Hannou Allali Maamar ‹ › Hennou Allali Maamar, Morocco's pioneering first female doctor, passed away last Saturday at the age of 84. Born in 1942 in Oulmès, she completed her secondary education in Rabat in 1961 before pursuing medical studies in France. She earned a degree in general medicine and later specialized in gynecology at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Montpellier, completing her training in 1971. Encouraged by her father, a strong advocate for the education of both boys and girls, and inspired by a hospital practitioner in Fez, she chose a path that would make history. Her political awareness was shaped early on by the 1953 exile of King Mohammed V to Madagascar and his subsequent return, events that accelerated Morocco's struggle for independence. This awakening fueled a lifelong commitment to social causes, particularly girls' education in rural areas. During her university years, she was actively involved in the National Union of Moroccan Students (UNEM). Dr. Allali Maamar later became a member of the central committee and presidential council of the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS). She also served as a member of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH). A mother of six, she devoted herself to community work after leaving the public sector, playing a key role in efforts to combat school dropout rates among girls. In 2005, she founded the Illy Foundation, launching development projects in the Oulmès region with the support of public institutions, partners, and private individuals. Since then, many schoolgirls aged 7 to 12 have benefited from comprehensive educational and social support. She firmly believed that health and education are the cornerstones of human development, and that rural communities must not be left behind. In a tribute, the PPS praised Dr. Allali Maamar's professional and personal qualities, describing her as a doctor «respected and recognized for her competence and exemplary commitment to public health», who «fulfilled her humanitarian mission with great devotion, placing the well-being and dignity of citizens at the heart of her work».
