The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and UNICEF Morocco have launched a new five-year partnership to strengthen healthcare services for mothers and children in the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region.

The region, which is home to around 2.5 million people – about 7% of Morocco’s population – faces serious health challenges, KOICA noted in a press release. Many families live far from health centers, with 21% of residents more than 10 kilometers away from the nearest primary facility. 

Shortages of doctors, nurses, and midwives make access to care even harder, especially in mountainous provinces like Azilal and Khenifra.

According to the World Bank, despite achieving significant progress, maternal and infant mortality rates “remain high” in Morocco, especially in rural areas.