Dear
Friends,
Here
is a list of some of the major projects accomplished by
Medicine for
Mali
during our October 2004, trip to Mali.
It begins with major plans for our 2005 trip.
2005 plans include:
1.
June trip to train the midwives of 6 villages in the region
to teach nutrition, water sanitation, and health education
classes throughout the year.
2.
October trip to bring medicine, provide treatment at the
clinic, distribute microfinance loans, and award scholarships
to high school students.
3.
Initial drilling of 7 clean water wells.
4.
Wood working training at site of future MFM center.
Medicine for Mali 2004 Update
The year 2004 proved to be a successful
one for Medicine for
Mali
and the people of
Mali
,
West Africa
. There were
two different journeys to the country in 2004. We expanded the number of services and
programs for the
village
of
Nana Kenieba
,
Mali
.
In January,
Dr. Steve DeVore
and
Lisa Thompson
, a film producer from
California
, traveled to the village. Dr.
DeVore treated patients in the clinic. Malaria continues to be a never ending
battle. The infants,
children and pregnant women are the most vulnerable. Lisa
was interviewing and filming some of the inhabitants of the
village, documenting the challenges that face its people.
During the year, members of the group met
with churches, Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, schools, and
conducted garage sales. In the spring and summer, we gathered
supplies and medicine for the big journey in October, filling
forty-four 70 pound bags. (3080 pounds carried as personal
luggage).
Some of the accomplishments of the October
trip are the following:
- Over
500 people were treated in the village clinic for malaria,
malnutrition, and other illnesses.
- Nearly
8000 people were treated in a 7 village area (Konko) for
intestinal parasites.
- Met
with Rotary International in
Bamako
to help with our 6 year goal of installing deep water well
systems in 7 surrounding villages. Clean water is the basic
need for good health
- Set
up 36 microfinance loans for nearly 100 people for small
business and agriculture development. This
program helps the general commerce of the village. We also conducted some sessions
on handling money and ways of making a profit.
- Provided
cement to villagers who dug and built 56 Clean Latrines. Each latrine is 3 ft. wide and
6 ft. deep, covered with cement, to eliminate mosquito
breeding grounds by removing the liquid waste from the
surface.
- Held
health classes for women and children on the subjects of
nutrition, malaria, clean water, hygiene and sanitation.
- Set
up and funded a scholarship fund for the top boy and girl
in 9th grade to continue their high school education
in the city of
Bamako
,
Mali
. Three scholarships were issued. You can support a student
to complete high school for $300.00 a year. You may directly
support a specific scholar through MFM.
- Distributed
60 bed nets to women for protection against mosquitoes
and provided 40 more to be given to women who come for
prenatal and child health visits at the clinic.
- Installed
a submersible pump and dug an irrigation trench to support
the fruit trees on the future site of MFM’s Job Skills,
Informatics, and Public Health Center.
- Delivered
supplies to a leper colony, children’s hospital and
orphanage in the city.
Thank you for your support,
Steve DeVore, D.O., A.A.F.P. and All the
Team |
