Latest news from Mali
The high cost of living is taking its toll, as are the insecurity issues in the north of the country where the armed wing of Alqida in Maghreb operate. This is negatively affecting the tourist industry and therefore the national income.
Mali is also feeling the impact of the financial crisis, with the treasury having a deficit of more than100 billion CFA francs.
The Minister of Health recently visited all nine health districts in the Koulikoro region where he expressed his pleasure at the impact of the Sightsavers-supported Koulikoro eye programme.
Highlights from our projects
The ophthalmic unit at UMAV (Malian Union of the Blind) was opened, which will not only be used for the care of pupils and students of UMAV but also to all patients requiring these services. We have worked with five schools to raise awareness of this new unit and the services offered there. The unit has already recorded 137 consultations.
43 teachers, principals and special education advisors received training in the assessment of visual acuity.
We also visited 36 visually impaired pupils in schools and 29 children at home with their families, to monitor how they are getting on studying in mainstream schools.
The ‘Working Group on Disability and Development’ met with the High Council of Communities to advocate for the rights of disabled people. In his speech, the Vice President of the High Council promised to encourage the mayors and the local representatives to incorporate the needs of disabled people in their local development plans, mainly access to infrastructure.
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