Action For Health : Empowering Communities in Mali

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