Celebrating Compassion’s Child Survival Programme in Parliament

Members of Parliament gathered at the House of Commons on Monday, 31 January 2021 to celebrate the tremendous work of Compassion’s Child Survival Programme in Togo, funded in part by UK Aid.

The Compassion Child Survival Programme tackles the challenge of maternal and infant mortality in Togo. Thanks to the support of the UK Government and thousands of donors, the project is caring for women during pregnancy, protecting babies during their first year of life, and giving families a healthy start.

For Koffi Ahonon, Compassion Togo’s National Director, the two years of dedicated work has shown promising results.

“I am pleased to report that in the first two years of the Compassion Child Survival Programme, 695 babies were supported across 23 Survival sites,” explained Mr Ahonon.

“95% of these births were attended by a skilled birth attendant. That’s 26% above the national average. 92% of the babies were at normal birth weight, that is 8% above the national average.”

As of January 2020, UK Aid has been funding 23 Child Survival Projects in rural communities in Togo.

Moreover, thanks to donor-generated funds from the original Aid Match campaign, an additional 25 projects opened in February last year – with 13 more being opened today.

Despite COVID-19, activities have broadly progressed as planned, with food being distributed to those in need, and workshops on child development, nutritional meal preparation, and income-generating skills being delivered to new and expectant mothers.

Brendan O’Hara, MP for Argyll and Bute, offered to sponsor Monday’s celebration in Parliament, after participating in a virtual visit to one of Compassion’s UK Aid-funded Survival sites in Togo. He commented:

“I was really impressed to see Compassion’s work in Togo for myself, and to speak with the pastoral staff and maternal health specialists, who are helping mothers and babies in vulnerable communities. Programmes such as these highlight how overseas development aid really can make a positive difference for those living in impoverished communities, breaking the cycle of inter-generational poverty.”

All babies who participate in the Child Survival Programme are offered a place in their nearest Holistic Child Development Programme, led by Compassion’s church partners.

For more information about the difference the programme is making:
Read these heartfelt open letters from mothers of the Child Survival programme that were shared at the event.
Learn about Ama, a Togolese mother bravely sharing her story here.