Benin s Achievement in the Fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic
Format
The World Bank is helping the Government of Benin in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the country’s response to public health emergencies. As a result, 13 functional laboratories are operating successfully where none existed before. In addition, 89 screening centers have been equipped, five treatment centers established, and free testing and treatment of patients available as of April 2021. More than 581,843 persons have been tested and more than 7,510 patients treated. These achievements have encouraged the faster resumption of economic activities.
Challenge
Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, the assessments of Benin’s health system revealed that the country lacks a robust surveillance system capable of monitoring common diseases. It also lacked the ability to timely trigger alarms to contain disease outbreaks or to rapidly detect and investigate abnormal clustering o
Benin s Achievement in the Fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic
Challenge
Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, the assessments of Benin s health system revealed that the country lacks a robust surveillance system capable of monitoring common diseases. It also lacked the ability to timely trigger alarms to contain disease outbreaks or to rapidly detect and investigate abnormal clustering of cases of illness or death. Key weaknesses include the lack of a qualified and motivated health workforce; insufficient equipment and infrastructure for effective preparedness and response at each level of the health pyramid; and poorly functioning community-based surveillance. Insufficient laboratory infrastructure, equipment and reagents for timely and quality diagnosis was of particular concern. At the outset of the pandemic, COVID-19 test results were confirmed in Senegal, and patients had to wait at least three days to receive their results. The various information s
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Publication Date: 04/29/2021
By Joanna Murray, Director of Research, Development Media International
An estimated 218 million women across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have an unmet need for contraception: that is, they want to avoid a pregnancy but are not using modern contraceptives. Mass media reaches a large share of the population in these countries, but how effective is it in changing behaviors? To answer this question, Development Media International (DMI) conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of an intensive, 30-month radio campaign in Burkina Faso that promoted family planning. The trial was funded by the Global Innovation Fund (GIF), Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and an individual philanthropist.
Glennerster); Development Media International, or DMI (
Murray); University of Oxford (
Pouliquen) The structure of the campaign - with frequent messages over 2.5 years and the focus on engaging programming - was well adapted to influence behavior through this mechanism. In 2014, only 16% of women of childbearing age in Burkina Faso used modern methods of contraception, and the average woman gave birth to six children over her lifetime. High fertility rates and short spacing between births are both associated with poor health outcomes for women, but social norms and lack of (or mis)information can discourage contraceptive use. Mass media campaigns have potential to provide information on the benefits and logistics of family planning and influence social norms at low cost. This two-level randomised controlled trial (RCT) assessed the effectiveness of a 2.5-year mass media campaign implemented by Development Media International (DMI) to increase modern contraceptive uptake in Bu
Why investing in women and girls matters now more than ever
Before COVID-19 struck in Mali, 9-year old Ami was in second grade in school in Bamako. With the pandemic, schools closed, and Ami and her 7-year-old sister, Awa, stayed home doing household chores. Schools have since reopened, but teachers are on strike. There is a real risk that neither girls will go back to school, but may, instead remain at home till they get married, just like their older sister did. For many countries including Mali, completing school for girls is not a priority.
Evidence shows that investing in women s and girls education, health and economic opportunities is essential to accelerate Sub-Saharan Africa s demographic transition, a central tenet of moving the human capital agenda forward and spurring sustainable economic growth.