Kaniaka, Mali
Luke Society Kaniaka
The Lord put a dream in both the heart and mind of Dr. Issaka Poudiougo in 2005. He recalls the vivid imagery of that dream in which the Lord gave him a specific vision of the people, villages and landscape in an unevangelized area where He was calling him to work.
While Poudiougo was vigilant in his search for the location, it wasn’t until 11 years later that the Lord opened his eyes to a region in western Mali, along the Mauritanian border, where he has set down roots for ministry work.
The predominantly Muslim region has a general hostility toward Christians, but there’s also a great need for access to medical care, and Poudiougo has been warmly welcomed. His charming personality has helped him build relationships with the Fulani, Sonike and Moors tribesmen when it otherwise would be nearly impossible for a person who is openly Christian.
Poudiougo’s ministry work with the Luke Society officially began in 2019. He operates a primary care clinic in Kaniaka out of a rented facility with special focuses on maternity health and child care. Issaka’s wife, Marie, is being trained in midwifery to complement her husband’s gifts. The location has also enabled the team to reach across the border into Mauritania.
Dr. Issaka Poudiougo
About the ministry:
Name: Luke Society Kaniaka
Location: Kaniaka, Mali
Director: Dr. Issaka Poudiougo
Partnership: 2019-present
Staff: 4
My mission:
“To bring health access to the area, alleviating the suffering of populations in terms of health by offering them quality care at an affordable cost, and to create a climate to present the good news of Jesus.
Why I love being a director:
“To better realize the vision that God gave me, and to frame our projects by coordinating our different activities in the spirit of that vision.”
About Mali:
Population: 20.1 million
Size: 1.2 million sq. km, or about twice the size of Texas
Capital: Bamako
Borders: Senegal and Mauritania to the west; Algeria to the northeast; Niger to the east; Guinea, Côte D’Ivoire and Burkina Faso to the south.
Religious groups: Muslim, 93.9%; Christian, 2.8%
Primary language: French
Literacy (age 15+): 35.5%
Physician density: 0.13 doctors per 1,000 people.
Population below international poverty line: 42.1%
Life expectancy: 62.0 years
Infant mortality rate: 62.3 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Major exports: Cotton, gold, livestock.
Climate: Subtropical to arid; hot and dry from February-June; rainy, humid and mild from June-November; cool and dry from November-February.
Terrain: Mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in the south; rugged hills in the northeast.
