Timbuktu is one of the poorest cities in Mali
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A town famed for its literary festival has won a United Nations-endorsed award for its work with pregnant women in the African city of Timbuktu. Hay-on-Wye in Powys was twinned with the city in Mali in 2007. Hay2Timbuktu was set up to help people in the country and with just £4,500 1,000 women have received free antenatal advice and drugs. Staff at a GPs' surgery in Hay are now raising money to buy a motorcycle for a midwife in Timbuktu. Medics4Timbuktu, a sub group of Hay2Timbuktu, said the Powys town had won two UN gold star communities awards in the categories of health and livelihoods. The group funded free antenatal classes and drugs for women at a Timbuktu health clinic after raising money. 'Spin off' Families in Mali have to pay for healthcare and as a result few pregnant women use the city's clinics, said Dr Julie Grigg, who is a GP in Hay and part of Medics4Timbuktu. Dr Grigg added: "The health group has had some really impressive results improving access to antenatal care - from 300 to 1000 in one year - and as a spin off a big increase in the number of women giving birth with a qualified birth attendant. "This should hopefully lead to a reduction in the death rate for mums in Timbuktu. "We also gave away free iron and folic acid supplements and provided people with health education about HIV and Aids, the importance of washing your hands before eating and other basic hygiene issues." The project has also been featured on a radio programme in Timbuktu. Motorcycle "No-one has televisions in Mali, but everybody listens to the radio, so we were able to get our message across in a programme," added Dr Grigg. Staff at her surgery are now busy raising money for a motorcycle for a midwife. "In Mali, a woman cannot leave the house for 40 days after giving birth. It's a cultural issue," said Dr Grigg. "By buying a motorcycle a midwife will be able to visit mothers at home." The Wales Council for Voluntary Action, which co-ordinates the gold star awards, confirmed Hay had been successful. The awards will be presented to Hay2Timbuktu, and to other groups from Wales working overseas, at a ceremony in Cardiff on St David's Day.
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