Mali: report 2005

July 2005: With the blessing of the Mayor, Sophie continues her weekly distributions in the Townhall courtyard.

Heavy rains have made the roads of Gao impassable and it takes many detours to reach the Townhall. Despite the damp weather the children are waiting for the weekly distribution, they are well and wait patiently for their 'Sophie Woua woua'.

Thanks to the rains and lower temperatures, rice has started to grow and gardens can be planted.

The price of millet has fallen slightly but is still too high. Niger has declared a state of famine and, due to the free trade agreement, people come to Gao for supplies, putting further pressure on prices. This leaves the local population in a delicate position and insecurity reigns.

August 2005: The head doctor of the DRS is relieved of his post. Sophie meets with the Director of the DRS who suggests the DRS and the AAG work together. Dr Klénon Traoré requests the presence of the AAG at an HIV/AIDS workshop and asks Sophie to continue to work with the DRS who promise to support our work.

Milk supplies start to run out. Concern grows within the population and with it, aggression. It becomes difficult to control the women. Their concern is understandable; some families have only one meal per day.

The Chief of State has requested the Commissioner of food security to install cereal banks in each region and guarantee their safe functioning. This is not easy to achieve. Nevertheless, however small, at least there is hope of an end to the famine.

Sophie prepares for her trip to Europe . She leaves a stock of food in a secure area at the Townhall ready for her absence in September. San, a Townhall employee, will make the distributions.

This month only three children fall ill out of our 235 orphans, proof of the effectiveness of our actions. Many thanks to Mireille Onimus of MAP for financing the purchase of Misola flour for our malnourished children.

September 2005: Sophie's trip to Europe

October 2005: On her return from Europe, Sophie passes through Bamako and visits the Minister responsible for children at the Childhood Foundation. She meets and they discuss spirulina, a miracle algae which we hope to use in the fight against malnutrition if the results of analysis are good.

Unfortunately during her absence, three infants, including the twins, have died as a result of distributions being incorrectly made. San is dismissed on the spot. We are disappointed with this boy who had appeared honest. Unfortunately such practices are common in Africa and we must be more careful.

Thanks go to the Mayor for paying out of his own pocket for milk for around ten children who hadn't received it. Contrary to what we were told by San and as a result of his negligence, ten of the orphans are ill. Sophie takes immediate control and they are seen by the paediatric unit.

Deeply troubled by this situation, Sophie decides to organise agreements with different services to reinforce the actions of the AAG and MAP and enable her to be absent without endangering the children. Sophie takes advice from the Mayor and the Procurator, her greatest supporters. Julio, the paediatrician, is also informed.

The last blankets have been distributed ahead of the cold season. There are insufficient warm clothes and the families are too poor to buy any.

Regarding security, only a few areas of the town remain sensitive but care must be taken before visiting them.

Supplies of milk and cereal are improving, prices are falling and people are doing better. Finally the government is able to assure the security of food supplies.

Following a letter written to Nestlé in Switzerland, a visit by Nestlé Bamako's Medical Supervisor, is announced. Sophie hopes to meet the conditions laid down in the Nestlé-WHO Charter in order to qualify for a milk quota for 2006.

DRS:
Regional Department of Health

MAP:
Medical Aid and Presence

> back

> next

> top

> | 1 2 3 4 5 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016