The main objective of SDC's public health programme in Mali is to encourage the decentralization of medical services and to bring them under the direct management of local communities, groups and regions. To achieve this, the SDC contributes to improve local health facilities (community health centre, group and regional hospitals) and the system of social welfare, and invests particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the supply of essential medicines, the training of nursing staff, the support of community health associations and favouring traditional medicine.

Sociomedical aid programme, Mali-Switzerland (PASS-MS)

Since 1978 Switzerland has been providing support for Mali’s healthcare system in the Sikasso region of the country in the form of an institutional aid programme that forms an integral part of the Malian health system.

The development by Mali, in 1991, of a healthcare and population policy based on community involvement, cost recovery and the availability of essential medicines resulted in a refocusing of the programme’s activities on the Circles (regions) of Kadiolo and Sikasso. In its current phase, the programme is widening its remit to consider health as just one - albeit central - factor among a number of social development factors. The programme is concerned both with the social determinants of health and actual health and hygiene factors. It consolidates the results achieved in the preceding phases and is being extended in an integrated manner to include what the people themselves deem to be priority areas of social development.

The programme objectives are in line with the objectives of Mali’s healthcare and social development policies:

• General objectives: improve the social and health situation of the inhabitants of the Sikasso region and increase their involvement in the management of public affairs (governance).
• Specific objectives: strengthen community-based organizations to encourage them to play a major role in sociomedical development and consolidate the health system in the Sikasso region so that it can provide quality care.

The programme is designed to support local organizations so that they are in a position to undertake, and gain expertise in, activities relating to sociomedical development. The work in the Sikasso region provides support at the following levels:

• In the two Circles of Sikasso and Kadiolo: village (individuals, associations, women's groups, etc.); commune (health centres, community health associations, communal authorities); circle (sociomedical services, communal council, NGOs, etc.);
• At the regional level: the services managed by the Regional Departments of Health, Social Development and Public Finance, Sikasso regional hospital, School of Nursing, associations, federations and NGOs represented at this level.

In addition to its links with public service bodies and community-based organizations in the two circles, the programme also maintains cooperative relationships with other institutions: UNICEF, WHO, Belgian and Dutch partners, Pharmaciens Sans Frontières, Intercoopération, Helvetas.

Total programme funding for the period 1982 to 2001 has increased to CHF 18,900,000. For the current phase, which lasts from 2002 to 2005, the Swiss partner has allocated CHF 4,901,000 for the aid programme.