Caritas found profound inspiration in Paul VI’s encyclical Populorum Progressio, where the Pontiff stated that “development is the new name of peace”.
Address: Caritas Guinea-Bissau, Avenida dos Combatentes da Liberdade da Pátria, Apartado 20, 1001 Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Telephone: +245 665 38 41
Email: caritas@mail.bissau.net
Caritas Guinea-Bissau was established on 20 May 1982. It operates in the two dioceses of Bissau and Bafatá, which include 41 parishes and missions throughout Guinea-Bissau.
Areas of intervention include healthcare, training, food security, emergencies and support to income-generating activities.
Caritas Guinea-Bissau has a strong presence at national level:
- 24 nutritional rehabilitation centres – monitoring of vulnerable children and support to mothers
- 1 reception centre for children at risk
- 1 paediatric hospital – the only health facility of its kind in Guinea-Bissau
- 1 leprosy hospital – a renowned national centre for the treatment of leprosy, HIV-AIDS and tuberculosis
- The Dom Settimio Ferrazzeta Health Centre – carries out auxiliary diagnostic tests and medical research studies
- A Natural Medicine Project, including research and production of natural medicines
- A Risk-Free Maternity Project, aimed at improving maternal health and reducing infant and maternal mortality
- AIDS department – the main programme is on education in schools
- The Nô Kume Sabi Project, aimed at adding value to local products by organising training courses
- The Possibilities Fair is an agricultural technical training centre for agriculture, beekeeping, fruit and vegetable processing, and livestock farming.
Local partners: Ministry of Health, Tiniguena, PDSA, Radio Sol Mansi, SNLS (national organisation to combat AIDS), AMIC (Friends of Children Association), IMC, COAJOQ (women’s agricultural cooperative).
International partners: Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Caritas Italy, FEC European Commission, WFP, UNFPA, UNICEF, COPE, French Embassy, TABANCA, IMVF (Marquis of Valle Flor Institute), SNV (not-for-profit development organisation).
Updates from Guinea Bissau
