One of the health post’s first patients, a woman named Fatime who is five months pregnant, said: “This is my first time to come for a prenatal consultation. My youngest daughter died from childbirth, but this health post brings hope to me, for my unborn baby and for our community.”
Another patient, Fanta, who arrived at Fourkoulom after her husband died added: “Thank goodness we now have a health clinic where we can go day or night if we are ill. I have no money to go anywhere else so this is the only support possible for me and my family.”
Laurent explained that the prefabricated shipping containers were used because they could be quickly deployed. Concern offices in the region are also old unused cargo containers.
He added: “They are quick and easy to install and can be moved if necessary. When I saw it was working well for us I thought it would be good for a health post too and we are all delighted that it is now open and making a difference.”
The Fourkoulom health post is also open to the local host population who live in a nearby village and who have provided food and other aid to the internally displaced people who arrive in the settlement.