Beceya

The ultimate objective of ‘Improving the Environment of Care for Mothers and Children attending Health Facilities’, also known as BECEYA (meaning ‘hygiene’ in Bambara – the local language), is to improve access to quality basic services that are environmentally compatible and that meet the needs of the populations of Mali.

Therefore, CCISD and its Malian partners contribute to improving hygiene behaviours and biomedical waste management (BMWM) practices in health facilities of the Kayes, Ségou and Sikasso regions.

While including gender issues, BECEYA aims to achieve the following results:

• Providing health facilities with infrastructure and equipment (water sources, latrines, solar power, incinerators, etc.), as well as training workshops to ensure their adequate use, maintenance and repair;
• Supporting the implementation of BMWM systems that respect Malian and International norms for health centres;
• Strengthening the capacities of health facilities’ staff and other local resources involved in environmental hygiene and sanitation through various training and awareness-raising activities;
• Strengthening the capacities of the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene of Mali (central and decentralized levels) to promote and support compliance with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) standards as well as BMWM practices;
• Strengthening the capacities of regional health authorities to contribute to improving national health programs and creating efficient and sustainable inter-regional synergies.

The quality of healthcare services is greatly weakened by deficient sanitation and hygiene practices. This project will help to overcome major shortcomings of the Mali health system, especially the lack of power sources, clean water, hygiene and sanitation as well as effective management of biomedical waste. Overall, more than 4 million people will benefit from the project’s activities.