Senegal has a predominantly rural landscape except near its capital of Dakar. It only has two major cities and rivers. While French is the official language, most Senegalese speak their own ethnic languages such as Wolof, Serer, and Mandingo. Senegal has a history of Islamization in the 1000s and the slave trade from the 1500s to 1800s. Today, Senegal's major problem is poor health due to few doctors, poor sanitation, and diseases. Long term solutions include training local doctors while short term solutions involve desalination and increasing education. Ultimately, a team of Senegalese experts created a health program to improve healthcare financing and policies.