Fatoumata Sow, a resident of Damakanian in Guinea, benefited from improved healthcare during her fourth pregnancy due to a community health center established in her village. "My first three children were born at home because my husband and I couldn't afford the cost of pre- and post-natal care," she recalls, highlighting past challenges.
Previously, access to healthcare was limited for vulnerable populations in Damakanian due to financial constraints and service availability. Patients often walked several kilometers without assurance of receiving care because of high fees. Dr. Fatoumata Barry, head of the Damakanian Community Health Center, notes the struggles faced by both patients and staff: “We lacked medicine, water, and electricity."
The Health Services and Capacity Strengthening Project (PRSCS) has been pivotal in providing free healthcare to vulnerable groups in the Kankan and Kindia regions. Fatoumata Sow now benefits from this initiative: “With my health care card, I no longer pay for care, and my children are monitored regularly.”
In Dubréka, the project has increased service utilization and patient satisfaction while enhancing equipment and logistics. Dr. Sékou Bakayoko, Director of the Dubréka Prefectural Health Center says that "our practices, methods and techniques have evolved" due to results-based financing.
Statistics indicate significant improvements: antenatal visits rose from 77,951 to 713,409; modern contraceptive usage among women increased from 52,812 in 2017 to 648,852 by mid-2024; fully vaccinated children numbers grew from 94,640 in 2017 to 698,860; vitamin A supplementation recipients expanded from 11,407 to 127,107.
The project's success led to its extension under the new Guinea Enhancing Health System Transformation Project (GUEST), with $95 million funding including $85 million from the International Development Association (IDA) and $10 million from the Global Financing Facility for Women Children and Adolescents (GFF). This initiative aims to improve service quality focusing on reproductive health while addressing climate change adaptation.
Additionally supporting Guinea's Ministry of Health efforts includes offering free care for those in extreme poverty and increasing community engagement. Modernizing civil registration systems will also ensure access for all populations.