Press releases - 2026 April 23
At the Regional Hospital Center of Kolda, the President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, presided over a major milestone in strengthening healthcare services in the southern zone, marked by the laying of the foundation stone for the Mother and Child Center and the inauguration of the Interregional Emergency Medical Service (SAMU).
With a capacity of 80 beds, the future Mother and Child Center will sustainably enhance specialized care in gynecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, neonatology, kangaroo care, and maternal intensive care. The project also includes gyneco-obstetric emergency services, a dedicated operating theater, medical imaging, a laboratory, and a hospital pharmacy. Its total cost is estimated at CFA francs 2.19 billion.
At the same time, the inauguration of the fully operational interregional SAMU, designed to serve Kolda and Sédhiou, marks a concrete step forward in the rapid management of medical emergencies.
Through this same sequence, the Head of State is taking two strong and complementary actions. On one hand, investing in a more specialized hospital system to better protect mothers and children. On the other, strengthening emergency response and rescue capacity. It reflects a shared vision of public healthcare closer to the people, more responsive, and more equitable for communities.