The Vice President Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy on Wednesday February 20th launched the “Campaign to Eradicate Malaria in The Gambia’ at the July 22nd Square in Banjul. She told the audience who gathered around the square for the ceremony is “a proof that health is top on The Gambia government’s priorities.” She said though malaria has reduced over the last thirteen years of the Jammeh regime, more still needs to be done. Mrs. Njie-Saidy used the occasion to call on other governments of the sub-region to follow the Gambia government’s example of steadfastness in the fight against the killer disease. Also speaking at the ceremony, Secretary of State Dr. Malick Njie said that the aim of the campaign was to make The Gambia a “disease-free country within four years. Dr. Njie did not say if they will have to depend on President Jammeh’s witch-doctor abilities to attain this fantastic goal. He said he was sure the goal was within the government’s reach.

Another speaker at the ceremony was Mr. Malang Dampha who heads one of the official anti-malarial projects. He on his part claimed that The Gambia heads all the countries in Africa in the provision of treated anti-malarial nets. Mr. Dampha further claimed that 54% of infants and pregnant women, believed to be the most vulnerable, sleep under such treated nets. Malaria is the biggest and fastest killer in the country but the authorities have recently been making unsubstantiated claims that the incidence of the disease has been reducing due to their policies and efforts.

  As part of the independence celebrations, Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy on

Wednesday presided over the opening of a new market and police station at the village  of Old Yundum. Mr. Benedict Jammeh, who is the Inspector General of Police, called on the people to give support to the police. After the opening ceremonies, which were marked with drumming and dancing,  the Vice President proceeded to Salagi Layout where she laid the foundation stone for a new psychiatric hospital. The country has no such hospital and mentally ill patients are kept in an internment camp more for protection of society than for treatment. A Dutch charity has partnered with the Sweden-based NGO Future In Our Hands to fund the construction of the hospital. There has been a noticeable increase in the number of mentally ill people roaming the streets of Gambian towns and villages. Chronic unemployment and other poverty-related types of miseries have been identified as possible causes for this increase in the number of mentally ill people in the country.

Src: Gambia Journal, The