Boussouma:The "Women in Business" campaign, supported by the SWEDD+ project, concluded its final leg on Wednesday in Boussouma, located in the Koulsé region. The press caravan's program included visits to local authorities, women's associations, and a medical center that provided free healthcare services. The involvement of traditional leaders was a significant highlight, as they actively participated in mobilizing the local population for the event.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the caravan began with a courtesy visit to Madjoa Lompo, president of the special delegation of Boussouma. Discussions centered around the municipality's efforts to economically empower women, such as improving access to land, providing motor pumps and market gardening equipment, and supporting agro-sylvo-pastoral and fish farming initiatives. Lompo emphasized the need to continue these efforts to further enhance women's autonomy.
The caravan also visited two women's organizations, "Neb Nooma" and "Neerre Wata Beogo," to explore their agri-food processing activities. "Neb Nooma," a simplified cooperative society with about twenty members, produces soumbala dishes, generating a weekly revenue of forty-two thousand five hundred CFA francs. Its president, Solange Balma, highlighted the importance of the activity in improving daily meals and fostering self-sufficiency, while expressing a need for more training and resources.
On the other hand, "Neerre Wata Beogo," with about thirty members, specializes in transforming local fruits into various juices. President Agnès Sawadogo noted that while members' savings allowed for initial equipment purchases, the lack of adequate production and storage equipment remains a challenge, prompting a call for volunteer assistance.
The medical center in Boussouma also drew attention for its free screening sessions for various health conditions, attracting one hundred and eighty-eight attendees, including traditional chiefs. The Minister of the Dima of Boussouma, Zougkogd-Kiema, expressed satisfaction with the initiative, underscoring the importance of including everyone in the caravan's activities.
Dr. Marcelin Ouédraogo, the chief physician at the medical center, welcomed the screening initiative but highlighted the need for partners to support those requiring costly treatments, advocating for comprehensive care.
This final stop of the campaign reflects the collaborative efforts of local authorities, traditional leaders, and women's associations in promoting women's economic empowerment and health awareness.