VP Njie Launches “Operation Eradicate Malaria in the Gambia”
By: Momodou Faal (AMMREN Gambia)
The Vice President, Dr. Ajaratou Isatou Njie Saidy, recently launched “Operation Eradicate Malaria” project on behalf of the President of The Gambia at the July 22nd Square in Banjul.
Mrs. Njie-Saidy noted that the improvement of the health status of all Gambians has been a top priority and concern to the government. She added that the ultimate goal of the project is a disease-free Gambia, adding that the current twin objectives in the short and medium terms are to increase the understanding and management of non-communicable diseases and reduce the burden of communicable diseases to a level that they will cease to be a public problem.
“The success we have registered in malaria control has admittedly been significant, our progress in this continuous war still remains below expectation. As a result I have, after profound reflection, decided to re-orient policy towards the complete eradication of malaria in The Gambia,” she said.
Mrs. Njie-Saidy stated that the design of the project is such that attempts would be made to kill even the larvae of the mosquito. This, she noted, would be realized through the establishment of a factory that would produce both biolarvicides both for domestic use and export to the sub-region.
Delivering a statement at the occasion, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Malick Njie, said The Gambia tops Africa in attaining the Abuja target of insecticide-treated bed net use by children and pregnant women. This, he said, stands at 54%, just 6% less than the Abuja target of 60%.
He revealed that results from recent studies conducted by his department and partners show there was an 84% reduction in the proportion of cases admitted by 2006 and a 93% reduction in the number of malaria positive slides.
Secy Njie added that the number of deaths attributed to malaria declined sharply in 2002, increased slightly in 2003 before declining to the lowest levels ever recorded. “There was only a single episode of malaria with a fatal outcome since December 2005 in some health facilities.”
Secy Njie said the aim of malaria prevention and control strategy is to control malaria so that it ceases to be a major public health problem in The Gambia. The strategy is expected to reduce the malaria burden in the country by 80% by 2015.
Malang Fofana, Manager of the National Malaria Control Programme, gave the welcoming address at the occasion. He assured all those gathered that a concerted effort would be made by all partners to reduce the occurrence of malaria in The Gambia.
