Mission to Mali
You will have read in Taglines that Jean Marie Nosal,
honorary president of Via Sahel Enfants d’Afrique, a children’s charity which
many of you have helped us to support over recent years, has made a trip to
Mali to check on the projects there.
His report (in French) is available and we will email a copy
to you if you wish.
Here is a brief synopsis in English:
1 The new school building planned to start in 2015 has been
postponed until next year as not enough funding is in place. Some new partners
there have been sought and will be assisting with the planning for the
building. A contribution to feeding the children in 2016 was paid over.
2 The transfer of handicapped children to more suitable
premises has not been possible, largely because the people responsible had been
transferred to other duties and new personnel were unfamiliar with the case and
it proved necessary to re-establish the dossiers.3 The nursery in Bamako is under severe financial strain, partly due to the policy of not allowing adoption outside Mali. The loss of tourist income is also an important factor. The Association paid over 4000 euros as a contribution to food and nursery staff wages. It is hoped to find commercial partners to provide food products, especially baby food.
4 No visit was possible for security reasons to Sangha in the north of the country, where the hospital, maternity clinic and laboratory, all supported by Via Sahel are situated. Reports were received from staff concerned: the maternity clinic treats about 400 mothers each year; the hospital is run by a local doctor/surgeon with help from trainee medical students and stagiaires. Prolonged rain had led to increased cases of malaria and demands on the laboratory for tests and transfusions had been urgent. The central transfusion authority in Bamako was asked to increase supplies.
5 A payment of 4000 euros to feed the street children of Mopti was made as each year, but increasing numbers may make this insufficient.
6 The women’s garden set up with funding from the Association (and contributions from many Tag readers) has been a great success and so many women are now taking part that a second garden is planned. The Association will again try to aid funding and made a contribution of 2000 euros.
In conclusion
M Nosal noted that although Bamako was livelier than his previous visit the people seemed poorer and moral was low with little enterprise or dynamism. He was presented with the title of « Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mali à titre étranger » an honour from the President of Mali and presented by the first lady in recognition of the work done by the Association over many years.
post script: the hotel shootings and hostage taking on the day of Jean Marie's return will only make things more difficult to keep up the association's work he believes.
comments to taglines82@gmail.com
