Mali: report 2005

November 2005: At the beginning of the month we have another nine babies ill with bronchitis and diarrhoea. Sophie takes them to the paediatric unit. Her time is divided between; the distributions; the hospital; the DRS; the Governor's Office; the DRPFEF; and the WFP. Sophie has much to do. Protocols are put in place with each partner to determine their commitments and responsibilities. The Procurator offers to be the legal adviser without charge for the AAG. Sophie is reassured and thanks him, this will protect us from a lot of trouble and is very welcome.

We are impatiently awaiting the framework agreement connecting us with the government, this will then be sent to Nestlé. The Governor has promised us his support and will send the file to the Cabinet Director.

With so much to do, Sophie needs to find some help. She takes on Asseita who seems capable and reliable. Despite this she knows nothing about computers or the humanitarian directives which must be followed.

Faced with the brutal cessation of the ACF's battle against malnutrition, Sophie searches for ways to continue the programme. The funds allocated by MAP are insufficient, she approaches the WFP for supplies of enriched flour (CSB). She needs 2,300 tonnes to cover requirements until March 2006 and she obtains what she needs. After the purchase of sugar and oil, the nutrition unit takes off again. Well done Sophie.

The protocol between the AAG and the DRPFEF is worked out after several meetings and many discussions. Sophie commits to have the rights and responsibilities of the AAG respected. She asserts that the aim of the mission is, and will remain, the interests of the people, in particular the children.

December 2005: The number of orphans who are sick has reduced but we are always registering new infants whose mothers have died during childbirth or shortly afterwards. By Christmas we have 296 babies registered.

With the help of Sophie, the Italian Gao humanitarian mission distributes clothes, biscuits, pasta and tinned meat to the poor. Members of this mission will make contact with our President in Switzerland with the aim of working together.

More and more involved with the work of the paediatrics department, Sophie continues to divide her time amongst the many organisations with whom she is involved. The protocol with DRPFEF is finally signed and Sophie will be able to undertake a mission in the bush if any cases of Noma are reported. The director of the DRS has promised his assistance.

On the request of the Procurator, Sophie begins work on steps to be taken to improve prison conditions. Despite her already heavy workload she visits the site and makes an evaluation of their needs, clarifies several issues with the social assistant and submits a project to the Procurator with the endorsement of the Procurator General and the Penitentiary Administration.

While awaiting the return of the prison Governor, Sophie returns a baby to it's imprisoned mother with a supply of food and necessary sanitary materials.

Antibiotics and clothes from the AAG in Switzerland have arrived. Thank you to Jean-Pierre for transporting them. Tantie is on school holidays and will make the distributions to the children as far as stocks allow.

We are still awaiting the letter from the Ministry which will allow us to obtain the 2006 milk quota from Nestlé. A representative from UNICEF has to come to evaluate our needs.

The bacteriological analysis of spirulina is good and we can introduce it into the two programmes. We plan to meet the director of production in January to discuss price and production quantities.

In conclusion : The results of our actions demonstrate that without our intervention, the majority of these babies, born to the poorest level of the population, would die through lack of appropriate care as it is impossible for them to access the necessary specialists (for example, Rocéphine).

It should be noted that the majority of babies who have been ill during the last quarter of this year are the new arrivals. The provision of milk for the first three years plus following certain basic rules of hygiene make the children more resistant to illness.

We hope that for 2006 the Swiss-Mali team remains strong and that the first stone of our Nutrition Centre is laid so we can become more active.

In the name of the 300 babies of the AAG-Gao we wish you a Happy New Year and send you our heartfelt thanks.

DRS:
Regional Department of Health

DRPFEF:
Department for the Promotion of Women, Children and the Family

WFP:
World Food Programme

ACF:
Action Against Hunger

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Sadou distributes the clothes donated by the Italian Mission, to the orphans

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