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Access to health is still uneven in Senegalese territory. A problem the government is tackling with the opening of four new regional hospitals, including Kédougou, which was inaugurated by President Macky Sall on 31 May. southeast of the territory to the despair of the population and health care.
From our special correspondent in Kédougou,
At the end of a rough 90-kilometer track, two young nurses handle the small health post in the village of Sambarabougou. A room is used as a waiting and delivery room.
Hapsatou Diop, a midwife, only takes care of pregnant women and newborns. “There are many cases of upper respiratory tract infections, but the technical platform is quite limited. We do not have oxygen cylinders or anything else. The midwife or nurse takes care of the child. If he is in critical condition, we must refer it to Saraya, who is quite far away. For a small child with breathing difficulties, it can be a rather dangerous journey. There is mortality, Hapsatou explains.
An congested health center
Here it is not Covid-19 that worries, but cases of malaria that appear with the rainy season. Especially since the village is not equipped with an ambulance, just Tamba Cissokho, guardian of the health post. “We need an ambulance first, which is a priority. There is no material. At the pharmacy level, we need a lot of medicine. We’re just fine. We have some emergency products such as paracetamol, amoxicillin, we have first aid … ”, describes Tamba Cissokho.
On the crowded benches in the health center of the city of Kédougou, Bébé Cissokho is waiting her turn to consult. She still remembers the transfer of her grandmother to Tambacounda, more than 200 kilometers away, for lack of materials to support her. “She was ill, she had breathing problems. We took care of Grandma ourselves. It was very difficult. When the sick are tired, we can not evacuate them all the time to Tambacounda. It’s a long way, it was difficult for her, she says.
A situation that reveals the difficulties of everyday life
Although the law had been strengthened during the two waves of Covid-19, four serious cases were transferred to Tambacounda and died. A situation that reveals the daily difficulties, according to Fodé Danfakha, district manager for the district.
“Everything that is a surgical or obstetric emergency is taken care of at the health center. But there were not enough qualified staff, not enough midwives, not enough consulting offices because the center was not designed to support this workload. There are no cardiac or other services like neurology. We have no orthopedist or resuscitator. “
All healthcare staff are therefore relieved the newly opened regional hospital with 150 beds, where the missing specialties will develop over time …
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