Salif Diarra
Local Health Worker
since 2002
Satiguila Village, Mali
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About Salif
53-year-old Salif Diarra has examined and treated Christiane, Diaikaridia, Youssouf, and Maïmouna, helping ensure that each one of them stays healthy in a country where one in five children dies before age 5. For nearly a decade, Salif has been saving the lives of newborns and young children in his native village of Satiguila. Come back regularly for updates from Salif.
- Children treated for pneumonia last month 1
- Children treated for malaria last month 2
- Babies born last month 1
- Newborn/child household visits last month 2
- Children vaccinated last month 13
- Children weighed and receiving growth counseling last month 50
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Local Health Worker
Satiguila Village, Mali
“This is a Hard Time for the Children”
It has been a busy week here in Satiguila Village. My days usually start before sunrise and I work until late at night. It is winter now and food is scarce, so some of the children are not getting enough to eat. I have seen several children who are malnourished. A lot of children have caught colds. Also, a few of the mothers have gotten malaria. A few days ago, a mother brought her baby girl to see me. The baby was suffering from diarrhea and the mother was distraught because she would not take to the breast.
From Challenge to Change
The most difficult time during a typical day falls between noon and 2 p.m., when the sun and the heat become unbearable, making it hard to do my home visits. But one of the most difficult parts of my job as a health worker involves a much bigger problem. It has been a challenge to make the mothers in my community aware of the advantages that local health workers provide over the alternatives offered by traditional medicine sellers.
My Story
Hear my story and see the families I serve in Satiguila.
Always on Call
My occupation is a farmer, which requires hard manual work all day long. As a community health worker, I am always on call. Even when I am away from my village, people continue to ask me for advice. I was recently at an event in the nearby village of Djekabougou which, unlike my community of Satiguila, has no village pharmacy. It was there that two parents approached me unexpectedly and asked if I could examine their one-year-old baby. Their son was suffering from dehydration – a condition which they knew I had experience in treating.
What Motivates Me
When I began my role as a local health worker in 2002, I had only a fourth grade education. I participated in an adult literacy program and received training in medical treatment and disease prevention from Save the Children. Now, I can diagnose and treat some of the most common killers of newborn children and toddlers – respiratory infections, diarrhea, and diseases like malaria, which can be fatal if left untreated.
How to Help
Where the Good Goes
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Maïmouna
4 yearsWithout a local health worker in her village, Maïmouna’s mother would need to walk six miles for a medical exam.
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Youssouf
9 monthsYoussouf’s parents learned how to prevent diarrhea and to use treated mosquito nets to keep him safe from malaria.
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Diaikaridia
9 monthsA simple treatment of zinc and oral rehydration solution helped cure Diaikaridia’s debilitating bouts of vomiting and diarrhea.
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Christiane
6 monthsSalif discovered a respiratory infection after examining Christiane, and sent her to the nearest clinic. She's now safe and healthy.