Tunisia and Senegal: A Strategic Partnership for Organ Transplantation in Africa

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 – As part of strengthening health cooperation between Tunisia and African countries, the Minister of Health chaired a working session at the ministry’s headquarters with a Senegalese medical delegation led by Dr. Sylla Fatou Mbaye, Director General of Healthcare Institutions in Senegal. Also present were the Director General of Health, the Director General of the National Center for the Promotion of Organ Transplantation (CNPTO), and several ministry officials.

Toward a first kidney transplant in Senegal with Tunisian participation

This visit is part of the agreement concluded between the CNPTO, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital in Monastir, and Idrissa Pouye Hospital in Dakar. The aim is to develop a kidney transplant program in Senegal, drawing on Tunisian expertise in this field.

During this meeting, several strategic priorities were defined to strengthen health cooperation between the two countries, including:

• Performing the first kidney transplant at Idrissa Pouye Hospital before the end of 2025, with the participation of Tunisian medical teams.
• Expanding the partnership to include cardiac and vascular surgery, the treatment of severe burns, neurosurgery and medical imaging.
• Strengthening administrative cooperation and the exchange of medical expertise between the two countries.
• Encouraging scientific research and the exchange of medical knowledge.
• Continuing the review of medical files relating to kidney transplantation and supporting Senegalese medical expertise through training and mentoring.

Tunisia, a Key Player in Health Security in Africa

During the meeting, the Minister of Health reaffirmed Tunisia's commitment to supporting this partnership and extending it to other medical specialties, in order to strengthen the capacities of Senegalese health institutions, in both training and scientific research. He stressed that these initiatives are in line with the President of the Republic's vision of promoting health security in Africa and developing a partnership based on the exchange of expertise and the empowerment of African countries.

For its part, the Senegalese delegation expressed its high regard for Tunisian expertise in organ transplantation. It praised the progress Tunisia has made in this field and expressed interest in further strengthening health cooperation with Tunisia across various medical fields.