I have just spent 10 days in Mali but this time I cut short my visit because of the worsening even dangerous situation. The situation at Bamako is becoming more difficult with most of the hotels and restaurants closed for of lack of tourists. Business and commerce carry on slowly among numerous daily demonstrations and marches in the streets, some demanding immediate war, others seeking peace. Food becomes more and more scarce, coups d'etat multiply and everybody is waiting either worried or pleased at the prospect of massive armament arrivals. The absence of political stability and authority is the norm and it is difficult to see what lies ahead.
In this new and difficult context I returned to the Nursery where there has been a rise in the number of infants, alongside a new law whereby children cannot be adopted by foreigners. There is also a worry that the presence of handicapped children considerably disturbs the running of the nursery. To find a place more adapted to their needs I went to Sangha, ten miles from Bamako, where we took up our negociations with a centre likely to receive them. I proposed a provision of water which did not exist in the village at that time and I saw to the provisioning of a communal grocery shop in the village as until now no shops.existed
Joined in Bamako by the managers of our operations in Sangha, we went over our present activities: the maternity ward; the hospital; the laboratory for analyses; the children of the streets and the school. With the National Centre for blood transfusion I arranged a reduction in cost and thanks to an added donation and bought another refrigerator for storing blood.In exchange the Centre agreed to supply an annual allowance of blood and transfusers, according to availability. I have asked my colleague and permanent member of staff, Alain Vallet to move with his family nearer to Bamako, as he lives currently in a very dangerous zone.
Also at Bamako I checked up on the progress of Amadoun Dolo who in the past we had brought to Toulouse to be operated on and now a few years later with the aid of medication we supply is doing marvellously well. We have also designated Mme Nafitou Konare as our permanent representative in Bamako.
For all these reasons it is necessary more than ever to continue with our activities to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable in society in this period of crisis, the children and old people.
I take this opportunity to wish you all best wishes for the end of the year and plenty of joy and happiness in 2013.
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