COVID-19 Pandemic Food and Mask Distribution + Education Project

COVID-19 threatens to wreak unimaginable suffering in the Mali where food insecurity and terrorism force much of the population to live on the edge of survival. In response, the Malian government imposed a state of emergency on March 25th. It appears this action has helped slow transmission, although lack of testing makes it harder to measure rates of infection. Furthermore, the lockdown has exacerbated poverty in a country where high birth rates and large family sizes have translated to high incidences of child malnutrition. 

In addition, Malians in Bamako report resistance to social distancing. Despite mandatory masking, photos of last weekend’s protests show huge crowds of bare-faced participants. Groups within the Malian population have created their own narrative about the virus, saying it is “fake news” from the West, blaming the Government or believing it is a punishment from God. Many Malians do not believe Covid-19 can harm them.

In response to malnutrition and the threat of Covid-19, Rubia has teamed up with the Association for Action Research for the Socio-economic Empowerment of Women and Youth, GRAFEJ.  Our Malian sisters have articulated three goals for the Rubia-GRAFEJ collaboration: to educate the population, particularly women, about protection against Covid-19, to mitigate transmission of Covid-19 through the distribution of personal protection equipment (PPE), and to build children’s immunity through better nutrition.

  We will target  the Commune I in the District of Bamako which has not been included in the Malian government’s masks and children’s food distribution programs.  Specific actions include 

  • educating women, youth and local leaders on COVID-19 prevention

  • processing and distributing flour with vitamin-rich components (baobab flour) for children

  • distributing masks and  Sanitary Kits (water and hand sanitizer) 

  • Creation of national radio shows in Bamanan, the local language on COVID-19 prevention through social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands, symptoms, and more

Our target objectives are that

  • 200 women and youth will understand prevention methods

  • 100 women and young people will receive two masks for daily use

  • 500 children will be better nourished from consumption of nutritious cereals

  • Thousands of Malians will learn about COVID-19 through radio shows

Though this program operates on a small scale, we aim for a big impact on families in Bamako and throughout the Republic of Mali.  If you would like to support this project, you can donate via https://www.rubiahandwork.org/donate

Fatou at ppe distribution PHOTO-2020-04-29-12-02-07.jpg
Catherine Rielly