Senegal Sets Aspiring Goals to Reduce Maternal and Child Mortality by 2028
Dakar, Senegal – In a bold move to improve healthcare outcomes, Senegal has unveiled a new strategic plan aimed at substantially reducing maternal and child mortality rates by 2028. The plan, spearheaded by the directorate of Mother and Child Health (DSME), sets ambitious targets to address some of the most pressing health challenges in the country.
Massamba Sall, head of the unit of promotion and partnership at DSME, announced the plan during a workshop organized by the Association of Journalists in Population Health and Progress (AJSPD). The workshop focused on leveraging digital technology to promote sexual and reproductive health and create impactful online content.
“In the new DSME strategic plan, the objective is to reduce maternal mortality from 153 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 to 94 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2028,” sall stated. This represents a nearly 40% reduction in maternal mortality, a critical step toward improving healthcare for women across the country.
The plan also targets infant and child mortality, aiming to reduce rates from 40 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 to 29.3 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2028. Neonatal mortality,which currently stands at 23 deaths per 1,000 live births,is expected to drop to 15.1 deaths per 1,000 live births within the same timeframe.
“Concerning infant mortality, the plan aims to go from 31 deaths per 1,000 births in 2023 to 20.4 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2028,” Sall added. These targets underscore Senegal’s commitment to ensuring healthier futures for its youngest citizens.
A complete Approach to Healthcare
beyond mortality reduction, the DSME strategic plan emphasizes the integration of nutritional inputs into the SEN-PNA distribution circuit. This initiative aims to address malnutrition, a significant contributor to child mortality.The plan also calls for the development of adolescent and youth spaces in all health structures, ensuring that young people have access to tailored healthcare services. Additionally, it focuses on improving governance, accountability, and compliance with standards in human resources and equipment.
“The plan is expected to include the development of adolescent/youth spaces in all health structures, compliance with standards in human resources, equipment as well as enhancement in governance and accountability,” Sall explained.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite Senegal’s progress, challenges remain. Sall highlighted the need for stronger awareness campaigns and advocacy to promote health-promoting behaviors. He also pointed to the importance of revising the law on Reproductive Health (SR) and signing implementing decrees to ensure effective policy execution.
“These challenges revolve around strengthening awareness and advocacy for the promotion of health-promoting behaviors. The other challenge is the revision of the law on Reproductive Health (SR) and the signing of implementing decrees,” he said.
Another critical area is the functionality of existing newborn obstetric care (SONU) structures. The plan aims to ensure these facilities operate 24/7 and establish newborn corners in all maternity wards, adhering to strict standards.
A Regional Leader in Healthcare
Senegal, alongside Cape Verde, boasts some of the best healthcare indicators in sub-Saharan Africa. though, Sall stressed that continued efforts are essential to maintain and build on this progress.
“Cape Verde and Senegal have the best indicators in sub-Saharan Africa,” he noted.“But challenges exist.”
Key Targets at a Glance
| Indicator | 2023 Rate | 2028 Target |
|—————————–|—————————-|—————————–|
| Maternal Mortality | 153 deaths/100,000 live births | 94 deaths/100,000 live births |
| Infant Mortality | 31 deaths/1,000 live births | 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Child Mortality | 40 deaths/1,000 live births | 29.3 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Neonatal Mortality | 23 deaths/1,000 live births | 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births |
A Call to Action
Senegal’s strategic plan represents a significant step forward in addressing maternal and child health challenges. Though, achieving these goals will require sustained investment, collaboration, and community engagement.
As Sall emphasized, “The functionality of existing newborn obstetric care structures 24/24, 7 days a week, as well as the establishment of newborn corners respecting standards in all maternity wards, are critical to our success.”
With these measures in place, Senegal is poised to make meaningful progress in reducing maternal and child mortality, setting an example for other nations in the region.For more information on Senegal’s healthcare initiatives, visit the World Bank Gender Data Portal.
Senegal’s Aspiring Healthcare Goals: A Conversation with Dr. Aminata Diop
In a groundbreaking effort to improve maternal and child health, Senegal has set ambitious targets to reduce mortality rates by 2028. We sat down with Dr. Aminata Diop, a leading expert in public health and maternal care, to discuss the country’s new strategic plan, its challenges, and the opportunities it presents for the future of healthcare in Senegal.
Setting the Stage: Senegal’s New Strategic Plan
senior Editor: Dr. Diop, thank you for joining us. Senegal’s new strategic plan aims to considerably reduce maternal and child mortality by 2028.Can you give us an overview of the key targets?
Dr. Aminata Diop: thank you for having me. The plan is indeed ambitious. It aims to reduce maternal mortality from 153 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 to 94 by 2028. For infant mortality, the target is to go from 31 deaths per 1,000 live births to 20.4. Child mortality is expected to drop from 40 to 29.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, and neonatal mortality from 23 to 15.1. These targets reflect a thorough approach to improving healthcare outcomes.
A Holistic Approach to Healthcare
Senior Editor: Beyond reducing mortality rates, the plan emphasizes integrating nutritional inputs and developing adolescent and youth spaces in health structures. How do these initiatives contribute to the overall goals?
Dr. Aminata Diop: Nutrition is a critical factor in child health. By integrating nutritional inputs into the SEN-PNA distribution circuit, we address malnutrition, which is a meaningful contributor to child mortality. Additionally, creating adolescent and youth spaces ensures that young people have access to tailored healthcare services. This holistic approach not only improves health outcomes but also fosters a culture of preventive care.
Challenges and Opportunities
Senior Editor: What are some of the challenges Senegal faces in achieving these targets?
dr. Aminata Diop: One of the main challenges is the need for stronger awareness campaigns and advocacy to promote health-promoting behaviors.Another critical area is the revision of the law on Reproductive Health and the signing of implementing decrees to ensure effective policy execution. Additionally, ensuring the functionality of existing newborn obstetric care structures 24/7 and establishing newborn corners in all maternity wards are essential for success.
Senegal as a Regional Leader in Healthcare
Senior Editor: Senegal, alongside Cape Verde, has some of the best healthcare indicators in sub-Saharan Africa. How does this new plan position Senegal as a regional leader?
Dr. Aminata Diop: Senegal’s progress in healthcare is commendable,but there’s still much work to be done. This strategic plan not only aims to improve health outcomes but also sets a benchmark for other nations in the region. By addressing maternal and child mortality comprehensively, Senegal is demonstrating its commitment to leading by example in healthcare innovation and policy.
Key Targets at a Glance
| Indicator | 2023 Rate | 2028 Target |
|---|---|---|
| Maternal Mortality | 153 deaths/100,000 live births | 94 deaths/100,000 live births |
| Infant Mortality | 31 deaths/1,000 live births | 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Child Mortality | 40 deaths/1,000 live births | 29.3 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Neonatal Mortality | 23 deaths/1,000 live births | 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births |
A Call to Action
Senior editor: What final message would you like to leave our readers with regarding Senegal’s healthcare initiatives?
Dr. Aminata Diop: Achieving these goals will require sustained investment, collaboration, and community engagement. The functionality of existing newborn obstetric care structures and the establishment of newborn corners in all maternity wards are critical to our success. With these measures in place, Senegal is poised to make meaningful progress in reducing maternal and child mortality, setting an example for other nations in the region.
