Terre des hommes’ experience in Segou, Mali
Authors: Aboubacar Ballo and Brigit Zuber
Photo Credits: Terre des hommes / Amadou Maïga
Mali recorded its first case of Covid-19 on 25th March 2020. The challenges of facing the pandemic coincided with the aggravation of a chronic security crisis in an unstable socio-political context. This multidimensional crisis further weakened Mali’s health system and impedes an adequate response to the pandemic.
Emergency WASH and Covid-19 Intervention of Terre des hommes
On the request of the Ministry of Health in Mali, Terre des hommes, in the framework of the Swiss Water and Sanitation Consortium (SWSC), has proposed an emergency WASH and Covid-19 intervention in the Segou Region. The activities are aligned with Mali’s Covid-19 Response Plan, with the overall objective of limiting the spread of Covid-19 infections in the eight health districts of Segou.
The intervention comprises the following activities:
- Coordination and planning of the Covid-19 response at national level and monitoring of the activities;
- Implementation of Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool (WASH FIT, WHO/UNICEF) in health care facilities to prevent and control infections;
- Rapid provision of low-cost WASH services responding to the needs of the health care facilities and the communities;
- Implementation of a hygiene campaign to promote good handwashing practices with the innovative, water-recycling handwashing stations “Gravit’eau”.
WASH FIT to Prevent Infections
WASH FIT is a practical guide developed by WHO and UNICEF for improving quality of care through water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities. During the Covid-19 intervention of Terre des hommes, the capacities of health centre managers were strengthened using the WASH FIT tool, adapted to the Covid-19 context. A participatory service improvement and monitoring plan was developed in each targeted health centre.
Supporting Communities to Fight the Pandemic
Terre des hommes also provided new water and sanitation infrastructure and rehabilitated infrastructure in need of renewal. In line with the priorities of Mali’s Covid-19 action plan and specific needs of health care facilities and vulnerable communities, access to basic services has been improved through the provision of water points, hand-washing stations, sanitation facilities adapted for people with reduced mobility and equipped for menstrual hygiene management.
As a result of these interventions, the ten most under-resourced health centres in the Segou Region now provide “basic” WASH services to 24,000 people per nationally and internationally recognised standards.
Left: Latrine of the Health Centre Zanabougou before the intervention
Below: Latrine of the Health Centre Zanabougou after the intervention
Moreover, Terre des hommes provided capacity building activities in health care facilities on infection prevention and control. The national level is now using updated WASH tools for Infection Prevention and Control. Furthermore, a Covid-19 prevention and case management system has been established in all health centres in the Segou Region in accordance with WHO guidelines and the national protocol. Thus, all health centre in the region now have a clinical referral system to manage Covid-19 cases.
Providing Reliable Information About Covid-19
Terre des hommes collaborated with the National Centre for Information, Education and Communication for Health (CNIECS) to produce posters and banners to raise awareness about Covid-19. These materials were used to relay the official messages and combat rumours and stigma surrounding the pandemic. The information campaign was carried out with the intervention of the local media as well as mixed mobile teams, consisting of health workers, Terre des hommes staff and community members.
More than 100,000 people have been reached by official messages on the prevention of risks related to Covid-19, including 25,000 vulnerable people in sites for internally displaced persons.
"We do not have access to television or radio. This awareness campaign "sono mobile" helped us to realise the existence of Covid-19 thanks to official information, to know the symptoms and the measures for prevention. We were very worried and anxious but access to information prevented us from being infected.”
Aminata DEMBELE, Bousin, Region of Segou
Terre des hommes Shared their Learnings in the AGUASAN Community of Practice
Terre des hommes also presented these achievements and best practices at the quarterly AGUASAN meeting in March 2021. AGUASAN, the most longstanding community of practice in the water sector based in Switzerland, contributes to knowledge sharing among water professionals and wider development specialists.