The National Alliance of Communities for Health (ANCS) organized a free medical consultation and screening day on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at its community clinic located in the Jacques Chirac Center in Thiaroye. This initiative is part of a large-scale awareness campaign conducted in several areas of the Dakar suburbs.

After stops in Sangalkam and Keur Massar, the organization continued its activities in Thiaroye with a clear objective: to bring health services closer to the population and strengthen access to information on diseases such as HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis.

On the ground, the mobilization exceeded expectations. Initially set at 300 people for screening, the objective was largely achieved, as was the goal of raising awareness among nearly 1,000 people. "The population responded massively and expressed the need to know their serological status," said Ousseynou, project manager at ANCS.

Beyond screening, this campaign emphasizes prevention, particularly among young people.

In a country with a predominantly young population, health professionals are observing a resurgence of new infections in this age group. Hence the need to strengthen awareness campaigns and health education initiatives.

The key messages conveyed during the day emphasized the importance of voluntary testing, considered the first step towards protecting oneself and others. Organizers also reiterated the main routes of HIV transmission: unprotected sex, mother-to-child transmission, and bloodborne pathogen exposure.

Another key issue is the fight against stigma. According to Serigne Falou Sène, a member of the organization's communications team, fear of social judgment still leads many people to avoid or abandon treatment, thus jeopardizing their health. Yet, scientific advances now allow people living with HIV to lead normal lives. He believes the "U=U" concept (Undetectable = Untransmittable) has been widely promoted. When a patient correctly adheres to their treatment and achieves an undetectable viral load, they no longer transmit the virus. This is a still little-known fact that community workers are striving to raise awareness about.

Finally, the ANCS called for strengthened communication about infectious diseases, in light of persistent misinformation. The organization specifically urged the media and authorities to disseminate reliable and accessible information.

Through this grassroots campaign, the ANCS reaffirms its commitment to the fight against infections and for better access to care, with the aim of a Senegal where everyone knows their status and can get treatment without fear or discrimination.