Day of advocacy for mother and baby health

World Vision Senegal held a day of advocacy for mother and baby health at Mbellacadiao 31 March 2016.

In its holistic philosophy World Vision acknowledges health - especially of women and infants - as a top priority and an imperative of sustainable development.

Consequently, amongst its four strategic objectives, World Vision Senegal is committed to working with all partners at all levels so that 'all children aged 0-5 and women of child-bearing age may enjoy a better state of health and nutrition before 2021'. 

For more than ten years, World Vision Senegal has promoted the establishment of 36 health cooperatives in its various areas of involvement under the slogan ‘one local collective - one cooperative’. For the NGO, the imperative is to extend health risk coverage to a wider population, especially the most vulnerable. This resonates perfectly with DECAM (Decentralisation and Extension of Healthcare Insurance Coverage) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly number 3 which is to 'Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages'.

The day gave us the chance to bring home the meaning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to local people in terms of how they facilitate health and well-being in the community. In addition, the day also allowed us to:

• Showcase the contribution of World Vision Senegal to the Universal Health Coverage (CMU) in Senegal by means of its involvement in the DECAM process (Decentralisation and Extension of Healthcare Insurance Coverage)
• Engage with the government, and local and regional administrative authorities in addressing the challenges and shortcomings that World Vision Senegal has perceived in the implementation of DECAM.
• Make the SDGs feel relevant to local people.
• Encourage decision-makers to apply the SDGs in the local area through the partnership with World Vision.