Overview:

With a population of just over thirteen million inhabitants, Mali is a west-Arican country whose capital is the city of Bomako. Although the majority of the rural population speak only Bambara, a local dialect, the national language is French which made communication easy and very accessible, particularly in the capital.

HIV / AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases, malaria and the market for counterfeit drugs remains a central concern of the Malian government. Initial assessment was conducted by a team for PSF in 2006 which allowed for an understanding of the needs on the ground to create a larger task force later on with specific targeted goals. This was conducted in collaboration with countless Malian doctors, pharmacists, nurses, pharmaceutical and retail warehouse managers, students and patients.

There are around 300 community pharmacies, of which 200 are in Bamako. Village and Rural areas are serviced by Village Community Health Centres who are in turn serviced by Regional Hospitals.

Objectives:

1. Improve Pharmacy and Warehouse Infrastructures

   • Develop stock management and procurement skills within pharmacies

2. Improve pharmacist-patient relations and communication

   • Particularly involving medication use instructions, etc.

3. In collaboration with local experts, develop and implement training for rural pharmacy and medical staff on relevant health topics

Collaboration:

• Kolokani Regional Hospital, a town located in the Koulikoro region, the distribution warehouse here provide drugs to fifteen village community health centers in the region

• Point G Hospital in the Capital Mali

• Ms. Cissé Djita Dem, President of the Board National Order of Pharmacists of Mali, who introduced us to many local pharmacies, pharmacists, warehouse managers, etc.

Outcomes:

1. Pharmacy and Staff Training and Development

   • Management of medicines and pharmaceutical products requires a team effort and this is especially true for small health centers where there are only one or two health workers. In remote areas, pharmacy management is rarely under the responsibility of a pharmacist, the depot manager must be able to manage all stocks of the establishment.

2. The Pictogram Project: 

   • In an environment where illiteracy affects almost 20% of the adult population and where the population speaks several dialects, delivering and understanding of pharmaceutical advice is a challenge. 

   • The pictograms are small illustrations to explain dosage administration and the particularities of pharmacological treatment. This improves adherence to treatment and aims to ensure optimal transmission of information so that the patient takes his medication properly to achieve the desired results. This project was implemented in several health centers in the rural areas.

3. Training on health topics with the local population or the medical staff: 

   • Several training sessions were given to people, whether children, pregnant women or villagers. These aim at the prevention and treatment of various health problems and health education. Scientific presentations were given to physicians, pharmacists and pharmacy