Over the course of the 30 years that Terre des Hommes (Tdh) has been working in Senegal, it has built up a recognised expertise in mother and child health and special care.


Solutions proposed by Terre des hommes

Mother and child health and nutrition – In the Podor district, Tdh is working towards the improvement of health and nutrition status of children up to 5 years old. Tdh is also promoting access to health services for pregnant women and organising sessions to increase awareness about exclusive breast feeding up to 6 months.

Special medical care – Tdh is taking care of children with serious illnesses (such as heart disease) either locally or abroad. Tdh is also providing financial support to the paediatric and orthopaedic units at Thiès Hospital.

Support for children in Koranic schools – In the Guédiawaye region, Tdh in collaboration with the authorities and other local stakeholders, is providing support for some impoverished young boys living in Koranic schools who are deprived of any secular education and are forced to beg to pay for food and schooling, often under threat of severe punishment. Tdh offers access to healthcare, psychosocial activities, and formal education or vocational apprenticeships.


Results achieved in 2008

Mother and child health and nutrition – The project helped 1/3 of the population of Podor, including 6264 children aged 0-36 months and 2320 pregnant or parturient women. Thirty community ambulances provided improved access to healthcare.

Special medical care – 17 children suffering from serious illnesses were treated in Dakar and 24 were transferred to Europe. At Thiès Hospital, Tdh funded 7 orthopaedic operations and 107 orthopaedic fittings. 104 malnourished children made a full recovery.

Children in Koranic schools – The healthcare project beneficiated to 179 children. Tdh has initiated numerous sports and recreational activities. Strong links have been forged with the religious teachers’ network, putting into place some community-based good practices to fight against exploitation and mistreatment.


Challenges to be taken up

Mother and child health and nutrition – Tdh campaigns for improved quality of care from the public health authorities. Another major challenge for the project is supporting communities so that they take on more responsibility for treating childhood illnesses and pregnant women. Supporting children in Koranic schools – Placing a child in a Koranic school is a longstanding custom in Senegalese culture. Tdh works to ensure that the way this tradition is conducted does not violate children’s human rights, in the hope that these children will have a real chance of integrating into society.


STORY - Ahmedoune has to beg to pay for his school

“My name is Ahmedoune Diagne and I am 8 years old, I think. I have lived in Guédiawaye since I was 5, in a Koranic school (a daara). I am looked after by a religious teacher, called a marabout. I have to beg for up to 12 hours a day to support myself and the daara. I have to take back a huge amount of money [CFA 2400 or CHF 6] otherwise I am severely punished.

I often go with the other children to beg outside the government offices. But it is better to beg outside the mosque on Fridays because people give us more money.

My parents live a long way away and in the last 3 years I have only seen them once. I also have younger brothers and sisters that I have never seen.
I get on quite well with the other children. We have always begged together and there is no boss out of us. I don’t have any problems with the marabout’s children either. They live in the same daara as me but they don’t have to beg! And they can go to the local school.
Luckily, they [Tdh and its local partner] help us a lot. Recently they came and disinfected the school and gave us new mats to sleep on. Thanks to them I am learning to read, and I met a lady who lives nearby who became my ‘godmother’: she looks after me, gives me food to eat and washes my clothes. She is like my second mummy! And also there are support workers who make us feel better when we are scared. They cheer us up a lot. We play games and sports, and I don’t feel so lonely! And soon I am going to see my family in my village.”