Year End Message

The year of 2007 presented itself as a challenge to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Sao Tome and Principe. After a 2 year successful malaria fight program, where ADRA was able to raise awareness for the use of mosquito nets to over 90% of the population and through social marketing strategies bring mosquito nets into 52% of the households, our malaria fight objectives had been reached and even if we would continue to support to the national malaria strategy, our attention had to be refocused on other priorities.
Facing change and building on our strengths: community development, maternal and child health care and strong communication strategies, was the motto for the New Year.
Our local partners and our donors, such as the ADRA network, the American and Finish Governments, Chevron, individuals, were included in this strategic change of our operations, and we received the confirmation of their trust and nearly doubled the funding received in the previous year, and reaching the historical mark of half a million dollars for our development objectives. The agency was able to invest in training for national health personnel, NGOs and communities; provide clean water and basic sanitation for many; partner with women giving them a chance to start prosperous businesses; provide access to new and better equipped health facilities to isolated communities; strengthen local small organizations and reinforce partnerships; and for the first time in Sao Tome having a purely HIV/AIDS project in the country, in an area we believe will bring added value to the national strategy.
We are now looking ahead to next year’s challenges, knowing that even greater change is to come, but also knowing that those will bring greater opportunities to serve.

Thank you for your interest and support,







Emanuel G. da Costa
Country Director
ADRA Sao Tome and Principe

Health Care for All in Caué

The last day of October was a day filled with hope for a third of the population of the most isolated district of the island of Sao Tome, Caue. Out of the 3 administrative health areas of the district, only the population of the region of Ribeira Peixe didn’t have access to permanent health services, having to travel for long distances or wait several days for treatment. Through the contribution of the AWARE project (http://www.aware-rh.org/) in Sao Tome and Principe, funded by USAID and implemented by ADRA, it was possible to inaugurate the Health Post of Ribeira Peixe.
The opening of the Health Post was anticipated with excitement by the population, health authorities and the central government, all of whom were represented at the ceremony at the highest levels.
The district health delegate’s excitement for the quality of work accomplished was visible in his words, “… I hope that in the near future, the central hospital in Angolares will shine as brightly as this health center. Entering the facility, one would think that he is in a first world country …”
The donor was represented by a local US Embassy representative, the USAID West Africa regional office, and a regional AWARE representative. Dr. Fatimata Diabate, representing the AWARE/USAID delegation, manifested her satisfaction for the outcomes achieved by the project in Sao Tome and Principe and the excellent collaboration between the project and the national and district health authorities.
After thanking USAID, AWARE and ADRA, the minister of Health, Dr. Arlindo Carvalho, closed the ceremony by appealing to the good relations and strong collaboration between the health personnel and the community.
This ADRA project’s ongoing activities include renovating 1 Hospital, 2 Health Centers, and 8 Community Health Posts; training and equipment will be provided to health personnel and communities in a combined strategy to increase the access and quality of Health services in Caue and the Island of Principe.