Family Medicine for internally displaced persons in Mali: A training of trainers approach

Abstract

Mali is currently experiencing a polycrisis, characterised by the interplay of growing socio-political insecurity, massive population displacements and recurrent tensions in the functioning of the health system and the provision of care. In this context, the multidisciplinary teams of University Community Health Centres (CSCoM-Us), primary health care facilities, have expressed the desire to strengthen their skills to better meet the needs of the internally displaced persons who frequent their facilities. To address this demand, training workshops were co-constructed by a team of family physicians (FPs), combining the experiential knowledge of local teams with the expertise of partners from the Université de Sherbrooke. A Training of Trainer (ToT) programme, consisting of training provided by central-level trainers to local-level practitioners, was developed and deployed. Five priorities were identified by local partners: continuity of care, maternal health, gender-based violence, mental health and working with a language barrier. From 2022 to 2023, this training was implemented in Mali’s seven CSCOM-Us, reaching 277 health professionals in five regions of the country. The outcomes include increased awareness of the challenges faced by internally displaced persons and strengthening local capabilities. This short report highlights the strategic role and leadership played by FP in improving the population’s health, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, through their versatility and community-oriented, holistic and patient-centred approach.