Community

Located 40km southeast of Bamako, the 5,000 inhabitants of Koungodjan, and the 45,000 inhabitants of the seven neighboring villages, lack access to basic medical services and health information. The closest medical services are in Bamako, 1 ½ hours away traveling over dirt roads. The health problems experienced by the people of these villages are largely preventable. With proper access to information about maternal child care, nutrition, and hygiene, as well as regular visits from medical technicians, the health of these peoples would be improved dramatically. Even if medicines can be obtained from Bamako, there is often no trained medical technician available to administer the medication. The result is unnecessary death and disabilities.