Senegal

NetWorks Senegal, which began operations in early 2010, works closely with Senegal’s National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and partners to design, implement and evaluate the national universal coverage (UC) campaign through mass distributions of long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs). NetWorks Senegal collaborates with a broad range of partners including government and local leaders, imams (Islamic leaders), schools, medical professionals, community volunteers and Peace Corps volunteers. Together with the NMCP, all of these partners work towards a common vision: to achieve and sustain national universal coverage of LLINs, thereby contributing to the goal of malaria pre-elimination by 2015.

Senegal’s Legacy Report on Universal Coverage of LLINs 2010-2013

This legacy report relates the rollout of universal coverage of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) in Senegal, with each phase presenting a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Senegal’s experience with national mass distribution campaigns is a public health success story about partnerships, local commitment and a common resolve to reduce the country’s malaria burden.

Universal Coverage in Senegal: 2010-2013   French (PDF  4.37MB)   English (PDF  4.32MB)

Online Toolkit for NetWorks Country Resources 

Senegal resources are available in the NetWorks Country Resources toolkit and include BCC campaign material, net distribution, durability and use resources, training material and research specific to Senegal. Browse the Toolkit

LLIN Distribution

The NetWorks universal coverage strategy combines LLIN distribution, behavior change communication (BCC), policy change and advocacy and research in an effort to prevent malaria transmission. NetWorks promotes the use of nets through BCC, efficient distribution of nets through mass and routine channels and uses research to improve policy both at the country and global level.

The goal of the UC campaign was to cover every sleeping space in Senegal with a LLIN, through a multi-phased program and to date, NetWorks led in the distribution of over 4 million nets in 12 of the 14 regions in Senegal. NetWorks provided their expertise and technical assistance to IntraHealth International for the campaigns in Dakar and Thies in 2013. 

In addition to the mass distributions, NetWorks supports the NMCP in their rollout and management of the routine channels of distribution. In mid 2012, a national level strategy was rolled out in 12 of the 14 regions of Senegal whereby nets could be obtained through a coupon system by pregnant women free of charge and anyone else seeking treatment at a clinic for a subsidized rate. In early 2013, NetWorks continued this strategy in two remaining regions and conducted a process evaluation of the other regions. While the mass and routine distributions have been successful in attaining UC in Senegal, in 2013 NetWorks launched a new strategy of school-based and community-based distributions to maintain universal coverage after the campaigns. During a continuous distribution assessment conducted in August 2012, Senegal assessed a variety of potential channels that could contribute to maintaining net coverage. The results showed school and community based channels to be the most promising.  NetWorks worked with districts in Louga and Ziguinchor to start up both distributions throughout 2013. Ongoing evaluation of this pilot will allow the NMCP and its partners to determine if the strategy can be scaled up across the country.

Case Study on Senegal’s Push and Pull Combination Strategy

In 2013, Senegal implemented a multi-channelled approach for continuous distribution of LLINs. This case study offers lessons learned in Senegal’s push-pull strategy and the benefits of a model that offers increased access to affordable nets. Link to the case study

Maintaining gains: Senegal’s strategy for continuous distribution of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs)

This 11-minute documentary depicts in detail the distribution of LLINs through health facilities and community-based organizations and describes distribution through schools. Included are interviews with implementers from the the Senegal Ministry of Health and Social Action and the National Malaria Control Program. 

Behavior Change Communication

The Senegal BCC campaign, known as the “Trois Toutes”, uses a play on words to build excitement about the campaign and encourage people living in malarial endemic areas to obtain and consistently use LLINs.  Loosely translated the slogan means, “Mosquito nets must be used by the whole family, all year long, and every night, because the mosquitoes are always there!” (“Toute la famille, Toute l’annee, Toutes les nuits.”) The purpose of the campaign is to ensure that regardless of where people sleep at night—be it a fancy bed, mattress on the floor or a simple straw mat, indoors or outdoors—they are uniformly protected from mosquito bites by a net because they use it consistently and correctly. Although developed by a national body, the “Trois Toutes” campaign is tailored to each region and locality, by working with local groups, local resources, and using culturally appropriate practices. This message is present all over the country, displayed at health facilities and bolstered by community volunteers during home visits. Radio and television spots featuring the “Trois Toutes” have also been spread across the airwaves to create brand recognition and subject awareness. In early 2013, NetWorks expanded its radio and television presence and created a radio-drama series, addressing issues that arose during the Culture of Net Use study.

Research and Advocacy

NetWorks Senegal conducts quantitative and qualitative research to inform their programmatic work. During 2012, a quantitative study was completed which provides information about the reach and influence of Senegal’s “Trois Toutes” strategy. Additionally, the Culture of Net Use study fielded two different phases in 2012. The first report is available here and the second report is anticipated to be complete in January 2013. The results in both of these studies informed the BCC strategies that NetWorks created in 2013.