• 3 sister associations
• 3 operations favoring the structuring of the local economy
• A united village and actor of its own development

The Mauritanian diaspora, like all those in the world, has maintained a very strong link with its country of origin. Several solidarity actions are carried out by the latter, most of whose members act anonymously. These actions are essential because they contribute to the development of the countries of the continent and the improvement of the well-being of the populations. The projects implemented affect practically all sectors of activity: health, agriculture, education, training, income-generating activities, etc.

After years of work, AQAFI (Aquitaine Afrique Initiatives) was able to set up in Tékane, Mauritania, a Solar pumping station and ACTUME (Association Against Tuberculosis and Endemic Diseases), in partnership with AST (Tékane Health Association), a Community pharmacy and a garden for the promotion of medicinal plants in Tékane.

With regard to the agricultural solar pumping plant, it will increase productivity and reduce the operating costs of the FRAY-BROSSE agricultural cooperative, while fighting against pollution and climate change. This third and final phase of the project cost 78,297 euros with all valuations; the first two phases represented an overall cost of more than €129,000.

As for the community pharmacy, it will facilitate access to care for all, by making the community pharmacy a place of orientation, information and exchanges dedicated to the health of the poorest. Likewise, it will improve the quality of health care thanks to the traceability of medicines and will ensure continuous prevention in the municipality. For its realization, it was necessary to raise the sum of €98,810.

The medicinal plant garden, piloted by the AST, aims to contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of the populations and the preservation of the environment, the biological heritage and local knowledge, in terms of of herbal medicine. Its specific objective is to develop a chain of production and distribution of medicinal plants in the municipality of Tékane. Its establishment required the sum of €49,500.

In total, an amount of €226,607 or 8,559,780 MRU.

The three (3) highlights of the inauguration:

1. Press conference at the Hotel Azalaï Nouakchott, Mauritania

This conference led by Aminata KANE, journalist at the Television of Mauritania allowed project leaders and partners to come back to the technical aspects of the various projects. It is :

• Mr. Alioune SY – Founding Director AQAFI (Aquitaine Africa Initiatives)
• Ms. Audrey SOUGNEZ – Agronomy Project Manager at La Maison de l'Artemisia France
• Mr. Fabrice LINCK – APB Energy
• Mr. Oumar KANE President ACTUME (Association Against Tuberculosis and Endemic Patients)
• Mr. Mamadou Saïdou KANE, President Tekane Health Association (AST)
• Mr. Mamadou NIANG – Tekane Medicinal Plants Project
• Mr. Moulaye HAIDARA, Pharma Product Manufacturing (PPM) Representative

Thanks to the National Television of Mauritania for the media coverage of the event.

2. Inauguration of the Solar Pumping Plant, the Community Pharmacy and the Garden of Medicinal Plants in Tékane, Mauritania the July 30 

The municipality of Tékane in the south-west of Mauritania has a hydraulic pumping station, a community pharmacy and a garden for the promotion of medicinal plants, thanks to the help of Aquitaine Afrique Initiatives (AQAFI ) and the Association Against Tuberculosis and Endemic Diseases (ACTUME), in partnership with the Tekane Health Association (AST).

The three achievements were inaugurated in the presence of the administrative and local authorities of the department including Mr. Ciré Mamoudou KANE, Mayor of Tékane, Mr. Mohamed Fall Ould ELBOU, Hakem and Mrs. Coumba Dada KANE, honorable deputy.

Below are the various speakers at the ceremony:

• Mr. Mohamed Fall Ould ELBOU, Hakem from Tekane
• Mr. Ciré KANE Mayor of the Commune of Tékane
• Mrs. Coumba Dada KANE, Honorable Deputy
• Oumar KANE President ACTUME (Association Against Tuberculosis and Endemic Patients)
• Mr. Amadou BA, coordinator of the SGP project (Global Environment Fund)
• Ms. Audrey SOUGNEZ, Agronomy Project Manager at La Maison de l'Artemisia France
• Mr. Alioune SY – Founding Director AQAFI (Aquitaine Africa Initiatives)
• Mr. Fabrice LINCK – APB Energy
• Ms. Fatimata Saïdou KANE, Representative of the Women's Association of Tékane
• Mr. Abdoulaye Saïdou KANE, Supervisor of the Tékane Pharmacy site
• Mr. Mamoudou SY Bra, Representative of the Fray-Brosse cooperative
• Mr. Mamadou Lamine KANE, host of the ceremony
• Mr. Hassane Oumar SY, translator

Thank you to the National Television of Mauritania the 2Stv of Senegal for the media coverage of the ceremony in Tékane.

3. Meetings with authorities and association members

During this stay, the project leaders had to meet the partners, based in Mauritania: 

• Ministry of Health
• Rosso Regional Health Directorate
• French Embassy
• UNDP
• Mauritanian Network of Education for All
• Tékane Town Hall
• Tekane Prefecture
• Tékane Health Center
• Tekane Women's Association

In short, these projects are of great importance and their impacts on the living conditions of the populations are certain. They open up another future for the inhabitants of the commune.

These projects :

• Are a support and a breath of fresh air to the local population.
• Imply a participation of all the residents of the commune.
• Lead to the launch of drug sales in a local pharmacy because, before, you had to travel 60 to 260 kilometers to obtain drugs.
• Initiates a solidarity action to be tested in other regions of the country.
• Show, in the end, that with the will and solidarity, it is possible to change the destiny of the inhabitants.

None of these projects would have been possible without the support of our financial partners and the dynamism of our members, to whom we extend our sincere thanks.

For more on the three associations and the three projects, see the press kit.

Visit the dedicated site: back to the inauguration ceremony