Louvain Coopération supports the development of mutual health organisations in West Africa. In this way, it provides disadvantaged populations with access to healthcare, while combating hunger and poverty.
The link between mutual health organisations and food security may seem unclear to most of us. However, in Benin and Togo, it is a daily reality for thousands of people. In these West African countries, 80% of the population works in the informal economy. These people are particularly vulnerable and are not covered by any health insurance scheme.
‘Most of them are farmers with very irregular incomes,’ explains Brice Titipo, head of mutual health organisations in West Africa for Louvain Coopération.
‘During certain periods of the year, money is scarce and, unfortunately, most local diseases develop at the same time. For example, the sowing season runs from July to October. Farmers have to invest heavily and are short of money. But this is also when malaria develops and is at its most serious.’
Complicated births, accidents, infections... are other cases that require the intervention of health professionals. But without money to pay for care, many families of sick people wait, postponing treatment until it is sometimes too late. Conversely, some take on heavy debts to pay for treatment. This can then lead to the whole family going without, even suffering from hunger, in order to repay their creditors. ‘It was important to find a mechanism to enable these populations to cover their healthcare needs,’ concludes Brice Titipo.