Burkina/Health: A new CSPS to improve access to healthcare in Ouagadougou's 9th arrondissement

The Sig-Noghin health district in Ouagadougou's 9th arrondissement now has a new maternity unit, bringing the CSPS (Centre de santé et de promotion sociale), built thanks to German cooperation, up to standard. The ceremony to inaugurate the maternity unit and change the name of the health facility took place on Monday January 6, 2025, in the presence of the Minister of Health, Dr Robert Kargougou.

After arriving in Burkina Faso in 1986, Pr Wacker Jürgen, an obstetrician-gynecologist, worked for two years in the operating room of the Dori Regional Hospital in the Sahel region. There, he realized that gynecological care was an important part of the CHR's emergency services. This visit to the country of upright men left a strong impression on the doctor, who has since maintained good relations with Burkina Faso and particularly with the Moogho Naaba Baongo. The CSPS commonly known as the "German Cooperation", located in Ouagadougou's 9th arrondissement, is the fruit of this friendship between Moogho Naaba Baongo and Pr Wacker Jürgen, President of the Menschen für Frauen Association, which financed the construction of the health center. "When I fortuitously met His Majesty the Moogho Naaba Baongo in 2008, it was an important turning point for the realization of this center," said Pr Wacker.

Jocelyne Traoré, president of the special delegation for arrondissement 9, gave an overview of the history of the CSPS, noting that the foundation stone for the dispensary was laid in 2016. Then, in 2021, work began on building a maternity ward to bring the CSPS up to standard. January 5, 2025 saw the inauguration of the maternity unit and the renaming of the CSPS "Coopération allemande".CSPS pour la dignité de la femme" (CSPS for women's dignity), the fruit of German cooperation and the support of His Majesty the Moogho Naaba Baongo.

The Minister of Health, Dr Robert Kargougou, expressed his gratitude to Prof. Wacker and His Majesty the Moogho Naaba Baongo for this CSPS, which will improve access to health services and care for the people of arrondissement 9. "This new maternity hospital will help to reduce the geographical accessibility of women to preventive and curative services in the field of sexual and reproductive health (...). I would therefore like to pay a vibrant tribute to our partners for this jewel which they have graciously offered to our populations", he said.

In her welcome address, the president of the special delegation for arrondissement 9 pleaded for the CSPS to be turned into a medical center with a surgical unit. The Minister of Health said he had taken note of her request, and assured her that his department would work to achieve it. "We understand that expectations in terms of access to healthcare in arrondissement 9 are extremely high. We have an operating theater under construction, so we're in the process of transforming this CSPS. And as an African proverb says, when they wash your back, you have to wash your face. In this context, the government will play its part so that we can work to transform this CSPS into a health center with a surgical unit, so that the people of this district can have full access to quality health care and services", indicated the Minister.

For the head physician of the Sig-Noghin health district, Dr Richard Sanou, the new maternity unit is a welcome relief for the women of the district. "This CSPS really needed a maternity ward. Life begins in the maternity ward, and it was important for this health facility to have a maternity ward to meet standards. It's a jewel that will further strengthen the healthcare offer for the benefit of the population, particularly women", he said.

Didier Congo, uncle of His Majesty Moogho Naaba Baongo, was also delighted to see the maternity ward up and running. "It's a feeling of joy for his majesty and his family, because this health center will be of great help to the surrounding population, especially as there aren't many health centers in arrondissement 9," said Mr. Congo.Congo.
The Minister took the opportunity of the inauguration to invite the beneficiaries to take good care of the health center, so that it will also serve future generations.

Source: lefaso.net/