Five women per day die on average in pregnancy and childbirth in Burkina Faso because of poverty; lack of information and poor access to health care.
Nakamtenga, Burkina Faso
Colette
Ongoing since 2018
– Sexual education has begun, but we are looking for collaboration and materials adapted for children and young people.
– The Clitoris Fund needs sponsors for subsidizing intervention to relieve symptoms, as well as reconstruction of the clitoris for those who want to take that step.
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Join Yennenga NetworkSince 1990, the maternal deaths in childbirth has been reduced drastically in Africa, yet, every day, 800 women in Burkina Faso die due to complications during childbirth. The most important reason being lack of access to basic prenatal/perinatal care.
According to World Health Organization, there should be one midwife per 5000 inhabitants. In Burkina Faso, there is one per 21,000 inhabitants. In Sweden it's at 1,100.
Burkina Faso has the rank of 183 out of 189 countries in regards to the UN Development Index. Every woman gives birth to an average of 6.7 children, one in ten dies before the age of five and the average life expectancy is barely 56 years. There are only about 6,000 hospital beds in the country's 18 million inhabitants. Infant mortality is nearly 7% (2014). Most of these deaths, that could be prevented, are a consequence of poverty; lack of information and poor access to health care. Maternal mortality in Burkina Faso is one of the highest in the world.
It is estimated that 75% of women and 13% of girls are circumcised in 2014. However, the studies we have conducted locally, to date, suggest that about 30% or more of the girls are circumcised / genital-mutilated.
We have maternity care for childbirth and have built the childbirth clinic, but have not
started it yet. We also have youth clinic and gynecologists. These meeting places also allow us to capture other issues of sexual and reproductive health, violence and gender roles.
To reduce maternal and child mortality, we offer extended open preschool, for pregnant and relatives of children 0–3 years. These meetings create a platform for conversations about sexual and reproductive health. The open preschool has also proven to be an important platform for conversation and information about health, nutrition and needs during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and toddler years. The gatherings are hosted by midwives and other experts on request from the visitors
Safe meeting places for discussions on women's health are an important aspect of the Dr. Denis Mukwege Center. We have active campaigns aimed at both men and women and different age groups, to understand the effects of circumcision both physically and mentally. With regular gynecological examinations for all ages we can identify and treat symptoms. Through the Clitoris Fund, we create a structure to subsidize the reconstruction of the clitoris and the treatment of genital disorders.
Only 17 per cent of girls and women aged 15-49 is using contraception. It results in a large number of early, unwanted or life-threatening pregnancies, which in turn leads to many unsafe abortions. Some women cannot afford contraceptives; others cannot get hold of them. Some are not allowed to use them for their husbands and sometimes discourage health centers and provides inaccurate information.