“Diallo was abandoned by her husband, who did not know she was pregnant. Sent back to her parents and left destitute, she came to us with her daughter, Diaray. The newborn was diagnosed with developmental problems. The center provided food, referred her to the hospital, and supported the mother in obtaining social assistance. After treatment and rehabilitation, Diaray is now five years old and, thanks to quick intervention, is walking and developing normally,” says Sister Ksawera Michalska OSU, a missionary in Senegal.

Stories like this are an everyday reality at the mission clinic in Thiaroye, a neighborhood of Dakar, the capital of Senegal. Run by the Ursuline Sisters, the facility is, for many women and children, the only place where they can count on help - both medical and social. The clinic offers primary health care, diagnostics, and medications, often free of charge or for a nominal fee.

Special care is given to pregnant women, single mothers, and children. In response to growing needs, the clinic has launched a feeding program for children aged 0 to 5. Each child enrolled in the program undergoes an initial health assessment, including measurements, weighing, and testing.

The program’s activities are both medical and educational. They take place weekly or biweekly, depending on the degree of malnutrition. Mothers learn how to prepare nutritious meals using locally available produce, cook together, and gain knowledge about hygiene and nutrition. For many of them, it is also the first opportunity to leave the house, talk with others, and experience a sense of community.

At the end of each meeting, mothers receive a nutrition package for the following days, which includes fortified milk, flour, peanut paste, multivitamin syrup, and alfalfa. The program serves about 500 children each month, and the number of new cases continues to rise (153 children in July 2025 alone). Although participation theoretically costs $3.50 per visit, many families receive support free of charge or for a symbolic amount.

The cost of daily support for one child is less than $1.

Senegal is an ethnically diverse country in West Africa, with a population of more than 16 million. Its capital, Dakar, is a modern metropolis of contrasts, where poverty exists alongside rapidly developing districts. One such area is Thiaroye, inhabited mainly by migrants from rural regions. They come in search of jobs and a better life, but the reality can be harsh—overcrowding, lack of infrastructure, unemployment, and poverty are part of everyday life here.

About 40% of Senegal’s population lives in poverty, which significantly affects access to education, health care, and decent living conditions. Women are particularly vulnerable due to polygamy, abandonment, sexual violence, and lack of education. As a result, many of them raise their children alone in extremely difficult circumstances. Child malnutrition stems not only from poverty but also from a lack of knowledge about proper nutrition.

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