Maïmouna’s story

Maïmouna lives in an isolated village in Senegal, without access to electricity or running water. At the age of 45, she has lived through 14 pregnancies, and today has 10 living children.

However, Maïmouna almost lost her life giving birth to her most recent child, Seydou. Her husband, Mamadou, felt immediately that her last pregnancy was not like the others. “My wife Maïmouna was sick and very tired because of her age. I was very worried.”

Luckily for Maïmouna, she was able to access the support services of the ChildFund Senegal Community Health Project, which runs a community health hut managed by volunteers.

Maïmouna spoke with the trained community health worker and traditional birth attendant, Madjiguène. Madjiguène immediately took note of Maïmouna’s mention of repeated and intense vomiting, weakness and dizziness, recognising the risk factors related to her age and the number of past pregnancies.

“I knew that if I did not do anything, she could die or have some other serious complications,” says Madjiguène, who decided to refer Maïmouna to the government Health Post in Kirène.

But instead of leaving Maïmouna to navigate the clinical system herself, Madjiguène accompanied her patient throughout the referrals.

Madjiguène also made sure that Maïmouna attended her village’s Pregnant Women’s Solidarity Circle, which gives women in the village a chance to openly discuss their pregnancy and concerns with a group of other pregnant women and a trained traditional birth attendant.

When Maïmouna began her labour, she was referred to the regional hospital, where she gave birth. Fighting back tears, Maïmouna says: “If it had not been for my husband, the health hut, Madjiguène and the doctor, I would not be here today. And, today, if I were not here, my children would suffer and have difficulties related to their education, their health and their life.