We started the day at the first regional health center in Bamako, the capital of Mali.  The center specializes in maternal and child health.  We toured the family planning, labor/delivery, neonatal, pediatric and gyn surgical units.  We received an overview of the national health structure as well as connections with organizations such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

We then met with representatives of the National Direction of Health.  We learned about the country's reproductive health division's initiatives including adolescent reproductive health care, sexually transmitted infections/HIV/AIDS prevention and emergency obstetric care to prevent fistula - a condition that leaves women unable to control their urine and bowel contents due to an obstructed labor without access to caesarean services. 

Delegation members with AMPPF’s Peer Educators

We started the day at AMPPF's headquarters.  Today was a very exciting day for the association.  Bristol Myers Squibb provided funding for a lab complete with HIV testing equipment.  An elaborate celebration was held, where, we too, were introduced.  We then visited the Ministry of Health.  The priorities identified included the elimination of female genital cutting/circumcision - FGC - and the need for family planning as well as assisted labor services.

We continued on to the Ministry of Social Development where we learned about microcredit initiatives for single women.  Many of these women were abandoned by their families after experiencing obstetric fistula. We then met with the President of Parliament.  He was the former Prime Minister.  He is a big supporter of women’s empowerment, family planning and AMPPF.  Footage from our meeting, the morning celebration and an interview with the President/CEO of PPSNJ was aired on international news.

We started the day at the Malian Association for the Monitoring and Orientation of Traditional Practices.  The association has been successful at eradicating FGC in 30 villages.  It also assists women who have experienced complications due to FGC.  Despite all this important work, the agency faces severe funding cuts often. 

We then visited the new National Council on HIV/AIDS.  We learned about funding cuts to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria.  As a result, there has been a need to divert prevention funds in Mali to treatment - decreasing the number of people receiving education.  Yet a recent study indicated that 50 percent of women do not know how to protect themselves and 75 percent of young people do not think they are at risk for HIV/AIDS.

We continued on to USAID.  We learned that the fertility rate in Mali has risen recently to 6.7 children per women and less than 6 percent of women use modern forms of contraceptives.  We concluded the day by visiting with representatives of the UNFPA.  The UNFPA is at risk of losing funding because the U.S. has not contributed to the fund since 2001 based on false allegations of forced sterilizations/abortions in China. 

Women recovering from

surgery, Point G Hospital

We started at the World Health Organization (WHO).  We learned about WHO's initiatives including providing reproductive health technical assistance and supplies as well as advocacy efforts with the government and donors.  We continued on to the Ministry of Youth and discussed the ministry's collaboration with the UNFPA to provide reproductive health services and education. 

We then met with representatives of the Economic, Cultural and Social Council.  The council conducts needs assessments throughout the country and advocates for governmental support.  We visited Point G Hospital which provides treatment for women who have experienced obstetric fistulas.  This was a very moving experience as we spent time talking to the women as well. 

We met with staff of the Association for the Progress and Defense of Women's Rights.  The organization works on many issues within the community including FGC, violence and obstetric fistula.  We also had a discussion with the Public Health Officer of the World Bank.  He is a supporter of reproductive health initiatives and AMPPF.  He hopes to see the bank fund reproductive health projects in the future. 

Lastly, we had the honor of describing the purpose of our mission to Mali with the Mayor of Bamako and the country's Prime Minister.  Our meeting with the Prime Minister was covered by the national television station which also interviewed the President/CEO of PPSNJ. 

We started the day at the Association for the Development of Population Activities which has a youth center that provides reproductive health education and services, as well as recreational services including a cyber cafe.  Despite its important work, the USAID is no longer funding the organization and it is at risk of losing funding from the UNFPA.  We continued on to the Pan African Women's Organization.  The agency has identified as priorities access to health care and education.  They lobby according to need at the country level.  The organization also receives funding from the UNFPA which is at risk because of lack of U.S. contribution. 

We then met with representatives of the Ministry for Women, Children and Families.  The ministry advocates for reproductive health services, the eradication of FGC and the UN CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) Treaty implementation.  The U.S. is among the only countries in the world that has not ratified the treaty. 

We visited the National Population Office.  A presentation on the country's strategic plan with regards to reproductive health was provided.  We continued on to Save The Children and learned about the organization's initiatives in Mali including family planning and emergency obstetric services.  Lastly, we visited the Federation of Community Health Centers which represents the 774 clinics across the country.  Many more are needed to accommodate the population's needs. 

PPSNJ Delegation members dressed in traditional attire for Mali’s 1st Annual Zero Tolerance for FGC Day. Outfits included FGC Elimination Message.

We had the privilege of being part of Mali’s first Zero Tolerance for FGC Day.  This day of activism was celebrated across Africa on February 6th.  We were among the 800 people that gathered for a program on the "Role of the Family in the Abandonment of the Practice of FGC". 

We spent the day learning more about our partner, AMPPF, especially about the effects on its funding due to the lack of U.S. contribution to the UNFPA and the global gag rule. According to the global gag rule, international family planning agencies may not receive U.S. funds if they provide abortion services, including counseling or referrals, or lobby to make or keep abortion legal in their own country, even with their own non U.S. funds.

We started the day with a press conference where we described the purpose of our journey. As a result, we received attention from many media outlets. We continued on to a meeting with the First Lady of Mali. She has a strong commitment to women’s empowerment and recognizes the connection between access to family planning services and maternal mortality first hand since she is a midwife. She has played a major role in the establishment of Mother and Child Hospitals in several cities in Mali. We had the opportunity to visit the one in Bamako.

We then traveled to Segou where the association has an outreach site. We learned about the HIV testing/counseling and outreach activities conducted. We also visited an HIV center where women are taught handicraft making skills to enable them to sustain themselves.

Women recovering from

surgery-learning handicraft

We visited the association’s outreach site in Mopti as well as the Mayor of the city. We also visited the country’s other hospital which provides treatment for women with obstetric fistulas. The women gain handicraft making skills as they recover from their surgeries.