Mali– Overview of Country Activities:
In 2004, the Institute provided long-distance
assistance along with informational and support
materials at the request of the Ministry of Health
and the USAID mission in Mali to start introducing
the Standard Days Method (SDM) in the country.
The Ministry then took the lead in incorporating
the SDM into their reproductive health policies
and norms. To help start conversation about and
gain support for family planning, the Policy Project
(Constella Futures) started using CycleBeads®
in its awareness and advocacy campaigns among
religious leaders and men.
In August 2006, the USAID mission invited the
Institute to work with the Ministry and other
partners to integrate the SDM and the Lactation
Amenorrhea Method (LAM) into the country’s
method mix. Fifty- four national and regional
trainers were trained on the SDM. Between September
and December 2006, thirty four district trainers
and seventy-two providers were trained in Gao
and Kidal, and plans are underway to train providers
in the remaining seven regions of the country.
Until 2002 LAM was available in a select number
of nutritional programs. Since then there have
been no large scale efforts to offer LAM services.
The Institute is working with the Ministry to
reintroduce the method as an effective option
for spacing pregnancies and one that will help
breastfeeding women transition to other family
planning methods. The province of Koulikoro was
chosen in consultation with the Ministry and USAID
Mali, to pilot LAM introduction. A total of 42
trainers and supervisors have been trained.
Photo Gallery:
Partners:
- Ministry of Health’s
Division of Reproductive Health (DSR)
- Keneya Ciwara Project/CARE (PKC)
- National Office of Family Health
- National Technical Assistance Program
- Save the Children
- Association de Soutien du Développement
des Activités de Population (ASDAP)
- Group Pivot/ Santé Population
(GP/SP)
- Direction des Pharmacies du Mali
(DPN)
- Institut National de Formation
en Science de la Santé (INFSS)
Country Update
SDM and LAM introduction efforts continue to
have a sustained level of interest and support
from policy makers, program managers and clients.
LAM will be introduced in all 9 Districts of Koulikoro,
comprising approximately 120 CSCOMs or clinics.
At least two providers from each CSCOM will be
trained to offer the method. Provider trainings
are scheduled for January and February 2007.
The Institute will work with the Ministry to
train SDM trainers and providers in the 250 CSCOMs
covered by the Keneya Ciwara Project and will
assist in the training of at least 4000 community-based
distributors. To create awareness and demand for
the method, the Institute will collaborate with
partners, including PSI, to develop an IEC strategy.
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