41,000 people live with HIV in Senegal, according to Dr Safiatou Thiam, secretary general of the CNLS. Every year, around 1,000 new infections are recorded, mainly due to mother-to-child transmission and risky behaviors among young people, such as non-use of condoms.
Dakar, Thiès and Kolda are the most affected regions. Kolda, in particular, suffers from its proximity to Guinea-Bissau, a country with high HIV prevalence. Cross-border strategies have been put in place to limit risks.
Other localities in the country are also very vulnerable to this disease, specifies Safiétou Thiam. “ When we take an area like Ziguinchor, it is also the isolation which means that services are not deployed as [il] had to be because of the armed conflict. There is also Tambacounda which is a crossroads for travelers. Kédougou, which is a mining area where all nationalities meet, Kaffrine, a crossroads area, and Mbour, because of tourism, are vulnerable areas. she informed the Obs.
Senegal
