Senegal records 205 new pediatric cancer cases in 2025

In Senegal, 205 new cases of pediatric cancer have been recorded in 2025. Dr. Fatou Bintou Diagne, a pediatric oncologist at Dalal Jamm Hospital, noted that leukemia remains the most frequent type of childhood cancer.

Challenges in managing the disease include a two-month average delay between the appearance of symptoms and medical consultation, as well as frequent shortages of essential medications. Additionally, because there is only one specialized treatment center in the country, families face an average travel distance of 250 kilometers. To mitigate treatment abandonment due to distance and transport costs, a dedicated facility for families, the 'maison des parents' in Sangalkam, provides accommodation during treatment.