The project “Humanitarian Support in Response to Pediatric and Nutritional Care Needs for the Population of Bangui and Bégoua” is nearing its conclusion. This project, involving CUAMM in collaboration with Action Against Hunger (ACF) at the CHUPB Pediatric Hospital in Bangui, has been supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Central African Republic.
The main objective? To improve the availability, quality, and coverage of paediatric health services by acting on multiple levels: strengthening the capacities of hospital staff and infrastructure in service delivery; improving hygiene conditions and the prevention and control of hospital infections and infectious disease epidemics; enhancing the identification, coverage, and treatment of severe acute malnutrition in children under five in the health districts of Bangui and Bégoua.
At the center of this joint effort by CUAMM, ACF, and AICS is training in various areas as a tool for improving and strengthening health services for children. During the project, theoretical and practical training sessions were conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization to strengthen hospital infection prevention and control, targeting medical and nursing staff and cleaning personnel at the Complexe. Additionally, awareness activities on good hygiene practices were promoted for mothers and other caregivers.
No less significant was the investment in training various hospital executives on best practices for hospital management. In particular, in August 2024, a mission supported the CHUPB administration in the implementation and use of the human resources management software Homère. Furthermore, in October, two specialized technicians were sent to Bangui to install two radiological devices at the hospital, training 10 members of the surgical staff on their use and the maintenance team for technical monitoring of the equipment.
Training efforts were complemented by ensuring the availability and supply of essential drugs and consumables to provide adequate and quality care for the youngest patients. For this purpose, CUAMM supported the rehabilitation of the CHUPB pharmacy and the rehabilitation of the Isolation Unit, which began in August 2024 and was completed in early October 2024. “The goal of the rehabilitation work was to accommodate the neonatal unit beds before the start of the ward’s renovation. Today, we can say that the objective has been achieved on schedule, allowing children and their caregivers to receive appropriate care. Once again, on behalf of CUAMM, I would like to thank all the parties involved in this activity, and in particular the Hospital Director, Professor Gody, for his usual collaboration in implementing activities within the Complex,” stated Armelle Couvreur, CUAMM project manager in Bangui.
Thanks to this intervention, which began in May 2023, there have been definite steps forward in ensuring better paediatric health services, but many challenges remain. The number of human resources at the CHUPB is insufficient to support the workload, and their motivation is often not sustained by adequate compensation. The supply of drugs and reagents is inconsistent, so CUAMM has developed an action plan to strengthen pharmacy management at the hospital. Additionally, it is crucial to continue investing in medical and managerial training for executives and trainees.
In the face of these challenges, CUAMM envisions concrete perspectives: joint efforts with the hospital administration to promote the autonomy and sustainability of the CHUPB in the near future; consolidating and reinforcing improvements in infection prevention and control; enhancing equipment; improving the skills of medical and paramedical staff through expert missions; supporting research work. Furthermore, continuing to support the 9 UNTAs that received assistance as part of the project and implementing a comprehensive maternal and child health and nutrition package at the community level, reducing the overcrowding of secondary hospitals.
The journey continues, as does CUAMM’s commitment to stand by the mothers and children of the Central African Republic.
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