Location: Sahel - Niger, Mali, Burkino Faso

Situation:

The Sahel region has very high infant and maternal mortality rates, and is also exposed to recurrent nutritional crises. A guarantee of access to healthcare - in both geographical and financial terms - is essential to improve the overall health of these populations. The three target districts are similar in geographic and demographic profile.

Activities:

Doctors of the World (DOW) is fighting for better financial accessibility of primary healthcare. Based on our experience over several years in Keita district, in Niger, we would like, for the first time, to develop a programme across three different countries where the challenges are similar. We are working in partnership with the health district administrative teams to improve the management in each district, and to optimise the use of existing equipment and human resources. We plan to equip, train and supervise the 54 health centres involved in the programme. Local initiatives to improve financial access to healthcare will be documented and used to lobby different levels of the health system and international donors.

Outlook:
A health economics survey will provide a better analysis of the detailed functioning on each district involved in the programme. The results will enable us to propose new management and finance mechanisms,  adapted to the context and according to locally defined priorities. The activities will begin in Mali and Burkina Faso.

We have temporarily suspended nutrition and health services due to fighting in Northern Mali as of February 2012