Clinic+O in Senegal: A New Chapter for Community Health
Clinic+O and the Baobab Institute for Health and Development have launched a new collaboration to strengthen primary health care (PHC) in Senegal - combining digital innovation, community engagement, and government partnership to reach low-income and peri-urban communities with quality, affordable care.
In August, Clinic+O formally announced the establishment of a Community Health Innovation Lab in partnership with the Senegalese Ministry of Health and Social Action (MSAS), the Baobab Institute, and leading local and global partners such as PATH, Tostan, the Senegalese Society of Cardiology SOSECAR, Je Vis Mieux JVM, et Espoir Humanitaire International EHI.
The initiative will pilot in two health districts - Dakar West (Dakar region) and Khombole (Thiès region) - where community health workers (CHWs) will be equipped with medical devices and digital tools to expand early screening for hypertension and diabetes.
This expansion builds on Clinic+O’s proven model in Guinea, where CHWs trained and supported through Clinic+O’s digital platform have screened over 60,000 people, reduced preventable emergencies by 65%, and delivered affordable, quality primary care to hard-to-reach households.
In Senegal, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension and diabetes now account for over 40% of all deaths, and many people remain undiagnosed or untreated due to barriers such as cost, distance, and language.
Through this collaboration:
Technology meets community: CHWs use mobile tools to collect health data, screen patients, and connect them with doctors remotely.
Systems meet sustainability: The initiative works within the public system, not outside it—ensuring alignment with national policies and long-term impact.
Innovation meets equity: By combining Clinic+O’s digital care model with Baobab’s leadership in systems strengthening, the partnership will co-create a scalable, locally anchored model for digital primary health care in Senegal.
As Pape Gaye, President of the Baobab Institute, noted:
“Health systems are strongest when built by the people they serve. This collaboration is about putting that principle into practice.”
Over the next six months, the Community Health Innovation Lab will:
Train and deploy CHWs across selected pilot sites.
Conduct screenings for 1,000+ people and follow up with at least 500 patients.
Test digital data systems for community-based telehealth and referrals.
Document lessons learned to inform a progressive nationwide scale-up starting from 2026.
The ultimate goal: to build a scalable, digital model for primary care, rooted in local leadership and powered by technology, that strengthens Senegal’s public health system for the long term.