Mali’s Dr. Salif Samake: How he became part Nepali

Dr. Salif Samake, director of the planning and statistics unit in Mali’s Ministry of Health, is part Nepali. At least that’s what he called himself at a recent MLI meeting, and only half in jest. Through an MLI program, Dr. Samake traveled to Kathmandu last year and attended a class with Nepali health officials to learn how to be a better negotiator.

Peer learning is one of MLI’s most important principles, if a difficult one to put into practice.   Working with five countries – Ethiopia, Mali, Nepal, Senegal, and Sierra Leone – MLI faces diverse challenges. All five countries are focused on different priorities, their health systems are distinctly structured, and they don’t share a common language.