USAID/Senegal’s health program is conceptualized as a "pirogue" representing elements of the health system. The body of the pirogue – USAID’s health system strengthening component - supports USAID’s community health, service delivery, and HIV/AIDS and TB activities while being powered by the ―motor‖ of the President’s Malaria Initiative. The pirogue’s ―umbrella‖ covers USAID’s health promotion and behavior change activities.
HEALTH SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING
Health Systems Strengthening is the foundation for all of USAID’s health interventions in Senegal. USAID works closely with the Government of Senegal to build and strengthen the health system at all levels—local, district, regional, and national. Key accomplishments from 2012 include the launch of a two-year performance-based financing pilot project in three districts of Senegal, and establishment of a universal health insurance pilot program based on existing Senegalese mutual health organizations.
PRESIDENT’S MALARIA INITIATIVE (PMI)
The President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) program is a contributing force behind the substantive drops Senegal has seen in under-five mortality (-40%) and infant mortality (-21%) over the past five years. As part of its universal coverage campaign, PMI distributed more than 1.5 million long-lasting insecticide-treated nets in 2012, more than 95,000 of which were given to pregnant women and children. In addition, using Senegal’s 1,900 Health Huts as a service delivery platform, PMI trained 524 community health workers and skilled birth attendants in malaria diagnosis and treatment. These individuals managed nearly 14,000 cases of uncomplicated malaria.