Caring & Service Through Regional Projects
REPORT OF FIRST CONTACT VISIT TO BENIN REPUBLIC
Conducted by THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN NURSES, NIGERIA (FCN)
behalf of Nurses Christian Fellowship International (NCFI)
March 19th – 27th, 2011
INTRODUCTION
It is NCFI's policy to financially support projects which may be undertaken by a National Nurses Christian Fellowship (NNCF), within any of the 6 NCFI worldwide regions. In meeting this policy, one of NCFI's Regional strategic aims is in the area of Development and Expansion whereby existing NNCFs are supported and encouraged to develop new NNCFs through increasing membership and activities.
In response to this, the Fellowship of Christian Nurses, Nigeria, applied and was granted 'Seed money' to establish NNCF in Benin Republic in 2011.
The survey visit carried out by FCN Nigeria to Benin Republic in March 2011 was the first official contact the fellowship was establishing in the country.
OBJECTIVES OF THE FIRST CONTACT:
• To take the inventory of Hospitals and Schools of Nursing in Benin Republic.
• To mobilize identified and additional Christian nurses to serve as contact persons in Benin Republic.
ACTIVITIES:
• Plan for survey and mobilization of contact persons' visit.
• Carryout survey and mobilization of contact persons.
• Produce report of findings and details of contact established.
• Compile and write reports (Narrative, pictorial and financial).
• Disseminate reports to project team.
COORDINATION:
The visit was coordinated by the National Office of the Fellowship of Christian Nurses located at Jos, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. The implementation guide, budget, financial retirement forms and travel plan were prepared by the office with special contributions and approvals from both the FCN National President, Pastor Thomas Ibe and FCN National Evangelism & Mission Coordinator, Pastor Monday Ekpo. He is also the NCF Africa Mission Coordinator.
The office was also at hand to provide effective on-the-spot monitoring of the visiting team before, during and after the field work. This was achieved through meetings, phone calls and e-mail messages.
The Project team comprising of the National President, National Evangelism & Mission Coordinator, General Secretary and National Mission Committee Secretary had access to the report of the visiting team and reviewed the outcome of the visit.
ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS OF BENIN REPUBLIC:
Benin Republic has twelve proposed states. However there are six functional states administratively recognized. These include:
• Atacora/Donga
• Atlantique/Littoral
• Borgou/Alibori
• Mono/Couffo
• Oueme/Plateau
• Zou/Collines
HEALTH INSTITUTIONS IN BENIN REPUBLIC:
There is a National Hospital in Cotonou called Centre National Hospitalier et Universitaire (CNHU). There are state hospitals and maternity centres located all over Benin Republic. There are two schools of Nursing. One is situated in Cotonou just beside (CNHU) and the other one is situated at Parakou in northern Benin. According to Statistics made available, there are 80 nurses, 520 nurse assistants, 622 midwives and 11 midwives specialists working in these hospitals.
METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION:
• Visits
• Interviews
• Observations
MISSIONARY TEAM:
• Mrs. Ebunoluwa Andero – Former FCN National Evangelism & Mission Coordinator and a member of FCN National Mission Committee. She is a Nurse educator working with Kogi State Government service. Kogi State is in North Central Nigeria.
• Bro. Simeon Ka'ase – He is a member of the FCN National Mission Committee and a National Training Secretary (FCN full time staff) in-charge of the FCN Liaison office for South West Nigeria located at Ibadan, South West Nigeria.
PRINCIPLES:
The team was guided by the following principles:
• Prayers in all matters.
• Maintain close team relation.
• Working within the limits of responsibility.
• Working in harmony.
TRAVELS:
The Team departed from Nigeria through Lagos on Sunday 20th March 2011and arrived at Cotonou, Benin Republic, departing from Cotonou on 27th March 2011.
COMMUNICATION:
Benin Republic is a Francophone country. Communication by the Team was majorly through interpreters as none of the Team members could speak French. Very few persons in Benin however could speak any English. In some cases, a member of the Team, Mrs. Andero had to communicate in Yoruba language to the few that understood the Yoruba local dialect.
HEALTH INSTITUTIONS VISITED:
• Centre National Hopital Universitaire (National Hospital, Cotonou)
• Hopital de la mere et de L'Enfant Lagune (HOMEL)
• School of Nursing, Cotonou
• Federal Ministry of Health
• Hopitalier De' Partemental de' L'oveme et du Plateau
CONTACT PERSONS:
The Team identified the following persons who could serve as the initial contact persons for this project. These include:
• Dr. Naguibou M. Djibril (Ministry of Health).
• Mr. Fakorede (Nurse) CNHU
• . Christophe (Secretary) CNHU.
• Alaja Ramath (Porto Novo).
• Mr. Mama Karimou (HOMEL).
• Mr. Ahmed A. Rahimy (HOMEL).
FINANCIAL INVOLVEMENT:
A total sum of One Hundred and Ten Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty Nine Naira, Seventy Kobo (N110, 849.70); approximately $739 USD was expended during the visit.
OBSERVATIONS:
The following observations were made by the team during the survey visit:
• That inhabitants of the country appeared very happy, peaceful and friendly.
• That most of the healthcare facilities in the country seems to be above average.
• That the security systems throughout the places visited was good and security agents treat people with respect and courtesy.
• That the people were generally neat and exhibits good moral conduct even in their market places.
• That there is shortage of human resources in the country.
• That cost of living in Benin appeared to be relatively cheaper than Nigeria with exception of accommodation which was on the high side.
• That any organization undertaking any form of project or program in Benin Republic must obtain official approval from the Government.
• That the official office hours in the country are from 8.00am to 12noon. Break period is observed between 12noon and 3.00pm and offices officially close by 6.30pm.
• That official working days are between Monday and Friday each week.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The visiting team recommended as follows:
• Letters of introduction should always be provided for field workers on international mission assignments.
• Missionaries for French speaking countries should immediately be facilitated in learning the French language in order to enhance communication during field work in such countries.
• Formal orientation exercises should be organized for persons being engaged to participate particularly in international missions.
• Missionaries on assignment in foreign countries should be facilitated to access hired cars for inter-city transports.
PROPOSED SECOND CONTACT VISIT TO BENIN REPUBLIC BY FCN NIGERIA:
The next visit to be carried out by FCN Nigeria to Benin Republic will be between 19th and 25th June 2011.
The Objectives of the follow – up visit are:
• To mobilize, orient and sensitize identified Christian nurses on NCFI vision and mission.
• To orient the Christian nurses identified on the formation of NCF fellowship groups in Benin Republic.
• To facilitate the formation of NCF group(s) in Benin Republic.
Activities to be carried out include:
• Planning for awareness seminar(s)
• Communicating with contacts on planned awareness meetings
• In collaboration with interim group hold meetings in various institutions( Schools of Nursing, Hospitals, health centres etc)
• Supporting interim team in establishing NCF groups where this need is identified.
• Planning with interim team on next steps.
• Documenting outcome of meetings and attend to needs.
• Compiling and Writing reports (Narrative, Pictorial & Financial)
• Sharing reports with Project team
CONCLUSION:
FCN Nigeria remained committed to the vision of expanding the scope of NCFI in Africa through the effective utilization of its vast human and material resources. FCN therefore believes that the financial assistance of two thousand USA dollars ($2,000.00) received from the NCFI headquarters specifically for the Benin Republic project is the needed impetus to helping the Fellowship achieve its long time dream of getting Christian nurses from countries neighboring Nigeria into the fold of the global family of NCFI.
This report was endorsed by the following FCN/NCFI Project Team members:
Pastor Thomas Ibe, FCN National President
Pastor Monday Ekpo, FCN National Evangelism / Mission Coordinator
Elder Peter P. Yidawi, General Secretary
Bro. Peter E. Maji, Secretary, National Mission Committee