The Lagune University Hospital for Mother and Child (CHU-MEL) in Cotonou, Benin, gratefully received a donation of medical equipment from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 10 February 2026. The donation will contribute to improving patient care, help reduce material constraints faced by healthcare staff, and strengthen the local healthcare system.
President Sahoui presents an item to hospital staff in token of the overall equipment handover on 10 February, 2026.
President Sahoui presents an item to hospital staff in token of the overall equipment handover on 10 February, 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.CHU-MEL, which was established through the merger of two adjacent healthcare facilities, is a major university and referral center in Benin and is now the country’s foremost medical center focused on maternal, neonatal, pediatric, obstetric, and gynecological care. As a training and research hospital, it is instrumental in preparing the next generation of women’s and children’s healthcare providers. As a referral hospital, it continues to receive an increasing number of patients. The influx of referrals and population growth have strained resources, challenging the facility’s ability to deliver on its mission.
To help alleviate those resource constraints and improve care for the hospital’s most vulnerable patients, The Church donated equipment including wheelchairs, stretchers, vital-sign monitors, pulse oximeters, scales, cribs, mattresses, ventilators, radiant warming tables, and more. All of these items were formally presented to the hospital during a handover ceremony attended by many members of its administrative staff.
Mr. Hyacinthe Gbaguidi, the hospital’s Director of Administration and Finance, who also serves as a representative of General Management and Chairman of the Board, welcomed The Church’s initiative. For himself and on behalf of the hospital, he expressed profound gratitude for The Church’s donation.
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Similarly, Mrs. Angéline Tonato Bagnan, Head of the Mother and Child Unit, who was representing the President of the Medical Establishment Commission, also expressed her appreciation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She commended the quality of the equipment received and pledged its optimal use to improve the delivery of care and services at CHU-MEL. Other participants also expressed their gratitude for the generous donation.
President Ange Sahoui, President of the Benin Cotonou Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, presided over the event. Addressing the professionals gathered for the handover, he explained that, as a Church, “we are inspired by the example of Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acts to serve, relieve suffering, and support communities. This donation of hospital equipment reflects our commitment to strengthening healthcare services and preserving human life by bringing hope and support where needs are greatest.”
As recorded in 1 John 3:17, followers of Christ are asked: “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” This and other scriptures, as well as prophetic admonitions, motivate The Church and its members to reach out and help those in need. Thus, from the resources with which The Church and its members have been blessed, humanitarian projects such as this have been and will continue to be implemented in West Africa and around the world.