The Gambia News

Banjul, Wednesday 05 June, 2013 -- The Gambia joined the international community in commemorating World No Tobacco Day on 31 May 2013. The event was launched in the village of Sibanor in the West Coast Region, about 70 km from the capital, Banjul.

On the second day of the campaign, UNICEF and WHO Representatives in the Gambia were in the field to make a follow up and a supervision visit. The two Representatives were with their technical teams.

Banjul, 16 May 2013 -- The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, this morning, hosted a press briefing at its headquarters in Banjul, the capital city of the Gambia, marking the official launching of African Vaccination Week (AVW). It will be recalled that the Gambia could not, for various reasons, join the rest of the continent in observing the 3rd edition AVW in April 2013 but today’s press briefing is construed as a demonstration of commitment to strengthening immunization services in the country.

Banjul, 6 November 2013 -- The Gambia successfully concluded a second round of 2013 synchronized national immunization days against polio. An esti-mated 412613 children, aged 0 – 59 months, were targeted during the four- day exercise - Friday 25 to Monday 28 October 2013. Overall, 99.5% of the target population was immunized with marked im-provement registered in all the seven health regions.

The African Region is still dominated by very high prevalence of communicable diseases as well as high maternal and infant mortality in weak and fragmented health systems thus facing significant health challenges in spite of the multitude of stakeholders active in health.

Banjul, 02 may 2013 -- The Gambia observed World Malaria Day with series of activities including a press briefing, official statements and public sensitization on the national radio and television and the official launch in the Central River Region by the Hon. Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Bala Garba Jahumpa.

Happy End...On day 6, the estimates is 101% coverage at countrywide. The post camapign evaluation will give us a real picture of what happens in the field. The population have responded positively to the social mobilization appeal. On Day 7 (last Wednesday) the population was still crowded and as we heard from differents parts of the Country, the teams was under pressure cause of the important demand.

On day 5 of the MenA campaign in the Gambia, the estimates coverge at coutrywide is 95%. In some Regions like North Bank East (NBE) the coverage is more than 100%. The question is WHY? In reference to the reality in the ground (photos), this Region is a place where people are crossing from the neighbouring country (Senegal).

Bansang, in the Central River Region (CRR). During the vaccination days people were crowded waiting to get vaccinated. The total target population is 147.842 people from 1-29 years old.

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