Sika Bella Kaboré

"We are six (6) founding members who, at first, randomly found opportunities to talk. Later, we convinced ourselves that we had to do something to "help the country" outside the framework of our professional activities, in order to make our small contribution to the fight against poverty. But what to do?"

"We plan to partner with the Ministry of Basic Education. This involves developing behaviors that protect children from health risks. We have two strategies: we plan to do this through extracurricular activities, where, through theater and stage performances, we will encourage children to think about behavioral hygiene issues, and also through the publication of educational and recreational books that we could popularize in partnership with the MEBA."

"Based on our objectives, we decided to implement five-year activity programs, the first of which began in January 2007. Health promotion involves several factors—behavioral, cultural, social, economic, etc.—that are not part of the traditional health domain. Our means of action are advocacy, social mobilization, awareness-raising, and education. For this first program, we decided to focus on certain conditions."

"Most women and girls will develop schistosomiasis if they are not treated: if they are infected, the disease could develop into female genital schistosomiasis which increases the risk of contracting HIV and has a huge impact on the reproductive health of women, leading to complications during childbirth. For people living in isolated rural areas with limited access to regular health care, such risks regularly put their lives in danger."

"I created KIMI Foundation to promote the prevention of avoidable diseases, in particular among women and children. To achieve this target, I implement educational programs and hygiene promotion campaigns. I believe that these will contribute to health policy as implemented by the Government and public authorities of my country."

"I was glad to participate in an event like this during which I met people who are particularly passionate and enthusiastic to join us in doing all we can to protect our populations from these risks of vulnerability"

"In the context of Burkina, drinking water supply is insufficient and using polluted water remains widespread, especially in rural areas. Regarding hygiene and sanitation, rainwater drainage systems are weak in urban areas and almost non-existent in rural areas, causing floods and the spread of disease vectors"