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SENEGAL-AFRICA-SOCIETE / A report discusses the ''difficulties of citizens'' in accessing public services – Senegalese Press Agency

Dakar, Dec 21 (APS) – An Afrobarometer study highlights the difficulties many Africans, particularly young people and the poor, have in respectfully accessing public services.

According to Afrobarometer's new Pan-Africa Profile report, “young people and the poor are particularly likely to report difficulties in obtaining services as well as discourteous and disrespectful treatment from public service staff.

''Many Africans struggle to access public services and significant minorities report disrespectful treatment by public service staff,'' according to a statement from the organization.

Drawing on data from 39 African countries, the new report focuses on the experiences of citizens who have sought services from public health centers, public schools, services issuing official identity documents and/or of the police during the 12 months preceding the investigations, it is specified.

Without citing the countries concerned by these investigations in the press release, the text notes that ''many people report having had difficulty obtaining an identity document, police assistance or medical care''.

''And more than a third of them say they have not been treated with respect by agents of identification services and public hospitals,'' the report adds.

Key survey results show that on average, across 39 countries, a significant proportion of respondents report having had contact with a public health center (58%), a public school (34%) and/or a official service of identity documents such as a certificate

Among those who used these public services, “almost half (49%) of respondents say that it was “difficult” or “very difficult” for them to obtain the identity document.

Afrobarometer is a ''pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that produces reliable data on the experiences and assessments of Africans relating to democracy, governance and quality of life'', explains the text. Nine rounds of investigations have been carried out in up to 42 countries since 1999.

ADL/AKS

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