Activities in Benin

The maternity and neonatal mortality rates in Benin have been exceedingly high over the past ten years due to medical workers not having adequate capacity and inadequate medical facilities and equipment. In 2006, Benin’s Ministry of Health formulated its "2006-2015 National Strategy for the Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality", and is working to improve health and medical facilities in every region of Benin to promote good medical services as well as boost maternity health services including those for reproductive health.

The subject hospital in the project, Lagune Maternity Hospital (Hôpital Maternité Lagune), is both the oldest and largest maternity hospital in Benin, being trusted by the residents as "childbirth hospital". It teamed up with the National University Hospital Centre (CNHU) and other organizations to become a teaching hospital with the highest referral medical facility in the country. As most of the hospital was constructed more than 50 years ago, the Japanese government was requested to provide grant aid to assist in making major renovations that were difficult to be funded by the Beninese government own.

• Exchange of Notes signed on: May 30, 2007
• Amount of grant aid: 1.224 billion yen
• Executing agency: The Ministry of Health of Benin

Under this project, equipment and materials will be procured that are required for Lagune Maternity Hospital to operate as a referral facility for material health care in Atlantique and Littoral Departments. Hospital wings for radiation department and for childbirth are newly constructed, and also aging equipment will be refurbished. The minimum supplies required to operate and properly maintain the new facilities will be procured as well. With those activities, the facilities and equipment for the childbirth, neonatal and infant divisions at the Lagune Maternity Hospital are surely enhanced.

Under this project, a system for maintaining equipment will be established, guidance will be given for equipment maintenance technologies and a physician management plan will be set up. Then, maintenance will be regularly conducted in a proper manner and machine troubles will be promptly identified.