World Vision Mali launches Child Health Now

World Vision Mali led up to its June launch of the Child health Now campaign with a meeting between children and high-level government leaders.

Among the child representatives was a 15-year-old nicknamed Lala*, 2nd Vice President of the Children's Parliament of Mali.

"Despite the progress accomplished in the area of health during the last decade, much remains to be done. Mothers and children continue to die from avoidable diseases: pneumonia, malaria, diarrhoea and neonatal complications," said Lala. She also said that the children of Mali are committed to support "Child Health Now" campaign.

The children called for an increase of the budget allocated to the health sector in accordance with the Abuja commitments. Under the Abuja Declaration in 2001, a number of governments pledged to increase government funding for health to 15 per cent of their national budget.

For Mali, such action is necessary for the country to fully implement planned reforms for the achievement of Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6. These global goals are related to child mortality, maternal health, and HIV, malaria and other diseases.

The children called for the improvement of quality and availability of basic health services for mothers and children, paying particular attention to underprivileged rural areas; the removal of financial, social, cultural and geographical barriers which hinders equitable access to quality health services for children and women; the respect to children’s rights in general and those regarding health in particular for children’s well-being and that of their families and communities; the prevention of avoidable diseases and the availability of vaccines at all levels.

Government representatives reaffirmed the government’s commitment. A representative of the Ministry of Health expressed support for World Vision and for the child representatives and said that Mali had shown its commitment to the health of mothers and children through the free delivery of care in the fight against malaria for children less than five years of age, and free Caesarean sections to women needing them.

*Lala’s real name is not being used on the internet for child protections purposes.