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Gambia: Unicef Country Program Launched

The Vice President Dr. Isatou Njie Saidy, President Jammeh recently launched the 2007- 2011 UNICEF Gambia Government country program of cooperation and nineteen water points in Ebo Town.

According to her, UNICEF has been operating in the Gambia for more than two decades and has contributed to the socio-economic development of the country through its successive country programs of cooperation. She revealed that the Gambia has demonstrated her commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of children and women as stated in the PRSP and Vision 2020.

The Vice President maintained that the new country program has both national and sub-national components. The national component, she said, would focus on immunization coverage, birth registration, Vitamin A supplementation, salt iodization. She then urged the residents of Ebo town to take good care of the water points.

Cheryl Gregory-Faye, the outgoing UNICEF country Representative, gave a brief account of UNICEF's work in the Gambia. As the UN agency responsible for children, she said, they work with government, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and communities to achieve all the MDGS and to help ensure that the rights of children and women are realized.

UNICEF, according to her, also works to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Basic education and gender as well as early childhood development and among other areas are also parts of the activities, she said.

The UNICEF country boss added that the main aim of the new country program is to address the issues of children and women in the broader context of poverty, education and access to quality basic social services.

Thus, she explained, the new country program focuses on young children survival and development, basic education and gender, HIV/AIDS prevention, the protection of children against exploitation violence and abuse. Other speakers included Yankuba Touray, the Secretary of State for Water and Natural Resources and Francis Gomez, the acting mayor of KMC, who gave the welcoming remarks. The occasion was also attended by the speaker of the National Assembly, Secretaries of State, members of the diplomatic corps and other senior government officials, Gambian Kora maestro Jaliba Kuyateh who is a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, and school children from the neighborhood.