“Here in Bamingui-Bangoran, Central African Republic, the medical systems are insufficient to ensure our health.”

This region in the northeast of the country is particularly isolated, and access to quality health care is often difficult. The chronic crises affecting the country has severely weakened the health system, and the geographic isolation of the prefecture, combined with a poor road network, exacerbates the difficulties of accessing the Ndélé District Hospital.

^{Portrait of Adam, beneficiary of Première Urgence Internationale’s activities in Bamingui-Bangoran}

Adam is a resident of the village of Akroussoulback in the Bamingui-Bangoran Prefecture of the Central African Republic. This region in the northeast of the country is particularly isolated, and access to essential services such as healthcare is often difficult. The chronic crises affecting the country has greatly weakened the health system, and the geographic isolation of the prefecture, reinforced by a poor road network, exacerbates the difficulties of access to the Ndélé District Hospital.

Thanks to the intervention of Première Urgence Internationale in the area, Adam’s wife was able to be referred to the hospital in Ndélé.

“My wife is not the first to benefit from the services offered by Première Urgence Internationale, my older daughter and my younger daughter have also benefited.”

This activity, implemented by Première Urgence Internationale thanks to the funding of the Bêkou Fund, consists of taking charge of a patient’s journey from a peripheral health center to the District Hospital of Ndélé when the health center is unable to provide care for a patient. In this region, only the District Hospital has the capacity to provide specialized care.

“Around 3 a.m. I accompanied my wife who was pregnant and was due to give birth. When we arrived at the health center, we met the staff on duty and my wife was directed to the delivery room because she was already in labor. As time went on, there were complications and she was unable to deliver. Officials thought it best to refer my wife because her case was beyond their capabilities.”

Establishment of a system of total free access

Adam’s wife was thus able to benefit from transportation to and from the nearest health center to the hospital in order to give birth in a medical environment where the care and supervision are of better quality, guaranteeing better sanitary hygiene and complete medical care. Thanks to the system of total gratuity, her care and treatment were covered by Première Urgence Internationale.

^{Sadam in front of the Ndélé district hospital where Première Urgence Internationale refers patients.}

This is also the case of Sadam who lives in the village of Djamassinda. This farmer went to the Djamassinda health center, supported by the project “because there is total free care: consultation and medication”. Indeed, Première Urgence Internationale supports 25 of the 28 medical structures of the Prefecture to ensure free health care. This allows the most vulnerable populations to have access to healthcare, regardless of the costs that may be incurred for medical care. During the hospitalization of patients, food rations are also provided by Première Urgence Internationale. Health is therefore accessible to all in this region where poverty and malnutrition rates are high.

Health support in the Ndélé district greatly appreciated

The Bamingui-Bangoran Prefecture is also a prefecture affected by multiple crises that have been contained, exacerbating the weakness of the health system. The referral is an action that is strongly supported by the population because it improves their access to quality care. “We have received a large awareness on the methods and criterias of referral in our community. We are supported in every way by Première Urgence Internationale and I only say thank you”, says Sadam. Indeed, more than 6,140 people have benefited from this activity since the project began in 2018. Adam believes that this activity is “very significant because without it, serious health problems would persist in our village.”

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