On July 19, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a grant agreement with the Government of Republic of Senegal in Dakar to provide grant aid of up to 3,724 million yen for the Project for the Expansion of the Regional Hospital of Thies.

The recent increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Senegal, such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and the fact that many of the deaths due to Covid-19 infections in the country had NCDs as an underlying disease, make it urgent to expand diagnostic and treatment systems for NCDs.
The Regional Hospital of Thies, as the top referral hospital in the state, receives a large number of patients with NCDs. However, the Hospital is not able to provide adequate medical services because of the lack and ageing of medical equipment necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of NCDs, as well as constant congestion by the complex patients flow lines in the Hospital.

The project will improve the capacity to receive patients by building a new specialised outpatient ward and MRI ward at the Regional Hospital of Thies and providing the necessary equipment for diagnosis and treatment, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Senegalese Government's goal of UHC.
This project will also contribute to the achievement of SDGs Goal 3 (Good health and well-being). JICA