Mali
Situation Report
Mali is a landlocked country located in northwestern Africa. Nearly 80% of the 12 million residents rely on subsistence farming for their survival. Farmers wage a constant battle against deteriorating soil and the encroaching desert—making Mali an especially difficult place to live. Because of the difficult environment, lack of infrastructure and widespread poverty Mali is ranked 173 out of 177 on the 2008 Human Development Index.
In Mali, 12% of babies die at birth and more than 20% of the children die from preventable diseases before reaching their 5th birthday.
Women also suffer from exceptionally high mortality rates. Only 4 in 10 expecting mothers receive prenatal care or assistance with their delivery and often do not have help when complications arise. The maternal mortality rate in Mali is nearly 73 times higher than the rate in the USA.
Our Work
In 2004, we received a large private donation to construct the pediatric wing of the Koutiala Hospital for Women and Children. The hospital is the first to offer specialty services outside of Bamako, Mali's capital city. In partnership with the Centre Protestante pour l’Assistance Medical au Mali (CPAM), we completed construction of the pediatric wing in February 2006. Since the hospital's opening, we have sent 17 OB/GYN medical training teams to Koutiala Hospital, and 1 dental team to our partner, Organisme de Developpement pour l'Esperance au Mali (ODES).
Future Plans
We will send 5 medical teams to support the ongoing OB/GYN training needs at Koutiala Hospital this year. We'll also send 1 volunteer dental teams to provide care and hygiene education in partnership with ODES. Volunteers are still needed for these teams, including OB/GYN physicians, dentists, hygienists and dental assistants.
We are also partnering with ODES in a Holistic Community Health Project focusing on increasing the health of communities in the Segou region by improving health practices of families in sanitation, hygiene and nutrition.
In a partnership with CPAM, we are supporting a rural Portable Ultrasound Project. We are facilitating the donation of seven portable ultrasound machines for use at Koutiala Hospital and 4 nearby clinics and also sent 3 training teams. This year we will send 1 ultra sound training team to continue training the hospital and clinic staff to use this lifesaving ultrasound technoloty. Last, we will support the training of 12 nurses to provide quality medical care of children at Koutiala Hospital.
Our Partners
- Centre Protestante pour l’Assistance Medicael au Mali (CPAM) has been a primary provider of health care in Mali for several years. CPAM’s 6 existing rural clinics, along with their referral hospital, Koutiala Hospital for Women and Children are known for their high quality of care. CPAM is the Malian medical program of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, which has provided medical care in Mali since 1923.
- Organisme de Developpement pour l'Esperance au Mali (ODES) is a church-based, nongovernmental organization that works in 8 project areas: leadership development, water issues, literacy and education, economic development, food security, environment protection, micro-credit and disaster relief. Medical Teams International will send dental volunteers to help ODES with their community programs.
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