Fadimatou Falmata : “My Work Demands Unusual Patience”

Fadimatou Falmata, 31, has seen it all in 11 years of volunteering for five different national health programmes under Martap Integrated Health Centre in Vina Division of Cameroon’s Middle Belt Adamawa Region. Located 120 km from Ngaoundere, the regional headquarters, the health facility is assisted in her work by 10 volunteers. 
Falmata talked to a group of five journalists from Yaounde in Martap village on September 5, 2019. As a Community Health Volunteer, CHV, she visits pregnant and nursing mothers at home on Saturdays and Sundays to check for cases of malnutrition and other health challenges. “Thanks to our efforts, husbands of nursing women now cooperate with us more than before,” Falmata disclosed. 
Spotted and trained 11 years ago by local health authorities as a volunteer because of her ability to read and write, Falmata is today a priceless link between health staff and the community. “I love my work because it enables me to regularly meet and assist people with health challenges,” said the single lady without a child. She added that her marital status eases her volunteering work for five different national health programmes. 
But quickly warned: “In this work, you need to be very patient. Sometimes I visit particular nursing mothers at home several times before they heed the counsel I give. While they hesitate to adhere to my advice, the nutritional situation of their babies deteriorates,” Falmata underscored. Given her long years of experience, and with tact, she has always succeeded to pr...