The Beninese delegation from UAC visiting the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in Finland, 27.4.2023. Senior medical officer, MD, Paula Tiittala with her colleagues hosted the visit and we discussed how we could develop the governmental relationship between Benin and Finland in health policy issues. In the picture Kaisa Haukka, Victorien Dougnon, Kafayath Fabiyi, Esther Deguenon and Boris Legba (from left to right) ready to enter the premises.
In September 2023 the Finnish partners from Metropolia and University of Helsinki visited Benin to meet with various healthcare educators, eg. the UAC/INMeS (L’Institut National Médico-Sanitaire), Benin’s leading school for nurses and midwives. The visit was hosted by Professor Lisette ODOUNLAMI, Head of INMeS. We had a great opportunity to talk with staff and students about their hopes for developing their education.
We also visited some maternity clinics and hospital wards to discuss the hygiene and other training needs. In a group picture at the Maternity ward at the Centre National Hospitalier-Universitaire Hubert Koutoukou Maga (CNHU) of Cotonou: Sari Haapio, Sylvie Agaï (midwife), Sanna-Mari Manninen, Justin Denakpo (head of the ward), Kaisa Haukka, Susanne Saarinen, Victorien Dougnon, Anu Hintikka and Boris Legba (in the front).
Finnish delegation ready to visit the wards.
In September 2023, Kaisa Haukka and Susanne Saarinen (UH) visited some villages in southern Benin to talk with respected traditional healers and expectant mothers about their knowledge of infections and their treatment methods.
The Beninese partners organized a workshop to evaluate the existing curricula for different professional groups for their contents related to hygienic practices. Delphi method was utilized to recognize the major gaps in contents and teaching methods and to suggest improved modules to be developed. The workshop was organized 6-11.12.2023 in Grand Popo, Benin. Organizers included Drs. Victorien Dougnon, Boris Legba and Hornel Koudokpon (UAC), Prof. Gomina Moutawakilou (UP) and Dr. Anges Yadouleton (UNSTIM). The event was attended by the Vice-Chancelors of the University of Abomey-Calavi, Prof. Félicien Avlessi, and the Université Nationale des Sciences, Technologies, Ingénierie et Mathématiques (UNSTIM), Prof. Joachim Gbénou. Present were also the Pro-Vice Chancelor in charge of Academia, Prof. Patrick Houessou, and the Pro-Vice Chancelor in charge of Cooperation, Prof .Nelly Kelome, of the University of Abomey-Calavi. Also, the different Heads of Departments in charge of hygiene from the Ministry of Health and the faculties involved in the training of health specialists attended.
A 5-day training on hygiene practices and infection control was organised in Akpro-Missérété arrondissement in Ouémé Department of Benin on April 2024. In these pictures community health workers (CHW) simulate proper hand washing practices (picture 1) and pilot a community awareness raising session of measures related to infection prevention and control (IPC) (picture 2). All the CHW trainees, Dr. Kaisa Haukka and Susanne Saarinen in the picture 3.
Dr. Victorien Dougnon, Dr. Boris Legba, and Dr. Hornel Koudokpon from the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) visited the partners in both Finland and Sweden. At Uppsala University, the microbiological aspects were discussed in the laboratory of Dr. Björn Berglund (picture 1). At the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, information on the educational side of the project was updated and future activities were planned with the midwifery lecturers Dr. Sari Haapio and Dr. Sanna-Mari Manninen (picture 2). Additionally, the meetings with specialists took the Beninese team to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), where Dr. Silja Mentula shared expert advice on important issues related to laboratory accreditation (picture 3).During the visit to the HUS Women’s hospital, components related to the infection prevention and control (IPC) were discussed with the hospital infection control team lead by Dr. Katariina Kainulainen (picture 4).
The official launch of the Maternal and Neonatal Hygiene Training Program! The training took place simultaneously at both the Universite D’Abomey-Calavi and the University of Parakou from July to September 2024. The training was attended by a total of 100 dedicated health care professionals.
The Metropolia team (picture 1) implemented part of the training while in Benin (19.8-6.9.2024). (From left Anu Hintikka, Sari Haapio and Sanna-Mari Manninen). The training sessions were held in Parakou (picture 2) and Abomey-Calavi (University of Abomey-Calavi, UAC) (picture 3), and a total of 100 healthcare professionals from various fields participated.
The training topics included health care associated infections (HAI) and hand hygiene (HH) and observations, Ten Steps to successful breastfeeding and newborn baby basic care, infections during pregnancy and puerperium, and promotion of sexual health and bringing up the topic. In addition, the knowledge of other cultures was enhanced during the training period. The participants engaged eagerly in discussions and exercises.
A valuable opportunity for young students to share experiences with others! MSc student Serafiina Uusihakala from the University of Helsinki spent two months in the beginning of 2025 in Benin working together with Beninese MSc students. They collected samples from a local hospital and analysed the multiresistant bacteria in a laboratory. In a picture left, Serafiina, between her supervisors Dr. Kaisa Haukka and Dr. Victorien Dougnon, visiting the hospital together with the URMAPha team. Also a chance to get to know the local culture!
Emphasizing good hand hygiene to the health workers as well as pregnant women and mothers in rural communities was an integral part of the project. Also other infants’ and mothers’ health topics were covered during the awareness raising events.
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