Faced with the challenges posed by primary immunodeficiencies, an awareness-raising meeting brought together doctors and health authorities on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Albert Royer Children's Hospital in Dakar. Organized by the Senegalese Association for Primary Immunodeficiency (ASDIP), as part of World Rare Disease Week, the meeting emphasized the urgency of early diagnosis and the need for a coordinated response to these still largely underdiagnosed conditions. The day's theme was: "Urgent Action is Needed: A Call for Early Diagnosis, Rapid Treatment, and Support for Primary Immunodeficiency."

Massive underdiagnosis and the call for early diagnosis

Specialists have reiterated that these genetic diseases weaken the immune system and expose children to repeated, sometimes severe, infections, as well as autoimmune, inflammatory, or tumorous complications. Professor Tandakha Ndiaye, an immunologist at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar and a founding member of the Senegalese Association for Primary Immunodeficiencies, indicated that approximately fifty cases have been identified in Senegal, of which about thirty are being monitored, while also warning of significant underdiagnosis.

He stated, “These conditions are inborn errors of the immune system. They remain largely unknown, leading to delayed diagnosis with sometimes irreversible consequences for children.” According to him, nearly 90% of cases may go undiagnosed due to a lack of awareness and appropriate screening tools. Dr. Indou Deme Ly, a pediatrician at the Albert Royer Children's Hospital, emphasized the warning signs “indicating that repeated infections resistant to treatment should raise suspicion of these conditions.”

The representative from the Ministry of Family Affairs, Ms. Diop, announced possible responses to the specialists' call, including strengthening social support for affected children, providing assistance to vulnerable families, and improving coordination between health and social services. She stated, "We must move towards an integrated approach involving health, child protection, and social services to ensure comprehensive and accessible support for the families concerned."