Senegal has achieved substantial progress in its national response to HIV/AIDS, characterized by a steady decline in new infections and vastly improved access to life-saving treatment.
According to a Wednesday announcement from the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, over 37,638 people living with HIV are currently receiving care across 157 treatment centers nationwide. These individuals benefit from free antiretroviral therapy, a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to ensure patients can lead productive and healthy lives.
The impact of these long-term strategies is evident in the epidemiological data, which shows new infections dropping from 3,485 in 2005 to 2,979 in 2024. A particularly encouraging trend has been observed in pediatric cases, where new infections among children were more than halved in just one year, falling from 20.1% in 2023 to 8.4% in 2024. However, the Ministry also noted a concerning rise in infections among adolescents and individuals aged 50 and over, suggesting a vital need for more targeted interventions for these specific demographics.
In terms of clinical care benchmarks, Senegal is nearing international targets, with 85% of people living with HIV aware of their status, 93% of those diagnosed receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 92% of treated patients achieving viral suppression. Despite these successes, health authorities remain concerned that nearly 30% of patients are still only diagnosed at an advanced stage of the illness, which underscores the urgent need to intensify early detection efforts.
The fight against mother-to-child transmission has also seen marked improvements, with 93% of HIV-positive pregnant women and exposed children receiving specialized care in 2024. While early diagnosis is accessible to all exposed infants, the overall HIV testing rate for pregnant women currently stands at 70%, which remains below national targets. Looking forward, the Integrated National Strategic Plan for 2026–2030 aims to bridge these gaps by accelerating testing, strengthening community-led interventions, and integrating HIV services with treatments for tuberculosis, hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted infections to ultimately eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B.
AC/fss/abj/APA