The white coats at the independence of Mali

This book is a journey through time (colonial, independence and post-independence) to describe the action of African doctors, pharmacists, midwives, nurses and social workers in their fight against infectious diseases, epidemics, and the prevention of childhood diseases through vaccinations, among others. Far from being exhaustive, this book attempts to explore this past, both distant and near, and to provide elements of response by tracing, on the one hand, the history of what medicine was in colonial times, the requirements that led the colonial power to train these men and women whom we have called "white coats", and on the other hand, by describing their educational and professional careers, while evoking at times the memories that have marked them. It is this forgotten part of our history that we want to make known to the general public and particularly to young people and to the current generation of health professionals.

El profesor Bah Keita es médico, cirujano pulmonar, académico, ex alto funcionario de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y escritor, con una rica experiencia como clínico, profesor-investigador y diplomático en Malí y en el sistema de las Naciones Unidas.