Vaccinate Children and Prevent NINE Diseases

Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world. The government is unable to provide vaccinations to all its children and infants, particularly in rural areas of Ouelessebougou. The Alliance provides vaccinations for children and infants in its partner’s villages to save life of thousands of children and pregnant women each year. In rural areas, some children still die before their fifth birthday celebration because of the preventive diseases, including measles, polio, yellow fever, tuberculosis, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A and the flu. The Alliance vaccinates pregnant women in the Ouelessebougou region, which save mothers and babies’ lives.

What makes Ouelessebougou Alliance’s vaccination program in our villages is our Health Agents and Matrons. They know everybody in their villages including pregnant women, infants, and children, and are the main actors during vaccination period. They organize vaccinations with the Alliance staff and make sure children, infants and pregnant woman receive the vaccinations they need to prevent them from preventable diseases. Since they come from the same village, our Health Agents and Matrons know where to find those who do not show up for their vaccinations. The Alliance goal is for nobody to be left behind during the vaccination campaigns. These Health Agents have a strong relationship with their people, and villagers trust them because they are part of their communities and they are excited to serve.

The Alliance vaccination program helps villagers to save time and money. They do not need to worry about rides to reach the nearest clinics or walk several miles to see local doctors. Additionally, villagers have limited of the income sources, and most of them live on less than a $1 per day, which is the extreme poverty line. When their children do not get vaccinated, they get sick. As a result, they have to sell their family crops to pay for medical bills, which cause famine, malnutrition, and extreme poverty in their families. The Alliance vaccination programs enables villagers to save money for their children’s schooling, clothes, and food.

Our vaccination program is making a huge difference in our villages. It has an impact on children and women health in the Ouelessebougou region. Several women told me this in their villages: “because of the Alliance vaccinations, our babies and children death is reducing and we are saving money. Children and pregnant women who are vaccinated are healthier than those who are not vaccinated. Vaccinated children do not get sick much and do not miss classes because of illnesses, and they are physically strong. We would like other organizations in our villages to look at the Alliance work as an example of effective program which is saving lives every day.”

The Alliance vaccination is the best way to save children lives in rural areas, alleviate poverty, and give hope to healthy future generations. Thank you for your donation to our vaccination program. You are blessing the lives of many families in Ouelessebougou.