Immediately after the launch of the report on the state of the world population 2022 in Dakar,
Doctor Natalia KANEM, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) was able to visit and appreciate a mobile team offering integrated reproductive health and family planning (RH/FP) services with the partner MSI in Pout health district, accompanied by His Excellency Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, the Minister of Health and Social Action
This field visit made it possible to witness the synergy of actions between an NGO (MSI), CBOs and a health district which benefits from UNFPA support in breaking down geographical, socio-cultural and financial barriers, thus contributing to strengthening women's and girls' access to integrated quality client-centred FP and RH services.
The delegation of the UNFPA Executive Director and his Excellency the Minister of Health and Social Action were able to see for themselves UNFPA’s contribution on the ground through the synergy of actions in the provision of integrated SRMNIA/FP services.
The delegation was also able to provide useful advice to healthcare providers, the MSI team, beneficiaries and local community leaders to improve the use and supply of quality RMMNIA/FP integrated services at the Keur Moussa Health Post.
Undeniably, this strengthens the partnership between the government and UNFPA. According to the Minister of Health, “It is an effective partnership since it directly affects women's health. It will also have a positive impact on the indicators, in particular the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality”. Mr. Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr went on to add that “the government, through its ministerial department, has been committed for several years to reducing the rate of maternal and neonatal mortality by two thirds. We will spare no effort in this direction, to provide all structures for family planning products. This is why a budget of 500 million FCFA has been released with an annual increase of 20% to provide the necessary coverage”.
At the visit meeting, the women came in large numbers and were able to hear different messages on the benefits of family planning, different contraceptive methods, during the traditional talk that precedes the offer of services. This activity particularly caught the attention of the two authorities.
Community actors, the central pillar of the health system, were also there, congratulated and thanked by the Minister of Health and the Executive Director for their remarkable voluntary work in the service of the community.
The international NGO Marie Stopes Senegal was praised by the two authorities for its efforts in meeting the family planning and reproductive health needs of women and adolescents/young people.
UNFPA took the opportunity to provide the Minister of Health with equipment to support the Keur Moussa health post in the Pout district. According to Ms. Natalia Kanem, this equipment will improve the working conditions of health post workers and welcome patients, especially women.
“We have just spent a memorable day with the women of Keur Moussa who have accepted family planning services. It is a pleasure for me to offer this equipment to the health post to enable the health personnel to do their job properly. Our aim is for every woman to benefit from quality care for her development.”, said Dr. Natalia Kanem at the end of the visit.
Mrs. Salimata Diouf Cisse, Director of MSI wanted to say this about the mobile clinics: “This is a strategy that we are implementing in the regions, in particular with the support of UNFPA, by offering the full range of family planning methods to women; we also provide cervical cancer screening plus prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections”.
At the end of this impregnation within the Keur Moussa post, the fruitful partnership between UNFPA, the Government of Senegal and MSI for the well-being and development of women was lauded by the entire delegation led by the UNFPA’s Director Executive.
