Clinic

THE PROJECT

The Community Health Center of Sikoro-Sourakabougou (CSCOMSISOU), an MHOP-sponsored community clinic, opened its doors in April 2010 to an enthusiastic crowd of neighborhood residents and local dignitaries. The 7-room community clinic provides treatment and prevention for 52 health problems and diseases, covering 90% of all health needs. Although the construction of this clinic was approved over 25 years ago by the Malian government, the project was never realized; now the clinic will serve a quarter of a million people in several under-served neighborhoods on the outskirts of Bamako. Once the second building (a maternity ward) is completed through the financial support of the Malian government, we anticipate 60,000 visits a year.

THE INNOVATION

* Government and community co-funding. Instead of building a clinic without local support, we organized the community to secure government financing for 50% of total construction costs. In addition, Sourakabougou neighborhood residents donated close to $1,500, a huge sum in the local currency.

* Community management. Neighborhood residents elected a committee to run the clinic, developed an architectural plan for construction, secured a piece of public land for the project, fundraised for construction costs, supervised the hiring of medical personnel, and now oversee the operations of the clinic!

* New healthcare delivery methods. Our clinic will test new tactics to improve the coverage and quality of care, including primary dental care, and malnutrition and malaria treatment. MHOP will also use this clinic as a trial site for innovative health-financing and technological interventions to improve health access and to reduce child morbidity and mortality.

Nurses insert an IV.

Ni i ye fariololabana sidon, a furakeli te i konogan.

Once you know your ailment,
curing it won't create much anxiety.

-- Bambara proverb

Make a donation to help the clinic.

Fund one clinic visit for $3.22.

Donate a blood cuff - or $60 to purchase one.

Educate 1000 people through theater with $500.