Focus on Senegal

Focus on Senegal, the first country report in the Roll Back Malaria Progress & Impact Series, published in collaboration with Senegal’s National Malaria Control Programme, (NMCP) describes how Senegal achieved a spectacular drop in its malaria burden in just five years.

A summary of Senegal’s main achievements

• Between 2005 and 2010, nearly 6 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets have been distributed. In 2010, 82% of households own at least one insecticide-treated mosquito net, representing a 36% increase in less than two years.
• All of the country’s 14 regions have received free intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women. Fifty-two per cent of pregnant women received at least two doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine during antenatal medical consultations in 2008-09, compared with 13% in 2005.
• 1 million rapid diagnostic tests and 1.5 million artemisininbased combination treatments have been distributed free of charge since 2007. Between 2008 and 2009, 17 000 health workers have been trained to use these tests and dispense these treatments. 86% of patients presenting with a suspected malarial fever were screened with a rapid diagnostic test in 2009.
• 330 000 household rooms were sprayed with insecticide between 2006 and 2009.
• The country’s 69 health districts all receive support for community information, education and communication activities (ABCD programme).