Testing Mobile Clinics in rural Mali: an evaluation

Only 50% of the rural population in Mali have access to Primary Health Care. This clarifies the relatively low vaccination coverage obtained by the Expanded Immunisation Programme. To improve immunisation services for communities living more than five kilometers from local health facilities, the Malian Ministry of Health actively promotes outreach services. But these peripheral structures only have limited means of motorised transport. Since a four-wheeled vehicle is too expensive to purchase as well as maintain, a better alternative may be motorcycles. In an effort to improve transport capabilities at these rural health centres, a South African manufacturer named the Ranger Production Company designed and built a clinic module attached to a side car configuration in a motorcycle. The mobile clinic can comfortably transport two passengers, plus medical equipment and considerable quantities of essential drugs. The machine is also suitable for the emergency medical evacuation of patients.

From January 2006 to January 2007 two mobile clinics were tested in two remote areas in Mali. The areas differed in geography as well as average distance to villages required. The evaluation showed amongst other findings that:

• The mobile clinics have allowed the rural health care centres an easier and more reliable reach in providing health care to communities in distant villages. 
• Health workers and Health Committees appreciate the reliability and low running costs of the mobile clinics. 

The full report, including the overall findings and recommendations, is both available in French and English. For English please click here, for French please click here. For more information on The Ranger Production Company please visit E-Ranger.