In one of the most iconic and fragile places in Mauritania – the stunning oasis of Tergit, located in the municipality of Maaden, in the Adrar region – a new project is about to take shape: the construction of a primary healthcare facility, designed to meet the essential medical needs of a community that is too often forgotten.

Although nestled in the heart of the desert, Tergit is home to a settled population and also serves as a crucial point of reference for nomadic families who live off pastoralism and cyclically pass through this area. The absence of a structured medical outpost and the long distance from the nearest hospitals represent a critical yet silent emergency – particularly in cases of childbirth, infections, injuries, or everyday health issues affecting those who live and work in the desert.

The health center will be built on an area of 64 square meters (8x8 meters) and will include a waiting room, an administrative office, a consultation room, a fully equipped infirmary, an entrance porch, and a separate block of sanitary facilities. The entire structure will be fully furnished and equipped with all necessary medical tools, with costs already included in the project budget. Local health authorities – who have formally requested and approved the construction – will provide staff and oversee the facility's management, having selected this intervention as a top priority among local needs.

The target population, including both residents and nomadic groups, exceeds 4,000 people, all of whom currently lack access to a permanent health facility. The direct beneficiaries will include at least 4,000 individuals: the settled residents of Tergit, nomadic families, and significantly, the communities living in or passing through the nearby villages of Mhairich, Maaden, and Aoujeft, which regard Tergit as a key transit and territorial reference point.

The infirmary will allow for the early detection, prevention, and treatment of common diseases, help improve hygienic and sanitary conditions, and offer first-level medical assistance in a geographical area where access time to care can mean the difference between life and death.

As with similar projects already implemented in Senegal and Burkina Faso, this initiative will be dedicated to the memory of Federica: a bright, living presence who continues to inspire commitment, compassion, and closeness to the most vulnerable. Once again, the project is strongly supported by the group "Insieme per Federica", which shares with Bambini nel Deserto the same vision, determination, and values.

“Federica dreamed of a world where everyone could receive care, attention, and dignity. A medical student, she had chosen the most beautiful path: that of someone who wants to take care of others. This health center carries forward her dream, in the heart of a desert that today will become a little less barren, and a little more human.”

Help us make this dream come true. Every contribution can make a difference.

IBAN for donations: IT55U0306909606100000188874 – Account holder: Bambini nel Deserto ETS

Reason for donation: “L’infermeria di Tergit”

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