In Bamako, Mali, the “Equinut” project developed a recipe for a highly nutritious food product that can be used to treat malnourished children aged six to 59 months in Mali and eventually in all of West Africa. Researchers collaborated with farmers and local communities to develop this recipe based on a traditional peanut paste called Di-dégué. AKF also trained farmers to produce high quality aflatoxin-free peanuts. The project will directly benefit over 14,000 children under age five.
AKDN / Christopher Wilton-Steer
In Bamako, Mali, the “Equinut” project developed a recipe for a highly nutritious food product that can be …
AKDN / Christopher Wilton-Steer
The cases de santé which AKF helped to establish in Mopti, Mali have helped to dramatically reduce the incidence of maternal and newborn death.
AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura
The cases de santé which AKF helped to establish in Mopti, Mali have helped to dramatically reduce the …
AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura
The cases de santé which AKF helped to establish in Mopti, Mali have helped to dramatically reduce the incidence of maternal and newborn death.
AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura
The cases de santé which AKF helped to establish in Mopti, Mali have helped to dramatically reduce the …
AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura
The cases de santé which AKF helped to establish in Mopti, Mali have helped to dramatically reduce the incidence of maternal and newborn death.
AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura
The cases de santé which AKF helped to establish in Mopti, Mali have helped to dramatically reduce the …
AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura
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Responding to high infant and maternal mortality rates, AKF has established 100 rural maternity health centres in these areas. We collected health data for regional authorities, trained health workers and worked to reduce the high rates of malnutrition and diarrhoeal diseases.
450,000
The health programme benefited 450,000 residents of Mopti and Djenné
Access to Quality Health Care
In response to the high infant mortality rate in Mopti, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) helped establish 100 rural maternity centres. These were built by the villagers, with the assistance of AKF, which supplied the architect and master mason and trained local masons and craftspeople. In addition, 470 latrines and wells were installed. These rural maternity health centres were staffed by over 100 community health workers trained by AKF, certified by the Ministry of Health and paid for by the community. They had an immediate positive impact on infant and maternal mortality.
Supporting Systems
The M-health project set up a system to collect health-related data by SMS from rural clinics and hospitals to regional health authorities. The Bamako Faculty of Medicine implemented an e-learning system to ensure ongoing training of rural staff.
Improved Hygiene and Nutrition
AKF also helped reduce high rates of malnutrition and diarrhoeal diseases by:
- supporting over 30,000 farmers to increase and diversify their agricultural production;
- implementing a women’s literacy programme with nutrition as the first core subject;
- supporting the construction of low-cost drainage systems;
- facilitating community-led total sanitation processes;
- improving latrines and water points in schools; and
- training teachers in core health and hygiene competencies.
Supporting a Governmental Programme
From 2016-2020, AKF supported the scaling up of the Government of Mali's National Health Worker programme. This aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality and morbidity through advocacy and increasing gender awareness.