Senegal bolsters cancer care with new centers and training
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In Vienna, Senegal’s Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Dr. Ibrahima Sy, announced a plan to expand cancer care in Senegal. The country is partnering with the International Atomic Energy Agency to train 23 healthcare professionals in specialized areas like radiotherapy and nuclear medicine.
This training aims to improve Senegal’s capacity to treat cancer patients and strengthen the national cancer control system.
Senegal also plans to invest in new equipment, including a SPECT-CT scanner for the Idrissa Pouye General Hospital and a cyclotron. As part of this effort, the country will build five new radiotherapy centers to supplement existing facilities, bringing care closer to more people. These initiatives are part of the National Cancer Control Plan 2025-2029, which seeks to improve access to care, strengthen patient management, and reduce cancer-related deaths.
Senegal currently faces a shortage of cancer specialists, with approximately 11,800 new cases diagnosed annually and only 57 specialists across all disciplines. The plan aims to increase the number of specialists to 218 by 2029, but success depends on coordinating infrastructure investments with workforce development.
