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Published on: 08/10/2020

IRC, Espace Culturel Gambidi (ECG) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the WASH actors working in Banfora district for universal access to drinking water, hygiene and sanitation, have just reiterated their commitment to support the commune's efforts in the fight against COVID-19. For this reason, on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 an official ceremony was held to hand over sanitary materials and products to health centres, schools, public spaces and the population. This ceremony was presided over by the Governor of the Cascades Region, Mrs. Kouara Apiou/Kaboré, in the presence of the second deputy mayor of Banfora, Siaka Soulama and representatives of donors and beneficiaries.

From L to R, Siaka Soulama, Second Vice-Mayor of Banfora, Kouara Apiou/Kabore, Governor of the Cascade Region, and Patricia Sanou, CRS representative

From left to right, Siaka Soulama, Second Vice-Mayor of Banfora, Kouara Apiou/Kabore, Governor of the Cascade Region, and Patricia Sanou, CRS representative

Partnership

Taking the opportunity of this ceremony, Siaka Soulama first reminded everyone present of the partnership that exists between the commune and its partners such as IRC, ECG and CRS. IRC has supported the commune in the development of its communal strategic plan for public water supply and sanitation services and also supports in the implementation of this plan. Above all, the First Deputy Mayor of Banfora expressed the council's satisfaction and gratitude for their actions and their determination to make the municipality the benchmark for drinking water supply and sanitation. He also underlined the honour that these partners bestow on the municipality by supporting them in the development and implementation of a communal plan to fight the coronavirus.

Communal measures

Mrs. Apiou/Kaboré noted that following the emergence of COVID-19, the first case of which was discovered in Burkina on March 9, 2020, measures were taken by the government at the national level and by the district of Banfora. Among the communal measures taken, she cited, the development of this project to fight the coronavirus pandemic at a total cost of 95 147 062 FCFA.  "It is necessary to all work together as a team in the region to establish a real barrier against this disease. I am asking everyone to be more careful and to always observe preventive measures and practice barrier gestures," she insisted.

The technical services receiving the materials from the first regional and provincial authorities

The technical services receiving the materials from the regional and district authorities

Materials and sanitary products received

300 packs of 40 surgical masks, 150 packs of 20 FFP2 masks, 350 boxes of 100 examination gloves, 190 gowns, 51 infrared thermometers, 115 boxes of 200 chlorine tablets, 150 boxes of 100 medical hygiene caps, 300 medical goggles, 804 1 kg sachets of soap powder, 804 1-litre cans of bleach with 0.5% active chlorine and 400 5-litre cans of hydroalcoholic gel.  This is the batch of equipment acquired by the Banfora district with the support of its partners (IRC, CRS, ECG), for the benefit of the 17 health centres in the commune to aid the efforts in the response to COVID-19. In addition, 186 boxes of 40 soap balls were distributed to 93 schools in the commune for the same cause. The project also plans to renovate the wash basins in the commune's health centres, raise public awareness about coronavirus preventive measures, and provide handwashing facilities in public places. With a total cost of about 95 million FCFA, this financial support from the Conrad N. Hilton and OneDrop foundations aims to help the commune of Banfora in the implementation of its response plan to combat the pandemic. Through this acquisition, the partners want to show their solidarity and make their contribution to this fight led by the Burkinabè nation. A fight for which they could not remain on the sidelines.

Confirmed cases

According to Ibrahima Teguera, the representative of the Regional Health Directorate, the directorate primarily concerned, "it remains important to always respect the barrier measures against the coronavirus. The number of confirmed cases in the Cascade Region has increased from 4 to 19, including 9 active cases and two deaths. We would like to thank the municipality for its support in the fight against this pandemic". Before finishing his speech, he reassured the partners that the materials received will reach the various beneficiaries.

At the end of the meeting, the representative of the mayor of Banfora thanked the Hilton and OneDrop foundations and its implementing partners (IRC, ECG and CRS) for their continued support in the development of the commune, in the areas of drinking water, hygiene and sanitation and hailed the success of this partnership. Now that the equipment is in the hands of the beneficiaries, it is their responsibility to ensure its durability and sustainability.

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