the Union of Religious Men and Women of Ivory Coast. The aim of this initiative is to improve the quality and access to healthcare for disadvantaged populations in the country, particularly pregnant women and mothers, by promoting the integration of private healthcare facilities managed by religious organizations into the national health system.
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