Cooperation mission to Senegal

Visit to site of paediatric sickle-cell unit funded by the Prince’s Government in Dakar. © DCI

During the visit, working sessions with the Consul of Monaco in Senegal, Mr Guédel Ndiaye, provided an opportunity to discuss the programmes supported by Monaco’s Official Development Assistance, notably combatting sickle-cell disease, improving maternal and infant health, helping young people to access employment, and providing assistance to victims of trafficking.

The trip to Senegal also included a visit to the site of the sickle-cell unit at Albert Royer National Children’s Hospital in Dakar. Construction of the unit has been funded by the Prince’s Government, in partnership with the Republic of Senegal. The outpatient facility for children and young people with sickle-cell disease, designed by Monegasque company Eco-System, will be officially opened in the first quarter of 2017.

Anne Poyard-Vatrican, Deputy Director of International Cooperation, gave an introductory speech at a symposium on improving the quality of paediatric care organised by the Groupe Inter-académique pour le Développement (GID) as part of the ENSPEDIA programme, which focuses on childhood and paediatric care in West Africa.

A meeting was also held with the management team of Pikine Hospital in Dakar, as part of the hospital partnership which has been established with Princess Grace Hospital. Thanks to this partnership, launched in 2011, it has been possible to develop medical cooperation in the fields of laparoscopic surgery and gynaecology, with Senegalese doctors attending training programmes at Princess Grace Hospital, and teams from Monaco undertaking medical missions to Dakar.

Finally, working meetings and project visits with local partners supported by Monaco’s Official Development Assistance - AMREF, Investisseurs & Partenaires, UNODC, GRET, Maison du Rugby, etc. - were also organised during this particularly packed week.