Action For Health : Empowering Communities in Mali

Mali Health is dedicated to working with communities to strengthen local health systems, so that all mothers and children can stay healthy and have access to quality care. During the past six months, we have continued to mobilize communication events and activities to help inform peri-urban communities in Bamako about COVID-19 and how to stay safe. Our activities have included:

1. Education talks on COVID-19
Since the beginning of the pandemic, our community health workers have continued to visit the families in their care, ensuring both the contiuity of maternal and child healthcare and sharing information about COVID-19. They make sure mothers and caregivers understand what COVID-19 is, methods of transmission, how to prevent it, as well as symptoms and how to respond. Since January, they have conducted 2,810 talks in households during their home visits, reaching 4,973 people.

In addition to sharing information during home visits, our team is also sharing information at savings group meeting, which have been able to restart safely. So far, 310 talks during group meetings have reached 4,941 women.

2. COVID-19 Caravan
From mid-May to mid-June, we conducted 13 caravans in communities across all 6 Communes of Bamako, and Mandé:

• Sikoro-Sourakabougou
• Sotuba
• Bakaribougou
• Lafiabougou
• Lassa
• Djicoroni-Para
• Kalabambougou
• Sabalibougou
• Niamakoro
• Yirimadio
• Badialan
• Samè
• Kanadjiguila

The messages shared during the caravan were those developed by the national health authorities, including a definition of COVID-19, its spread, its symptoms, and the risks of infection. The caravans were held in public, accessible locations, including schools, markets, and open fields. We estimate to have reached about 46,000 people during these caravans, including 18,500 women, 10,500 men, and 17,000 school-aged children.

3. Radio programming
We developed and produced two 30-minute radio programs about COVID-19 prevention on two different subjects - how to remain vigilant about COVID-19 prevention and how to manage distancing and contact with someone who is suspected to be COVID-19 positive. We also developed informational radio spots to encourage continued use of barrier measures and to combat misinformation. They also covered three key subjects being encountered in the communities we serve: stigma against recovering COVID-19 patients, protecting vulnerable populations (particularly elders), and how to manage suspected contacts. The spots are being broadcast 180 times on radio stations across Bamako.

At the end of World Health Worker Week, in the midst of what the WHO has declared the International Year of Health and Care Workers, never has the world seen so clearly just how important and essential health workers are. They have been on the frontlines of COVID-19 from the beginning, caring for those who are sick and helping their communities prevent transmission and stay safe. Their dedication and sacrifices are being recognized on a global scale.

While there is new urgency to help frontline health workers overcome the challenges they face to serve the most vulnerable, there is still so much to be done. There are global movements calling on policy makers to listen to and act for health workers, but our work is more immediate and local. We are still trying to make sure that the value and contribution of community health workers in peri-urban communities are recognized, so they can keep serving their communities.

It may surprise you to know that community health workers are not a formal part of the health system in peri-urban communities in Mali. We believe they should be.

In addition to the crucial roles they have played in response to COVID-19 and epidemics like Ebola, community health workers are essential to improving, and maintaining, access to primary healthcare. During the pandemic, when women and children across the world stopped seeking and receiving primary care, health workers have worked hard to ensure overcome the fear and misinformation that kept families away from their health centers.

For our team deployed in peri-urban communities across Bamako, their results in 2020 speak for themselves:

• 60,762 home visits to 2269 children
• 100% on-time vaccination rate
• Malaria incidence of 5.7% (national average 18.9%)
• Malnutrition prevalence of 0.18% (national average 18.6%)
• For over 7 years, through Ebola and through COVID-19, they have not lost a single mother or child in their care

Because you have supported this project, you already know how essential community health workers are. With your partnership and support, the community health workers on our team have saved thousands of lives.

If we did not train, support, employ, and supervise our team of peri-urban community health workers, no one else could. We think it is time for that to change – and we bet you do, too.

This is a challenge we have been thinking about for a long time, and we are getting closer to finding long-term solutions. We hope to share some exciting news with you about our plans soon.

We have come this far because of your support – and with your help, we know we can make community health workers and their life-saving work a permanent part of the health system in peri-urban communities.

For believing in the value of community health workers, and in us, 

Thank you so much
Merci beaucoup
Aw ni ce