What we are doing
Low harvest yields in 2011 led to the declaration of a malnutrition emergency in April of 2012. Action Against Hunger responded to the emergency by launching emergency nutrition programmes. Our teams treated 85,000 malnourished individuals in Senegal and across the Sahel during the crisis. Although the food crisis is now less critical, the country struggles with high rates of maternal and infant mortality, especially in northern remote rural areas like Matam, where access to basic services is limited.
Action Against Hunger launched programmes in Senegal in 2012 and is currently working in Dakar, Matam, Podor and Louga.
Our programmes include:
- Screening, diagnosis and treating malnourished children
- Strengthening the capacity of local government agencies to tackle severe acute malnutrition
- Improving access to a diversified diet through vegetable gardening programmes and cooking demonstrations
- Improving access to water, sanitation & hygiene
- Disaster risk reduction programmes to help create the conditions whereby people can thrive in spite of disaster risks and climatic changes
In addition to recovering from the recent food crisis, the country’s long-term health goals include reducing mother and infant mortality rates, and providing more vulnerable people with basic health services. As a part of this strategy, we are expanding our nutrition programmes and strengthening the capacity of local government agencies to tackle malnutrition. Through these efforts, we will continue to help Senegal's fight against hunger and malnutrition.
