Mali Children's Hospital Challange
The Great Need in Mali
Mali, West Africa, has recently drawn attention because of the desperate status of health care. The WHO recently listed it as one of the most needy countries in this regard. Women often die in childbirth, and and children aren't expected to live past age 5. Mali is considered one of the worst places to be an expectant mother, but all of this is changing thanks in a great part to the Koutiala Women and Children's Hospital (Hospital Femmes Et Enfants).Over the past 50 years, 6 clinics have been established in Mali, however the medical staff were repeatedly frustrated in trying to get adequate specialized care for patients. The closest hospitals were all in Bamako, Mali's capital, several hours away from any of the clinics.
A Major Step in the Right Direction
In response, the Christian & Missionary Alliance and National C&MA church have partnered to create a hospital for women and children in Koutiala. The hospital doesn't have enough labor and delivery rooms - in fact, it's not unusual for several women to share a delivery room. There are only 17 beds in the whole hospital, so women also end up giving birth on the floor.
The construction of a new wing is scheduled to begin next summer. Naturally, equipment will be needed for each of the delivery and surgical rooms. There are many other needs that this new hospital has to better care for the patients it seeks to treat.
The Koutiala Hospital is making a big difference and is greatly appreciated by the people of Mali. Its presence is also creating a bridge to people who have little exposure to the love of Jesus and little access to information about Him. The hospital is being used to show the love of Jesus through a very practical and vital need the people have for proper medical care. In a land almost twice the size of Texas, it's easy to understand how badly this hospital is needed.