Mali receives 39 gavi-funded 4×4 vehicles to boost healthcare access

The Ministry of Health and Social Development in Mali has officially taken delivery of 39 all-terrain 4×4 vehicles, valued at 689 million CFA francs. These vehicles are set to enhance the nation’s healthcare infrastructure, particularly improving access to critical services like vaccination in remote and underserved regions. The handover ceremony took place at the Ministry’s headquarters in the administrative district of Bamako.

This significant contribution stems from a robust partnership between Mali’s Ministry of Health and the Gavi Alliance, a global vaccine alliance. Speaking at the event, the Minister of Health, Assa Badiallo Touré, emphasized the ongoing nature of this collaboration. “This isn’t the first or the last time we’ll receive support,” she stated, recalling that in 2023, 68 vehicles were acquired for COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, financed by the World Bank. She also revealed plans for additional equipment deliveries in 2026.

Highlighting the vehicles’ role, the minister noted, “These new 4x4s will significantly bolster our operational capacity to deliver health interventions, especially vaccination drives.” She urged recipients and drivers to prioritize meticulous maintenance, stressing the importance of preserving these assets amid current challenges as the ministry continues to expand its service vehicle fleet.

Fosca Giulidori, UNICEF Representative in Mali, underscored the symbolic weight of the occasion. “This isn’t just about handing over keys—it’s a powerful gesture of international solidarity, reflecting Gavi’s unwavering commitment to accelerating global immunization and ensuring equitable vaccine access,” she remarked. She described the vehicles as lifelines for Mali’s healthcare system, enabling the transport of vaccines and medical supplies to the most isolated health centers, deploying mobile health teams to hard-to-reach communities, and reinforcing immunization, nutritional monitoring, and essential healthcare services for vulnerable populations.