U.S. Congress Delegation Visits USAID/PMI Site in Benin.

Mrs Annie Coons, Senator Christopher Coons (D-DE) and Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)(left) converse with Professor Gazard, Minister of Health (2nd from right first row) and Dr. Alao at HOMEL pediatrics hospital, Cotonou. Back to camera is Dr. Milton Amayun, USAID/Benin.

From Senator Isakson: “We are happy to see what the USG through USAID and the President’s Malaria Initiative is doing in Benin. Saving children’s lives is at the core of our interest in helping Africa. And we are happy that USAID is providing help so that children might live.”

From Senator Coons: “I am happy to see firsthand what USG foreign assistance is doing in Benin. This will help me testify to the good work you are doing here.”

From Mrs. Coons: “We are so happy to be here! The good work that you do makes me so proud of USG assistance to Africa.”

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Fistula Repair and Prevention

A former fistula patient from Zou department, and her husband benefited from a successful surgical repair paid for through USAID. Photo URC/PISAF.

In Benin, obstetric fistulas caused by difficult childbirth afflict three out of 1000 mothers, according to the epidemiological study conducted by Dr. Jacques SAIZONOU in 2008.

A fistula is an injury caused by prolonged labor or the tearing of normal tissue when mothers deliver a baby.

When left untreated, a fistula could lead to urinary or fecal incontinence. Social contempt stigmatizes women suffering from fistula.

Even though fistulas are easily repaired by surgery, most women are prevented from seeking this surgical procedure for lack of knowledge or access to a skilled surgeon or a clinic.

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Benin: A Global Health Initiative Country

In 2011, the United States Government (USG) included Benin as one of twenty four second-wave countries that will benefit from President Obama’s Global Health Initiative (GHI). The first eight GHI countries, now known as GHI Plus, were chosen in 2009 and are currently implementing their country strategies. Using a whole-of-government approach, GHI requires all USG agencies involved in a host country’s health sector to work together under a coherent country strategy. In Benin, that involves USAID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Peace Corps and the Department of Agriculture – under the overall leadership of the Chief of Mission, Ambassador James Knight.

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Indoor Residual Spraying Moves to Benin’s North

Indoor Residual Spraying technician in protective gear ready to spray insecticide inside of houses

All systems are ready to move the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI)/Benin’s indoor residual spraying (IRS) to the country’s North. After two years of successful spraying in four communes of Ouémé department in the South (around Porto-Novo, Benin’s capital), where near-universal household coverage was achieved, more than 600,000 people were protected from malaria for two years. For 2011, a new area has been selected for IRS: seven communes of Atacora department. Benin’s National Malaria Control Program and USAID decided to move the spraying to expand the benefits of IRS to more people in a larger geographic coverage area.

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