New 66-Bed Maternity and Paediatric Complex Opens in Bafatá

BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau — Guinea-Bissau has taken a major step toward improving regional healthcare after ECOWAS handed over a new maternity and paediatric complex at Bafatá Regional Hospital.

The facility was formally handed over on August 8, 2026, following construction financed through the ECOWAS Regional Stabilization and Development Fund. The project is designed to strengthen medical services for women and children in the Bafatá region.

The new complex has 66 beds, creating additional capacity for maternity and paediatric care at one of Guinea-Bissau's important regional hospitals. The facility is expected to improve access to safer childbirth and healthcare for children.

The project also reflects wider regional efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in countries facing significant resource constraints.

According to the WHO, Guinea-Bissau has made recent progress in public health, including the introduction of malaria vaccination into routine immunisation, while health authorities continue to focus on maternal and child health.

The Bafatá facility could therefore become an important boost for maternal and child healthcare outside the capital Bissau, reducing pressure on central medical facilities and bringing specialised services closer to communities.