Fondation Follereau Luxembourg President Evaluates Impact of Benin, Togo Projects on the Field

The President of the Fondation Follereau Luxembourg (FFL), Jean Hilger, went on a field mission to Togo and Benin from 20-28 October 2018.

Accompanied by the FFL's formal representative in West Africa, Boubacar Niang, Jean Hilger had the opportunity to measure the impact of the Foundation's activities on the various projects it finances.

The purpose of this trip was thus to meet the FFL's partner organisations and visit some field projects, including peripheral health units, centres dedicated to the fight against leprosy and Buruli ulcer (BU), vocational training centres and rural maternity hospitals. These project-monitoring missions are considered important in ensuring the smooth running of activities but also to identify potential areas of improvement.

Upon arrival, field visits began with the inauguration of the Lilikopé Peripheral Care Unit (USP). In rural areas, 46% of the population does not have access to health facilities. Based on the identification process carried out by its local partner, the AAT-FFL, the FFL committed to build three health centres between 2015 and 2018. Jean Hilger was thus able to participate in the official handing over of the keys of this centre after visiting its facilities.

The FFL president then went to Zionou's new USP, where over 40 births and 150 consultations have been carried out since its opening, before visiting the maternity site of Lokpodji, together with the local authorities. In the interest of guaranteeing access to quality care, this maternity centre will be completed during the first half of 2019.

Jean Hilger completed his mission with a visit of the Zé Professional Training Centre, where 77 students are currently enrolled and whose first national masonry and sewing exam was held on 29 October, and a meeting with the national leprosy and Buruli ulcer control programme as well as the directors of the new hospital in the Allada area. At the Zé centre, discussions focused on how to increase the involvement of Beninese public institutions in the project in order to ensure the sustainability of professional training in sectors such as sewing, masonry and carpentry.