Our mission is to significantly improve maternal and child health by building strong, community-driven healthcare systems. We achieve this by training and supporting local community health workers who are dedicated to delivering essential prenatal, postnatal, and early childhood care directly to underserved and remote areas. By empowering these workers with practical skills, ongoing education, and the necessary medical tools, we aim to make healthcare more accessible, personalized, and culturally relevant. Our approach not only addresses immediate health needs but also focuses on preventative care, education, and long-term support to ensure sustainable improvements in health outcomes. We are committed to fostering healthier, stronger communities where every mother and child can thrive, no matter their location or economic situation.
Vision
Our vision is to build a future where no mother or child is left behind in the pursuit of quality healthcare. We envision a world where every mother and child, regardless of their geographic location or socioeconomic status, has access to comprehensive, community-driven healthcare services. By empowering local health workers with advanced training, resources, and ongoing support, we aim to create resilient healthcare systems that can thrive even in the most underserved and remote communities. These health workers will not only provide life-saving medical services but also act as advocates for education, prevention, and wellness, ensuring healthier generations to come. Our ultimate goal is to foster self-sufficient communities where healthcare is not a luxury, but a fundamental right, driving a lasting impact on maternal and child health for a brighter, healthier future.
Our Board Members
Saloum Cisse
Saloum Cisse has more than 25 years of experience in the health field. He is a family medicine doctor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Prior to his current post, he worked at the Family First Healthcare Center in Raymond, MS. He received his family training from the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar and went on to complete another medical degree and Masters of Public Health (MPH) at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Cisse is a member of the American Medical Association and an Assistant Professor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC).
Massar Dieng
Massar Dieng is an experienced scientist with over 17 years of experience in biomedical research, including pediatric cancer, immunology, and infectious diseases. He holds a Master of Public Health degree from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a Master of Science degree in Immunology and Vaccinology from Francois Rabelais University in Tours, France, and an Advanced Graduate Diploma in Drug Development from the University of Montreal.
With a strong track record in developing and managing research projects in resource-limited settings in Sub-Saharan Africa, Massar has held research scientist positions at New York University, Abu Dhabi, and the C. Charles Bruneau Cancer Center in Montreal. He brings a wealth of knowledge in project management, biomedical research, data analysis, and epidemiology, as well as a passion for global health and health equity.
By joining FOHSEN, Massar aims to use his extensive experience to provide technical, operational, and programmatic support to high-impact projects, driving progress in global health and promoting health equity.
Philip Huppe
Phil Huppe has been a professional fundraiser for the past 8 years at both Convoy of Hope and Columbia Business School. Additionally, Phil started his own non profit fundraising consulting practice and has been working closely with executive directors and board members helping them build their fundraising programs. Phil started his career as a management consultant with Accenture in San Francisco. Phil also has a Masters Degree in Public Policy and International Development from Harvard's Kennedy School, and a degree in economics from UC Davis. He is thrilled to be serving on the FOHSEN board and excited to bring healthcare to the most vulnerable across Senegal. Phil shares his life with his wife Jen and two boys James and Daniel in Northern Virginia.
Christian Rusangwa
Christian Rusangwa, MD is a trained physician with passion for global health working for Muso as the Director of Technical Assistance where he leads the organization’s vision for an improved access to care with speed and quality at national scale in Mali and Ivory Coast. He is also spearheading advocacy for community health workers recognition and payment on the national budget. Prior to joing Muso Christian worked for Partners In Health as a Deputy Chief Medical Officer in charge of Chronic Care and Health System Strengthening respectively. Where he supported health facilities and district health systems that were serving over 1,000,000 people. In addition he was in charge of leading a cancer center of excellence in Butaro the only cancer center in the region to provide completely free cancer diagnosis and care.
In the above mentioned roles he has also been a member of the senior management team at Muso and Partners In Health; where he is responsible for providing strategic leadership and guidance in the expansion of health activities in Rwanda, then currently in Mali and Ivory Coast through collaboration with central level stakeholders to ensure that there is alignment with the Ministries of Health and Public Sector Strategic orientations as well as and other government and non government actors.
Maimouna Diop Ly
Maïmouna Diop Ly is a medical doctor specialized in public health with more than 28 years in the health and nutrition sectors in line with the global Universal Health coverage and inclusion agenda. The last 28 years she has been leading projects, programs at national and international levels on health including neglected tropical diseases, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, and child survival as well as supporting strategies and policies development. She has worked as civil servant with the ministry of health of Senegal at the National Food and Nutrition Service and as Head of the health Department for the Senegalese Red Cross and Chief Health and Social Protection for the African Development Bank. She is currently Senior Advisor on Public Health Policy and Financing with Speak Up Africa supporting their policy on health and gender in line with related SDGs. She has served as a board member of the Regional Public Health Institute -Benin (IRSP) and Uniting to Combat NTDs-UK (UTC). She holds a medical degree, a master’s degree in public health (D.E.A), a master’s degree in management (D.E.S.S), a postgraduate degree in tropical medicine & parasitology and in Dietetics and Nutrition Pathology respectively from University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar-Senegal, Institut Supérieur de Management -ISM Dakar-Senegal, University Paris VI-France and University of Rennes -France.
Mademba Ndiaye
Mademba Ndiaye is a philosopher and journalist who has played a major role in defending and strengthening press freedom in Africa and around the world, serving as the International Federation of Journalists’ delegate for Africa, Secretary-General of the West African Journalists Association (WAJA) and Secretary-General of the Syndicat des professionnels de l’information de le communication du Sénégal (SYPICS).
Mademba Ndiaye was a prominent journalist at Sud Communication, of which he is a founding member, at the Agence de presse Sénégalaise, at Takusan and at Wal Fadjri, where he was a recognized political analyst. Giving a new direction to his professional career, Mademba Ndiaye became a political analyst and communications expert for the World Bank, after having worked for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
A keen volunteer, he helps organizations, especially young people, to identify and achieve their goals while continuing to interact with “his nieces and nephews” through conversations on social networks, especially Facebook and X (Twitter).
Oumar Diagne
Oumar Diagne served as FOHSEN’s country director during the past two years. In this role, he led the strategic development of the country’s activities and partnership strategy. During his time, he presided over a national forum to discuss the solutions to improve maternal health outcomes in Senegal. Additionally, Oumar supported the development of the local team – a group of young Senegalese leaders that actively participate in the discussion and implementation of national rural health policy, advocating for policies that promote equitable access to quality healthcare for rural families.
Oumar possesses a robust educational background, including a Master’s degree in Arts and Cultures with a focus on Cultural Administration, complemented by certifications in Civic Leadership and Communication Skills. His professional journey showcases versatile skills in translation, specializing in Wolof-French and French-Wolof transcription and subtitling, with notable projects for organizations like Gécamines and the NGO SpeakUpAfrica. As an educator, he has taught Wolof and French at the Institut Français de Dakar. Beyond teaching, Oumar has contributed significantly as a consultant and author, engaging in initiatives such as drafting educational programs for presidential candidates and developing youth mentorship programs.
Abdoulaye Kante
Abdoulaye Kanté is a senior specialist in innovation and digital transformation of development organizations.
Professionally, he has more than fifteen years of experience in ICT for development (ICT4D) design and program management for development aid agencies such as USAID, the World Bank, UNDP and the EU. He has also worked on behalf of NGOs and Foundations operating in the African Zone and particularly in the WAEMU Zone.
Among these organizations: the organization Enda Tiers Monde, the Terre des hommes Lausanne foundation, the Trade Point Senegal Foundation, the American NGO Root Capital. He held the position of Technical Advisor Number at the Ministry of ICT of Senegal and was able to participate in the definition of ICT public policies on behalf of the Government.
In the specific field of health, he is a member of several networks working on health digitalization issues and had to intervene as a consultant for the Ministry of Health and Health in the capacity building of the Ministry’s IT teams in the digitalization of health.
He holds an engineering degree in ICT with a specialization in design and implementation of digital public policies from Paris Nanterre University in France several certifications in data management and artificial intelligence.
He currently holds the position of Digital Innovations & Solutions Specialist at RTI (Research Triangle Institute) as part of the USAID – Feed The Future Senegal program.
