The symbolic ceremony for the delivery of medicines and medical consumables took place on 24 January in Bissau. 62 categories of essential medicines, 47 varieties of medical consumables and 17 types of tests, worth 1.3 million euros, to support maternal and child health in Guinea-Bissau. The symbolic handover was made by the European Union Ambassador in Bissau, Artis Bertulis, to the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
These medicines, consumables and tests will later be distributed to the health structures of the National Health System, in all the country’s health regions, to meet the needs of 450,000 women and 343,000 children, in order to guarantee their right to quality healthcare, free of charge.
At the handover ceremony, the European Union Ambassador in Bissau emphasised that:
‘(…) ensuring the health and well-being of mothers and children is not only a moral obligation for us; it is also a crucial investment in the future of humanity. From our point of view, we consider every child’s right to a healthy start in life and every mother’s right to a safe birth to be fundamental values that underpin a compassionate and prosperous society.’
He also stated in his speech that:
Despite its enormous commitment to the health sector, I can assure you that, alone, the European Union could do nothing. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to publicly thank and salute our partners in PIMI III – the Marquês de Valle Flôr Institute, the WHO and the University of Southern Denmark. I would also like to highlight an absolutely indispensable partner, the Ministry of Public Health and health professionals, whose commitment to these actions is essential to guarantee the sustainability of this initiative.
As well as improving access to and the quality of medical care for pregnant women, women who have recently given birth and children up to the age of 5, and strengthening the management and administrative capacity of health structures and Regional Health Directorates, strengthening the purchase and supply of essential medicines with an impact on maternal and child health is one of the components implemented by the IMVF under the EU-PIMI III Programme.
TheEU-PIMI III Programme – Supporting Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health towards a Universal Health Coverage System in Guinea-Bissauis funded by theEuropean Unionand implemented byIMVF, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and theBandim Health Project(University of Southern Denmark), in partnership with theMinistry of Public Health of Guinea-Bissau, with the overall aim of helping to reduce maternal and under-five mortality rates through better access to quality Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) care.
RTP Africa report: Guinea-Bissau – EU delivers batch of medicines for maternal and child health worth 1.3 million euros | link