The Kalassa Health Center is a communal health facility recognized by the Malian state. It provides treatment for acute illnesses, maternity care, and preventive services, and makes an important contribution to healthcare for the village and the surrounding communities.
Organization
Operations are managed by a small, efficient management committee consisting of the nurse, the midwife, two village representatives, and the administrative secretary of CAAS. Over recent years, this body has established a system that is transparent, reliable, and financially sustainable. A particular success is that the health center is now largely able to cover its ongoing operating costs independently.
Expansion and Modernization
With the support of the Heidehof Foundation, the former maternity ward in Kalassa was comprehensively renovated and expanded in 2021/2022. Previously, the building had served simultaneously as a maternity ward and an infirmary; however, capacity and hygienic conditions were inadequate. CAAS fully refurbished the existing building and constructed a second treatment building to spatially separate infectious diseases from childbirth and significantly improve hygienic standards. The new treatment building includes patient rooms, a treatment room, and a pharmacy.
Central role of the pharmacy
The pharmacy has developed into a central element of the health center. It operates on a cost-covering basis and generates a substantial share of the revenue that now finances the ongoing operation of the health center. At the same time, prices for treatments and medications remain fair and adapted to local living conditions, ensuring that medical care remains accessible to the population.
Outlook
An important next step in the development of the Kalassa Health Center is the establishment of a diagnostic laboratory for malaria and typhoid testing. On-site diagnostics enable faster and more reliable treatment, prevent long journeys for patients, and improve medical care, particularly during the rainy season when infectious diseases increase significantly.
The laboratory is designed as an economically viable addition to the existing health center
Learn more:
> Village development and integration into the region
