World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) - Global Guardian of Digestive Health. Serving the World.

Yalgado University Medical Center, Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world with an annual per capital income of less than 300 USD. The main digestive diseases facing the population are liver cancer, stomach cancer and esophageal cancer. The Yalgado University Medical Center is located in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. The Center has 850 beds and serves 1.5 million people. The Center has hepatogastroenterology and gastroenterology units, as well as trained gastroenterologists and nurse assistants but prior to the donation from the Outreach Program, lacked functioning gastroscopes, colonoscopes and ERCP equipment.

Professor Alain BougoumaProfessor Alain Bougouma applied for the Yalgado University Medical Center to be designated a WGO Outreach Center in late 2004. In 2005, when he received the news that his application had been successful, Professor Bougouma had this to say:

"You would not imagine how overjoyed the Director of our hospital, the Minister of Health and I were at reading your message informing us that the Yalgado University Medical Center has been selected as the site for donation of equipment and supplies. That was our New Year's present. I am most grateful for your allowing us, through your Program, to acquire equipment we would never have been able to receive! Our population will benefit from this immensely."

Gastroscopes, colonscopes and ERCP equipment was donated to the Yalgado Center by Olympus Corporation and by the end of 2005 the hepatogastroenterology and gastroenterology units were fully functional.

Three Year Report from Prof. Bougouma

Read about what the Outreach Program has meant to the Yaldago University Medical Center during the 3 years following the the inauguration of the endocsopic unit:

Three Year Report ( pdf file )

Images of Burkina Faso:

  • Prof. Bougouma and medical personnel of the Endoscopy unit Prof. Bougouma and medical personnel of the Endoscopy unit[click to enlarge]
  • Prof. Bougouma with donated Olympus equipment Prof. Bougouma with donated Olympus equipment
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  • Endoscopist Dr Sombié Roger, in the staff room Endoscopist Dr Sombié Roger, in the staff room
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  • Prof. Alain Bougouma, head of the Endoscopy Unit Prof. Alain Bougouma, head of the Endoscopy Unit
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  • Medical Staff of the Endoscopy Unit in the staff room Medical Staff of the Endoscopy Unit in the staff room
    [click to enlarge]
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