key achievements in Sahel health systems
between 2018 and 2024, remarkable progress has been made in strengthening health systems across the Sahel region. key outcomes include:
expanded and enhanced health services: in both Mali and Mauritania, access to essential health services was provided to over 5 million individuals, with women constituting half of the beneficiaries. this significantly surpassed the initial target of 3.65 million people. health facilities in designated areas within these two nations saw substantial improvements in their quality of care, attributed to upgraded equipment, enhanced staff training, and better patient management strategies.
vital obstetric care: conflict-affected regions of Mali witnessed a threefold increase in essential prenatal visits among pregnant women, rising from 13% to 38%. concurrently, Mauritania recorded 160,000 deliveries assisted by skilled healthcare professionals, exceeding its target by 20%.
improved pediatric services: Mali delivered 1.17 million consultations for children under five, addressing common ailments like malaria, respiratory infections, and diarrhea. in Mauritania, over 200,000 children received vaccinations, tripling the initial goal, and nearly 5 million medical consultation services were provided to children under the age of five.
enhanced nutritional support: in Mauritania, 750,000 women and children benefited from crucial nutritional assistance, significantly contributing to the fight against malnutrition.
equitable access to care: by the project’s conclusion, 460,000 vulnerable individuals in Mali had gained free access to essential health services. in Mauritania, over one million free health services were extended to vulnerable populations, including refugees, and 81% of targeted vulnerable households received financial aid to facilitate their access to healthcare.
advances in birth control: Mali observed an almost threefold increase in contraceptive use among adolescent girls, rising from 5.8% to 15.3%. in Mauritania, the number of women utilizing modern contraception methods surged from approximately 9,000 to over 240,000, far exceeding the initial objective.
