Canada increases access to gender-sensitive health services for women and girls in Mali

News release

August 28, 2019 - Sherbrooke, Quebec - Global Affairs Canada

As part of its strong commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, Canada continues to champion the health and rights of women and girls globally. This includes strengthening health systems so that women and adolescent girls have access to a full range of sexual and reproductive health services and information.

On behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, today announced up to $20 million over the next five years to help improve access to quality health and reproductive services for women and girls in Mali.

The funding is being provided to a consortium that includes the Centre de coopération internationale en santé et développement, the Cégep de Saint-Jérôme and the Université de Sherbrooke. With federal support, the consortium will train more than 2,800 health professionals, managers and trainers in the Bamako, Kayes, Koulikoro, Ségou and Sikasso regions on gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The project will also contribute to building the capacity of managers responsible for the Malian government’s human resources management to improve the performance of the health system.

Quotes

“This initiative represents a great opportunity to share expertise between health professionals and make the health system in Mali more gender sensitive. Giving women and girls access to improved health services will allow them to gain better control over their bodies and lives, empowering them to reach their full potential.”

- Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“Investing in women’s and girls’ health benefits everyone. Women and girls that who are in control of their bodies and make their own decisions become empowered in other spheres of their lives, contributing meaningfully to their families and communities and helping to build a better world.”

- Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality

Quick facts

  • In March 2017, Canada announced $650 million over three years to address gaps in sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world.

  • In June 2019, Canada reaffirmed its commitment by announcing that it would raise its funding to reach $1.4 billion annually, starting in 2023, to support sexual and reproductive health rights and maternal, newborn and child health.

  • In the fiscal year 2018 to 2019, Canada contributed to strengthening Mali’s health system and improving health services by supporting the training of 1,260 paramedics and doctors, including 795 women, in the skills-based approach. In addition, 300 nurses and midwives (almost 60% of whom are women) graduated that year.

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