Senegal Spotlight

photos and story by Mamadou Goudiaby

As reported in your last Malaria Minute, the Senegal team has been tirelessly traveling the country investigating malaria cases and working with transient populations—particularly transhumants, or semi-nomadic farmers. The MACEPA tea often work late into the night, at times skipping dinner because of the work and spending nights in the car. Follow along with their journey in the photos below.

thumbnail_1- First we go to the health post that has recorded the positive cases of malaria. .jpg
thumbnail_2-1. The MACEPA coordinator gather data of positives cases recorded in the health post area.jpg

First, we get to the health post where the index case is notified as soon as possible to investigate and treat the concession/household, according to the FDA process implemented in the North with the National Malaria Control Programme. When we arrive at the health post, the MACEPA team records all positive documented cases with the nurse and the patients’ information: name, address, and phone number when available. In cases where there is no fixed address, the nurse takes down the name of the tribal or concession leader.

thumbnail_3- After documentation forms gathered, we, MACEPA and Nurse get to the index case house for investigation.jpg

With this information, we travel the extent of the health post (sometimes almost 40 km) to find the index case or its tribe (in the case of nomads).

thumbnail_4- The investigator identify the case first from data recorded at health post in documentation form.jpg
edited images.jpg

Once the case is found, the investigators document it and complete the investigation form, tracing the itinerary of the case if the sick person traveled within 10 - 30 or 60 days in the district or out of district. The investigator also records the name and age of all those present and those who spend the night in the concession. In the case of transhumants, we go through the forest and ask the villagers and others transhumants the exact location of the family.

thumbnail_6-3 Most of time, after our presentation and communication, people are understanding and collaborate..jpg
edited treatment pic senegal.jpg

After finding the family, we record family members, even those who aren’t there, and give the treatment to the patient to take in front of us (the Directly Observed Treatment method).

thumbnail_7-2 When we arrive at night in a house, they also understand that is necessry to help prevent other cases in the house.jpg

MACEPA team investigates until night time, sometimes until 10pm. In the rainy season, they really don’t have time to eat properly because of the heavy workload. They usually spend the night in the villages in a car, at health posts, or in a village leader’s house if possible.