Healthcare access in Mali remains unevenly distributed, with children under five and pregnant women facing significant barriers to essential medical services. The 2012 security crisis further strained an already fragile healthcare infrastructure, leaving many—including war-wounded individuals—without proper care.

In response, Malian authorities have prioritized health sector reforms, despite ongoing security challenges. To bridge these gaps, they launched the country’s first Health and Social Protection Month in November, aiming to expand healthcare access through targeted initiatives and awareness campaigns.

“Improving public health is a top government priority,” acknowledged Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, interim Prime Minister of Mali, during the campaign launch. “I commend Minister Diéminatou Sangaré for this initiative, which will foster dialogue among healthcare stakeholders and beneficiaries to clarify their roles and responsibilities.”

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Child health: a critical challenge

The timing of this initiative couldn’t be more critical. Mali continues to struggle with high child mortality rates—54 deaths per 1,000 live births—while only 45% of infants aged 12-23 months receive all recommended vaccines. Shockingly, 33% of births occur outside health facilities, and one in three children under five suffers from stunted growth.

“Additionally, only 40% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed,” noted Prime Minister Maïga. He highlighted widespread lack of awareness about healthcare and social protection systems as major obstacles to care. Strengthening education and outreach will be essential to improving these dire statistics.