Senegal

Senegal is a low-income country marked by food deficiency. The southern regions of the country are most ravaged by poverty and inadequate resources. Large numbers of displaced persons also contribute to the prevalence of poverty in the south. Poverty can be seen all over Senegal though, and the overpopulated and underemployed urban areas testify to the severity of the problem. Urban and rural areas feel the effects of poverty manifested in many ways, including malnutrition and poor sanitation. USAID estimates that 50% of young men are unemployed, even in the face of a decade of economic growth.

Generally, the standard of living has not improved a great deal, with 70% of rural peoples still living without electricity. Continued, stable growth and more jobs are needed to help reduce poverty.

There are many at risk children in Senegal. Children are often the victims of domestic abuse, forced labor, and landmine explosions. In the disputed southern region of Casamance, tensions between the government and rebels run high, causing high numbers of arrested and killed civilians. ‘Disappearances’ and torture are common in the south, specifically against alleged supporters of the separatist rebel group. In an attack on freedom of expression, many journalists are beaten or expelled while the perpetrators profit from impunity.

Wife beating and other forms of domestic abuse are, unfortunately, common in Senegal. Around 87% of women report having experienced domestic abuse. Though domestic abuse is punishable by law, police rarely interfere in domestic abuse cases and few outside sources are often consulted. In rural areas women face harsher discrimination, including limited access to education.

Female genital mutilation is a common cultural practice among the minority ethnic groups in Senegal that the government and many non-governmental organizations seek to raise awareness of.

Senegal has one of the lowest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the region. Strong government intervention and prevention programs have paid off, and Senegal is one of the rare success stories of African countries battling AIDS. An estimated 2% of the predominantly Muslim population is infected with HIV. Religions leaders have expressed tolerance toward discussions of sex education, prostitution, drug use, and other high-risk behaviors for HIV/AIDS. Prostitution is strictly regulated and controlled, and in schools condoms and safe sexual relationships are discussed. Population displacement due to rebel activity in southern Senegal increases the prevalence of STIs and HIV/AIDS.

Declining immunization coverage allows polio, measles, and tetanus to pose a serious health problem, especially in infants and children. Eradication of the Guinea worm is a high priority in the rural areas. In some regions of the country many children are malnourished.

Availability of water is of major environmental concern especially in the rural areas where 65% of the residents have access to safe drinking water. Senegal’s cities, particularly Dakar, face pollution and poor sanitation that is exacerbated during the rainy season, when sewers often overflow. Weather and deforestation facilitate soil erosion. The cutting down of forests is not adequately controlled and practices such as overgrazing and overcultivation contribute to soil erosion as well.

Though education is compulsory until the age of thirteen, only three in four children are enrolled in primary school in Senegal. The most recent reports show a teacher student ratio of 51 to 1. The problem posed by the severe lack of in the number of teachers is compounded by the fact that many of these teachers lack proper training. . Armed rebels in southern Senegal have led to the abandonment of many schools in the region.

Over 70% of women over 15 years of age are illiterate, and 51% of men of the same age are also illiterate. The majority of government expenditure on education is not dedicated to programs and infrastructure, but rather salaries and other administrative expenses.

At the Dakar World Education Forum the government committed to a goal of increasing girls enrollment rates and improving the quality of education.

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