The Directorate of Maternal and Child Health (DSME), in collaboration with the NGO RAES, brought together key stakeholders in the health sector on Tuesday, September 30, in Dakar for the launch of the SANSAS project sharing workshop. This workshop aims to pre-validate a series of tools and products intended to improve the management of Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH), Family Planning (FP) and Nutrition services in Senegal.

Research, innovation and community engagement

During this first day, the participants learned about the results of the formative research carried out in the intervention areas, specifically in Sédhiou and Mbour.

Health data and projections

Senegal continues to face major challenges in maternal and infant mortality, nutrition, and access to family planning services. The 2023 DHS survey showed the level of maternal, newborn, and infant health indicators and the expected projections for 2028.

The results reveal that maternal mortality is 153 deaths per 100,000 live births with a reduction target to 94 by 2028; neonatal mortality is 23% and must be reduced to 15%; infant mortality is 31% with a target of 20% by 2028; the contraceptive prevalence rate is 25.6% with a target of 46% in 2028; unmet need for family planning is estimated at 19.1% with a reduction target to 9% in 2028 and the chronic malnutrition rate from 17.5% to 9.9%.

This approach, supported by the National Scaling-Up Plan, aims to pool efforts to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in health by 2030.

Several innovative tools were also shared, including a community animation guide in the form of a game; a series of 50 TikTok episodes and a mini-music album produced in collaboration with local rappers to raise awareness and engage young people.

These initiatives are part of a participatory approach, in order to ensure that productions reflect the realities on the ground and meet the needs of communities.

A national dynamic supported by the MSHP

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene (MSHP), Senegal has embarked on a dynamic integration of MNCH, FP, and nutrition services. This approach, supported by the National Plan for Scaling Up, is recognized as a high-impact practice that increases service utilization, reduces missed opportunities, and better meets the needs of women, newborns, children under 5, and adolescents.

Second day: Towards the integration and validation of tools

On October 1st, work will continue on the integration of health services. Participants will focus on presenting the radio animation guide for field actors; validating community and digital productions; and defining intervention and amplification strategies to maximize the project's impact with tools for sustainable social change.

Indeed, the SANSAS project relies on a combination of community, digital and cultural tools (radio, TikTok, music, educational games) to promote social and behavioral change (SBC).

This two-day sharing workshop is a key step in ensuring the relevance, effectiveness and appropriation of these tools by all healthcare stakeholders in Senegal.

For the DSME, it is not simply a question of validating materials, but of creating a coherent national dynamic, driven by communities and supported by all stakeholders in the health system.