News -
Falck and BORNEfonden in West Africa partnership
Falck and BORNEfonden have agreed a new NGO-corporate partnership to train healthcare staff in Benin in West Africa in assisting to make childbirths safer and reduce maternal mortality. In addition, members of the local community will be trained in mother-child health and first aid. The project is the first of its kind.
Falck and BORNEfonden (The Children’s foundation) will join forces in the West African country of Benin in a two-year project to train local healthcare staff and upgrade healthcare clinics in Benin. The project is to facilitate a better framework for childbirths, thereby reducing the high maternal mortality rate in Benin.
BORNEfonden has done development work in Benin for 20 years, a country where capacity in the healthcare system is extremely limited and the rate of maternal mortality is very high. Bolette Christensen, CEO of BORNEfonden, sees great perspectives in the new collaboration with Falck.
"Falck has very special experience in training staff and in working in hard-to-reach locations where there is a shortage of equipment and modern technology. Those skills are key to transferring knowledge to the healthcare sector in Benin. We have great expectations for the project, also because this is the first time a Danish development organisation joins forces in this way with a private player in the healthcare field," said Bolette Christensen.
"We are very proud to be part of this agreement with BORNEfonden, whose work in many ways harmonises with Falck's corporate values and visions. The agreement gives our employees a fantastic opportunity to use their educational training and skills to help make a difference for people in Benin," said Falck Regional Director Diana Sorensen.
In addition to the work at the healthcare clinics, courses in mother-child-health and first aid will be held according to the same model, and Falck will train 25 local trainers who will subsequently train up to 600 men and women in first aid and mother-child health. According to BORNEfonden, this will also make a big difference in the local communities, as people generally have very limited knowledge about health and the prevention of illness.
"NGOs such as BORNEfonden have the right contacts, infrastructure and staff and will be a very important part of the healthcare systems in Africa for a very long time to come. For this reason, close collaboration with BORNEfonden – and other NGOs – is an important means for us to achieve our goal of providing healthcare services in these countries and meet the great need they have for Falck's skills, said Diana Sorensen.
