10 Things You Didn't Know About Benin

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10 Things You Didnt Know About
Benin

• MercyShip Charity Hospital Canada

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• The Africa Mercy has arrived in Benin for its
  2016-2017 field service! Now that we have
  finally arrived, we cant wait to start working
  with our amazing volunteers and donors to bring
  hope and healing to the Beninese people. Keep
  reading to learn more about this fascinating
  nation and why we are working there!
• 1. Benin was formerly known as Dahomey, a
  prominent West African kingdom that rose in the
  15th century. The territory became a French
  Colony in 1872 and achieved independence in 1960.
  Benin is now one of Africas most stable
  democracies.

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• 2. Located in West Africa, Benin is bordered by
  Togo to the West, Nigeria to the East and Burkina
  Faso and Niger to the North. The country covers
  112,622 sq km with a population of approximately
  9.4 million people. The capital is Porto-Novo,
  but the seat of government is in nearby Cotonou,
  the largest city.

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• 3. Benin is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, with
  a developing economy dependent on agriculture,
  cotton production and regional trade. Benin uses
  the CFA franc, which is pegged to the euro. In
  spite of recent economic growth, Benin remains
  one of the poorest nations in Africa, and the
  world. The country is home to almost 10 million
  people, many of whom still lack access to basic
  social services and remain dependent upon
  subsistence farming.

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• 4. Almost 40 of Benins population lives below
  the poverty line. Extreme poverty has had
  devastating consequences here, for example
  causing an increase in human trafficking in
  recent years.

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• 5. The National language of Benin is French with
  English taught in Secondary schools, however many
  African languages are spoken. There are about 50
  languages and dialects, and most people speak at
  least two languages. Approximately 36 of the
  population is illiterate.
• 6. The largest religious group in Benin is Roman
  Catholicism, followed closely by Islam, Vodun and
  Protestantism.

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• 7. Benin is severely underdeveloped, with life
  expectancy at 55 years for men and 59 years for
  women, shorter than the life expectancy of 165
  other countries. 44 of Benins population is
  fourteen years old or younger.
• 8. Benin ranks 166th on the UNs Human
  Development Index out of the 188 countries and
  territories evaluated. The country has the 23rd
  highest infant mortality rate in the world, with
  an average of 57 deaths per 1,000 live births.

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• 9. Benins hospitals provided .5 beds per 1,000
  people in 2010, and since then the government has
  set goals of expanding its healthcare system.
  Mercy Ships will be working with local
  governments during our 2016/2017 field service to
  run healthcare training programs and help build
  medical infrastructure.

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• 10. The Africa Mercy was originally scheduled to
  be in Benin for Mercy Ships 2013/2014 field
  service, however the outbreak of Ebola in nearby
  regions caused Mercy Ships to work in Southern
  Africa instead. With Ebola no longer a threat and
  a huge need for healthcare services and
  infrastructure, we cant wait to serve the worthy
  nation of Benin for our 2016/2017 field service!

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MercyShip Canada

• Address Unit 5-3318 Oak St. Victoria, BC Canada
  V8X 1R1
• Phone [phone](Toll Free),
  250-381-2160(Business)
• Fax Number 1-888-730-6936
• Email Id msca_at_mercyships.ca
• Website http//mercyships.ca/

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