Pediatric diabetes: How Senegal increased the number of children receiving care sevenfold

Senegal has made significant progress in the management of childhood diabetes. In just seven years, the number of children receiving diabetological care has increased from 250 in 2018 to over 1,736 nationwide. This growth primarily reflects improvements in screening and treatment, according to Professor Babacar Niang, president of the scientific committee for the joint congress of the Senegalese Society of Pediatrics (SOSEPED) and the African Society of Pediatric Endocrinology.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 12th national congress of SOSEPED, combined with the 17th congress of the African Society of Pediatric Endocrinology, organized from July 15 to 17, 2026 in Dakar around the theme "Endocrinology, diabetology and general pediatrics: current issues and future challenges for the health of African children", the specialist specified that this increase does not mean an explosion of the disease.

“In 2018, we only counted 250 children living with diabetes. Today, more than 1,736 are being monitored. This means that many children were suffering from this disease without being diagnosed,” explained Professor Niang.

A persistent challenge: two out of three children remain undiagnosed

Despite this progress, the challenge remains immense. According to recent studies cited by the pediatrician, two out of three diabetic children in Senegal are still undiagnosed. This situation is linked to a lack of trained professionals and insufficient access to specialized care.

Professor Niang emphasized that childhood diabetes is a medical emergency. Without early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, this disease can quickly become life-threatening. He commended the efforts made by the Ministry of Health and its partners to strengthen screening and decentralize care services.

Beyond diabetes, the specialist drew attention to other pediatric endocrine disorders, including growth disorders, thyroid diseases, puberty abnormalities, and genital development disorders, which require early diagnosis and management.

Towards a decentralization of specialists in the 14 regions

Senegal has also made significant progress in human resources. While it had only one pediatric endocrinologist about fifteen years ago, the country now has seven specialists, in addition to doctors currently in training thanks to the master's program in pediatric endocrinology at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar, open to professionals from all over French-speaking Africa.

Ultimately, the health authorities aim to provide each of Senegal's 14 regions with at least one pediatric endocrinologist and equipped facilities in order to sustainably improve the diagnosis, monitoring and management of endocrine diseases in children.