Senegal has taken a new step in its quest for social and health equity with the holding, this Monday, October 6, 2025, of the political validation ceremony of the National Strategy for the Development of Mechanisms for the Systematic Enrollment of Informal Economy Workers in Universal Health Insurance (AMU). Organized at the King Fahd Hotel in Dakar, this initiative, welcomed by technical and financial partners, notably the World Bank, is driven by the strong political will of the government. The meeting brought together representatives of sectoral ministries, unions, mutual insurance companies, informal workers' organizations, as well as the Ministry of Family, Social Action and Solidarity, around a common objective: to guarantee access to health for all.

Health coverage, a fundamental right

The Minister of Family, Social Action and Solidarity, Maïmouna Dièye, reiterated the objective of this ceremony while highlighting the key points of the political validation of this strategy. "Health coverage is not ideal, but a fundamental right. We have an obligation to make it effective for every citizen, regardless of their professional situation. The validation of this strategic document is a starting point that will strengthen the health protection of workers in the informal economy, but also improve the universal health coverage rate, projected at 75% by 2029." A structured project for inclusion The technical advisor to the Minister of Family, Djibril Faye, spoke of the importance of this project. "The process has existed for over a year, so it is essential to highlight it this year. A whole team worked on all the validation strategies for this document. Shopkeepers, street vendors, and drivers will now have health coverage thanks to this validation."

International support for effective implementation

Adam Dramane Bathiabi, representing the partners, stated: "We fully support this approach, as it meets a dual imperative: to protect vulnerable populations and strengthen the viability of the health system. The informal economy is a pillar of social resilience in Senegal." The World Bank, Senegal's technical partner on several health programs, has committed to supporting the operational implementation of this strategy, notably through financial and technical support, but also by facilitating the exchange of best practices at the regional level.