When Malado was a child, a severe burn left her hand deformed. The injury made everyday tasks difficult and led to teasing at school, eventually causing her to withdraw from classes. Through Amref Health Africa’s Capital Santé project in Senegal, Malado was able to receive surgery during a pediatric surgical camp. Today, she has regained confidence and returned to school with a dream of becoming a doctor.

Stories like Malado’s illustrate the impact of the project implemented by Amref Health Africa with support from the Astellas Global Health Foundation. Over three years, the Foundation supported the initiative with a USD 1.6 million grant to strengthen child health services in the Kolda and Sédhiou regions of Senegal.

The project used an integrated approach linking schools, communities, and health facilities to improve prevention, early diagnosis, and access to treatment for children. Activities included school-based health education, community outreach led by trained Community Health Volunteers, vaccination campaigns, and medical and surgical outreach services.

Angelique Lewis, President of the Astellas Global Health Foundation, said: “Strong partnerships with experienced local organizations are essential to improving access to healthcare. The Capital Santé project demonstrates how community-based approaches can strengthen health systems and help ensure that children receive the care they need.”

Over the past three years, the project reached more than 72,000 children and adults in underserved communities. School-based health activities provided preventive services and health education to more than 27,000 children across 60 schools, while community outreach led by trained Community Health Volunteers reached more than 45,000 parents and caregivers with information on child health and disease prevention. In addition, outreach vaccination campaigns helped immunize more than 17,000 children under five, improving protection against preventable diseases.