DÉDOUGOU — The Monseigneur Zéphyrin Toé Diocesan Medical Center unveiled its new maternity ward equipped with an operating theater on Saturday, July 27, 2024. The new facility aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of health services for the residents of Dédougou, aligning with Burkina Faso's public health policies.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the director of the center, this expansion not only raises the facility to a medical center with surgical capabilities but also marks the beginning of a broader project to improve healthcare quality, particularly in maternal, neonatal, and child health. The inauguration event certified the health establishment as a medical center with a surgical antenna (CMA), a critical step in improving healthcare provision in the region.

The Chief Medical Officer of the Dédougou health district, Nathalie Ouadeba, highlighted that the expansion contributes significantly to the national healthcare system by enhancing service quality and infrastructure. The new ward will provide a comprehensive care package that meets the diverse needs of children, women, and men.

Professor Hyacinthe Zamané, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology, praised the new maternity ward as a beacon of hope and joy. He emphasized that the facility is poised to transform the painful experiences of labor into moments of joy with the arrival of newborns, thus expanding family circles and happiness.

Adjara Ouédraogo, secretary general of the Boucle du Mouhoun region and godmother of the project, addressed the persistent high levels of maternal mortality in Burkina Faso. She called for enhanced efforts in providing quality care and appropriate infrastructure to tackle this issue and praised the diocesan medical center for its vital role in this endeavor.

Bishop Prosper Bonaventure KY of Dédougou expressed the Catholic community’s pride in providing such essential services, which he described as a realization of a dream that reflects Christian values of solidarity and love of neighbor.

The event also included a thanksgiving mass and the blessing of the premises, underscoring the community's spiritual gratitude for the new facility. The ceremony concluded with the distribution of aid kits to internally displaced persons, highlighting the ongoing commitment to supporting the vulnerable populations in the region.