Thiès/Fandène: Family allowances and health insurance, the heartfelt plea of people with disabilities

In Fandène, people living with disabilities are raising the alarm about the severe difficulties of daily life and are directly challenging the government on several social commitments that have been announced but which, according to them, are slow to materialize on the ground.

During a community outreach event, 210 vulnerable people—including people with disabilities, widows, and those facing various social challenges—received emergency aid. While this initiative was welcomed, it did not mask the ongoing structural hardship faced by those who benefited.

For Ibrahima Diakhaté, president of the Association of Disabled Persons in the commune of Fandène, social policies for this segment of the population remain largely inadequate. The association leader specifically points to the delays in fulfilling ministerial promises.

The payment of family allowances is still pending.

Ibrahima Diakhaté points out that the authorities had announced the disbursement of family security grants before the end of September. However, just days before the deadline, those entitled to the grants are finding that the transfers have still not begun: "We have observed that so far, nothing has been done," he laments, urging the State to honor its commitments to impoverished households.

Over 400 health insurance cards are outstanding.

Another major grievance raised by the group is the blockage in issuing equal opportunity and health insurance cards. According to the association's president, more than 400 members have been enrolled since 2025 under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program, but are desperately waiting to receive their cards.

This administrative inertia severely jeopardizes their access to medical care. "We face enormous difficulties simply accessing basic healthcare," warns Ibrahima Diakhaté.