GlobalGiving.org: Vaccinate Children and Mothers and Prevent Disease

1/3 of annual vaccinations complete, 2/3's to go.

Jennifer Beckstead — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:24:37 GMT

We have completed our first round of vaccinations for the year in 30 rural villages in and around the Ouelessebougou area. In January and May the Alliance will complete two more rounds of vaccinations--totalling almost 6,000 vaccinations for the year.

Village families in the rural areas of Ouelessebougou continue to face many health risks and diseases every day. In Mali, one in five children does not live past his or her fifth birthday due to preventable diseases such as dysentery, measles and malaria.

The good news--93% of children under the age of five are fully vaccinated in villages where the Alliance provides vaccinations, whereas nationally the numbers are less than 50%. Thank you for helping us continue to prevent disease for families in 30 rural villages.

Sincerely,
Ouelessebougou Alliance staff

Links:

Deseret News article

Urgent Needs Before the Rainy Season Comes...

Jennifer Beckstead — Wed, 11 May 2011 12:50:48 GMT

It's been a fantastic year for disease prevention in Ouelessebougou, but as villagers approach the rainy season they are anxious to have access to mosquito nets to protect them from the mosquito-borne disease, malaria. They are also anxious to get the last round of vaccinations for the year to protect them from other life-threatening diseases. Village health workers are working hard before the rainy season comes to keep their villages clean and improve the overall health of village families.

This year, the Alliance hopes to provide nearly 5,500 vaccinations—for 2,300 women and children. This brings the total vaccinations that Ouelessebougou has provided in the Ouelessebougou area and surrounding villages to 60,000 since 2003! Although 20% of Malian children die before the age of five, less than 1% of the children in villages where we work die from vaccine preventable deaths. 92.8% of children under five in villages where we work are fully vaccinated, whereas nationally, the numbers are less than 50%.

The Alliance has also provided 600 mosquito nets for village families this year. Because a family of four can sleep under one net, these new nets will protect 2,400 more individuals. Since the Alliance began offering nets at a $1 cost to villagers, we have distributed nearly 5,000 nets since 2004! Unfortunately there are hundreds of villagers that continually request nets from our Mali staff and we haven't been able to fill their requests yet. This year we hope to double the amount of nets we've been providing each year to continue to meet the rising need.

Thanks for your help in making all of these projects come to pass!

Links:

A season to give

Joshua Molina — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:57:46 GMT

Train rural Malians

Dear Global Givers,

The holiday season is a time to give thanks for all that we have . . . and a time to give help to those who are less fortunate than we are.

While we enjoy our holiday feasts, rural Malians fight against disease, poverty, illiteracy, and long odds to prosper or even to survive. According to UNICEF, one in every 5 Malian children does not live to see his or her fifth birthday, and only approximately 20% of those who make it to adulthood can write their own names. In this time of giving, we must look to the less fortunate and help them to overcome their arduous struggle.

The Ouelessebougou Alliance’s programs are grass-roots movements that instigate social change, sustainable development and greatly increased education, as well as significant improvements in health and sanitation. Thanks to generous contributors like you, nearly 95% of the children in Ouelessebougou villages are vaccinated – twice the rate in the rest of the country; girls’ enrollment in village schools where the Alliance works is 21% higher than national girls’ school enrollment in Mali, thanks to Alliance workers talking to parents about the importance of educating girls and increasing the availability of education in the area; and the Alliance provides business training and the capital for micro-loans that allow villagers to become entrepreneurs. Your donation helps us continue to provide these life-changing tools in one of the worlds most impoverished rural regions, providing not only fish for a day, but also the education and training to fish for a lifetime.

Spread a little holiday cheer to Mali.

Best wishes in the holiday season and the New Year!

Josh Molina

Links:

Ouelessebougou Alliance

Vaccinations to date in Ouelessebougou

Joshua Molina — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 22:18:48 GMT

Thanks to donors like you, the Alliance's vaccination work in Mali continues to save lives. This year, the Alliance provided 5,369 vaccinations to women and children throughout thirty villages. These vaccinations include polio, yellow fever, measles, tuberculosis, diphtheria, hepatitis A, vitamin A deficiency, the flu, and tetanus. A total of 2,300 women and children were vaccinated.

In total, 92.8% of children under five in Alliance villages are fully vaccinated, whereas nationally, the numbers are less than 50%.

These vaccinations help cut down on the devastating death toll among Ouelessebougou's children: though 20% of Malian children die before the age of five, less than 1% of the children in Alliance villages died from vaccine preventable deaths.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate you on the progress you have helped to make, and to thank you once again for your generous contributions. I encourage you to keep up with our projects and give in the future, so that we can continue to change the lives of Ouelessebougou villagers for the better.

Sincerely,

Joshua Molina

More Nets Needed: Multiply Your Donation

Joshua Molina — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 22:10:40 GMT

Girl helped by the Ouelessebougou Alliance

We have just finished successfully distributing more than 600 mosquito nets in Mali, and people in several villages are asking for more. We do not give them away for free, but ask for a small fee ($1 USD), in order for the people to know the value of the nets. Still, our field director in Mali tells us the people of the Ouelesseboug region are asking for 600 more net.

And when you contribute now, your donation will be mutliplied! Starting October 12, GlobalGiving is matching all donations at 30%, 40%, or 50%. If you've been waiting for the best moment to donate to one of our projects on Global Giving, now is the best time ever.

This is how the match percentage program works:

Donation Percentage Match

$10 - $499         30%

$500 - $999        40%

$1,000 - $2,500   50%

There is $100,000 available in matching funds. The campaign will run until Oct 21 or until matching funds run out.
So please, donate to our projects, and we also encourage you to tell your friends about this opportunity.

In addition to the match, GlobalGiving is offering a $1,000 bonus to the project that raises the most funds between October 12 - 21, and a $1,000 bonus to the project that receives donations from the most individual donors!

Links:

Ouelessebougou Alliance

Great year for vaccinations in Ouelessebougou!

Joshua Molina — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:28:52 GMT

We are happy to report that 5,369 woman and children received vaccinations this fiscal year (June 2009 - July 2010) in the Ouelessebougou Region of Mali.

Amazingly, the government of Mali offers free vaccinations, but they don't have a way to deliver the vaccines to rural areas. That's where we step in, providing transportation and pay for physicians to give the vaccinations. Our relationship with village healthcare workers makes the process seamless.

On the days we bring the vaccinations to the villages, woman and children line up since they know the value and importance of receiving these vaccines. The simple shots can prevent life-threatening diseases and save hundreds of lives. The Alliance really hopes to expand the vaccination program in coming years to rural villages that don't have this opportunity.

Studies show that if we can vaccinate enough people in the area, some of these diseases can be eradicated all together in these villages.

Links:

Ouelessebougou Alliance

Donors and villagers see direct impact of vaccination program

Jodie Jensen — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:47:28 GMT

A recent assessment found that 94% of children under 5 in Alliance villages have been fully vaccinated. Nationally, only about 38% of children are fully vaccinated. Further analysis showed that for every 100 children who were vaccinated, one child was spared from dying of yellow fever. What a success! that means that for every $150 donated, a life was saved!

The Alliance is working with villages to establish their own health plans. These plans consist of priorities, timelines and assessments overseen by the villagers themselves. Recently, the chief of Seliban, Siriba Samake, told us that he has seen a substantial increase in vaccinations in his village because of two factors: the alliance provides the vaccinations, and the village (through their health plan) has taken more responsibility for getting their children immunized.

The villagers in the Ouelessebougou commune always express gratitude to the Alliance for providing these life-saving vaccines. But we know it wouldn't be possible without you. Thank you, donors, for your generous support! Please let us know what you think!

952 receive vaccinations

Jodie Jensen — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:36:37 GMT

This month, 952 women and children received vaccinations, thanks to the Ouelessebougou-Utah Alliance and many generous donors. These vaccinations change lives very dramatically and immediately. For Oumou Samake, a villager in Fadiobougou, vaccinations have changed everything. Her son died a few years ago from a preventable disease because she didn't know how to stop it. Now, with the training and vaccines provided by the Alliance, she knows how to keep her other four children healthy. Her four children are healthy and happy today. We join with her in thanking donors who made a small sacrifice and changed her world. Let us know if you would like more information!

Village Health Plans

J. Jensen — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:28:23 GMT

a village scribe writes down a timeline for each of the health c

October 2008 was full of expeditions to Mali. During our stay in Ouelessebougou, our local Health and Economic Development Coordinators prepared and presented the "healthy village workshop" in the villages of Dialakoro Keleya and Bassa. They worked with the villagers to create a sustainable health plan for which they will have full ownership. It was amazing to see the sense of empowerment that came into the eyes of the village health council members.

The villagers recognize the lasting impact that the alliance is having in their lives. One villager said, "there are 14 NGOs in the area, but the only one making a difference in OUA… Your project is the only one that goes directly to the people. You have helped with the real needs."

We are grateful to our donors who give selflessly to our projects that are making a real change in the lives of Malian villagers. Thank you for your support!

Please feel free to leave comments if you would like more information.

Health Council during "healthy village workshop"

The graduates in Dialakoro Keleya show their certificates.

5964 vaccinations distributed in 2 months

Jodie Jensen — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:52:32 GMT

In the months of June and July, our staff in Mali have been very busy! They have been out to 12 villages to distribute close to 6000 vaccines! We are so excited about the great work they are doing.

Vaccination season beginning

J. Beckstead — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:09:19 GMT

Samake Family - all vaccinated!

This month the Alliance will begin its vaccination program for the year! 2,500 women and children will be vaccinated in 19 villages throughout the coming year.

During an administrative trip to Mali last year I was fortunate to visit the village of Djemene. It was the first time I witnessed the administration of vaccines. During this visit I met the Samaké family. When asked why she had her children vaccinated, Sabou, the mother, said, "To prevent disease… I see a big difference in the children that are and are not vaccinated. I want my children to grow fast and healthy.”

It is difficult to explain the gratitude that the villagers have for this program. It is truly improving the quality and enjoyment of many lives and is making a long-term difference for thousands of villagers!

Mosquito Nets, Vaccinations & Health Training

Sarah Frank — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:17:21 GMT

In 2006, the Alliance was able to provide 600 new mosquito nets to village families in addition to the 1,150 nets distributed in previous years. Malaria related mortality rates continue to decrease in villages where nets are accessible and education and training for proper use facilitated.

This year, the Alliance was able to purchase vaccinations for $1.75 each. Alliance administered vaccinations include: polio, hepatitis A & B, MMR and yellow fever. Over 7,500 vaccinations were administered to children and women of child bearing ages in 2006.

The initiation of a new AIDS education and training manual began in 2006. The manual will be translated into the local dialect of Bamanakan and introduced to village health care workers in 2007.