Mission Benin
Infant Mortality: 89‰
Life expectancy : 55.4
HDI 0.437; RANK 163/177
Real GDP/inhabitant ($): 508
Population:
Beneficiaries: 358
Target: 421,805
Personnel:
Local: 19
Expatriates: 2
Funding:
MdM, Paris City Council, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Budget 2007:
532,602 e
Since the Marxist-Leninist regime ended in 1989, Benin has had a strong image as one of the democratic countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2001, however, economic problems have continued to worsen. By electing Boni Yayi (former President of the West African Development Bank) in the March 2006 elections, the Beninese decided to express their desire for change. Despite these efforts, the economy remains weak and the country is one of the poorest in the world.
Tackling HIV - Ouidah and Comé
Activities :
• Improving access to STI and HIV/AIDS prevention services in two health zones, Comé and Ouidah.
• Decentralisation of access to HIV testing services (through testing in 20 district health centres).
• Consolidation of access to anti-retroviral treatment and care for people living with HIV.
• Improving the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV by introducing systematic testing for pregnant women in 20 district health centres.
Outlook :
• Continuing prevention/awareness-raising activities.
• Development of prevention-of-mother-to-child-transmission activities, putting women at the centre of prevention activities and enabling them to be active participants in the process.
• Decentralising testing at the district health centre level: 25 centres are targeted for 2008.
August 2008