Vaccinate Children and Prevent NINE Diseases

According to the World Bank, Mali has the sixth-highest infant mortality rate in the world. Rural areas such as Ouelessebougou have rates that are even considerably lower than urban areas such as Bamako and Timbuktu. However, there is cause for optimism, as your donations are beginning to change that statistic.

Our 2016-2017 program year recently ended, and because of the philanthropic spirit and generosity of our donors, we were able to vaccinate 5,543 pregnant women and children over a 12-month span. That is an average of over 15 individuals every single day. In a country with an infant mortality rate of 68 deaths per 1,000 live births, this means that Alliance vaccinations are saving an average of one life every single day. In reality, it is not the Alliance that is responsible,  but it is our generous donors with their contributions from $50 to $5,000, and from $10 to $10,000. Vaccination packages for one child cost approximately $5, meaning that a life can be saved for the cost of a cup of coffee. 

We have already come so far with this project because of your genuine concern for humanity, even for those that reside far away from you. On behalf of the Ouelessebougou Alliance, our Mali and Salt Lake City staff, and the thousands of village children and women who call the Ouelessebougou region home, Happy Holidays and most importantly, thank you. 

From July '16 to June '17, the Ouelessebougou Alliance was able to vaccinate 5,543 children and pregnant women, in partnership with our local health workers. For many villagers, these vaccinations can mean a literal difference between life and death, or the difference between a happy and comfortable life as opposed to one of disease and discomfort. For others, it is a necessary precautionary measure against nine diseases that threaten their life. However, for other villagers, these vaccinations mean much more.

The average individual in Mali lives on approximately $800 a year. This average is even somewhat skewed, when one considers that the earning power of those in Bamako and other metropolitan areas can be significantly higher than their village counterparts, such as those living in our sister villages in Ouelessebougou. 

In other words, many residents of Ouelessebougou are up against much more than nine preventable diseases. They are proactively working to fight againt injustice, generational poverty, disenfranchisement, a lack of economic opportunity, or prejudice. When compared to these issues, the nine preventable diseases can begin to seem like less of an obstacle. However, sustainable change can often start with physical health improvements and education, the two areas which the Alliance has chosen to focus on through our health and education programs. This is why receiving these nine vaccinations is so important, and it is why the Alliance has chosen to focus on improving health and education, the roots of sustainable change. Your donation plays a huge role in creating this sustainable change. Iniche!