Mali |
Health Goals
 |
Reduce child mortality |
|
1990 |
2000 |
2005 |
Mortality rate of infant in first 28 days (per 1,000 live births) |
140 |
124 |
120 |
Mortality rate under 5 (per 1,000 live births) |
250 |
224 |
218 |
Immunization for measles (by 2 years old) |
43 |
49 |
86 |
Figures from Worldbank development indicators database April 2007
 |
Improve maternal health |
|
1990 |
2000 |
2005 |
Births attended by skilled health staff |
|
41 |
|
Maternal mortality (estimated per 100,000 live births) |
|
1,200 |
|
Figures from Worldbank development indicators database April 2007
Challenges
Child mortality still remains high in Mali, with still more than 1 in 10 new-borns dying. It is also estimated that a women in Mali has a greater than a 1 in 100 chance of dying each time she has a child. As women tend to have on average seven children, they face this risk many times. The chances, therefore, of dying during pregnancy or childbirth over a lifetime are greater than 1 in 15, compared with 1 in 4,000 in the developed world.
This lifetime risk can be substantially reduced if women receive family planning services. Once a woman is pregnant, it is essential that she have good medical care and access to emergency facilities in case of unexpected complications. Only about 40% of births are attended by trained medical personnel in Mali.
In Mali HIV/AIDS continues to spread among young people. M illions of young people know too little about HIV to protect themselves. Surveys in sub-Saharan Africa have found that only 21% of young women and 30% of young men know the basics about how to avoid infection. The risk of TB remains very high due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains and the vulnerabilities created by HIV/AIDS.
The Changes
There are a number of activities and initiatives in Mali, focussing on improving people’s health. These include:
- Vaccinations – 94% of women of child-bearing age have been vaccinated against tetanus
- In regions where development organisations such as UNICEF have concentrated special efforts, 76% of children now sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets
- Diet impacts directly on people’s health, so schools are starting to be equipped with new canteens. So far, 30 schools have received them.
- Over 15,000 students have learned how to protect themselves from the HIV/AIDS virus through a school-based programme
- UNICEF and the World Food Programme have agreed to work jointly to address nutrition, education and HIV/AIDS prevention and response
