This past Friday, September 27th, we reached an exciting milestone in the Healthy Maman project as we conducted our second workshop. The session focused on reviewing intermediate results, message content development process, and discussing the progress of our review paper currently under peer review. The workshop was attended by medical staff, midwives, and several women from the conceptual phase, all of whom have played a crucial role in shaping the project.
This time, we made a small but impactful change by moving the workshop to our offices (Institut des Sciences Humaines), as we had been meeting at the health centre (Sangarebougou) previously. This shift was highly appreciated by participants, as it provided a fresh environment for discussion. Even with some staff members joining us, including the chief medical officer, we ensured that health services continued without disruption ~ a testament to the collaborative spirit of all involved.
Key outcomes and feedback
The feedback from the workshop was encouraging, particularly in relation to the proposed prototype functionality. The Healthy Maman system is being designed to assist women in attending their antenatal care (ANC) appointments through regular reminders, while also offering key health information throughout their pregnancy journey. We’re particularly proud of the ability to send customised messages in local languages (Bambara for now), providing culturally relevant content to support maternal health in Mali.
Some key features of the system include:
- Appointment reminders: timely reminders for ANC visits.
- Health tips: essential pregnancy-related health advice tailored to each stage (per gestational week).
- Support: quick access to emergency info and health resources.
- Localisation: messages are sent in local languages to ensure accessibility and relevance.
These features were well-received, with participants providing valuable insights to help us fine-tune the content before we move into the next phase.
Looking ahead
With this successful workshop, we’re now moving toward the end of the documentation phase of our feasibility study, which we anticipate completing by the end of 2024. The goal is to have a fully functional prototype ready for pilot testing, which will mark an important step toward improving antenatal care across Bamako, and potentially beyond.
We hope that with continued support and additional funding, we will first conduct a full pilot test at the Sangarebougou health centre, then to scale the project to a district or even country-wide level. This ambitious goal will require collaboration with both local health authorities and international partners, but the enthusiasm from the workshop gives us confidence that we’re on the right track.
Final thoughts
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved— the team, the midwives, the health workers, and, of course, our funders. Your support is making a tangible difference in maternal health, and we are excited to continue pushing forward.
Stay tuned for more updates…..together, we can make a lasting impact.