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By François M’BRA II, from Ivory Coast
Bouaké (Ivory Coast), June 17, 2025 — The conference hall of the Gbêkê regional prefecture became a beacon of hope this week as stakeholders gathered for the official launch of the AMPLIFY-PSY project. Spearheaded by the Mindful Change Foundation Côte d’Ivoire (MCF-CI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and its National Mental Health Program (PNSM), the initiative targets the mental health of women of childbearing age suffering from psychological disorders in the region. The project is set to run from June to October 2025.
A Shared Vision for Mental Health
At the opening workshop, Professor Koua Asseman Médard, PNSM Coordinator, praised the initiative and thanked the project’s partners, including Atlantic Group, Recover Foundations (Spain), and the local prefectural authorities. « When a population enjoys good mental health, development follows, » he affirmed, underlining mental health’s central role in socio-economic progress.
Echoing his message, Allah Apkolai, Deputy Director of Educational, Social, and Health Affairs at Bouaké City Hall, reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to health and social protection. He called for greater collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the project’s success. Jean François Vanié, Secretary-General of the Prefecture, also urged united action for the well-being of the women beneficiaries.
Targeted Interventions for Women in Need
AMPLIFY-PSY is not just a call for awareness—it’s an action plan. Key components of the project include:
Training three midwives in maternal and infant mental health;
Free medical care for at least 100 women of childbearing age;
Bi-monthly psychological support sessions, accessible to affected women and their communities;
Deployment of mental health data tools for health workers, along with ongoing training and supervision.
These interventions will be rolled out in several health centers across Brobo, Bounda, and Saminikro, localities selected for their critical mental health needs.
Breaking the Silence Around Stigma
Joëlle Trazouo, Head of Operations at MCF-CI, emphasized the project’s deeper mission: addressing the stigma and isolation faced by women, particularly victims of gender-based violence. « Too many women are marginalized due to their mental health struggles, » she said. Brobo, notably, hosts a local association supporting over 500 individuals living with mental illness, making it a focal point for the project’s efforts.
AMPLIFY-PSY offers these vulnerable women personalized psychological and medical support, contributing not only to individual healing but also to the broader social cohesion and development of the region.
As the program unfolds, it is poised to become a model for maternal mental health care across Côte d’Ivoire—one that places dignity, inclusion, and sustainability at its core.
