Benin 2009 Update
January/February 2009
The trip to Benin, West Africa during the beginning of the year was long anticipated and included a major milestone for the four year-old project.
GAiN Canada had finished drilling their 100th water well in Benin, and it was time to pause and celebrate!
A ceremony with the Beninese Ambassador to Canada and the Beninese Minister of Water and Energy was held. Since 100 wells meant that up to 100,000 people now had close access to fresh, clean water, GAiN considered it to be a privilege and a joy to be involved in the celebration.
During this trip, a group of medical professionals from Detroit conducted medical and dental treatment to people in villages with GAiN-drilled water wells. Under the coordination of Patrice, the in-country GAiN manager and Dr. Rogatien, the partnering Beninese doctor, the team set up five clinics in five villages in one week. They estimated that the numbers of people that actually came in to receive medical or dental treatment came from as many as 15 villages surrounding the area!
One woman was suffering from painful abdominal swelling, according to Dr. Rogatien, due to built-up fluid that needed to be drained. She had been to 3 hospitals, but none would help her because she was unable to pay for treatment.
Through GAiN and Dr. Rogatien, she was able to receive treatment and relief. Both she and her adult son were deeply touched by the loving help, words, and attitude of the GAiN team and Beninese partners.
In one village where a well had recently been drilled, a woman shared how this water had made a big difference in village life:
“Before we had this well, we had to walk far to get water that was brown and dirty, and sometimes there was no water at all. We knew drinking this water made us sick, but we had no choice. Water from our new GAiN well is easy to get, is always clean, and brings us health!”
November 2009
In November 2009, the Minister of Water for Benin shared that
“GAiN has a heart for the people of Benin. They are different from everyone else because they actually do what they say they will do.”
As a result of GAiN’s commitment to add more capacity to the drilling in Benin, GAiN was able to add a third drilling rig to expand GAiN’s drilling schedule. After some initial discussions with Mercy Ships – a non-governmental ship-based medical organization, an official agreement was made and Mercy Ships partnered with GAiN by providing a mud rotary rig for the well drilling in Benin.
Since Mercy Ships has previously worked in Benin as well as other areas throughout Africa, discussions about potential opportunities to work together in the areas of medical clinics and/or agricultural projects were held.
“It is difficult to find like-minded people to work with in the field,” shares Mark Thompson – VP of International Programs for Mercy Ships, “GAiN is one of the few NGOs that Mercy Ships know of that have agreements and working relationships with governments at the highest level.”
