Assisted reproductive technology: Dr. Amadou Doucouré announces the first public ART center in Senegal

During a workshop organized with the Association of Journalists for Health, Population and Development (AJSPD), the Director of Maternal and Child Health (DSME) announced the upcoming opening of an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) center at Dalal Jamm Hospital. Secondary facilities are also planned in other regions.

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Senegal is preparing to take a new step in the treatment of infertility. Dr. Amadou Doucouré, Director of Maternal and Child Health (DSME), announced the upcoming establishment of the country's first public assisted reproductive technology (ART) center at the Dalal Jamm Hospital in Guédiawaye.

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The announcement was made during a capacity-building workshop for journalists on the national family planning policy and infertility care, organized in collaboration with the Association of Journalists for Health, Population and Development (AJSPD), on October 15 and 16, 2026. According to Dr. Amadou Doucouré, this initiative will be accompanied by the establishment of secondary centers in the regions, in order to bring services closer to the population and improve access to care for couples facing difficulties conceiving. The head of the DSME also highlighted the training efforts for healthcare personnel, with professionals sent to India to strengthen their skills in infertility care.

The AJSPD mobilized against prejudice

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Dr. Doucouré emphasized the responsibility of journalists in disseminating accurate, objective information based on scientific data. According to him, media productions can help dismantle prejudices, encourage couples to consult healthcare professionals, and combat stigma. Infertility remains a source of psychological, social, and economic suffering for many couples. Women are often unfairly singled out as solely responsible for the inability to conceive, when the causes can be female, male, mixed, or unexplained. The director of the DSME reiterated that this issue must be addressed through a comprehensive approach that involves both partners and respects their rights.

Furthermore, the association's president, Eugène Kaly, emphasized that the AJSPD aims to strengthen media professionals' knowledge of infertility and promote more rigorous journalistic coverage of this public health issue. According to him, capacity building for journalists is essential for better informing the public, dismantling misconceptions, and promoting appropriate infertility care in Senegal.