Climate Change Impacts on Health and Wellbeing: The Case of Senegal

This research paper analyzes the intersection of climate change and public health in Senegal, detailing how regional climatic phenomena—such as sea-level rise in coastal areas and desertification in the Sahel—contribute to health crises. It highlights a community-led adaptation project in Widou Thiéngoly and calls for coordinated international action at COP28 to support climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure in Africa.

• Climate change in Senegal manifests through diverse regional phenomena: coastal areas like Dakar face sea-level rise and erosion, Sahelian regions suffer from frequent droughts and desertification, and the Casamance region is prone to flooding from heavy rainfall.
• Environmental changes are directly linked to specific health burdens in Senegal, including heat-related illnesses from heatwaves, waterborne diseases like cholera from flooding and contaminated water, and the spread of malaria and dengue due to changes in temperature and precipitation affecting disease vectors.
• In Widou Thiéngoly, a community-driven project addresses heatwave risks in a semi-arid tropical climate where temperatures reach 46-48°C. The initiative employs strategies such as early warning systems, bioclimatic architecture, public reforestation, and free medical consultations.
• The author argues that COP28 must provide actionable commitments and financial support for climate-resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and the strengthening of healthcare systems to protect vulnerable populations in countries like Senegal.

APA

Diouf, I. (2023). Climate Change Impacts on Health and Wellbeing: The Case of Senegal. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/climate-change-impacts-on-health-and-wellbeing-the-case-of-senegal

Chicago

Diouf, Ibrahima. Climate Change Impacts on Health and Wellbeing: The Case of Senegal. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2023. https://afripoli.org/climate-change-impacts-on-health-and-wellbeing-the-case-of-senegal.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Diouf |first1=Ibrahima |title=Climate Change Impacts on Health and Wellbeing: The Case of Senegal |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=1 December 2023 |url=https://afripoli.org/climate-change-impacts-on-health-and-wellbeing-the-case-of-senegal |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{diouf2023climate, author = {Diouf, Ibrahima}, title = {{Climate Change Impacts on Health and Wellbeing: The Case of Senegal}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2023}, month = dec, url = {https://afripoli.org/climate-change-impacts-on-health-and-wellbeing-the-case-of-senegal}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }