How is it that, in a region that has lagged behind in many of the global health advances of the past 30 years, one country stands out for its tremendous progress?
In West Africa, Senegal has been making great strides in reducing maternal and child deaths, increasing availability and use of family planning, and building a strong, resilient health system that can repel unexpected threats such as Ebola and Zika virus (the way it has with HIV since the epidemic’s beginning).
Since 1992, vaccinations in Senegal have soared, infant mortality has been cut in half, and the modern contraceptive prevalence rate has rocketed from under 5 percent to 20 percent.
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About the author
Pape Amadou Gaye
Pape Amadou Gaye is president and CEO of IntraHealth International. For over three decades, he has advocated for, built, and leveraged strong partnerships with governments, NGOs, and the private sector to catalyze change and enable health workers to better serve communities in need. A native of Senegal, Gaye is a powerful advocate for family planning—especially in West Africa—as a high-impact solution to address health and population challenges.
