WHO initiatives in the Sahel
Since 2020, the WHO African Region has strengthened its operations and enhanced support for the Sahel crisis. Large populations in the Sahel have been displaced and lack access to social services, such as health. Populations are malnourished, highly susceptible to diseases, and do not have sufficient basic infrastructure. Sahel countries are also experiencing significant security and development challenges.
The Sahel has recently received increased attention from WHO (2020–2023), via a series of joint operational reviews (JORs), field visits and advocacy, coupled with strengthening of the WHO Dakar emergency hub in Senegal to support disease outbreaks. WHO has mobilized US$ 8.6 million to fund emergencies, established an Incidence Management Support Team (IMST), and strengthened its partnerships in the area. WHO has also intervened in several Sahel countries, providing seed funding, reinforcing human resources for response, and providing capacity building in targeted areas of need, notably the procurement and supply of emergency kits to six targeted countries.
