A united action with the great surgeon Michael K. OBENG
In Senegal, health occupies a major political and social position. Numerous public and private actors are currently working on finding ideas and developing solutions to help our most remote populations, suffering from various pathologies, to access health care. To this end, Locafrique has chosen to join forces with the renowned Dr. Michael K. OBENG, as part of a united humanitarian mission. I am very proud of this collaboration which shall allow us to grant free medical and surgical care to about one hundred patients, spread throughout the country.
Our country, in deeper pain than ever before
Even before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the African continent was already confronted with numerous epidemic phenomena and other pathologies. Although the issues of AIDS and malaria are still causing havoc, the continent is now dealing with the rise of diabetes and hypertension. Senegal is no exception to the rule, since the main fatal diseases currently remain respiratory tract infections (101.8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants according to the statistics), HIV and diarrhoeal diseases. These diseases have now been rivalled by strokes (44.6) and cardiovascular diseases (44.5).
Encouraging results however allow us to foresee a way out of the crisis in the months and years to come.Indeed, the efforts made by National Malaria Control Programme (PNLP) have enabled Senegal to record a significant reduction in morbidity of 40%, but also a reduction in malaria mortality of 77% (at least over the period between 2013 and 2017). These figures have enabled Senegal to join the group of the five most advanced countries in the fight against malaria (remarks made by President SALL and reported by APS on 15th April 2018).
The emergence of Covid-19 unfortunately thwarted the efforts of health workers, who were working day and night to try to contain the threat. A third wave, which appeared on May 17th, caused a sharp increase in serious cases and deaths. The overflow of laboratories, overwhelmed by the situation, convinced the Pasteur Institute in Dakar to produce 1 million screening kits, 50,000 of which have already been delivered to a Minister of Health.
Locafrique, a socially responsible company
In the face of such a crisis situation for our country, one is entitled to ponder the scope for action by the private sector. The answer is simple: any initiative is worth taking, especially when it comes to helping professionals in difficulty and caring for our most distressed populations. Hence my long-standing commitment to making Locafrique a socially responsible organisation, close to the Senegalese people, with objectives going far beyond mere financial support for businesses.
In practice, and as has been reported in the press, Locafrique makes it its duty to participate in any action that will improve the well-being of our fellow citizens.
The operation is possible thanks to a shareholding and teams which are 100% Senegalese, made up of local men and women who are particularly familiar with the difficulties encountered by the population in all its diversity.
What extent does Dr. Michael K. Obeng partnership work?
Dr OBENG is not only a brilliant surgeon, whose talents are recognised on the international stage: he is also a son of the African continent, who is well aware of the problems experienced daily by our populations, who are still too far away from the medical centres. Therefore, when I had the opportunity to call on his services in such a health crisis, he did not hesitate for a single second, and I would like to thank him warmly: his skills in the field of reconstructive surgery will be invaluable. Among other things, he will work to combat heart disease and other severe malformations.
Doctor OBENG intervenes in this way within the framework of his association called R.E.S.T.O.R.E. For several days, beginning in December 2021, he will place teams of volunteer specialists at the disposal of suffering Senegalese.
This completely free operation should make it possible to treat nearly one hundred patients who have difficulty in accessing high-quality care. Most of these patients are afflicted with cardiological or gynaecological diseases. This very first visit of Michael K. OBENG on Senegalese soil is intended to give hope to the diseased patients, in an extremely tense health context.