Dakar, Jan 4 (APS) – Through the Army-Nation concept, the Senegalese Armed Forces have become over the years essential actors in socio-economic development and the well-being of populations, through various activities and actions which affect all sectors of national life.
”For the purposes of active participation of the Armed Forces in the development of the country, the renovated Army-Nation concept has diversified and expanded their areas of intervention. Indeed, in addition to their traditional role of defense and security, they are becoming key players in strengthening civil-military integration, education and training of young people, rural development and agriculture, development infrastructure, public health, technological innovation, environmental protection, crisis and disaster management,” declared the Minister of the Armed Forces.
General Birame Diop spoke thus in an interview with the APS, as a prelude to the eighth edition of the National Cleanup Day ”Setal Sunu Réew”, organized this Saturday and of which the Ministry of the Armed Forces is the master of ‘artwork.
These new missions, according to him, strengthen the place of the Armed Forces as essential partners in socio-economic development and the well-being of populations.
These interventions generate positive impacts in several sectors of society and the economy, including, in addition to the sovereign tasks of defense and security, the development of agriculture, the management of natural disasters, the construction of infrastructure, etc.
The Armed Forces also intervene in rural development and agriculture, sectors in which they are called upon to contribute to increasing agricultural productivity, job creation, improving food sovereignty, poverty reduction in rural areas, social stability and reduced migration to urban areas.
Faced with natural disasters, such as the flooding of the Senegal River and its main tributary, the Falémé, where the Senegalese army was at the forefront by facilitating the evacuation of affected populations in the north and east of the country and the construction mobile hospitals.
In the field of transport and communication infrastructure, the work of the Armed Forces is also very remarkable.
”In the renovated Army-Nation concept, the participation of the Armed Forces in the construction of infrastructure contributes to the improvement of national and regional connectivity, facilitating trade, access to essential services (health, education) and travel populations. This stimulates the local economy and promotes market integration,” said General Birame Diop.
The same applies to the management of natural resources, the protection of the environment and biodiversity, as well as technological development and innovation, areas in which the Armed Forces are not left out.
”The renovated Army-Nation concept integrates the use of technology in public health projects, such as telemedicine, which makes it possible to offer medical consultations in remote regions via digital systems,” the minister underlined.
In addition, he added, ”the Armed Forces can also put in place health data management systems to prevent and monitor epidemics, thus improving the country’s health response”.
ABB/OID
