Several factors have been identified which are associated with the low HIV prevalence in Senegal:

1. Conservative sexual norms, notably a low percent (20) of adolescents who have sexual encounters.
2. The Government of Senegal created a national safe blood supply in the 1970s which was reinforced in 1987 to test for HIV. 100 percent of blood donations are tested.
3. Since 1969, registered commercial sex workers are required to have annual checkups and treatment for curable sexually transmitted infections.
4. The National AIDS Control Program has a strong program of condom promotion and distribution.
5. The Government of Senegal began relatively early (1989) to collaborate with religious and community organizations to develop an AIDS prevention strategy.
6. Comprehensive information, education and communication programs have targeted high risk groups.

Senegal has a relatively low TB case notification level for Africa (79 per 100,000 population). All of Senegal’s population lives in a geographic area serviced by health facilities which implement the TB control practices consistent with WHO recommendations. 89 percent of the target population has been vaccinated by BCG. Senegal is considered by WHO to be in the routine phase of implementing DOTS (Directly Observable Treatment - Short course), with more than 90 percent of its population covered by the strategy.

Malaria is currently a more serious health problem in Senegal than either HIV/AIDS or TB. In 1996 Senegal reported 600,000 cases of malaria, resulting in 5,000 deaths. A National Malaria Control Programme was established in 1995.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control; CIA Factbook; Synergy Project; DHS 1997; WHO Global Tuberculosis Control; US Bureau of the Census; Roll Back Malaria.

• Increasing behavior change activities
• Improving HIV epidemiological surveillance
• Reinforcing Senegal's blood screening program (already one of the best in Africa)
• Managing STI cases, and
• Caring for and supporting people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)

Senegal is one of 13 nations taking part in the UNAIDS Accelerating Access Initiative (AAI), allowing it to purchase HIV/AIDS drugs from pharmaceutical companies at reduced prices.

The primary strategy for combatting malaria is to increase the percentage of Senegalese using insecticide treated nets. Only 30 percent of Senegalese are currently using such nets. A typical family may need three or four nets, and nets cost approximately $10, representing a considerable expenditure. The National Malaria Control Programme operates 50 centers offering the sale of subsidized nets and treating the nets with insecticides.

As stated above, Senegal is considered by WHO to be in the routine phase of implementing DOTS (Directly Observable Treatment - Short course), with more than 90 percent of its population covered by the strategy.

Sources: Synergy Project; NetMark

Demographic data contained in this section was obtained from the following sources: The Population Reference Bureau’s 2009 World Population Data Sheet was used for total population, life expectancy at birth, infant mortality, fertility, birth rate, death rate, % of married women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception, % of population 15-49 with HIV/AIDS in 2007/2008, and the GNI PPP per capita (2008). Literacy rates were found in the Population Reference Bureau’s publication 2005 Women of Our World. HIV prevalence data for 2001 and 2003 was obtained from the UNAIDS Barcelona 2002 report; HIV prevalence and orphan data for 2005 was obtained from the UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic 2006. Data on the % women who have discussed AIDS prevention with their husband or partner can be found in ORC Macro and USAID’s Women’s Lives and Experiences: Changes in the Past Ten Years (Research Findings from the Demographic and Health Surveys). Childhood malaria mortality data was accessed in 2003 from the United Nations Statistics Divisions’ Millennium Indicators. Tuberculosis data was obtained from the United Nations Statistics Division’s Millennium Indicators: MDGInfo 2006. In some cases information was unavailable.

Senegal has capacity to produce and export vaccines: it is classified as a category 2 country in terms of vaccine manufacturing capacity. This means that it has manufacturers that produce a significant quantity of vaccine that meets international quality specifications and these vaccines may be exported. In this category, some countries export only one product – others multiple vaccines. In addition, they vary in their research and development based activities.

Sources: World Bank; World Health Organization; 1997 Demographic and Health Survey; International AIDS Vaccine Initiative

Research and Development Institute

University of Dakar (Universite Cheikh Anta Diop) ( website )

1. ESTHER, a European AIDS initiative launched in Rome in 2002 with support from France, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain, aims to build partnerships between European hospitals and health care systems in the developing world. Senegal is one of the nations in which ESTHER plans to begin its work.

   Source: ESTHER Network fact sheet

2. The Global Fund has approved $23.7 million in funding for an anti-malarial program in Senegal. The grant agreement has not yet been signed.

   Source: GFATM