More than 7.3 million children threatened by measles in Senegal: And Gueusseum sounds the alarm

The Alliance of Autonomous Health Unions (ASAS) – bringing together SUTSAS, SUDTM, SAT Santé/D, CNTS Santé, SAT/CL, and SYTRACTS, as well as And Gueusseum – notes a worrying resurgence of measles, which is prevalent worldwide and is now affecting the national socio-health context.

This alarming situation no longer spares vulnerable populations, in particular children under one year old and those over five years old. In Senegal, “the latter are estimated at 7,326,586”, according to data from the Prevention Directorate of the Ministry of Health and Social Action, the union reported in an official statement.

Faced with this threat of a massive epidemic, potentially imminent due to the weakening of health systems, the National Directory of And Gueusseum calls on its members to become actively involved in the vaccination response campaign planned for December 2 to 11. He also urges health stakeholders to transmit, in an exceptional and timely manner, the data necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of this campaign. The objective is to contain this serious, highly lethal disease, which is subject to mandatory notification.

Furthermore, the Executive Board reiterates its call to the Government to implement the residual agreements concluded with And Gueusseum, in order to put a definitive end to the retention of health and social information in force since March 7, 2023.