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

Landmine clearance in Senegal

Landmines were widely used in the internal conflict that has gripped the agricultural region of Casamance in southern Senegal since 1982. Landmines were strewn over civilian areas, particularly mango and cashew nut plantations.

“I’m proud to be a deminer”

Elizabeth Sambou talks about her life and work as a deminer for Handicap International in Casamance.

Improving access to HIV & AIDS prevention and healthcare

In 2008, 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.

Our projects

	Supporting quality healthcare services • Decentralisation of orthopaedic surgery / Zinguinchor hospital. • Psychological support for victims of the conflict in Casamance.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	Mine risk education Educational and awareness-raising programme to prevent mine accidents in Senegal.

Senegal & Cape Verde

Key Facts - Senegal

Key Facts - Cape Verde

Stories from the field

Our projects

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