Eni Foundation – first vaccination missions in Congo
The Child healthcare project “Salissa Mwana” became fully operational in the Kouilou region in the month of March with the completion of the first two healthcare centers in M’Boukou and N’Kola. The initiative, launched by Eni Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Fondation Congo Assistance in the remote rural areas of the Kouilou, Cuvette and Niari regions, consists of a wide-ranging epidemiological screening and vaccination program against the main childhood diseases.
The refurbishment of the two centers included the fitting of visiting areas, maternal-child and prenatal care rooms, delivery and patients rooms, the provision of laboratory instruments and basic medical equipment, as well as the supply of electricity, by means of photovoltaic panels, drinking water, a system for the proper conservation of vaccines and a medical waste incinerator.
The two facilities will guarantee, also through the use of mobile units, the immunization coverage of the infant population in two of the region’s districts (some 7,000 children between the age of 0 and 5).
Clinical activities began with the implementation of three immunization missions, which have led, so far, to the vaccination of 270 children.
Moreover, thanks to the functional rehabilitation of the two centers, it was also possible to immunize over 900 pregnant women against tetanus.
To support the clinical activities, an on-going professional training program for the medical and paramedical personnel was launched by the two centers (to date 5 technical-scientific training days have been conducted) and the first awareness and information meetings were held with the communities in the two health centers’ area of intervention.
In the course of the second half of 2008 the project will be expanded to the two other regions of Niari and Cuvette, with the rehabilitation of a further nine health centers. By the end of the year around 30% of the project facilities will have become operational.
April 2008
Vaccination day
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M’Boukou healthcare center
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N’Kola healthcare center
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Contacts
Eni Foundation
Piazzale Enrico Mattei 1
00144 Roma - ITALIA
Tel 06 59824108 - Fax 06 59822106
e-mail: enifoundation@eni.com
Salissa Mwana - Project aimed at improving child healthcare in the remote areas of Congo
Eni Foundation is conducting wide-ranging vaccination and epidemiological screening program against the principal infant disease in the Kouilou, Niari and Cuvette regions.
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