.png?sfvrsn=6d0e27cd_1 "Partnership for Change - v7 (1)")
Thirty-six partners in Senegal gathered to launch the Collaborative Advocacy Action Plan (CAAP) under the leadership of the Direction de la Santé de la Mère et de l'Enfant (DSME) of the Ministry of Health. Convened by Amref Health Senegal, the event revitalized the National Advocacy Commission on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (RMNCH) and brought together health authorities, civil society leaders and technical partners in a discussion on how to accelerate the achievement of Senegal’s national health and development strategy 2024-2028, building on the country’s track record in family planning and maternal health.
The conversation resulted in broad agreement around five key advocacy priorities, which partners will jointly work towards in the coming six months.
Ending preventable deaths of mothers and newborns by making quality care more available and encouraging timely use of health services.
Improving equitable access to family planning by managing misinformation, providing clear and age-appropriate messages for young people and involving men and religious leaders in conversations around reproductive health.
Reduce under-5 mortality rate through
expansion of life-saving interventions, including vitamin A distribution, and advocacy for effective national implementation of the Package of High-Impact Interventions for Child Survival (PISA)
Improving access to reproductive health services for adolescents and youth
through supportive policies, youth involvement in decision-making, and the provision of safe spaces for young people
Fighting child malnutrition by addressing immediate and underlying causes, through locally tailored solutions, especially in hard to reach communities, and cross-sectoral collaborations across ministries.
“The revival of the national advocacy commission on RMNCH (Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health) stands out as a truly significant accomplishment captured through the CAAP. This initiative was crucial, not only in fostering multi-stakeholder dialogue but also in effectively defining national priorities for RMNCH. This achievement highlights a successful effort to strengthen national health governance and strategic planning, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes, especially for women and children.”
- Marième Ly, Project Manager, Amref Health West Africa
The launch event also provided an opportunity for technical exchange and collaborative planning. Stakeholders worked together to identify operational challenges in assigning roles and responsibilities and ensuring marginalized communities were prioritized, and outline practical steps to implement advocacy activities ranging from awareness campaigns through radio and TV and community engagement to policy dialogue and advocacy outreach towards decision makers.
The CAAP initiative brought a renewed focus on action and results within the realm of women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health. Through this collaborative effort, Senegal can leverage political will and inclusive dialogue to accelerate progress for the country’s most vulnerable populations.
This collaborative moment reflects a strong commitment to action. As Senegal moves forward with the CAAP framework, the initiative is set to foster stronger alignment between government, parliament and civil society and contribute to existing global efforts, especially through the participation of Senegal in the Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (GLN) under the leadership of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to ensure that every woman, child and adolescent can realize their right to health and well-being.