By Katie Bouthwell, Mali Rising Research Intern
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken all of us by storm, and Mali is no different. I looked at a few organizations and their assistance to Mali or countries surrounding Mali as well as some of the COVID-19 facts in the region.
The current statistics of COVID-19 cases in Mali remain at 1,667 cases and 96 deaths (update: 1,890 cases and 107 deaths as of June 17 according to John Hopkins), these numbers being confirmed cases from the government. According to Kujang Amani (id), Mali has lower testing capacity possibility which means the infection rate may be much higher than what is currently known.
A consideration that the World Bank looked at in Mali, as well as much of Africa, is the social norms of caring for elders in society. They noted that in much of Africa it is taboo for the elderly to be institutionalized. These leaves many elders at home which may increase their exposure to risk via younger family members, but may also reduce some of the problems we’ve seen at long-term care facilities in other countries. Another factor that was also touched upon by the World Bank is that the median age in many of these countries is 19.7 years old, where the virus as we have seen targets those with preexisting health conditions, predominately the elderly populations. Conversely, younger people have thus far been less at risk of serious illness or death.
During this pandemic many questions have arisen surrounding the morality of developing a vaccine without targeting vulnerable populations. Stephanie Busari and Barbra Wojazer in the CNN article id) both noted the potential threat to retreating to a colonial mentality as well as pushing ethical boundaries while attempting to create a vaccine, putting individuals at risk. In the region testing capabilities are high but lead to exploitation of already vulnerable populations. While, using tests could lead to a vaccine being created allowing for trials could potentially lead to the exploitation of these individuals.
The World Bank has allocated $25.8 Million USD to support Mali’s response efforts. This support assists in improving access to healthcare services; strengthening screening, detection and treatment of patients; and improving capacities in Mali’s health care facilities. These facilities are in Mali’s capital, not within the rural towns in which our schools reside.
SOURCES:
Stephanie Busari and Barbara Wojazer, “French Doctors’ Proposal to Test Covid-19 Treatment in Africa Slammed as ‘Colonial mentality,’” CNN, April 7, 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/07/africa/french-doctors-africa-covid-19-intl/index.html
“Burkina Faso Reports Sub-Saharan Africa’s First Coronavirus Death as WHO Warns ‘Prepare for Worst,’” France 24, March 19, 2020, https://www.france24.com/en/20200319-burkina-faso-sub-saharan-africa-coronavirus-covid19-death-who-tedros-adhanom-ghebreyesus
