BFFS components

The goals of the JP components are to:

• Improve access to basic health care
• Construct water points for communities and their animals
• Improve household knowledge of family health, nutrition and sanitation, and common diseases including HIV/AIDS
• Provide infrastructure for livestock
• Provide functional adult literacy classes

The following observations on the state of implementation were noted in the Annual Programme for Budget and Work of January 2011.

The volatile security situation in the project’s target area has affected implementation of this project, in particular creating problems in finding adequate numbers of health staff. However the promise of good housing, electricity and water for qualified health staff has helped resolve the situation and keep staff who are posted to these remote areas from leaving, thus avoiding the previously high turnover of staff posted.

The increased permanency of staff has led to a significant improvement in the quality of health services in remote areas, with a clear knock-on effect in productive sector activities. Already the benefits of the health sensitization and awareness campaigns together with the productive sector activities have become apparent.

Health

A total of 8 new community health centres have been constructed, and 12 traditional birthing attendants have been trained, together with other health staff.

Twenty school latrines have been constructed, and 413 latrines for family use.

Awareness campaigns about HIV/AIDS have been launched in different localities.

4,000 treated mosquito nets have been distributed to women and children.

Water

Forty-two water points have been created in the areas of Bourem, Gourma Rharous, Niafunké, Goundam and Diré. A further 84 are under construction.

Infrastructure

Implementation of infrastructure components has been held back by the difficulty of finding suppliers, particularly of irrigation systems. Construction work has begun on one new feeder road from Gossi to Rharous. In Bourem and Gourma Rharous, approx 340 ha of small-scale irrigation sites will be developed.

Work has just begun on building a livestock market in Rharous.