Mission & Vision

Intensified Mission

May 11, 2020

12 min read

Somaneh Bouba

Having a major health condition doesn't have to derail your original goals and mission, it just intensifies what you hope to achieve in life and makes it all feel more urgent.

Roots in Manantali

I grew up in Manantali, Mali, where my father, a civil and hydraulic engineer, was working on the design, building, and management of a hydro-electric dam. My mother was the medical doctor of the little town. The Manantali Dam is one of the biggest in the region, and one of the few multi-national projects of its kind that has remained productive and effective to date.

Watching the impact that this dam had in my community, and ultimately the neighboring countries it serves, shaped my path and fueled my ambition to strive for something worthwhile and make a difference.

When Health Changed Everything

When I was first diagnosed with congestive heart failure, I wondered if it would still be possible to be an effective social entrepreneur and to affect change on the level that I had always envisioned. One thing I've learned over the intervening years is that having a major health condition doesn't have to derail your original goals and mission, it just intensifies what you hope to achieve.

"A major health problem tests your resolve about how much you want to reach your original vision, and what you're willing to sacrifice to achieve it."

From Personal to Global

Desiree and I are deeply committed to living in Africa, and more than that, to contribute to the continent's development, particularly in West Africa. I set up Yeelen in Senegal just before my heart prognosis shifted. With this news, we found ourselves having to make the difficult decision to relocate to Boston, MA.

But I am not giving up on my goals for Senegal and Mali, this experience is inspiring us to find new ways to support change both here in the U.S and back home in Africa.

Amplifying Patient Voices

Over the years, as a chronic health patient, I have come to observe and appreciate the importance of health workers and healthcare leaders listening to and understanding the patient voice. Adding the patient voice into healthcare decision-making is a critical aspect of practice improvement.

"Amplifying patient voices, to improve their heart health and vitality."

The Challenge Ahead

In Senegal, like in the USA and most countries, heart disease is one of the leading causes of death. The health system is proving limited in dealing with the rising rate of chronic diseases. Hospitals and specialist clinics are overloaded. The ratio of specialists to patients is in the single digits per 100,000 patients.

Beyond amplifying patient voices, I will specifically contribute to capacitating healthcare practitioners on the continent with the skills, tools, and support to be able to offer effective treatments in Africa to people with conditions similar to mine.

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