Today, ESK boasts an enrollment of 532 students, the majority of whom are women. The latest graduating class of 119 new professionals achieved remarkable results:

• 83.33% passed the health technician exams
• 94.54% earned their bachelor’s degrees

This success is the result of a close collaboration between ESK and IntraHealth. By using a competency-based approach and offering a modern, inclusive learning environment, C2C helps to strengthen the skills of nurses, midwives, and health technicians.

INNOVATIVE FACILITIES SUPPORTING FEMALE STUDENTS

According to Dr. Siriman Sissoko, director of ESK, the partnership with IntraHealth has brought fundamental improvements to the school. Among the most impactful is the enhanced mother-and-baby room. 

“This initiative allowed many young mothers to complete their studies,” he says.  

Indeed, having a dedicated space tailored to the needs of pregnant and breastfeeding students has significantly improved female retention in academic programs. Student testimonies confirm this.

Bertin Baya, a graduating health technician, explains: “The baby room had a huge impact and positively influenced the learning experience for many women.” 

ADVANCED EQUIPMENT FOR PRACTICAL, HANDS-ON LEARNING

One of the key strengths of C2C is its investment in equipping skills labs with advanced simulation tools. These allow students to gain hands-on experience in a safe and controlled environment. 

Adiaratou Dembélé, a graduating student, praised the quality of the modern tools made available: “Even before going into the field, we practiced deliveries, injections, and other procedures on highly realistic mannequins provided by the project.” 

Kadiatou Ouattara, another graduate, added: “I learned essential new skills like IV insertion and blood draws.”

In Ségou, on May 24, 2025, the Vicenta Maria Center — another C2C project partner — celebrated the graduation of its 6th and 7th Bachelor of Health Sciences classes and its 25th class of Health Technicians. This was the first graduation since the beginning of Vicenta Maria’s collaboration with IntraHealth under C2C.

Success rates ranged from 88% to 100%, depending on the program.

Aïssata Déborah Kassogué, 22, a student in Ségou originally from Koutiala, shared: “The skills lab helped us understand how to use the equipment. Thanks to it, we know how to find veins and assist in childbirth. The mother-and-baby room lets students stay close to their children, knowing they’re safe. C2C gave me more confidence — I know now I’m ready to care for patients.”

Augustin Yamkoudougou, a full-time instructor and head of the internal quality assurance unit, explained:
“Before C2C, we relied on traditional lectures that didn’t support practical learning. Now, with the competency-based approach, students are at the center. Thanks to the simulation labs and the OOAS harmonized curriculum, we’ve seen major improvements in teaching and learning. The quality assurance cell supported by the project has also strengthened our governance structures.”

COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION IN ACTION

The quality of teaching at ESK has significantly improved thanks to the competency-based approach promoted by C2C. One faculty member explained how her teaching methods have evolved: “Before, we mostly gave theoretical lectures. Now we use demonstrations, case studies, and simulations — and it makes learning much easier.” 

She continued: “When we evaluate students now, we’re truly satisfied with the results compared to before.” 

QUALITY INSTRUCTION FOR ALL

C2C’s inclusive approach has also allowed partner schools like ESK to embed principles of fairness, accessibility, and respect into their daily operations. The project conducted in-depth assessments of institutional needs related to creating welcome and supporting environments and organized workshops to share findings and create action plans. This strategy not only ensures access to quality education for all but also fosters a respectful and safe learning environment.

A MODERN LAB OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY

During the graduation ceremony, an ESK representative highlighted the importance of continued support from technical and financial partners. Their contributions have enabled the establishment of a modern lab now accessible to students, researchers, and even nearby health centers — bridging the gap between education and clinical realities. 

A MODEL FOR HEALTH TRAINING IN THE REGION

Ultimately, the recent graduation ceremonies in Koutiala and Ségou were more than celebrations of individual achievements. They reflected a deep commitment to training highly qualified health professionals, ready to address local and regional health challenges. 

Thanks to C2C, both ESK in Koutiala and Vicenta Maria in Ségou have become benchmarks for health education in Mali. The outstanding results of these graduating classes are clear indicators of the success of this innovative initiative — one that paves the way for a better future not only for health professionals, but also for the communities they serve. 

The post Classroom to Care Equips Mali’s Next Health Leaders appeared first on Global Communities.

Strengthening local health care

so it truly serves the community by putting people first, especially women, children, and those most at risk.

Enhancing the systems behind health

from clinics and supply chains to trained providers — so they can serve their communities, adapt to crisis and change, all while building the foundation for lasting well-being

Supporting frontline health workers

Ensuring frontline health workers like nurses, midwives, and community health workers have access to the skills, resources, and support they need to serve their communities with compassion and confidence.

Using open-source digital tools

real-time data and analytical approaches to support the people at the center of our health systems

Improve health policy

Linking with innovative partners, corporations, regional and local governments, and communities to improve health policy, accountability and seamless care built around individuals and families

Featured Program

INSPiRE: Integrated Health Services in West Africa

In West Africa, limited access to quality care puts women and newborns at high risk during pregnancy and the first months of life. Through the INSPiRE project — implemented with IntraHealth International and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation — Global Communities is helping transform that reality.

The INSPiRE model integrates essential services for mothers, infants, and young children into a single visit, covering prenatal care, safe delivery, postpartum follow-up, immunizations, nutrition, and family planning. This streamlined approach reduces missed opportunities and makes care more accessible for women in remote areas.

Now active in more than 14,000 health facilities across eight countries, INSPiRE has already led to dramatic gains in family planning and well-baby visits. 

Learn More

Global Communities and Partners Launch Familia Imara to Combat Violence and Support Child Development

March 4, 2026

In a major step toward scaling evidence-based solutions for domestic safety, Global Communities officially soft-launched the Familia Imara project in Dar es Salaam in February. This transformative initiative, part of the global “What Works to Prevent Violence: Impact at Scale” (What Works 2) program, convened civil society leaders, researchers, and stakeholders to align on strategies for protecting…

Read More about Global Communities and Partners Launch Familia Imara to Combat Violence and Support Child Development

The Language of Home: How UNIDOS Supports Classroom Success in Guatemala

January 23, 2026

Teaching someone how to read is rarely simple. Helping them want to read takes something even more. At the Yulchén JV elementary school in Guatemala’s Western Highlands, Marta noticed that her first- and second-grade students rarely reached for books on their own. Many of the stories available to them were not written in the languages…

Read More about The Language of Home: How UNIDOS Supports Classroom Success in Guatemala

Digitizing Health Payments: A New Era for Community Health in Tanzania

December 8, 2025

Driving Community Health Systems Resilience Through Financial Inclusion and Smart Coordination In Tanzania, community health workers (CHWs) are often the first point of contact for care, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities — monitoring child growth, preventing the spread of disease, delivering critical health education, and connecting people to lifesaving services. Their support is also…

Read More about Digitizing Health Payments: A New Era for Community Health in Tanzania

• 1
• 2
• 3
• …
• 39
• Next »

The post Global Health appeared first on Global Communities.

The post Transforming Health Worker Training in Mali Using a Competency-Based Approach appeared first on Global Communities.

The post Decentralizing Mali’s Health Workforce Information System appeared first on Global Communities.

The post Using the Optimizing Performance and Quality Approach to Improve Human Resources for Health in Mali appeared first on Global Communities.

The post 10 Years of Obstetric Fistula Care in Mali: A Case Study of Multisectoral, Holistic Treatment for Women and Girls appeared first on Global Communities.