Eni Foundation in Congo – expansion and strengthening of the Salissa Mwana project

Salissa Mwana, Eni Foundation’s wide-ranging vaccination and epidemiological screening program against the main childhood diseases, launched in Congo in the rural and remote areas of the Kouilou, Niari and Cuvette regions, continues to expand. The University of Rome “La Sapienza" becomes the project’s scientific partner.

The first health centers in the Niari and Cuvette become operational

With the rehabilitation of the health centers at Louvakou, Kimongo and Bokuele, as of October, the project’s clinical activities have been extended to the regions of Niari and Cuvette.
Consequently, in the two regions, the epidemiological screening of the infant population has begun in the areas covered by the rehabilitated centers. At the same time, a professional training program for the medical personnel and meetings to raise awareness among the local communities have been organized, and the first vaccination missions have also been carried out.
Following the launching of the clinical activities last March in the Kouilou region (at the M’Boukou and N’Kola centers and, more recently, at the Hinda center), as of today, in the three regions interested by the project, there are six health centers that are fully operational. By the end of the year, another six will be completed: one in the Kouilou, two in the Niari and three in the Cuvette.
The refurbishment of the centers included the creation of visiting areas, maternal-child health and prenatal rooms, delivery and patient rooms, the provision of basic laboratory and medical equipment, as well as the supply of electricity from solar panels, drinking water, systems for proper vaccine storage and for medical waste incineration.

Over 7,000 vaccinations carried out in the Kouilou in six months of activity

In the Kouilou region, where since last March the two centers of M’Boukou and N’Kola have been operational, the “Salissa Mwana” project completed the first six months of activity. From April to the end of September, 32 immunization days were organized, half of which directly in the villages thanks to the use of mobile medical units, and more than 7,000 vaccinations were carried out. As a result, the infant vaccination coverage rate in the two districts assisted by the two centers has increased significantly, from 45% in the first quarter of 2008 to almost 80% in the second and third quarters.
In support of the immunization activities, an on-going professional training program for the medical and paramedical personnel based at the two centers (which included 12 days of classes with trainers and experts) has been launched. Fondation Congo Assistance has also organized 6 information and awareness building meetings with the population from the communities in the two health centers’ operational areas.

The University of Rome “La Sapienza” is the project’s scientific partner

Thanks to a cooperation agreement signed with Eni Foundation, the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Rome “La Sapienza” has been providing since October, also through the constant presence in Congo of two doctors, scientific support to the project, by training local medical personnel, conducting the epidemiological screening of the infant population, supervising activities and building awareness among the population with respect to the prevention of infectious diseases.

November 2008