Côte d’Ivoire

Why We Work in Côte d'Ivoire

Despite some improvements in recent years, maternal and newborn health remain major concerns in Côte d’Ivoire. While maternal deaths have decreased by nearly 40% in recent years, and neonatal deaths have dropped slightly, the country is still far from reaching the Sustainable Development Goals. Rural communities, where access to skilled care is limited, bear the greatest burden.

It’s estimated that tens of thousands of women are living with obstetric fistula in Côte d’Ivoire. Many of them are hidden away—isolated and excluded by their communities due to harmful beliefs that link their condition to adultery, witchcraft, or violations of cultural taboos during pregnancy. With a fragile health system and a lack of awareness about fistula, the need for treatment and community reintegration is urgent.