The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will on August 6 commission and hand over a new Maternity and Paediatric Complex at the Regional Hospital in Bafatá, Guinea-Bissau, in a major boost to maternal and child healthcare in the country.
The $638,538.05 facility, financed through the ECOWAS Regional Fund for Stabilisation and Development (FRSD), is designed to expand access to quality maternal and paediatric healthcare while strengthening Guinea-Bissau’s healthcare system.
The project forms part of ECOWAS’ broader $1.8 million Direct Investment Programme in Guinea-Bissau, implemented with support from the Government of Germany and national partners to improve access to essential social services, promote stability and advance sustainable development.
The regional bloc said the new healthcare complex will provide modern facilities for mothers and children, reduce pressure on existing hospitals, enhance maternal and neonatal care, and contribute to lowering maternal and infant mortality rates in the country.
The intervention comes as Guinea-Bissau continues to grapple with some of the highest maternal and child mortality rates in West Africa, largely attributed to inadequate healthcare infrastructure, shortages of skilled medical personnel and limited access to specialised maternal and paediatric services, particularly in regions outside the capital, Bissau.
Health experts have repeatedly stressed that expanding maternity, neonatal and child health services remains critical to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for people of all ages.
ECOWAS described the Bafatá project as more than the delivery of a healthcare facility, saying it reflects the organisation’s strategy of linking peace, stability and development through targeted investments in critical social infrastructure.
The FRSD was established to support member states facing fragility and to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities by financing projects in healthcare, education, livelihoods and other essential public services. The initiative complements ECOWAS’ regional integration agenda by addressing the social and economic conditions that often contribute to instability across West Africa.
The selection of Bafatá, one of Guinea-Bissau’s largest regions outside the capital, is expected to significantly improve access to specialised maternal and paediatric healthcare for thousands of residents who previously travelled long distances to obtain treatment.
ECOWAS said the investment underscores its commitment to building resilient, inclusive and people-centred healthcare systems across West Africa while strengthening collaboration with member states and international development partners.
The commissioning ceremony is expected to attract senior ECOWAS officials, representatives of the Government of Guinea-Bissau, German development partners, healthcare professionals and community leaders, marking the completion of a project aimed at improving health outcomes and the quality of life for women and children in the region.
