Social protection: Media professionals and their families now covered up to 80% by the SEN-CSU

A sigh of relief for the sector: healthcare expenses will no longer be an insurmountable burden for media professionals. Thanks to an agreement signed this Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the Babacar Touré Press House between the Senegalese Agency for Universal Health Coverage (SEN-CSU) and the Press House, those working in the sector, as well as their family members, will now be able to benefit from extended health coverage throughout the entire national territory.

The partnership provides coverage of up to 80% of healthcare costs in participating public facilities, with a co-payment limited to 20%. Beneficiaries will also be entitled to 50% coverage on medications purchased from approved pharmacies and on certain medical services provided in participating private clinics. Valid for one year, the coverage is renewable upon payment of 7,000 FCFA, corresponding to the membership card renewal fee.

This agreement addresses a long-standing concern of media professionals, who often face major difficulties in accessing healthcare and are regularly forced to rely on the solidarity of their colleagues when health problems arise.

At the signing ceremony, the Director General of SEN-CSU, Dr. El Hadj Séga Guèye, presented the initiative as "an important step in strengthening our social protection policy in health." According to him, it reflects a shared commitment to building "a more inclusive, more supportive system that is closer to the real needs of our citizens." Dr. Guèye emphasized the essential role the media plays in Senegalese society through information dissemination, awareness-raising, and support for public policies. "Many remain exposed to the sometimes dramatic consequences of illness and the financial burdens it entails," he stated, stressing the need to establish sustainable social protection mechanisms for the sector.

Sambou Biagui, Director General of the Maison de la Presse (Press House), who was present at the meeting, welcomed the culmination of a process initiated several years ago by professional press organizations. He specifically mentioned the initiatives undertaken since 2022 to establish a sustainable health insurance plan for information and communication professionals.