Benin’s healthcare systems are being strengthened through staff training in digital stock-taking and improved supply chains, under the World Bank-funded SWEDD project and with UNFPA. These efforts ensure that essential health services and products reach even the most remote areas, and never run out - providing better maternal and reproductive healthcare to women across the country.

Toviklin, Benin - In the quiet, sun-drenched expanse of Houin, a remote village in Benin, a health center nestles within a low-walled compound, its gate ajar. The hum of activity is broken by the growl of a motorbike as it pulls in. A young woman sat behind the driver dismounts carefully, holding her baby close to her. Cautiously she makes her way toward the waiting room for postnatal care. Inside, Nazifatou, the 41-year-old midwife dressed in pink scrubs, is finishing up a delivery in the maternity room. It’s a small clinic, but a lifeline to the women of the village.

Inspired by the midwife who once saved her life, Nazifatou has been practicing for 18 years and serving this village for the past six. Her work, powered by the SWEDD project, has transformed maternal and child healthcare in a region where access to basic services was once non-existent.

“We perform between 20 and 30 deliveries monthly, and handle over 7,600 consultations annually,” she says, her voice a mixture of pride and resolve. These include routine checkups, curative care, family planning, and vaccination services. Despite the widespread knowledge of family planning benefits, it remains a delicate topic. Many women prefer to adopt methods quietly, often without informing their husbands, due to lingering cultural taboos.

Ending home births and building trust

One of the most striking changes under her watch has been the end of home births. “Most women now know they need to come to the hospital for deliveries,” Nazifatou explains. “Even if they arrive late, it’s usually because labour started on the way.” This shift is no coincidence. Through relentless awareness campaigns, the importance of hospital births—where both mother and child receive critical care, including immediate hepatitis vaccinations—has been instilled in every household. “We revisit villages once or twice a month to emphasize the necessity of delivering in a hospital,” she adds.

In the well-lit consultation room of the health center, Nazifatou welcomes a young mother cradling her week-old baby. The woman has come for postnatal care, and Nazifatou’s gentle manner immediately puts her at ease. “I don’t start raising awareness about spacing births until about six weeks after delivery,” she explains. “That’s when new mothers should begin considering a contraceptive method.” However, the young woman surprises her by expressing interest already. “I’d rather keep it quiet from my family members,” she admits. Nazifatou reassures her, offering discreet options and underscoring the importance of making decisions that align with her well-being and autonomy.

Innovations in inventory management

Nazifatou’s efforts extend beyond the delivery room. The SWEDD project’s training programmes have equipped her and her team with invaluable skills. “We’ve received numerous trainings and logistical support.

Thanks to SWEDD, supported by technical assistance from UNFPA, the health centre’s medical inventory is now managed in real-time. “We’ve moved from paper-based orders to online systems,” Nazifatou explains. “We can place an order, and within 24 hours, it’s processed and delivered. This ensures that no woman has to wait for essential health products.”

The efficiency of this system has virtually eliminated stockouts of family planning supplies, ensuring that “the products wait for the women, not the other way around.” By strengthening the supply chain, SWEDD and UNFPA have significantly reduced stockouts, ensuring an operational and reliable healthcare system.

Despite these advances, challenges remain. Misconceptions about family planning persist. “Some believe contraceptives cause permanent infertility,” Nazifatou notes. To counter these myths, she leads sensitization campaigns targeting both women and men. “Every three months, we engage communities, discussing the benefits of family planning and debunking falsehoods. We’ve even involved men, explaining how planning their families can lead to financial stability.”

Nazifatou’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. Today, more women are adopting family planning methods, with injectables and implants being the most popular for their convenience and discretion. “Women now feel empowered to control their pregnancies and pursue greater autonomy. And we always have them in stock,” she said.  “It’s about making sure every woman knows she is not alone,” Nazifatou concludes. “We are here for them, every step of the way.”