ECOWAS supports SEN-CSU for better health inclusion in Saint-Louis
Support for promoting the work of the Saint-Louis Regional Office of the Senegalese Universal Health Coverage Agency.
One month after its courtesy visit, the ECOWAS Resident Representation in Senegal delivered on its commitment to the Senegalese Universal Health Coverage Agency (SEN-CSU) in Saint-Louis. On 13 November 2025, support was provided to strengthen outreach communication and bring health services closer to the most vulnerable.
On 13 November 2025, the ECOWAS Resident Representation in Senegal provided significant support to the Saint-Louis Regional Office of the Senegalese Universal Health Coverage Agency (SEN-CSU) to promote its work among the population.
This initiative follows the courtesy visit of 8 October 2025, during which the ECOWAS delegation identified needs in outreach communication. The regional agency had expressed the need for support to strengthen its presence where decisions turn into real change for families, workers and communities.
ECOWAS support aims to help SEN-CSU Saint-Louis raise awareness of its services and of citizens’ rights to health coverage. On the ground, many families are still unaware of the financial protection mechanisms available to them in case of illness.
By strengthening community communication, the Agency will be able to:
- Inform people of their right to health coverage
- Raise awareness among families of enrolment procedures
- Support communities in accessing care without financial barriers
- Mobilise local actors around universal coverage goals
The ECOWAS Resident Representation’s support to SEN-CSU Saint-Louis is not a one-off act of solidarity. It is part of a structured approach built on four fundamental pillars that together form the foundation of a fair, inclusive and sustainable health system for the people of the region.
Health governance: improving the coordination and effectiveness of health action
Strong health governance is the foundation of any effective health system. By supporting SEN-CSU Saint-Louis in strengthening its coordination mechanisms, ECOWAS helps improve the organisation of health actors on the ground, plan interventions more effectively and allocate available resources in the best interest of the population.
Digitalisation: modernising information systems for better monitoring
In the digital age, digitalising health information systems is a key lever for improving the quality of services. It enables real-time monitoring of beneficiaries, transparent data management and decision-making based on reliable information. For SEN-CSU Saint-Louis, this modernisation is an opportunity to take a decisive step forward in the effectiveness of its field work.
Supporting communities in accessing care without financial barriers
All too often, illness is a devastating financial shock for the most vulnerable households. Financial protection aims to break this vicious circle by guaranteeing every citizen access to health care without having to choose between treatment and meeting their basic needs. This ECOWAS support strengthens SEN-CSU’s capacity to extend this protection to the most exposed families in the Saint-Louis region.
Community mobilisation: involving people in promoting their own health
Universal health coverage cannot be built without communities themselves. Community mobilisation aims to make every citizen an actor in their own health and that of those around them. By raising awareness, valuing community relays and encouraging the active participation of families, SEN-CSU Saint-Louis ensures that its work reaches those who need it most, where they are.
The SEN-CSU Agency aims to make Senegal an international benchmark for social health protection by 2035. This vision is based on a fundamental principle: guaranteeing all people living in Senegal cover against the financial risk of illness, without any form of exclusion.
In the Saint-Louis region, as in the rest of the country, achieving this goal requires the mobilisation of all actors and outreach work with the communities furthest from decision-making centres.
In the space of a month, the ECOWAS Resident Representation in Senegal carried out a series of concrete actions in the Saint-Louis region, reflecting its commitment to the health and well-being of the population:
- 8 October 2025: courtesy visit to SEN-CSU Saint-Louis
- 9-10 October 2025: launch of mental health activities at UGB
- 12 November 2025: donation of equipment to the UGB Mental Health Unit
- 13 November 2025: support for promoting the work of SEN-CSU
This series of initiatives illustrates ECOWAS’s determination to be a close partner, attentive to needs and able to provide concrete and rapid responses.