PATH in Senegal

Publication date: 2017

In Senegal, political stability and economic growth have opened new doors for health and development. Yet the country still faces urgent gaps in care and services. Since 2001, PATH has collaborated with government leaders, communities, health care workers, and other stakeholders to respond. We identify and deploy innovative approaches to combat malaria and other infectious diseases, strengthen health systems, improve reproductive health, and address the growing threat of noncommunicable diseases. Together, we are empowering communities throughout Senegal to build a healthier future for themselves and their country. PATH in Senegal Partnering with government leaders, communities, and other stakeholders to combat disease, strengthen health systems, and address emerging threats Cover photo: PATH/Gabe Bienczycki Paving the way toward malaria elimination Over the last decade, Senegal’s leaders and communities, with support from PATH and other partners, have reduced malaria deaths among children by more than half. Now, we are working with the National Malaria Control Program to eliminate the disease countrywide. The Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), a program at PATH, is equipping health workers to diagnose, investigate, and prevent transmission using proven approaches. These include long-lasting insecticide- treated bednets, large-scale testing and treatment with antimalarial drugs, and increased community awareness. We are also harnessing data to amplify our efforts. For example, we developed and implemented digital tools that enable community health workers to locate and report malaria cases using cell phones, allowing decision-makers to identify and stop outbreaks quickly. In addition, the Zéro Palu! Je m’Engage! (“Zero Malaria Starts With Me”) communication campaign, launched by PATH and our partners, builds public commitment and support for a malaria-free Senegal—giving every citizen ownership over the fight against this persistent disease. Strengthening health SyStemS PATH works with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to strengthen the local and national health systems that support all care and services. Greater capacity in disease surveillance, laboratory services, and immunization, for example, not only improves care for common health needs but will allow Senegal to respond more effectively to public health emergencies. reSPonding to emerging threatS During the 2015 Ebola outbreak, PATH supported the MOH to detect and halt infection within Senegal. Based on our experience with malaria, we quickly developed a set of standard operating procedures and a monitoring and surveillance system to allow health workers to report cases. We also helped establish a national emergency operations center to coordinate the response. Thanks to these efforts, Senegal stopped the outbreak at one imported case and not a single death. Building on this partnership, PATH was selected in 2015 to support the MOH to achieve priorities set out under the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). Funded through a five-year grant from the US Centers for Disease Project and office locationS in Senegal collaboration for SuStainable change Working from offices in Dakar, Richard Toll, and Ranerou, PATH staff support a broad portfolio of work to improve health and save lives in Senegal and the surrounding region. We draw on our long-standing partnerships in the country, our focus on empowering communities, and our global expertise combining innovative vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovations to address barriers from every angle. Collaboration is a hallmark of our strategy. First, we listen closely to the priorities of the Ministry of Health, health workers, and communities. Then, we mobilize resources and stakeholders from across the public and private sectors to identify, adapt, and implement effective responses. This ensures that our work is sustainable and aligns with the goals and needs of Senegal’s leaders and citizens. Dakar path office Richard Toll Ranerou project area Press is safe, discreet, and offers three months of protection from pregnancy. Because it is easy to use, it can be administered by community health workers, improving women’s access to the option. After pilot introduction in four areas of Senegal, we are working with the MOH to expand availability and use throughout the country and region. We are also studying self-injection of Sayana Press and the potential impact of the practice in Senegal. Preventing cervical cancer Although prevention, detection, and treatment can stop cervical cancer, the disease claims hundreds of thousands of lives each year—nearly all in countries, including Senegal, where women lack consistent access to care. To respond, PATH is working with partners in Senegal and six other African countries to plan, implement, or evaluate vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer. We are also broadening efforts to improve screening and treatment throughout Senegal. Control and Prevention, the GHSA works to strengthen the capacity of partner countries to prevent, detect, and respond to emergencies of public health importance. In Senegal, we are working with the MOH and other partners to reduce the number and magnitude of infectious disease outbreaks by improving disease surveillance, strengthening the national laboratory network, responding to antimicrobial resistance, and building health information and reporting systems. imProving reProductive health PATH works with partners to increase access to reproductive health services in Senegal and ensure that modern contraceptive options are available to all women. Introduction and evaluation of Sayana® Press In collaboration with partners, PATH successfully introduced Sayana Press—a new formulation and packaging of a popular injectable contraceptive— in Senegal and several other countries. Sayana Innovation for health: Other work in Senegal PATH’s work to combat key health threats in Senegal also includes the following approaches: • Advocacy to save lives. PATH’s global advocacy team partners with advocates in Senegal to strengthen local capacity and support for policies and investments that make women’s and children’s health a national priority. • Strengthening data. For every effort, we seek cost-effective ways to improve data collection and use. Improved data and monitoring systems have accelerated Senegal’s progress toward eliminating malaria and increased national capacity to control Ebola and other emerging threats. • Combating infectious disease. With local partners, we test promising approaches for their safety, efficacy, and feasibility within the Senegalese context. For example, we have investigated whether a seasonal influenza vaccine is appropriate for use in the country. • Testing and validating health products. Refined in Senegal, our rapid diagnostic test for onchocerciasis (river blindness) offers a new way to diagnose exposure, bringing the world closer to eliminating this debilitating infection. We are also testing containers designed to keep vaccines cool during transport and evaluating the use of drones for a variety of health applications. • A new look at nutrition. PATH explores innovative approaches at the intersection of nutrition, environmental change, agriculture, and other arenas. For instance, we are examining how traditional Senegalese foods, such as fermented milk (lait caillé), can help children stay healthy and nourished. January 2017 senegal head office Mailing address BP 15115, Dakar-Fann Dakar, Senegal Street address Fann Résidence Rue Saint John Perse X F Dakar, Senegal Tel: +221.33.869.1151 PATH is a leader in global health innovation. An international nonprofit organization, we save lives and improve health, especially among women and children. We accelerate innovation across five platforms—vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovations—that harness our entrepreneurial insight, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, we take innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. Together, we deliver measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health. www.path.org Sécurité Contraceptive en Afrique Francophone The Forum for Contraceptive Security in Francophone Africa (Sécurité Contraceptive en Afrique Francophone, or “SECONAF”) was established in 2011 to help improve access to affordable and high-quality reproductive health supplies in francophone Africa. SECONAF is a linguistic community that mobilizes the strengths of more than 190 organizations to address locally relevant supply issues. It is an initiative of the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition, the world’s largest voluntary network of reproductive health organizations. The coalition’s secretariat is managed by PATH. Prioritizing noncommunicable diSeaSeS Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic lung diseases, are on the rise in many low- and middle-income countries, including Senegal. PATH is supporting the MOH to address this gap. As part of the No Empty Shelves project, we assessed the availability, accessibility, and affordability of essential supplies and treatment for diabetes in Senegal, as well as barriers to obtaining them. We worked with the MOH to develop standard procedures for NCD diagnosis and management. We are helping to ensure that NCD care is included within primary care services. In addition, we are facilitating communication among stakeholders concerned by the rise of NCDs in Senegal so that they can work together to take action. building a healthier future PATH has worked hand in hand with Senegalese leaders and communities to achieve national health priorities and address emerging threats for more than 15 years. Today, the country is improving the quality and availability of health care services, moving closer to eliminating malaria, and pursuing the ambitious 2030 health targets set out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Now, PATH will continue to expand our work and partnerships in Senegal to strengthen health systems, improve services, and bring high-quality care to women, children, and communities in the country and region. Funders Principal funders of PATH’s work in Senegal include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Fondation Mérieux; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; GlaxoSmithKline PULSE Volunteer Partnership program; Novo Nordisk; Skoll Foundation; US Agency for International Development; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and private and public donors in Senegal and worldwide. Sayana Press is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc.

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