news & events

 

Fidele Bohui and Gerard Atohoun visited the UK last month to share their experiences of managing a project that is providing vital health care and training for rural communities in southern Togo.

 

Fidele and Gerard work for one of MRDF’s partners, PMDCT, in the district of Zouvi, where access to rural communities is by rough dirt tracks. It is a long and often perilous journey to reach the nearest hospital and without a bike or car, this is virtually impossible. A lack of easily accessible healthcare facilities has meant that diseases such as malaria and diarrhoea go untreated. Pregnant women are also missing out on vital health care. According to UN figures, 500 women die in childbirth for every 100,000 births in Togo – many of these deaths could be easily prevented, using regular check-ups from medical professionals.

Thanks to MRDF support, villages where PMDCT is working now have  community healthcare centres with a professional on hand to carry out pre-natal checks. There is also a trained midwife who is providing a safer, cleaner environment for mothers to give birth in – bringing hope to a community previously blighted by early deaths.

Fidele and Gerard also described another important aspect of their work - offering training opportunities. Staff members have been running groups for women in the community on issues such as child nutrition, malaria prevention and family planning. Gerard explained that educating women about these issues was not only a way of empowering them but also a means of ensuring the vital health messages are spread throughout the family. ‘If we work hard with women it’s going to have an impact on the whole family. In this area, women are in charge of the family.’

 

If you’re interested in finding out how MRDF is assisting people around the world to make the journey out of poverty, come to an MRDF supporter conference. Click here for more information.