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Mali

High mortality rates of women and children in Mali

Map of MaliThe Republic of Mali is a landlocked country located in northwestern Africa. Nearly 80 percent 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 percent of babies die at birth and more than a 20 percent of children of 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 U.S.

Our work in Mali

In 2004, Medical Teams International 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, we completed construction of the pediatric wing in February 2006. Since the hospital's opening, Medical Teams International has sent 19 OB/GYN medical training teams to Koutiala Hospital, and 1 dental team to our partner, Organisme de Developpement pour l’Esperance au Mali (ODES).

With our partner, CPAM, Medical Teams International will support a rural Portable Ultrasound Project. We have facilitated the donation of seven portable ultrasound machines for use at Koutiala Hospital and five nearby clinics and also sent three training teams. This year we will send one ultrasound training team to continue training the hospital and clinic staff to use this lifesaving ultrasound technology.

We partnered with Massachusetts General Hospital’s Division of Global Health and Human Rights to conduct a case study assessment to document the impact of the Portlable Ultrasound Project.

Medical teams International is also partnering with ODES to send 1 volunteer dental team to provide care and hygiene education. Medical Teams International will send three medical teams this year to support the ongoing OB/GYN training needs at Koutiala Hospital.

Volunteers are still needed for these teams, including OB/GYN physicians, dentists, hygienists and dental assistants.

Our partners in Mali

Centre Protestante pour l’Assistance Medicael au Mali (CPAM)
Organisme de Developpement pour l'Esperance au Mali (ODES)
Massachusetts General Hospital

Please donate or volunteer to help save lives in Mali.