Guinea Bissau is situated in Western Africa. It has approximately 1,200,000 inhabitants, 25% of which reside in the capital Bissau. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a human development index of 0.297, putting it in 161st place of 174 countries. Infant mortality in the first year of life is of 139 per 1000 and before the age of 5 nearly 231 per 1000...

Since 1997, the Community of Sant' Egidio has been involved in Guinea-Bissau. From the very first mission we noticed how the situation of the people was very serious, especially from the health point of view. The Community decided to take over the management of the "Raoul Follereau" hospital which specialises in treating pulmonary diseases, in particular tuberculosis, in order to prevent its closing

In June 1998, as a result of inner conflicts in the government, an armed struggle began between the President, Nino Vieira, supported by troops from Senegal and Guinea Conakry, and the chief of General Staff Ansumane Man�, supported by 80% of the national army and a good part of the population...

The hospital was not spared by the conflict: some patients and members of the staff of the hospital lost their lives during the evacuation of the more seriously ill patients. These patients were transferred in the hospital of Cumura (30 km from Bissau) immediately after...

The hospital occupies an area of approximately 7,500 square meters of which 2,500 are covered. It will have a modern structure with 115 beds subdivided into approximately 30 rooms. Every room will be equipped with its own services, large windows and a fan in the ceiling in order to ensure adequate ventilation.