International Medical Corps has been operating in Mali since 2013, following political instability and a coup de d’etat that caused mass displacement and disruption to many public systems, including healthcare.
Childhood immunization rates in Mali have increased by nearly 20% since 2001, while the under-five mortality rate has decreased by 50%. Even greater progress has been made in the reduction of under-five mortality from diphtheria, measles and tetanus, with declines of more than 75% since 2001. Despite this progress, less than half of Malian children have received all essential vaccines. Immunization coverage varies widely across regions, partly because of regional conflicts that disrupt parts of the health system, including routine children’s immunization. A resurgence of conflict in northern regions of Mali has created persistent challenges in the delivery of essential health services, further exacerbating gaps in immunization coverage.
It is particularly difficult to reach under- or unvaccinated children in conflict-affected areas, as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs) and those living in nomadic communities. Identifying approaches to monitoring and reaching these children is essential to achieving complete and equitable vaccination coverage in Mali, especially in the Gourma Rharous health district.
Through the ECHO project in the northern regions of Mali (Timbuktu and Gao), International Medical Corps organizes mini-vaccination campaigns to reach under- and unvaccinated children, as well as IDPs and those living in nomadic communities in conflict-affected areas.
Aichata Almoustapha is 49 years old, married and the mother of four children. She and her children had severe malaria without any available treatment. She was struggling to get healthcare due to the deterioration of local health infrastructure, a lack of financial resources and the lack of nearby health centers.
The International Medical Corps mobile medical unit (MMU) provided treatment for malaria and vaccinations from qualified health professionals to Aichata and her children at no cost. “I just want to thank International Medical Corps,” Aichata says. “Thanks to them, I feel happy and very reassured about the state of my health and the immunity of my children to different diseases because they were able to benefit from vaccination. With the arrival of this International Medical Corps project, we have hope for the health of desperate populations and especially for our children to grow up in good health. This project is a real hope for us.”
