Balkissa, a young mother Leading the fight against malnutrition

In the village of Kabara, 7 kilometers from Timbuktu, a 23-year-old mother is making a real difference. Her name is Balkissa. A young mother, she has become a driver of change in the fight against child malnutrition in her community.

Trained by a community relay through the PARSNIP program (Progressing Action on Resilient Systems for Nutrition through Innovation and Partnership), funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Balkissa learned how to use the MUAC tricolour bracelet — a simple yet essential tool that measures a child’s upper-arm circumference to detect early signs of acute malnutrition.

Today, she uses her skills to support other mothers, working alongside the staff at the Kabara Referral Health Center. During malnutrition screening sessions, she confidently welcomes children and reassures families.

That morning, a mother named Ziniba brought her 10-month-old daughter, Fatoumata, for a screening. curious and attentive, she carefully observed every step. Thanks to women like Balkissa, trust is nurtured and knowledge is passed on. Ziniba shared that she has learned how to better monitor her daughter’s nutritional status and now knows what to do if she notices any changes.

Since the launch of the PARSNIP program, 1,000 women in Kabara have been trained to become frontline actors in the prevention of malnutrition — starting in their own homes and communities. A powerful movement is taking root: mothers are teaching other mothers, villages are taking care of their children, and a chain of solidarity is growing through the spread of good practices.

Through PARSNIP, UNICEF and its partners are supporting nutritional resilience by promoting knowledge and simple actions at the heart of communities. In Kabara, women are leading the way.