Senegal

Population: 12 378 532
Income group: Low
Gross national income per capita: $820
Poverty (% of population under national poverty line, 2002): 54%
Children under age 14: 5.8 million

Road Safety Issue(s):

• Rapid motorization – a symptom of economic development – in West Africa
• Without intervention, fatalities from road crashes will become the third leading cause of death, after malaria and HIV/AIDS
  (Data courtesy of LASER International, Senegal, 2009)
• Mandatory helmet law in place without country-appropriate helmet standards
  (Data courtesy of Injury Free Health Policy and Population Studies, Colombia University, 2009)
  

Motorization is a recent phenomenon in Senegal’s urban and rural regions, with motorbikes and motorcycles quickly becoming common modes of transportation. The affordability of primarily Chinese-imported motorbikes makes them an attractive commodity for Senegalese and West African peoples. Throughout Africa, the total economic cost of road accidents to society has risen to an estimated 18 billion dollars per year and within West Africa, the cost exceeds 1% of NGP per country. The human loss of life and loss of quality of life are also significant. The majority of the working population and subsequently, road users, are young people and the youth and young adult populations are being cut down by the health crisis caused injuries and fatalities sustained in road crashes.

In Senegal, GHVI has identified LASER International, an independent road safety organization, to serve as the lead NGO for program implementation. With strong ties to the national government and wide-reaching regional influence, LASER International is already fostering the Helmet Vaccine Initiative Senegal with the support of local officials. The official launch for the Helmet Vaccine Coalition Senegal is March 18, 2010.