SUCCESS STORIES

Malaria in Mali: A Mother's Perseverance

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Story and Photographs by Amy Ellis

The life of Fatoumata is characteristic of many women in Mali: She lives in a small, isolated village in the rural countryside and spends each day caring for her children, preparing meals for her family, working in the fields, searching for firewood, transporting water from the local well, washing clothes, and a multitude of other household chores. She has never been to school and was married at the age of eighteen. She is her husband’s second wife and left her childhood village to reside with the extended family of her husband. Fatoumata is thirty-eight years old and has six children.

And not unlike many other Malian women, Fatoumata is a mother who would go to great lengths to ensure the health of her children. Although she may not realize it, Fatoumata’s youngest child, a four-year-old daughter named Amina, is a testament to her mother’s dedication and unfailing love. The child often fell ill with fevers, but they typically subsided within a few days. However, during one of these episodes, Amina’s symptoms did not go away. At night, Amina fever raged, causing the child to toss and cry throughout the night. During the day her fever would subside, but Amina was left exhausted, lethargic, and unable to eat.

Fatoumata attempted everything she could to alleviate her daughter’s suffering, but Amina’s condition seemed to only worsen. Fatoumata tried to quell her increasing panic and anxiety, but on the third day of the illness, she felt certain that her daughter’s life was in danger. In three short days Amina’s little body had become frail, feverish and pale.

“I saw the way in which her body changed,” recounts Fatoumata. “She was closer to death than she was to life. I was terrified.”

Knowing that time was crucial and that Amina was in dire need of medical care, Fatoumata turned to her husband for help, telling him that Amina was in danger of dying and needed to go to the health center as soon as possible. But despite her entreaties, Fatoumata’s husband did not acknowledge her request and left to work in his millet field. By withholding a response, Fatoumata’s husband could not be held responsible for denying her the ability to seek care, but by the same token, he provided neither the authorization nor the financial means necessary to obtain treatment.

Unwilling to accept his silence, Fatoumata followed him to his field. As her husband worked, Fatoumata walked behind him, begging him for help and warning him that failing to do so might result in the death of their daughter. Despite her determination, there was no reply.

“I thought that the child was going to die,” said Fatoumata. “Normally, a father should take charge when there is an illness and be responsible for all of the costs. But sometimes, a mother is obligated to do the impossible to take care of her child.”

So Fatoumata turned to her brother-in-law. Since he was the head of their entire household, she knew that her husband must answer his brother’s request. Fatoumata explained Amina’s dire situation and begged for help to take her to a health center. When questioned by his older brother, Fatoumata’s husband finally responded that he had no money to give to Fatoumata for their child’s care. Fatoumata’s brother-in-law decided that although they were unable to contribute any financial help, Fatoumata was allowed to take Amina to a health center if she was able to find her own means to do so.

At four o’clock the next morning, Fatoumata carried Amina five miles to the nearest dirt road and waited for a vehicle traveling north toward the village where she grew up. Her own family was the last resort for financial help. Fatoumata arrived in her family’s village late that afternoon and quickly sought out her younger brother, who willingly provided the funding necessary to pay for treatment. Fatoumata then raced Amina directly to the health center.

Upon seeing Amina’s jaundiced eyes, pallid complexion and nearly lifeless state, the health agents quickly recognized that Amina had chronic malaria and was suffering from severe anemia. The child needed an immediate blood transfusion but there was no blood currently available. Fatoumata insisted that they check to see if her own blood was compatible, and if so, that they transfer her blood to her daughter.

The health agents determined that Fatoumata’s blood was compatible, but they could not do the procedure without the father’s permission. Fatoumata knew that it was hopeless to wait for her husband, and she implored the agents to do the transfusion without him.

“I was afraid that my daughter was going to die even before we reached the hospital,” Fatoumata said. “So when the agents said that I was going to be very tired when they took my blood, I told them it was okay, that they must cure my child at any cost. Regardless of the means, they must save my daughter.”

Fatoumata’s blood was transferred to her daughter and afterwards the child received medicine to treat her malaria. Fatoumata stayed with her family for a few days while Amina recovered before traveling back to her husband’s village. In total, Amina’s treatment cost twelve dollars.

Today, Amina’s health is better, although she still suffers from occasional fevers. However, Fatoumata’s own health has slowly deteriorated since then.

“After they took my blood, the doctors told me to eat lots of meat, that I would become weak. But I don’t have any money and I can’t afford to eat meat. Now I am very feeble, I have headaches and often feel dizzy. But it was essential for me that my child be cured, even if I must die afterwards.”

Despite the consequences of her blood transfusion, Fatoumata is grateful that her child was saved and now watches ever more vigilantly for signs of malaria in her children

“Malaria is such a common illness among us”, states Fatoumata. “Now, when I see that a child isn’t improving after a day, I run quickly to the hospital. I don’t play with childhood illnesses any more. Malaria is a very common illness among us, and chronic malaria is the worst of all.”

Thankfully, because of her mother’s resolve and sacrifice, Amina will not be one of the many children lost to chronic malaria.