| Administrative History | Allocation: 1974-1993; programme spending in 1993/94, 1994/95; see later annual reports for any subsequent allocations
The French colony of Upper Volta was created in 1919. It was abolished in 1932, but reconstituted in 1947. It became an autonomous republic in the French community in 1958 and became independent in 1960. In 1984 its name was changed to Burkina Faso.
Following the Sahel drought of 1973, Save the Children (SCF) sent a relief team consisting of a doctor and a nutritionist to Burkina Faso (then called Upper Volta). A medical team followed, and an under-fives clinic was set up at Gorom Gorom in August 1974. It was extended with a series of mobile teams in January 1975. By the end of 1976 new buildings were completed, with a nutritional rehabilitation centre and a maternal health clinic. A programme of mass immunisation was also undertaken. From 1983 Gorom Gorom was gradually integrated into the local health services, and SCF workers turned to Sebba, with a progamme of work including mother-and-child clinics and health education. In 1984 SCF joined with other NGOs in 'Sahel '84', an emergency relief operation. In 1985, SCF was offering primary health care, a pharmacy and a feeding centre. While SCF funding for these operations continued, it was also planned to integrate them into the local health services. From 1988, SCF began to be involved in village water supply systems. Work was concentrated around Dori and Gorom Gorom. In the 1990s SCF's programme focused on the Integrated Primary Health Care project in Seno and Oudalan provinces, and the Manual Water Pump Rehabilitation project. |