Support for Primary health care in the Ouidah district in Benin and building the capacity of the Centre régional pour le développement et la santé
(1993-1997)

The objectives for this project were to increase access to basic health services on a sustainable basis for the population in the Ouidah district in Benin, and to support CREDESA, a regional health development centre, in two of its operations: technical support for the Ministry of Health in setting up and running health services in the district and consolidation of its capacity for training and international advocacy.

The overall strategy was based on strengthening the team of specialists from Benin who already had regional, national and international recognition. This team supported the Ministry of Health in setting up a Primary health care system in the district. The system was required to resolve priority health problems, be adapted to the ability of individuals and of Government to pay and to the social and cultural milieu. In this manner it was expected that a basic health pyramid could be installed which would include the complete process of specialized referrals.

It should be noted that this project was financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).