Mam Diara Douf holds her newborn child at Institut d’Hygiene Social hospital in Dakar, Senegal. Photo © Dominic Chavez

The Obama administration is expanding its Global Health Initiative from eight to 29 countries.

And two of the new entries are MLI partner countries: Sierra Leone and Senegal.

The first round of eight “GHI Plus” countries had included MLI’s three other partner countries, Ethiopia, Mali, and Nepal.

The inclusion of Sierra Leone was particularly significant in that the United States historically has not played as large a role in development issues in the West African nation as the United Kingdom. It marks an affirmation of Sierra Leone’s continued rise from more than a decade of civil war and follows the 2010 introduction of free health care for pregnant women, mothers who are breast feeding their children, and children under the age of five.

In comparison, the United States has decided to delay putting together GHI strategies in nations that are embroiled in conflict such as Afghanistan or that are just emerging from war such as the new nation of South Sudan, according to Katherine “Kemy” Monahan, GHI’s deputy executive director. She said GHI strategies for those countries are still far off.

Mali was the first francophone country selected as part of the initial eight GHI countries. The addition of Senegal and Benin reflects GHI’s expanded focus in francophone West Africa. Both Senegal and Mali, along with the three other MLI partner countries, have strongly advocated for greater country ownership of health programs, which is one of GHI’s leading principles.

The country GHI strategies for Sierra Leone and Senegal are now under review. They are expected to be released later this year.

The original eight “GHI Plus” countries are Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nepal, and Rwanda.

The 21 countries in the second round are Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Georgia, Indonesia, Lesotho, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Ukraine, Vietnam, Botswana, Cambodia, Mozambique, Benin, South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Dominican Republic, Philippines, and Swaziland. Some information on eight of the countries can be found here.