Senegal

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The Problem

  • In Senegal, 61% of children under 6 are classified with sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency according to a 2004 report.
  • A 2005 survey showed that a startling 84% of children under 5 in Senegal suffer from anemia.

What HKI Is Doing

Helen Keller International’s Africa Regional Office is located in Dakar. HKI has been working in Senegal since 2004; current programs include:

Vitamin A Supplementation
Helen Keller International works closely with the Ministry of Health to organize the distribution of vitamin A supplementation (VAS) on Child Survival Days throughout the country’s 63 health districts. Last year, 90% of children targeted for vitamin A supplementation or 1.65 million children ages 6-59 months were reached. 

Vaccinations, de-worming medications and long-lasting insecticide-treated nets were also distributed. HKI also promotes its Essential Nutrition Actions package to provide important information on nutrition and general health through the Nutrition Enhancement Program and the Maternal and Child Health component  of USAID’s Health Program.

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Food Fortification
Helen Keller International plays a key role in implementing food fortification in Senegal, working with the National Alliance for Food Fortification (COSFAM), and provided technical support to the Institute of Food Technology. HKI worked with COSFAM to develop an agreement to fortify oil with vitamin A and wheat flour with iron and folic acid, and to create a strategic plan, protocols, and mandatory food fortification norms in harmony with West African standards.

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Nutritional Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS
HKI created a package of essential nutritional services that can be integrated into existing health facility services, and played a key role in helping the Ministry of Health develop its nutrition policies and programs relating to the care and support of HIV/AIDS-affected orphans and vulnerable children. HKI produced learning guides for facilitators and participants, counseling tools, monitoring cards, and trained 309 district health care workers.

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