In Senegal, a mother’s ordeal exposes a health system under strain
Summary
Awa Diba gave birth in a Senegal hospital just before a nationwide health workers' strike began, highlighting problems in the country’s health system such as poor conditions and lack of equipment. Despite economic growth driven by oil and gas production, Senegal struggles with high debt, reduced foreign aid, and underfunded healthcare, leading to strikes by medical professionals demanding better pay and resources.Key Facts
- Awa Diba went into labor as Senegal’s health workers prepared to strike, experiencing overcrowded and poorly maintained hospital conditions.
- Senegal’s healthcare workers, including doctors and pharmacists, held strikes in September 2025, continuing emergency services but stopping routine care.
- The medical union SAMES demands more hiring, better career benefits, and increased investment in hospitals, especially outside the capital, Dakar.
- Senegal’s public-sector debt was 132% of GDP at the end of 2024, with recent audits revealing previously undisclosed borrowing.
- The country’s economy grew 6.7% in 2025 due to new oil and gas production.
- Cuts in U.S. foreign aid have affected important health programs like HIV and malaria treatment.
- The Senegalese government is seeking financial help from the IMF, World Bank, and foreign investors to address economic and health system challenges.
- Unemployment among young people aged 15 to 34 was 28.4% in early 2026, pushing some to retrain for healthcare jobs.
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