Enhancing health systems in fragile Sahel communities: key achievements

Significant Achievements

Between 2018 and 2024, notable progress was made, with the following key outcomes:

• Expanded and Enhanced Health Services: In both Mali and Mauritania, over 5 million individuals, with women constituting half of this number, gained access to fundamental health services. This significantly surpassed the initial target of 3.65 million people. Health centers within the designated areas across both nations substantially elevated the standard of care through upgraded equipment, improved staff training, and more effective patient management strategies. 

• Maternity Care Services: Within Mali’s conflict-affected regions, the proportion of expectant mothers attending vital prenatal visits nearly tripled, rising from 13% to 38%. Concurrently, Mauritania recorded 160,000 childbirths assisted by qualified healthcare professionals, exceeding its set objective by 20%.  

• Pediatric Care Services: Mali delivered 1.17 million health consultations for children under five, addressing common ailments such as malaria, respiratory infections, and diarrhea. In Mauritania, more than 200,000 children received vaccinations, tripling the original target, and approximately 5 million medical consultations were provided to children under the age of five. 

• Nutritional Support Services: Mauritania successfully provided nutritional assistance to 750,000 women and children, making significant strides in combating malnutrition. 

• Access to Healthcare: By the project’s conclusion, 460,000 vulnerable individuals in Mali had obtained free access to essential health services. In Mauritania, over one million complimentary health services were extended to at-risk populations, including refugees, and 81% of targeted vulnerable households received financial aid to facilitate their access to medical care. 

• Family Planning Initiatives: Mali witnessed an almost threefold increase in contraceptive use among adolescent girls, climbing from 5.8% to 15.3%. In Mauritania, the number of women utilizing modern contraceptive methods surged dramatically, from approximately 9,000 to over 240,000, far exceeding the initial goal.