Senegal has joined the growing African movement for youth leadership in health with the launch of the Malaria and NTDs Youth Corps Sénégal. It becomes the 17th country in Africa to establish such a corps, expanding the movement’s reach in francophone West Africa. The youth-led platform will focus on malaria, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and related health areas, including reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health.

The launch, which took place in Pikine Est on Friday 8 August 2025, just ahead of International Youth Day, brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Action, Ministry of Youth, local health facilities, local authorities, civil society organisations, and technical partners. This is a timely step for Senegal, where three-quarters of the population is under 35 and more than half is under 20. Such a young generation brings creativity, passion, and local knowledge that can be channelled to address their own challenges as well as those facing their communities and the nation.

The Malaria and NTDs Youth Corps Sénégal will work closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Action, the Ministry of Youth, the National Malaria Control Programme (PNLP), and the National Programme for the Fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (PNLMTN). It will support national malaria and NTD strategies, strengthen community engagement, and contribute towards efforts to achieve universal health coverage.

We have chosen to act together and to make health a basic right for everyone, since doing nothing makes us part of the problem, especially with diseases that harm communities quietly but deeply. After all, history will remember what we do, and our children will live with the results.

Kadiatou Baldé, President of the Malaria and NTDs Youth Corps Sénégal

Like youth corps in 16 other African countries, the Senegal chapter will support national efforts such as public awareness campaigns in the media and in communities. The youth corps aims to partner with local leaders to encourage stronger action, mobilise resources, use malaria and community scorecards to track progress, and align with the continent-wide “Zero Malaria Starts With Me” campaign. This will place Senegal within the wider continental movement, where youth corps members are bringing communities together to discuss challenges, identify service gaps, and collaborate with local leaders on practical solutions.

These young people are dynamic, committed, and full of hope. They have an important role to play in early detection, prevention, and community mobilisation, and we look forward to working with them to close gaps and improve access to essential care. In this way, we can make real progress in tackling malaria and NTDs.

Fatoumata Ndiaye Diouf from the PNLMTN

Senegal faces 15 NTDs alongside malaria, with 232,465 malaria cases reported in 2023. Eliminating these diseases would save lives, improve productivity, and strengthen human development. The launch comes as Africa steps up efforts to end malaria and NTDs while navigating climate pressures, economic challenges, and shifts in donor priorities. With the Global Fund replenishment ahead, there is a chance to secure resources to scale up proven solutions. Youth engagement is one of them. Involving young people in planning, decision-making, and action builds shared ownership and delivers lasting results.

ALMA welcomes Senegal to the Youth Corps family and invites more partners, governments, and communities to join this movement to accelerate progress, eliminate malaria and NTDs, and strengthen health systems from the ground up.