We’re partnering with Mali Health for a 3rd project, a savings and loan program that will help women in Mali pay for their family’s health care. In small groups, these women can both learn and practice saving and investing, all while addressing their family’s health care needs.

Why Mali?

Too often families get sick because they cannot afford the costs of care. Unexpected health care costs can drive poor families deeper into poverty every day. The United Nations lists Mali as one of the least-developed nations in the world, and with this kind of extreme poverty, comes many health concerns for families.

Mali Health works with the poorest families in Bamako, many of whom survive on less than $1.50 per day. With such limited resources, these families cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs of health care, so they often go without even the most basic services. As a result, Mali is consistently ranked among the four worst places to be born or give birth. One in 26 women will die due to complications arising from pregnancy or childbirth, and 1 in 8 children will not live to see their fifth birthday. These deaths can and are being prevented by helping women and their families overcome the financial barrier to primary health care.

ODW + Mali Health 

This project will allow 1,500 women to participate in savings and loan groups. Through this program, women will gather weekly or bi-weekly to contribute a small amount of money into two savings boxes. From one, women take small, no-interest loans to pay for health care expenses. From the other, they can take small loans at a rate set by their group to support income-building activities like starting or expanding a small business. At every stage, the women are in charge. They decide together how much each member contributes to their groups and establish their own groups’ rules.

Your gift to this campaign will help these women access health care for their families by ensuring that every woman has the resources she needs when she needs them.