Post-Covid Intervention in Burkina Faso - Concluded

"Strengthening the resilience of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Bourzanga amid the security crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic in Burkina Faso" is the name of the project and the objective of the intervention by CADIS International and the CADIS Association in Burkina Faso (CADIS BF). Launched in 2021, it aims in 24 months to improve the psychosocial, health, and economic resilience of the displaced and to make them ready to return to their respective villages.

Bourzanga, the capital of the Bourzanga department, is located 157 km north of Ouagadougou and only 45 km from the city of Djibo, which is the epicenter of terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso. The security crisis forced people to flee and take refuge in the city of Bourzanga, which saw its population double and then triple, going from 45,000 inhabitants at the end of 2018 to nearly 150,000 at the beginning of 2020. As a consequence of the armed attacks, 121 health facilities (9.5%) were closed, depriving more than 1.48 million people of health services. In addition, the spread of Covid-19 hit Burkina Faso in March 2020, causing general psychosis among the population, with serious effects especially on the IDPs. 

After an assessment conducted by CADIS BF with local leaders, some areas of intervention were identified and four outcomes were planned to be achieved in two years (2021-22): 1) health and psychosocial assistance, 2) WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), 3) food security and nutrition, 4) conflict management and proactive non-violent measures.

The Catholic Sisters of Sainte Marie de Torfou in Bourzanga, a local partner of CADIS BF, manage a health facility in the area. However, at the height of the terrorist attacks, the community of sisters abandoned the facility. With the CADIS project, the sisters reopened the facility last April, newly renovated and stocked with medicines, supplies, and various types of medical equipment. The facility handles cases that need specific medical care. The Center for Recovery and Nutritional Education (CREN) was also reactivated. The Center is equipped with a multi-functional room and a kitchen where training on the proper preparation of nutritious food for women is held. At the same time, it serves as a DIY (do it yourself) kitchen for those accompanying patients. An emergency health facility and a CADIS-BF field office were chosen at the parish of Our Lady of the Annunciation under the care of the parish priest, another important local partner of CADIS-BF. The emergency clinic supports the immediate medical needs of the displaced who have settled right within the perimeter of the parish property. 

In addition, in June, a training was conducted by a humanitarian security specialist for 26 participants including field staff, the central Project team in security management, and representatives of Camillian-inspired associations. The aim was to strengthen humanitarian access and the capacity of teams on operational security. It helped participants understand the fundamental principles of humanitarian security (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence); identify threats and analyze security risks following the seven pillars of security (acceptance, identification, information, behavior, rules, communication, and protection); on a practical level, it trained teams on how to handle incidents during a trip such as road accidents, checkpoints, shootings, IED (improvised explosive device) explosions, and robberies.

Information from the report of
Sr. Monique Bonogo, FSC
Sec. Gen. CADIS BF

P. Marius Soussago, MI
President CDIS BF