Bamako - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Mali is a malarial area. - Apr 2021
Malaria is the biggie, but lots of stomach bugs go around. Medical care is at the Embassy. There are one or two hospitals for emergencies but you will be medically evacuated for anything even moderately serious. Dental issues will get medically evacuated. - Apr 2017
Malaria. Take your medicine. Local medical care is poor. If you get sick or injured, you will be sent out of country for care. - Aug 2014
Anything that can't be taken care of at the Health Unit is medevaced to London. Lots of people have been medevaced. They view it as a pretty regular event, not a last resort. There is not reliable medical care outside of the US Embassy health unit, especially if you don't speak French. The Polycinique Pasteur is used for diagnostic tests and invasive procedures that aren't medevaced, but anything serious and you are gone. - Jul 2011
Only malaria, but it's not a main issue in the capital if you sleep under a mosquito net. There's Clinic Pasteur for medical care. - Jul 2011
Clinique Pasteur can provide some basic care. For anything serious you should travel to the UK (for Embassy staff) or Morocco/France (for anyone else who can afford it).Health concerns mainly include malaria and stomach problems. Those with preexisting respiratory conditions might have a difficult time adjusting to the poor air quality in Bamako. - Oct 2010
For minor injuries, non surgical, there's the embassy docter and as well as the hospital next to the embassy. Basic dental like filling and cleaning can be done here. Anything serious will be a medical evacuation to europe. - May 2010
The embassy has a great and full service health unit with full-time RMO plus local part-time missionary doc. It has a full-time lab tech plus a full-time nurse and 2 part-time missionary nurses. This blend of foreign service plus local long-Africa experience makes for a great mix. Anything remotely serious, however, is an immediate medevac. - Sep 2009
Malaria and not very good local medical facilities. - Apr 2009
There is an RMO at post and a health unit that can handle most minor needs. There is very little reliable health care on the economy. Get your stuff done at home. Most people see their doctor while on R&R or home leave. This is also a malaria post, so malaria meds are necessary. - Feb 2009
We took, malaria prophylaxis. Everyone has digestive issues from time to time. Not very good medical care. There is an embassy doctor, who was great, but anything serious gets medivac'ed. - Feb 2009
There is malaria here and most Americans take some sort of anti-malarial. Don't let them force you to take mefloquine if it bothers you in any way; there are plenty of alternatives. - Jan 2009
