Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of stories published by Malaria No More on behalf of the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) REACH Malaria Project, implemented by PATH. Penned in December 2025, this story features Fatoumata Diallo, a mother of seven whose quiet determination is making a powerful difference for her family in Kadiolo, a rural district in southern Mali. 

Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) campaigns can offer lifesaving protection for the children most at risk of dangerous malaria infection, if the dosing schedules are carefully followed. Ensuring children have uninterrupted protection during the peak malaria transmission season requires strong community engagement, especially from parents. Fatoumata Diallo, a dedicated mother of seven, is a leading example in her community of how parents can be true community health champions. 

For 20 years, Fatoumata has carefully kept all of her children’s malaria treatment cards. When the SMC campaign began in her village in 2015, she did the same, collecting each SMC card and making sure all her children received the full three doses during each of the four monthly cycles of the campaign. “For me, these cards are like treasures,” she says with a smile. “They remind me that my children are protected, that they are growing strong.”

Keeping their children safe is a family commitment, one Fatoumata’s husband proudly supports. “For more than ten years, our children rarely fall sick,” he explains. “We save money we used to spend on medicine and used it to meet other needs for the family. It brings peace of mind.”

Successful SMC campaigns also depend on dedicated health workers like Dr. Toumani Diallo, Directeur Technique du Centre (DTC) of the Woroni health area, engaging communities and staff about the importance of SMC. Dr. Diallo motivates and trains his team before and during every campaign, reminding them of the lifesaving benefits of SMC for children under five, and recognizing the essential role that parents play for successful malaria prevention. 

“Since the beginning of this year,” Dr. Diallo shares, “I haven’t received Fatoumata’s children for malaria treatment and that’s because of her commitment to ensure each of the four SMC cycles is given on time. It’s proof that prevention truly works.”

Her dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. During a joint supervision visit of the SMC campaign to Kadiolo health district, the National Malaria Control Program (PNLP) and PMI REACH Malaria documented Fatoumata’s story. To recognize her outstanding dedication, the PNLP presented her with a special fabric made for the 2025 World Malaria Day, a small gift honoring her as one of the unsung heroes in the fight against malaria.

Stories like Fatoumata’s and the dedication of health workers like Dr. Diallo are the heartbeat of community health in Mali. They remind us that behind every successful campaign are families and health workers united by one goal: saving lives through malaria prevention.