Senegal's Health System: A Mother's Shocking Birth Story

A pregnant trainee nurse in Dakar, Senegal, endured a difficult 24-hour labour just as health workers prepared to strike, revealing the strain on the nation's healthcare system. Awa Diba described shocking conditions within the hospital, including crumbling infrastructure and inconsistent electricity, leading her to view the system as unwell.

This experience unfolded against a backdrop of widespread discontent among healthcare professionals. Doctors, pharmacists, and dental surgeons have engaged in multiple strikes since September 2026, demanding better recruitment, improved working conditions, and increased investment in medical equipment, especially outside Dakar. Union leaders express frustration over unaddressed demands dating back to 2023.

Senegal's economy grew by 6.7 percent in 2025, fueled by oil and gas production. However, the country carries a substantial debt burden, with public-sector debt estimated at 132 percent of GDP by the end of 2024. Government audits have revealed previously undisclosed borrowing, significantly revising debt figures and limiting financial flexibility for public services like healthcare.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye is actively seeking financial relief, engaging in discussions with international financial institutions and investors. He advocates for a reform of the global debt architecture, arguing that it impedes access to essential services. Meanwhile, foreign aid, previously supporting health programs, has seen reductions, further complicating the situation.

Diba, now a mother, aims to specialize in hematology, driven to heal patients despite their fear of dying within hospitals that are often a last resort. The article concludes by noting that patients wait for affordable care, diagnoses, and a repaired health system, echoing the persistent delays faced by doctors and unions. Diba's hope is that her daughter, Myriam, will not experience such systemic failures.