Our Partner in Senegal

Senegal, one of Brooke USA’s funded countries, has already been impacted by COVID-19 with, according to the US Embassy in Senegal, 226 cases reported as of April 6.

On March 23, the President of Senegal Macky Sall declared a State of Emergency and announced several measures to combat the virus, including a mandatory curfew; increased regulation on the movement of people, vehicles, and goods; prohibition of parades, rallies, and public demonstrations, and closure of public meeting places. The Government of Senegal has authorized the military to enforce these orders.

On March 20, the Government has also suspended all international air travel. On March 19, the Government ordered all mosques in the Dakar region closed until further notice, and on March 14, the Government announced the closure of all educational institutions.

Of great concern is the fact that the healthcare system must be able to face-up to the new challenges imposed by this novel corona virus. To treat people effectively, they must be first diagnosed early and isolated. To this end, enhanced health screening measures have been put in place at borders and airports.

Communities are working with nurses in health outposts and community health offices. They are pivotal to educating and sharing preventive measures.

With mandatory lock-downs, the Senegalese economy is at risk, affecting day-to-day business dealings and in many cases, working animals suffer. In order to abide by the curfew, working equines carry heavier loads, and have less opportunities to rest, eat or drink water.

Working horses, donkeys and mules will certainly suffer under the current conditions and their fate will be even worse should their owners get sick.

We know that when things get worse, people will fall even deeper into poverty. And, as we know, when the lives of the owners suffer, so do the lives of the equines.