Project profile — Improving the Health Environment for Mothers and Children in Mali

• Mali (100.00%)

• Basic health infrastructure:
Basic health infrastructure (12230) (20.00%)
Infectious disease control (12250) (20.00%)
• Population Policies/Programmes And Reproductive Health: Personnel development for population and reproductive health (13081) (10.00%)
• Basic drinking water supply:
Basic drinking water supply (14031) (25.00%)
Basic sanitation (14032) (25.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (principal objective)
• Participatory development and good governance (significant objective)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (principal objective)
• Youth Issues (principal objective)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

The project aims to improve access for Malians to quality basic health services that are environmentally friendly and meet their needs, especially those of women, newborns, children and youth. It focuses on the regions of Kayes, Segou and Sikasso and seeks to provide, annually, access to quality health care to about 900,000 women of childbearing age, which represents 46% of the target population. The project provides support to nearly 150 local health centers to improve their health infrastructure and treatment of biomedical waste. Among the activities: 1) support the regional authorities for the effective integration of good health management practices in the public health strategies; 2) accompany the Malian institutions in the sustainable construction or rehabilitation of 150 water supply infrastructures for health centers (drilling, network, supply systems) and access points to water (sinks, washbasins and showers in the treatment and childbirth rooms); 3) develop maintenance plans for infrastructure and equipment; 4) train 450 members of the maintenance staff in hygiene standards and disposal of biomedical waste (transport, storage and use of tanks and incinerators); 5) educate users to the promotion of hygiene and good environmental practices; 6) train technicians in hygiene and routine maintenance of water points and latrines, while taking into account the specific needs of mothers and children, 7) train managers, nursing staff and 33 regional trainers in hygiene as well as management and recycling of biomedical waste; and 8) equip 150 health centers with solar energy systems and ensure their sustainability. This project is part of Canada's commitment to the health of mothers, newborns and children.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved health environment of health centres for the populations of the Kayes, Ségou and Sikasso regions, especially for women and children; (2) regional health directorates strengthened and empowered to effectively coordinate hygiene and sanitation interventions, integrating environmental requirements and gender equality; (3) strengthened health centres in their capacity to provide services in a healthy, safe and appropriate environment.

Results achieved as of March 2018 include the following: 1) 55 out of 93 health centres (CS) were equipped with drinking water stations and functional hand-washing devices in care units, washing areas and separate functional latrines (men and women) adapted to the needs of mothers and children; 2) 51,694 users (patients and caregivers, women, men and children) were informed of the appropriate use of water stations, latrine hand-washing stations, and wash areas in 93 health centres; 3) 92 health centres have a functional solar energy system; 4) 191 maintenance officers were trained in hygiene and in maintenance of water stations and latrines in 93 CS; 5) personnel in 75 CS were trained in biomedical waste management in accordance with Malian and international standards, and have a biomedical waste management plan; 6) 224 local stakeholders participating in the project took part in developing biomedical waste management plans; 7) the sanitary environment of 93 CS was improved by securing refuse pits and introducing a biomedical waste treatment system; 8) awareness campaigns on hygiene and biomedical waste management best practices were developed and implemented in all 93 CS, with the participation of women health services user committees; 9) 223 caregivers were trained in hygiene best practices and selective sorting of biomedical waste at source; and 10) through the support provided to regional health directorates, the operational plans developed by the Sikasso, Ségou and Kayes regions integrated water-hygiene-sanitation and biomedical waste management best practices into health strategies.

• Proactive disclosure