Isseu's Story
I think the [Senegal] health system will never achieve its goals if we don't take into account the contribution of the private sector.
As a child living in Senegal, Isseu Diop Touré was often sick. She recalls feeling guilty that her frequent hospital visits took her mother away from household responsibilities. That’s when she decided to become a doctor—to help other children in her situation.
After seeing patients as a medical doctor for ten years in Senegal, Isseu worked for WHO as a regional advisor on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Today, she leads the SHOPS Plus program in Senegal.
The team works to leverage the private sector to increase availability and use of quality socially marketed and commercial health products, increase the number of private sector service delivery points offering quality care, and create an improved enabling environment for the private sector within the health system.
The SHOPS Plus vision in Senegal is aligned with the government of Senegal’s plan to achieve emerging market status and expanded health coverage in 2035.
Today, Isseu serves as chief of party of the SHOPS Plus team in Senegal. Ultimately, she is motivated by doing something impactful. “What makes me wake up and go to work every day is to make my time useful, but specifically, it is important to promote public-private partnership if we really want to try to achieve the goal of the Plan Sénégal Emergent."
Watch Isseu explain how SHOPS Plus is helping Senegal achieve national health objectives.