Guinea Bissau

Our support for the improvement of health and maternal/child services at Bissau and Farim.

Practical support on the ground

The Eni Foundation signed an agreement with the Guinea Bissau's Ministry of Health in December 2023 to improve the health of the population and to support maternal and child health services.

The agreement concentrates on support for women and children, aiming to enhance access to post-operative care, intensive care, and neonatal services at Simão Mendes National Hospital in Bissau. It also seeks to improve primary healthcare in Farim district's administrative sector.

Duration and value of the initiative

The activities planned under the project, which will last around a year and a half, are supported by an investment of €500,000.

Objectives

The project's work takes place at the Simão Mendes National Hospital in Bissau and in the administrative area of Farim district.

At the Simão Mendes National Hospital, the project will include:

the supply of equipment and consumables
the supply of equipment and consumables for Neonatology, Intensive Care and post-operative services
the training of technical staff on preventive maintenance of equipment donated for intensive care and post-surgical services.

Within the Administrative Sector of Farim, the project will include:

the improvement of maternal and child healthcare at the district’s main health centre and at peripheral facilities through refurbishment works and the provision of equipment
obstetric and neonatal training and on motor disabilities
boosting public awareness to tackle these issues through enhancing knowledge of malnutrition, waterborne diseases, and childhood disabilities.

Beneficiaries

This project to improve care services and raise general health levels is targeted at:

patients of the Neonatology, Intensive Care, Accident & Emergency, Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Paediatric Intensive Care units at Simao Mendes National Hospital
the 70,000 inhabitants of the Farim administrative sector, including vulnerable individuals, mothers, children, and children with disabilities.

Results achieved

The activities implemented at the Simão Mendes National Hospital and completed in 2024 included:

three missions to strengthen Neonatology, including one dedicated to a training course for nursing, midwifery and medical staff working in the Maternity-Obstetrics and Paediatrics-Neonatology departments, with a special focus on neonatal care
the supply of equipment and consumables to the Neonatology, Intensive Care, Emergency, Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Paediatric Intensive Care departments
practical training on the clinical use of the medical devices supplied, on preventive maintenance and on the checks required to ensure correct operation.

In 2024, beneficiaries of the initiatives at Simao Mendes Hospital included the following:

54 doctors and nurses – and four technicians – received training
approximately 1,500 people gained improved access to the departments of Neonatology, Intensive Care, Accident & Emergency, Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Paediatric Intensive Care.

The activities completed at the Farim Administrative Sector in October 2025 included:

the rehabilitation of electrical, photovoltaic and water systems in four peripheral health centres (Binta, Canjambari, Cutima and Farim)
training courses for midwives and other key health personnel aimed at improving maternal and child health services and the management of sexually transmitted diseases, with 64 participants. A total of 172 people, including nurses and community agents, received training on maternal and child undernutrition, waterborne diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
training of 28 health technicians and 85 community health workers in the early diagnosis of priority childhood motor disabilities.