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[EMBARGOED until 7 May 2018] [RELEASE OBTAINED] Mother Masibiry Koné, 34, holds her daughter Malado Diarra, 16 days old, at the community health center of Koumatou, Mali on 8 March 2018.

Malado Diarra, girl, born on 20 February 2018; weight at birth: 3 kg. Malado was born without complications and in good health. Her youngest sibling contracted malaria as a toddler, but thanks to the clean water and hygiene trainings provided by UNICEF in the health facility, she was less at risk of getting this dangerous disease or infections. Her mother, Masibiry Koné, 34 lives in the village of Koumantou, Mali. She is married to Adama Diarra, 55 (father of the baby). The family is farming rice and peanut for living. They have 4 children - ages 13, 8, 4 and the baby.

Masibiry Koné says:
“I was happy when I saw her for the first time. I want her to be healthy. I dream of being able to save money for her, so that when I’m not there anymore, she will continue to be well. When the baby came, I was in so much pain – I thought I was going to die in the car driving me to the hospital. But as soon as she was born and we locked eyes, she started crying. I was so happy. After the delivery, they put her on my chest. It was wonderful to feel her there. It’s such a wonderful part of giving birth. I look forward to it every time. Then, they wiped her and washed me before I went back to bed – my chest, my body, all the blood after the delivery. After they washed me, I felt so much better because I felt healthier. Good hygiene is essential to our health. My 4-year-old, then a 2-year-old, once had a case of malaria. At the health clinic, they told me a lack of hygiene and mosquitos had caused it. When I went back home, I got rid of all dirty water sources. Since then, nobody has fallen ill. Finally, to assure the health of your babies, you must also vaccinate them. Before the vaccination programmes, some diseases existed in the area, but now they have disappeared. All the women who vaccinated their babies have healthy children. I advised neighbours to do so, and even convinced a few who were reluctant. More and more women came to me for advice. I told them, “A shot and maybe a brief fever are better than falling dangerously ill.”

In Mali, the neonatal mortality rate is 31 per 1,000 live births (2016, IGME data). Sikasso region has a neonatal mortality rate of 35 per 1,000 live births – slightly above the national average. Most newborns die from perinatal asphyxia, neonatal infections or prematurity. These deaths are largely preventable. UNICEF became active in Mali in 1986, but still faces steep challenges – specifically, the ratio of qualified health personnel per inhabitant is too low. In Koumantou, for example, there is only one doctor, trained by UNICEF, to serve the entire population. One midwife, one nurse, three health workers and two vaccination agents assist him. In addition, Mali has one of the world’s highest child marriage rates. Around one in seven girls marries before the age of 15, and 71 per cent by 18. Also, 91 per cent of women aged 15–49 is circumcised, increasing the risk of deadly infections – most of them before the girls reach the age of 5. Child mothers’ babies are more vulnerable: If a mother is under 18, her baby is more than twice as likely to die than an infant born to an adult mother (older than 19). But thanks to UNICEF interventions, most recently, many lives have been saved – in Koumantou and Bougouni, neonatal mortality numbers have gone down.

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2018

COUNTRIES:

Mali

Unique identifier:

UN0201111

Source name:

Ilvy Njiokiktjien VII Photo

Document Date:

March 08, 2018

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