CDC in Mali

Key accomplishments

• Supported the implementation of the 7-1-7 target for early detection, timely reporting, and rapid response to outbreaks.
• Facilitated 49 districts, 7 regional laboratories, and 7 national laboratories to perform diagnostic tests for 13 priority pathogens
• Supported training for nearly 400 field epidemiologists from all regions who graduated from the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) since 2016
• Collaborated in the establishment of a National Public Health Institute (NPHI) in 2019 and supported NPHI in establishing a national public health emergency management training program in 2024
• Supported polio eradication activities such as data management, communication, and surveillance through the Stop Transmission of Polio program

Global health security

CDC supports Mali in achieving the goals outlined in the Global Health Security Agenda and implementing the International Health Regulations. CDC’s global health security work in Mali focuses on strengthening the country’s public health systems across the following core areas:

Workforce development

Since 2016, CDC has supported training scientists through FETP. Participants learn to gather critical data and turn it into evidence-based action. Through FETP, CDC strengthens Mali’s workforce capacity to identify and stop outbreaks before they spread. Mali implements FETP Intermediate and Frontline, and Malian candidates participate in FETP Advanced in Burkina Faso, Togo, Morocco and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Most of the FETP Advanced graduates are in MOH leadership or FETP training support positions.

Emergency response

With CDC technical assistance, a national health Emergency Operations Center was established to test, detect, and rapidly respond to public health emergencies. CDC collaborated with the MOH to establish NPHI in 2019. CDC works with NPHI and the MOH to build capacity in leadership in public health emergency management through training programs.

CDC helps develop guidance on incident management systems and operations, including concepts of operations documents, the Emergency Operations Center Handbook, and standard operating procedures. CDC has also collaborated with the West Africa Health Organization, and other partners to conduct simulation exercises to test and improve the capacity for Malian health authorities to respond to cross border health emergencies.

During the COVID-19 response, CDC provided support coordinating the response. CDC also enhanced the country’s capacity to respond to future outbreaks by procuring laboratory equipment for key laboratories.

Surveillance systems

CDC helps strengthen Mali’s disease surveillance systems to better track and respond to health threats through the following activities:

• Working with partners to train district surveillance officers on the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response framework
• Supporting implementation of the 7-1-7 target (identify suspected outbreaks within 7 days of emergence, initiate investigation and response within 1 day, and efficiently respond within 7 days)

Laboratory systems strengthening

CDC supports the MOH and NPHI by providing:

• Technical assistance and coordination of partners operating in Mali
• Financial support to reinforce specimen referral and transport across tiered laboratory networks, decentralizing diagnostic testing for priority diseases
• Implementation of genomic surveillance and external quality assessment proficiency testing for priority diseases
• Training on biosafety and biosecurity
• Mapping partner lab systems
• Strengthening of preparedness for disease detection
• Decentralization of molecular diagnostic capacity to four regions
• Bioinformatics strengthening
• Training program development for laboratory personnel at each level of the health pyramid
• Training on Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) to accompany the national laboratory system towards accreditation
• Provision of laboratory reagents and supplies for diagnosis of epidemic-prone diseases

Malaria

Malaria is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in Mali, particularly among children under five years of age. CDC has collaborated with partners in Mali to support implementation of malaria prevention and control activities since 2008. Mali’s malaria control strategy emphasizes specific epidemic and entomological surveillance and universal coverage of key malaria interventions, as well as targeted operational research.

Influenza

CDC works with Mali’s Center for Vaccine Development (CVD-Mali) to help build surveillance and laboratory capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to influenza threats. Surveillance is being conducted using sentinel sites in two regions and in the capital city of Bamako.

Polio

CDC, in collaboration with the African Field Epidemiology Network and other partners, provides technical support to strengthen surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis in the high-risk health districts of Nioro, Bougouni, and Kignan.

Meningitis

CDC has a long history of collaboration with the Mali MOH on meningitis prevention and control. Activities include:

• Technical support and evaluation of the 2010-2011 MenAfriVac mass vaccination campaign.
• Assessment and strengthening of meningitis surveillance.
• Technology transfer of real-time sensitive diagnostics for the three main vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis pathogens.
• Partner support to NPHI to strengthen surveillance of meningitis and laboratory capacity for bacterial meningitis testing.
• Decentralizing molecular diagnostic capacity for meningitis

Fact sheet

Mali Fact Sheet

Download U.S. CDC's country fact sheet for Mali

Dec. 11, 2025

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Publications

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