Meet Steven Gibrilla - MamaYe lead activist and hero

There are many heroes in Koinadugu district who work relentlessly to save the lives of mothers and babies.But amongst them, there is one who doesn’t only saves lives by donating his own blood. He also mobilises citizens, stimulates activists and creates a real wave of action amongst the community to save mothers and babies in Kabala.A hero that mobilised communities and activists to give bloodThe MamaYe Lead activist in Koinadugu, Steven Abdulai Gilbrilla, has been in activism for the past ten years. He served as a volunteer for the Sierra Leone Red Cross in Koinadugu district.Steven faced some challenges accessing communities in Koinadugu district - in this district, traditional beliefs have a hold on blood donation. But he has been able to form voluntary blood donor groups at district and chiefdom levels and mobilised communities for blood donation.Currently, Steven is the District Coordinator of Koinadugu Voluntary Blood Donor promoters and has diligently carried his responsibilities in ensuring that blood donor activities are being carried out in Koinadugu district.He also leads blood sensitization sessions with MamaYe activists. Thanks to his relentless efforts, 27 activists have registered as regular blood donors after an orientation session in Kabala with motor-bike riders and maternal and child health aides (MCHA) students.Thanks to him, young women hear about the benefits of safe clinicsSteven is also a staff of the community radio (Radio Buntumani, 93.7 FM) as a presenter, for a radio programme, “Voice of the youths” that is scheduled for Tuesdays every week.Steven has created the opportunity of periodically having MamaYe activists participate in youth radio programmes. He uses materials by MamaYe – such as factsheets and leaflets based on solid evidence - to raise awareness of the Koinadugu public on safe clinics, utilization of clinics and to mobilise district support for more funds for the health of mothers and babies. He has brought MamaYe closer to communities in Koinadugu district.A close collaboration with local authorities to maximise impactSteven has established a good relationship with the Koinadugu District Health Management Team (DHMT) and because of his MamaYe activism role, he has been able to lobby with the DHMT to be part of their meetings.Steven is popular among the Koinadugu DHMT as he moderates health programmes during “welbodi tok” programmes over the community radio. Before MamaYe’s intervention in Koinadugu district, the voluntary blood donor club requested for an office space within the primary health care unit of the DHMT but was not successful.His commendable interaction with the DHMT created an opportunity for the allocation of an office space that would help in coordinating and keeping records of MamaYe activities.Engaging the youth for mothers and babiesSteven has established another strong collaboration with the district youth council and the Koinadugu district council.This has created a platform of recruiting youth groups as MamaYe activists. He organised the drama groups formed in schools by the Youth and sport department for drama competition linking them with MCH aides and motorbike riders. He believes that using drama in communities will raise awareness on maternal and newborn health.As a proof of his influence in the district, he is also a member of the district social mobilization committee formed by the DHMT. He has supported the DHMT on sensitization drives, for example during the polio campaign.Other distinguished members of the social mobilization committee include traditional and religious leaders, Mamie queens, NGO representatives, motorbike riders, youths, media and district council – as you can see, mostly local decision-makers or devoted MamaYe activists.   Creating synergies with Medicos del MundoThe District Medical Officer invited Steven to participate in District Health Coordinating Committee meetings and in the previous meeting held in January 2014, he presented an update on voluntary blood donation activities in the district and MamaYe activist activities. NGOs were well updated on blood donor activities in the district and this has created an interest for Medicos Del Mundo to request the support of the blood donor volunteers to lead voluntary blood donor drives in their operational communities."We will raise our voices"Executing his role as the MamaYe lead activist, he has:

• Organised with activists, activities that promotes MamaYe asks which are among others
• Disseminated health budget scorecards in Kabala
• Worked with activists to stage a drama on institutional delivery
• Helped make a clinic clean
• Promoted voluntary blood donation and sensitization drives

He is a great mobilizer and motivator – Last time I spoke to him he expressed that “I will work with other activists for Mamaye campaign to reach the last community in Koinadugu district; we will raise our voices to our elders so that they can act to save lives of mothers and babies”