SENEGAL-HEALTH

Fatick, May 19 (APS) – The CHARTer project, intended to highlight the impacts of climate change, has chosen to work with people representing different categories of households, in order to have usable evidence in the fight against maternal and infant mortality in several regions including Fatick (west).

The CHARTer project “Catalyzing action research on the impact of climate change on maternal and perinatal health for evidence-based policies and practices” will operate in the regions of Dakar, Fatick and Kédougou, for a period of three years.

The project targets approximately 70 people representing different categories of households affected by climate change in the three regions concerned.

“Maternal and infant mortality constitute a major public health issue. Despite numerous efforts, the indicators are still high, and we believe that climate change, with heat waves, contributes to this,” said Professor Adama Faye, a public health teacher at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, during an information workshop dedicated to the CHARTer project.

“We believe we have a comprehensive overview and results that can be used as a basis to identify and combat the effects of climate change,” explained Mr. Faye, adding that this survey could contribute to reducing maternal and child morbidity.

He believes it is “necessary to involve the populations we want to help. They need to give their opinions and perceptions on the climate change they face most of the year.”

The CHARTer project aims to highlight the impacts of climate change on access to and use of prenatal and postnatal care services, pregnancy outcomes, maternal complications and maternal and neonatal mortality in Senegal and Gambia.

It is funded by the Welcome Trust Foundation, through its grant program on the impact of climate change around the world.

Senegal benefited from this project through the African Center for Population and Health Research (APHRC).