Engagements
Rights and promotion of women
Mbandja centre
The development of Non-Governmental Organisations is remarkable on a world level. The importance of their role, which is becoming more and more vital in the development of countries and in planting the roots of democracy, is acknowledged by the most important national and international bodies.
Rights and promotion of women
Akassi microcredit
The financing of any small business remains a major issue for social development, whether it is for the creation of a business or for specific projects or initiatives aiming to improve living conditions, and in particular those of the most disadvantaged populations in Gabon.
Today’s banks offer very few financing options for independent entrepreneurs without finances. The present rates for micro credit offered on the Gabonese market are around 40%. Barely 15% of the population have a bank account and market cover is estimated at 26%.
The Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation is committed to supporting the entrepreneurial spirit in women who are economically weak, together with their families, through the development of activities that will generate revenue.
The “AKASSI” microcredit programme responds to the need to make savings and credit available to the most disadvantaged portion of the population, thereby contributing to sustainable development and the fight against poverty.
It is to this end that a partnership with the LOXIA micro finance establishment has been created in order to implement the AKASSI product.
The objective of the AKASSI microcredit is:
- To promote entrepreneurship among women and their families, by targeting as a priority, but not exclusively, low-income women in rural areas;
- To provide appropriate accessible financial means to promote the creation and development of activities that will create values and better living conditions;
- To help increase the availability and accessibility of individual and/or collective micro credit;
- To offer a low interest rate and encourage repayment;
- To contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and in particular, objective No. 1 – the reduction of extreme poverty.
Rights and promotion of women
Working together for maternal and child health
The year 2010 was a sort of half-way point, an important date, or even a “half-time” report on the goals defined by the United Nations in the year 2000.
The point of departure was the Millennium Development Declaration in 2000, which flew the flag for the refusal of misery. “Let us say no to the inevitability of misery” was the message sent by the General Assembly of the United Nations when, on the 8thSeptember 2000, they adopted the “Millennium Declaration”.
The declaration contained eight objectives to be attained before the year 2015. These 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were specifically identified to respond to the urgent fight against poverty in the world. The 191 member countries of the United Nations have officially committed to this project.
The overall results are mixed. In spite of significant international mobilization and considerable advancements in certain areas, progress has only been made in certain subjects and geographic regions. There are still sectors exhibiting a slowdown in progress, for example goals No. 4 and No. 5 which are far from being attained in the developing countries.
1. Fight against Poverty
2. Primary Education
3. Gender Equality
4. Reduction in Infantile Mortality
5. Improvement of Maternal Health
6. Fight against Diseases
7. Sustainable Environment
8. World Partnership
Gabon has made health one of its national priorities.
As a reminder, Gabon has shown its support for various international initiatives and in particular those within the African Union that aim to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. This includes the 1987 Bamako Initiative (Risk Free Motherhood), the Action Program of the International Conference on the Population and Development in 1994, the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, the Millennium Development Summit in 2000 and, more recently, the Maputo Action Plan (September 2006), the Campaign for the Acceleration and Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA, May 2009) and the Strategy for the Acceleration of the Survival and Development of the Child (SASDE).
In Gabon, 519 women out of 100,000 currently die during childbirth. The infantile mortality rate is 61 out of 1000. The rate of infant and juvenile mortality, 91 out of 1000, is also worrying. Only 7% of women breastfeed their babies.
We should also mention that, on a more general level, the young age at which girls are exposed to sexual relations presents a public health problem, in the same way as scourges such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS, and also other rare diseases such as sickle-cell anaemia.
The great majority of childhood deaths are caused by the high frequency of diseases such as malaria, serious respiratory infections, diarrhoea diseases and premature births.
As for maternal health, the main causes of maternal death are haemorrhaging, hypertension and the related complications, and infection.
The problems have been identified. The goals to be met by 2015 are ambitious yet legitimate. The MDGs are vital and essential for the future of our world, and also, and especially, for the future of Gabon.
Within this context, the Foundation has created a set of initiatives and objectives in order to better integrate those involved and to respond to public health challenges. For example:
- Raising awareness in preadolescents and adolescents about reproductive health in order to inform and educate them but also change behaviours and mentalities.
- Improving the quality of healthcare on offer and supporting healthcare facilities by using preventative methods (distribution of childbirth kits and mosquito nets), donating equipment (childbirth kits and laboratory equipment for testing babies with HIV-positive mothers) and biomedical equipment (for example, ultrasound machines and monitors, etc.), training doctors, nurses and midwives, and providing early HIV testing for new-born babies.
- Helping communities take charge of their own healthcare needs by training healthcare providers, organising travelling campaigns to carry out prevention activities and raise awareness of public health in rural areas, and providing operational support to local associations and community groups.
This national action plan is being carried out through a partnership with the Health Ministry, the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The First Lady is in fact the Gabonese “Sponsor” of the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA).
Rights and promotion of women
Sustainable Development
The rural populations are among the poorest in the country. They are often dependent upon poor agricultural production and hunting and gathering activities.
These populations lack access to the markets and so often have to sell their products in their raw state. Moreover, the urbanization of the country has engendered an exodus of young Gabonese people towards the city, leaving behind an aging rural population without the physical strength required for agricultural activities.
It is also important to note that traditional foresting knowledge is no longer being transmitted from one generation to the next because young people are deserting the villages for lack of a promising academic or professional future.
Moreover, traditional food and cosmetics are rarely used by the urban populations.
This all means that if we want to develop rural populations then we must find a way to diversify revenue sources, manage local resources better and improve access to markets.
In order to support this development, the Foundation has set up a project with the aim of developing a new line of production.
Non-timber forestry products are undervalued in Gabon and lack a fiscal framework to develop them. Nevertheless, they are among the products with a high potential for added value that are accessible to rural populations.
Moabi oil, in particular, has potential because it is a product found throughout all the provinces in the country. Furthermore, it is easy to learn how to produce. Not only that but it comes from a tree that is not used for its wood and it is a product containing properties sought after in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industry
Priority actions
Insertion of vulnerable people
Initiatives for detainees
The improvement of prison living conditions is a determinant factor in improving the detained person’s release from prison, and his or her successful reintegration into society.
On the 8th December 2010, the First Lady visited the Central Libreville Prison. Accompanied by the Minister of Justice, the Minister in charge of Professional Training, the Minister in charge of Human Rights, the Minister of National Education, the Commander in Chief of Prison Security, the Director of the Prison and his Director of Humanitarian Programmes, Mrs Sylvia Bongo Ondimba observed for herself the living conditions of detainees.
She made a firm commitment to help improve the living conditions of the prison population and, in particular, their health and hygiene.
The First Lady kept her promise when, on the 23rd December 2010, she donated equipment to the laboratory of the Central Libreville Prison infirmary. This donation gave the infirmary biochemical and blood analysers, a centrifuge, distiller, double boiler and an agitator as well as the related equipment required to operate this equipment.
This medical equipment will allow the prison infirmary to improve health checks of the prisoners, carry out specialized examinations according to their requirements and biologically monitor patients suffering from identified pathologies. The infirmary staff were also trained in the use and maintenance of this equipment, so that the medical teams are able to diagnose and monitor the health of the prison population. There will be a follow-up operation called “Health and Sanitation” conducted with the support of the military health services.
This gift of medical equipment is in addition to the donation of kitchen utensils, hygiene kits, maintenance products and medicine that had already been given on the 22nd December 2010.
The aim of these concrete initiatives is to rapidly improve the living conditions of the detainees. They were part of the action plan implemented by the First Lady throughout 2010 which aimed to provide support to the most disadvantaged people.
Insertion of vulnerable people
Actions for orphans, street children and hospitalised children
Just before the 2010 festive period, the Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation decided to pay very special attention to children in difficulty and, in particular, all those who were not with their families or no longer had a family.
She decided to make donations of food and basic necessities to children in the Angondjé, Arc-en-ciel and Espoir children’s centres.
The Angondjé children’s centre, and the “Arc-en-ciel” and “Espoir” welcome centres located in the Libreville region, have had to cope with a recent influx of children following a major police operation being conducted since 10th December 2010 by Interpol, UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) and the Gabonese Authorities targeting child labour networks in Gabon.
In two days, a total of 128 children of seven different nationalities were taken away from adults suspected of exploiting them and placed in these centres.
The Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation was alerted to the fact that, without additional resources, these welcome centres could not offer these children good living conditions. The Foundation naturally stepped in to help them manage this influx of children.
The solidarity and attention shown by the Foundation is one of many initiatives that the Foundation has been carrying out for over a year to help the most disadvantaged people.
Insertion of vulnerable people
Initiatives for the disabled
Helping the disabled is one of the main priorities of the First Lady’s social project. This initiative revolves around the integration and autonomy of disabled people.
The First Lady has approached recognized associations for disabled people to gain a better understanding of their needs and to get to know the people who are receiving donations of mobility aids.
This work for the disabled fulfils the promise made by the First Lady to help the most vulnerable.
She has made a commitment to disabled people, and these donations are proof of her willingness to help them integrate into Gabonese society.
In October 2010, in Libreville, the First Lady gave 250 electric scooters, crutches and wheelchairs to several associations. This initiative was then repeated across other cities in Gabon.
The donation of mobility aids was accompanied by a programme designed to ensure the maintenance of this material. As part of this programme, two people were sent to attend a training session on using and maintaining the electronic equipment so that they would be able to provide technical assistance to disabled people and maintain the donated equipment.
The Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation will also provide funds to pay for this maintenance.
This initiative for disabled people is only the first in a long series of initiatives.
The Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation hopes to be able to meet the needs and expectations of people suffering from other types of disabilities.
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