Our Programs

Guinea’s average life expectancy is 54 years old. That is almost thirty years less than the life expectancy in developed countries. The infant mortality rate is at 142 per 1,000 live births, compared to 8 in the United States, and maternal mortality ratio is 580 per 100,000 births, almost forty times that of developed countries. 

Food shortages, lack of clean water and disease are prevalent throughout the country. Health conditions are amongst the poorest in the world as people remain at high risk for waterborne, respiratory and sexually transmitted diseases.

The most common illnesses include cholera, malaria, typhoid fever and AIDS. In rural and urban areas, lack of clean potable water and poor sanitation are the primary causes of parasitic and endemic diseases. Children are especially vulnerable and medicine is in short supply.

The government has worked to improve the country’s health care system, but the process has been slow due to limited resources and an overwhelming demand for medical services. Health facilities are poorly distributed across Guinea, and the health system lacks trained staff, medicine and equipment. National hospitals are in severe state of disrepair, lacking such basic necessities as running water and electricity. Where the national health system cannot meet needs, people are likely to turn to expensive private clinics or traditional medicine. A staggering amount of the population does not have access to hospitals, even in urban areas.

AFG is determined to help the population and government of Guinea and, to that end, we develop, support and contribute to projects falling within four main categories:

• Disease Treatment & Prevention
• Health/Medical Infrastructure
• Water & Sanitation
• Local Building Capacity