Maternal health in Keur Madaro: the women's cry for help

The women of Keur Madaro, in the commune of Notto-Diobass, have once again expressed their concerns about the difficulties in accessing healthcare, particularly for the care of pregnant women.

Speaking at a day of free medical consultations organized by Pastef, Mame Diarra Diop, spokesperson for the women of the village, painted a worrying picture of the local health situation.

“The women of Keur Madaro face enormous problems in accessing healthcare and giving birth. The village does not have a proper maternity ward. For years, we have been demanding the construction of a maternity ward, or even a hospital, but this long-standing grievance has gone unanswered,” she said.

According to her, women are forced to travel several kilometers to access healthcare, particularly in Thiénaba, Hannène, or Thiès. This situation further complicates the management of medical emergencies and childbirth.

“Even to get medicine, we have to go all the way to Thiès or Thiénaba. Our women are tired. We want a hospital,” insisted Mame Diarra Diop.

Beyond the health challenges, the women of Keur Madaro also face economic difficulties. Many of them earn their living selling fruit along the national highway (between Thiès and Thiénaba). However, their livelihoods have been severely impacted by the opening of the highway.

“Travelers hardly use the national highway anymore. Our businesses are not operating as they used to. Women need support to improve their living conditions,” she stressed.

For his part, Momar Talla Sané, coordinator of Pastef Keur Madaro, recalled that health is among the main concerns of the inhabitants of the locality, advocating for a strengthening of health infrastructure in order to meet the growing needs of the population.

He explained that it was this worrying situation that motivated this medical initiative aimed at bringing health services closer to the population.