From February 23 to March 6, 2025, the AI4PEP team is Senegal, AI4DECLIC-Senegal, led by Dr. Boly Diop, Head of the Vaccine Surveillance and Response Division at the Ministry of Health and Social Action, and Pr. Sylvain Landry B. Faye, PhD, conducted a critical mission to enhance community-based epidemiological surveillance in Senegal after the successful launch of the AI-based 3S One Health platform. This initiative, grounded in the One Health concept, underscores the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, aiming to develop a more resilient public health system.
Mission Objectives
The AI4DECLIC mission focused on three key objectives: ✔ Capacity Building – Training community and sectoral actors on epidemiological surveillance. ✔ Promoting the One Health Approach – Strengthening the integration of human, animal, and environmental health. ✔ Leveraging AI through the 3S Platform – Enhancing surveillance with the Surveillance-Santé-Sénégal (3S) platform, a cutting-edge AI-driven tool for early detection of zoonotic diseases.Interventions in Strategic Regions
The mission took place in three key districts, each chosen for its unique challenges and epidemiological importance:- Saraya Health District, Kédougou – A border region with high migration due to mining activities. The team trained community actors on collaborative early detection of zoonotic diseases and how to effectively use the 3S surveillance platform.
- Podor Health District, Saint-Louis – A high-traffic area bordering Mauritania. Training efforts here focused on strengthening community engagement in One Health surveillance, reinforcing the importance of sectoral interconnection for zoonotic disease identification.
- Pikine District, Dakar – A densely populated urban hub housing the Technopôle and Beaux Maraîchers market. The focus was on the impacts of stray animals, wastewater, and biodiversity on public health, emphasizing environmental and animal health surveillance.
Key Achievements & Community Engagement
- Saraya: Training sessions saw exceptional participation, with community actors embracing the 3S platform for surveillance. Participants displayed a strong commitment to integrating AI tools into their daily epidemiological monitoring activities.
- Podor: A remarkable exchange of ideas between stakeholders, with sectoral representatives adopting the platform and providing valuable feedback to improve its functionality.
- Pikine: The engagement of market vendors, fishermen, and livestock professionals underscored the critical need for cross-sectoral collaboration to prevent zoonotic disease outbreaks.
