Inal health clinic in the region of Mauritania Dakhlet
Inal is a small enclave inhabited, Dakhlet the region in northern Mauritania, that is not even on the maps. Located 255 East of Nouadhibou is accessible by train and unpaved roads. There is a small Canarian NGO is to help improve the living conditions of its inhabitants, driving some health actions, educational and associated architecture.
The Mauritaniya is one of the world's poorest countries, located in one of the desert regions of the planet to the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. But, also, the difficult geographical and environmental conditions of the region make Dakhlet that is one of the poorest regions of the country, in which live around 100.000 people, most of them being nomadic Berber.
Location Inal enclave south of the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara
The Islamic Republic of Mauritania ranks 136 about 170 in the Human Development Index (HDI Index), that the United Nations has published in 2010. However, considering another indicator, the so-called Gini index, which sets the amplitude of disposable income inequality among all the inhabitants of the same country- was 39 for Mauritania in year 2009, standing in line with Morocco or, a European country like Portugal. This indicates that there, despite their extreme poverty, inequality is not as pronounced when compared to other poor countries. In this regard it should be noted that Spain-a richer country which has been ranked at 20 HDI- however, presents a distribution of income with inequality close to Mauritania (the GINI index is 34). It, despite their greater progress and development, one might conclude that here is a major social injustice in the distribution of wealth available.
In Inal, the Cooperation Association for developing Canaria Dakhlet-Noaudhibou (ACC-DN) has been working for 6 years and has established itself as a program for the treatment of diabetic numerous existing. Consider that there usual diet, usually chaired by the traditional accompaniment of sweet tea, extension has affected almost epidemic of this disease.
The schoolyard with regular users
With the passage of time, ACC-DN has increased its share by adding new projects solidarity among which plays an important role improving those conditions available education and health facilities that currently exist in extremely precarious conditions.
An initiative in this area has been the reconstruction and improvement of the health clinic Inal tiny. It was a primitive building lacked many basic elements to perform such service. The project involved the improvement of issues that can be surprised by its simplicity. Provide paving over desert sand to be cleaned simply and azulejear the walls to achieve greater hygiene, etc.. are some of the reforms carried out.
As we pointed out one of the architects responsible for this intervention, Maria Nieves Febles: “the first time I went there I felt a great unease about the extreme precariousness with which people develop their existence. By accessing the future work there I thought the floor was dirty and should make an effort to sweep. Noticing a little more I realized that what really happened is that there was no pavement on the inside of that building. Simply, was the sand itself Sahara.”
The architect Victor Cabrera ACC-DN with some locals
The proposal addressed also enter an installation of electricity and potable water in the building, by solar panels. All this has meant incorporating essential services for the first time, in totally unassisted. So, with bargain prices, Could make a fundamental improvement of the sanitary conditions of a population totally helpless.
Facing the glamor of the ideas that are disseminated among Western practitioners of architecture, European and American, would need to look in to the problems facing the vast majority of humanity that lacks basic services essential. The minimum housing, technical infrastructure and services essential, the inescapable health and primary education, among many others, should be the conditions and problems that should be given to a purely selfish position. The improvement in the living conditions of our fellow humans in need, those living in the poorest countries, would provide additional training and knowledge to act for themselves. Thereby, it is very possible that could reduce dependency and current runaway population growth, making this planet more livable becomes insufficient at times.
Aerial view of the town next to Chingetti, Site declared Ptrimonio. Photos: Gilles Chretier
In Dakhlet, Inal Nouadhibou and there are many other projects to tackle in the future. Thus, from here we encourage all who follow us to collaborate with the ACC-DN, doing any kind of help or assistance. For this you can contact this NGO through your page, ayudamauritania on the network from which you can access more information. Or you can make the deposit of a financial contribution directly in the current account of the association, whose number is 2052 8137 4233 0002 91/04.
Commend from here the enormous effort made by these people involved jointly in the development of a very delicate territory, Canaries close to our.
Muy interesante, the truth that there are a number of supportive and collaborative projects in Africa that are valuable for the development of small towns.
What a surprise! Very good synthesis. It is true that such simple actions, primary, basic for us, to villages as Inal mean a big jump “quality of life”.
A greeting and thanks.
Thanks Federico for sharing these solidarity actions in Mauritania.
What a surprise! Very good synthesis. It is true that such simple actions, primary, basic for us, to villages as Inal mean a big jump “quality of life”.
A greeting and thanks.
I'd love to go to Africa ever aboard a car and go touring various cities and helping his people. I think you should get a good insurance for the car as the one I have, thanks to hdi and then would go touring