Dr. DIARRA, Sonou dit Balla is an international epidemiologist, of Malian nationality.

Dr. Sonou was born in San, Mali, on March 26, 1974.  He graduated from the National Health of Medicine of Mali in May 2002 with a certificate in Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Programs in March 2012 of the International Development Centre, Wageningen, Nederland.  He remained working with the public sector of Mali for 15 years to hold various positions of District Medical Officer, Head Section of Operational Programs to complete his master’s degree in Orientation and Disease Control in July 2009 at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium.

After receiving his studies, Dr. Sonou decided to share his experience with a local NGO and major international Institutes in Mali and outside.  Later, he worked as a sexual health consultant and reproductive, then project manager to coordinate partners in initiatives to protect the rights of adolescents in prison and disadvantaged and follow-up to orphaned and vulnerable children (OEV) communities.  Its clients include the World Health Organization, Plan International and health training schools for health workers.