From home births to health centres.
The "Mamans Lumières" are changing the game in Bagoundjié.
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The innocent cries of newborns break through the deep silence of their mothers. A picture box, an audience of men and women — mostly young mothers — and a powerful voice lead a session on essential family practices (EFP).
That voice belongs to Farimata Abdoulaye, a “maman Yeleen” — or “mother of light” — who guides others on their path. She is also a community health worker who volunteers at the Community Health Centre (CSCOM) in her village of Bagoundjé, in the Gao region.
“I work as a volunteer for my community. We raise awareness among women and encourage them to bring their children for weighing at the CSCOM,” explains Farimata Abdoulaye.
At 65, she still takes great pleasure in serving her community. For her, contributing to local development through good deeds is a duty.
“In the past, when there were no health centres or community workers, women gave birth at home, and the mortality rate was very high. They did not attend prenatal or postnatal check-ups, nor did they weigh their babies. Children didn’t have birth certificates, which caused many difficulties when it came time to enrol them in school,” recalls Farimata. Like her, all community health workers share one goal — to see infant mortality decline — and that depends on delivering the right messages to mothers.
From shadow to light
Fatoumata Abdrahamane, a resident of Bagoundjé, regularly attends the awareness sessions led by community health workers.
“Before, we didn’t have all this information,” she says. “From the first month of pregnancy, you need to be weighed, and for childbirth, it’s better to go to the health centre because complications can happen at home. The health centre is safe and well-equipped,” she explains.
During her discussions with Farimata and her colleagues, Fatoumata feels comfortable asking questions and learning what behaviours are best for mothers to adopt.
Aichata, another resident of Bagoundjé, confirms what Farimata says about the importance of these sessions:
“We thank UNICEF, which has done its best. The community relays are well trained, and in turn, they come to raise awareness among us,” she says, adding that she now feels better equipped with knowledge of essential family practices.
“I’ve learned a lot about pregnancy through these awareness sessions. When you are pregnant, you must go to the hospital, and even after a month, you should return for a check-up. If the pregnancy is confirmed, you should get weighed and vaccinated to protect your health — because health is paramount,” she adds, before concluding:
“We must also obtain birth certificates for our children, because without one, a child has no identity, does not exist, and becomes stateless in their own country.”
Notable changes
After a session, Farimata returns home, takes off her Maman Yeleen outfit, and carefully puts away her picture box, ready to bring it out again in a few days for another meeting. Before resuming her daily tasks, she shares a final message of gratitude and encouragement, especially urging young mothers to apply the advice she gives as a community health worker.
“The situation has changed. The actions we take bring many benefits. Women now go to the CSCOMs, they get weighed, use mosquito nets, and children have birth certificates. There have been many positive changes, thanks be to God,” says Farimata, the “Maman Yeleen.”
She thanks the partners, NGOs, and everyone who supports her community — notably the local population, the Government of Mali, which launched PAFEEM, UNICEF, partner NGOs such as CIAUD, and the World Bank for its financial support.
“We are satisfied with this initiative by the Government of Mali and the support of our partners, and we hope for even more for the well-being of the whole community,” says Farimata.
These awareness sessions, organized as part of the Project to Promote Access to Finance, Entrepreneurship and Employment in Mali (PAFEEM), contribute to the well-being of women — especially young mothers — by equipping them with the right techniques to better care for their children. Thanks to the work of community health workers, women in Bagoundjé now incorporate prenatal and postnatal consultations into their daily lives, reducing infant mortality within the community.
As part of its broader goal of promoting financial inclusion and supporting youth and women’s employment, PAFEEM has become a tool for promoting well-being and social cohesion. It integrates Essential Family Practices (EFP) into its community activities — notably through awareness sessions on health, nutrition, hygiene, and child protection. This link between EFP and PAFEEM strengthens families’ ability to support youth development while fostering an environment conducive to resilience and social cohesion.
Since 2012, Mali has faced an ongoing political and security crisis whose effects continue to weigh on its economy and may affect the implementation of public policies. In response, the government has launched several initiatives, including the PAFEEM, which aims to support national efforts to address the challenges of financial inclusion, the financing of Micro, Small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and job creation.
This objective aligns perfectly with the National Strategy for Emergence and Sustainable Development (SNEDD 2024–2033), which implements the vision “Mali Kura ɲɛtaasira ka bɛn san 2063 ma” in accordance with its third pillar: “Structural transformation of the economy and growth.” PAFEEM’s activities revolve around five components, including Component 3: “Support for Income-Generating Activities (IGAs) and Job Creation,” implemented with operational support from UNICEF.
