Launch of a community pharmacy in Mauritania
The association ACTUME (Association Contre la Tuberculose et les Maladies Endémiques) based in Bordeaux, operates in the healthcare sector in France and Mauritania. It began its work in Mauritania in the fight against tuberculosis and then launched health caravans with the Association Santé Tékane which took over. In early 2019, ACTUME embarked on a major community solidarity pharmacy project in Tékane.
Access to medicines is a major problem in the commune of Tékane (a town of 23,000 inhabitants in southwest Mauritania and 55 km east of Rosso). Consequently, this pharmacy will help resolve the problem of access to medicines which the population of the commune suffers from due to financial insecurity. In addition, the community pharmacy will serve as a center for information and exchange dedicated to the health of the most needy.
Laying the foundation stone of the community pharmacy of Tékane
by Tékane village elder Salif KANE on February 25, 2018
Tékane Medicinal Plants Promotion Project
The objective of this project is to develop a local production and distribution chain for medicinal plants in the commune of Tékane. The project is consistent with the preservation of ecological heritage, particularly through its contribution to the conservation of biodiversity. Eventually, this project will contribute to the creation of a Center for Research and Development in Applied Phytotherapy (CRDPA).
Background to the project
During the various health caravans organized by ACTUME, the association has seen the extent of the problems posed by malaria. It mainly affects, and in a rather severe way, the southern regions. In this part of the country, rice cultivation along the Senegal River valley favors the existence of spaces covered by stagnant water, which leads to a proliferation of mosquitoes, vectors of malaria, also known as tidal fevers.
Following exchanges between ACTUME and La Maison de l’Artemisia in February 2019, it became clear that the cultivation of Artemisia would allow ACTUME to find an easy-to-use and inexpensive way to help fight malaria in an area where the vast majority of the population is impoverished.
Thus, ACTUME has been mandated to open the first Artemisia House in Mauritania. Two Mauritanian volunteers will go to Thies in Senegal to learn about the cultivation of Artemisia.
Start of the first plant nurseries
Delivery of equipment for the pharmacy garden area and start of the nursery development in June 2021. Beginning of September 2021, first transplanting of the Artemisia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Ll6JNit_k
Community pharmacy of Tékane: opening scheduled for March 1, 2022!
Outreach on Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra
In January 2022, La Maison de l’Artemisia carried out an awareness campaign for the population of Tekane on the use of medicinal plants, particularly Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra. This outreach programme was held at the community pharmacy and in the markets of Tekane. Sachets of Artemisia were distributed in order to encourage the population to use this plant, which is known for its virtues against malaria and bilharzia, from which the population of this area particularly suffers.
From January 21 to 24, 2022, the initiative for the Reforestation of Tekane (IPRET) carried out a reforestation project of medicinal plants in the garden area around the community pharmacy and the town hall of Tekane. This reforestation was carried out concomitantly with the health caravan of Tekane led by AST/ACTUME.
