Central African Republic: Strengthening Access to Health Care and Improving Food Security for Vulnerable Populations in Bamingui-Bangoran

Since 2018, Première Urgence Internationale has been implementing a project to provide emergency medical-nutritional assistance and strengthen the primary and secondary health system in the Bamingui-Bangoran Prefecture, Central African Republic. An initiative made possible through the support of the European Union’s Bêkou Fund.

Bamingui-Bangoran, a Prefecture in the northeast of the Central African Republic, is one of the most fragile in the country, due to its geographic, economic and political isolation. The area experienced high security tensions during the year 2020, which increased the vulnerability of the population. Première Urgence Internationale supports the basic health system and mitigate security shocks by ensuring that the population has access to quality health care.

© Première Urgence Internationale | Sterilization room of the District Hospital of Ndélé

This project aims to ensure permanent health care coverage, while strengthening the capacities of the health system actors in the Bamingui-Bangoran Prefecture. To this end, our teams are supporting the district hospital in Ndélé, the main town in the Prefecture.

Support existing health centers in Bamingui-Bangoran

In addition, we provide support to 25 health facilities (FOSA)* out of the 28 within the area, which allows access to health care for all populations in the sectors covered by these facilities.

In terms of support, we carry out monitoring and evaluation of the activities’ implementation with the teams of each health facility and hospital for better patient care.

This also allows us to strengthen the capacities of health personnel and to perpetuate the work of Première Urgence Internationale in the long term. In addition, we also provide material support and ensure the supply of medicines to the health facilities.

“At the Ndélé dispensary, Première Urgence Internationale‘s staff help us during the care we provide. They assist us during consultations and support us in making decisions about referring serious patients to the hospital,” explains Sali Levi, First Aid Nurse and Head of the Ndélé urban health center.

© Première Urgence Internationale | Ndélé District hospital

“Thanks to Première Urgence Internationale, care is free at the hospital for all patients. In addition, each patient can receive the treatment they need after a consultation, because the NGO provides the medicines“, explains Adeline Moustapha, Manager of the Ndélé hospital pharmacy

Taking action against malnutrition

Our teams also participate in the care of malnourished children in the Prefecture. In 2020, 673 children in a state of severe acute malnutrition were admitted to the various nutrition services of Bamingui-Bangoran thanks to the support of Première Urgence Internationale.

Indeed, the Prefecture’s isolation is reinforced by a rainy season that lasts up to six months a year, with recurrent flooding. These access difficulties exacerbate the region’s worrying nutritional and food situation.

In September 2020, the village of Ngarba on the Chadian border suffered an extensive flooding that displaced more than 2,500 people. Our teams were able to carry out two missions to support the Ngarba health post, particularly in terms of access to basic health and nutrition services, thanks to the setting up of a mobile clinic for the victims.

© Première Urgence Internationale | Control of medicines received in the pharmacy of the District Hospital of Ndélé

Food distributions

In order to guarantee the food security of the population, we have also carried out, from November 2020 to January 2021, three food distributions to 350 vulnerable households including malnourished children.

These distributions were conducted within the framework of a project financed by France’s Comité interministériel d’aide alimentaire (CIAA), which aimed to support the most vulnerable households through the distribution of nutritional supplies.

“This was the first time I was able to benefit from a food distribution. My two-year-old son was being treated at a health center for malnutrition. Thanks to the quantity and variety of food we received, his health continued to improve after his medical treatment! “, said a woman who benefited from food distributions in the village of Alihou, about 10 kilometers from the town of Ndélé.

Indeed, our teams were able to observe a decrease in the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in the health centers following the food distribution program. This complementarity of actions ensures long-term resilience and a greater impact on the populations supported.

© Première Urgence Internationale | Awareness raising on good nutrition and hygiene practices for households benefiting from food distribution

Première Urgence Internationale opened its mission in Central African Republic in 2007. The mission develops an integrated approach with different aspects such as rehabilitation and construction of housing, livelihood supply and drinkable water supply. The teams then carry out the return accompaniment of displaced people to their districts in Bangui.

By making a donation to Première Urgence Internationale, you allow the teams to continue their actions on site while implementing new projects to help vulnerable populations.

*These health facilities (FOSA) can be health posts, health centers or hospitals