Article
Engaging adolescents and youth in the fight against polio
"Initially, I was skeptical about vaccinating my children due to numerous doubts stemming from rumors surrounding the polio vaccine. However, after the U-Reporters elucidated the benefits and protections provided by the polio vaccine, I came to understand its critical importance for my children's health. I also co...
Photo essay
"My daughters will grow up healthy".
The measles vaccine is part of the routine vaccination schedule for children. Thanks to sustained vaccination since 2001 by the global measles elimination initiative, it had almost disappeared. But, for about a decade, measles has resurfaced in Mali and around the world. At the Health Reference Center in their com...
Article
Vaccination for every child, everywhere.
“Wherever we go, I make it my duty to comply with my child’s vaccination schedule. I know how important it is for her health,” confides Khadeija Chadely, 27, as she queues to immunize her 8-month-old daughter, Lalla. Today is vaccination day at the community health center located in downtown Timbuktu. Khadeija ha...
Article
Aissata, a symbol of the fight against maternal and neonatal tetanus in Mali.
In 2023, Mali was declared to have eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus. This status was confirmed following a detailed evaluation, which demonstrated that Mali meets the World Health Organization's standard of having less than one case of neonatal tetanus per 1,000 live births in each of its health districts....
Page
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
What is coronavirus disease?, Coronavirus disease, (COVID-19) is a new virus transmitted by direct contact with respiratory droplets (coughing and sneezing) or by touching contaminated surfaces. Symptoms may include fever, dry cough, fatigue and shortness of breath. Some people may experience very mild symptoms or...
Article
Reducing birth risks
Mortality due to childbirth complications is very high in the Kayes region. Hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death. "Some Community Health Centres (CSCOM) are more than 100 kilometres from a hospital or Reference Health Center (CSREF). When it’s necessary to evacuate a woman over such a distance for a d...
Article
Stone by stone, vaccination is gaining ground with reluctant parents
It is 10 a.m. when Roukia Kaba Diakite enters the compound where Hamadou is for a home visit. The 49-year-old traditional healer is a father of four children. They all live on the hills of Yirimadio in Bamako, a hard-to-reach district. Roukia is a member of the women leaders’ platform which supports routine immuni...
Blog post
Love letter to vaccines champions
As Immunization Officer at UNICEF field office in Mopti, every year we plan for and are able to vaccinate at least 70% of targeted children in the region. We manage to do this in spite the security crisis, and even extend our immunization activities to cover those living in Internally Displaced Persons sites. Eac...
Article
Timbuktu’s fight against COVID-19 : using access to water, an essential commodity
Market women come to fill their basins, neighbours to fetch water for their tea, children frolic as they rehydrate themselves... Thanks to UNICEF and its partners, a solar-operated water reservoir, a water distribution ramp with four taps and four hand-washing stations were built, providing the market with drinkin...
Article
"If these vaccines didn't exist, we would have had to invent them!"
Youssouf Diarra lives in Diamarabougou, a village in the Markala Health District in the central region of Ségou. He has been a vaccinator in the community health centre for over 20 years. " l found my first year on the job very difficult because the villagers were afraid of side effects and didn't trust vaccines. ...
Statement
COVID-19 vaccination programme kicks off in Mali
31 st March 2021 – Bamako:, Mali has today rolled out her vaccination programme against COVID-19 in Bamako, with the 396,000 doses of the vaccines provided to the country under the COVAX Facility. The programme was officially launched by the Minister for Health Dr. Fanta Siby at the University Hospital (Point G) i...
Statement
COVID-19 vaccines arrive as the COVAX Facility becomes a reality in Mali
Mali has just taken delivery of 396,000 doses of the vaccines against COVID-19. President Bah N’Daw led the official delegation to the international airport in Bamako to take delivery of the consignment. This consignment was received as part of the COVAX Facility, a partnership between CEPI, GAVI, UNICEF and WHO. ...