In the small village of Dafela, 23 km away from the city of Kita, in Mali; the construction of a health centre did not end the suffering of mothers and their children. Many cases of deaths were still recorded, simply due to the lack of medical staff and help.
The child mortality in the region is one of the highest, with mothers and children needlessly dying through lack of support.
Filifing Sidibe, was formerly a sponsored child enrolled in Plan’s sponsorship programme. Like many other children in the village of Dafela, she was able to go to school thanks to a Plan-supported education programme that allowed the construction of a school.
She has just finished a one-year course to become a matron and returned to her village to care for the sick and support the functioning of the health centre.
It wasn’t just the new school that enabled Filifing to begin this remarkable journey, but it was the encouragement of her sponsor that had an enormous impact on her success. “My sponsor was very interested in my school results and this encouraged me to obtain my certificate as a matron in Kita,” explained Filifing.
Filifing has always been profoundly concerned about the precarious health situation her community was living in. She wanted to help the women in her community who have to travel the long journey to the city to get a treatment since the health centre of Dafela lacked trained doctors or nurses.
“When I graduated as a matron a year ago, the duty hailed me to come and care for my parents in my community. Since my arrival, I delivered 22 babies and brought nursing care to hundreds of children”
The community members of Dafela are very proud that Filifing, a daughter of the village, works at their health centre. For many of her patients, her presence during childbirth is comforting because she is so supportive.
The doctor in the health centre, Mr Maiga praises the positive contribution of the 20-year-old matron among his staff: “Filifing has greatly improved the performance of our team through her close follow-up and treatment of patients. The community also entrusted her with the management of the pharmacy. I think she has a promising career”.