Siribala, Mali - In this village 200 miles north of the capital Bamako, Femakan Sissoko, 64, stands as a symbol of what Mali wants for all its citizens.

Last year, Sissoko joined a cooperative called a "mutuelle," which for a relatively small fee would provide him and his 14 family members health insurance for the next year. Sissoko couldn't sign up fast enough.

As published in Global Health Magazine, April 23, 2010.

MLI is working with the Ministry of Health and Prevention in Senegal to refine its health sector-wide approach (SWAP) and to develop new formulas for allocating resources to the district and hospital levels. As a part of the 2009 action plan, two studies were undertaken around these focus areas and the reports are currently in the validation phase. Two separate delegations undertook study tours in 2009 in order to learn more about the sector-wide approach and resource allocation criteria: to Mali in August and to Rwanda in October. Each mission had different exchanges and priorities; however, we drew some major conclusions and learned lessons that will help the Ministry with its progress on the reforms underway in Senegal.