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Senegal & Cape Verde

Facilitating a mine risk education workshop, Senegal
© M. Dia/Handicap International
Handicap International has been present in Senegal since 1996. We work towards the socio-economic inclusion of people with disabilities, and the prevention of disabilities and accidents by mines.

Since 1999, Handicap International has lead an anti-mine campaign in the Casamance region which focuses on improving the quality of surgical, orthopaedic and rehabilitation care to mine accident victims, and providing this group with psychological and socio-economic support to promote their social inclusion.

Cape Verde is situated off the Senegalese coast and made up of an archipelago of ten islands. In Cape Verde Handicap International is active in the field of physical rehabilitation.

Key Facts - Senegal

• Population: 12.9 million
• Household Consumption: $1,172 per year
• Life Expectancy: 56 years
• Human Development: ranked 144th out of 169 countries

Key Facts - Cape Verde

• Population: 510,000
• Household consumption: $2,043 per year
• Life Expectancy: 72 years
• Human Development: ranked 118th out of 169 countries
Source: UNDP HDR 2011

Stories from the field

Staff interview - “I’m proud to be a deminer”
Elizabeth Sambou talks about her life and work as a deminer for Handicap International in Casamance.
Staff interview - “I’m proud to be a deminer”
Staff interview - Improving access to prevention and healthcare
Last year, Handicap International started building a project in Senegal for local and national initiatives in the fight against HIV/AIDS among people with disabilities. Almouner Talibo, regional coordinator on HIV for Handicap International, explains.
Staff interview - Improving access to prevention and healthcare

Our projects

health logo

Supporting quality healthcare services
• Decentralisation of orthopaedic surgery / Zinguinchor hospital.
• Psychological support for victims of the conflict in Casamance.

rehabilitation logo

Strengthening orthopaedic fitting and rehabilitation service
An audit of the organisation of rehabilitation services in Senegal was carried out and a proposal for reorganising the rehabilitation system is being prepared.

rehabilitation logo

Setting up rehabilitation services in Cape Verde
• Implementation of a national scheme for functional rehabilitation.
• Setting up a network of orthopaedic fitting and functional rehabilitation services for people with disabilities on a national scale.
• Capacity-building on a national level to improve the range and accessibility of healthcare.

inclusion logo

Socio-economic inclusion of people with disabilities
• Supporting disabled people's organisations or those that work with people with disabilities.
• Economic inclusion of people in a disabling situation.
• Socio-professional inclusion of people with disabilities through the cashew nut processing industry.

landmine logo

Mine risk education
Educational and awareness-raising programme to prevent mine accidents in Senegal.

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