The
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Hon. Omar Sey, has returned gratitude
and appreciation to members of the Rotary Club of Fajara for donating four
thousand (4000) mosquito bed nets to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The
presentation, attended by two ministers, namely Tourism and Culture Minister
Benjamin Roberts and Health Minister Omar Sey, as well as the chartered
president of Rotary Club of Brusubi, was held on 22 November 2016 at Kotu
Central Store.
The
items were provided by Rotary Club of CALGARY based in Canada, through the
Rotary Club of Fajara.
The
total number of mosquito bed nets handed over to the health ministry was four
thousand for onward distribution to the communities.
In
receiving the items, minister of Health, Hon. Omar Sey, expressed gratitude to
Rotary Club of Fajara for their continued support to the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare.
He
said The Gambia is having a malaria prevalence of 0.02%, which means that “we
are going towards pre-emanation”.
The
government, he noted, had been making series of interventions on bed net
distribution to ensure the country achieved the set out goals for malaria
control
He
said people living in the suburbs are being reached with bed nets although it
is not enough.
Therefore
coming up with such an amount of bed nets is a step in the right direction, he
noted.
The
health minister further hailed the Rotary Club of Fajara for their outstanding
support towards the health sector.
“We
are grateful to the Rotary Club International for their close collaboration and
support through the Rotary Club of Fajara.
He
said their support is in line with what the President of The Gambia is
advocating for in the country.
He
said Rotary Club of Fajara should be proud of themselves as Rotarians as what
they are doing is in line what the strategy of this country.
Hon.
Sey further said: “On behalf of the Gambian leaders I wish to take this
opportunity to thank the members of Rotary Club of Fajara and, by extension,
Rotary Club International for supporting the Government of The Gambia under the
health sector in particular.
He
said the bed nets will be distributed to the farthest places in The Gambia
especially to those around the boarder areas.
Speaking
at the handing-over ceremony, Minyan Jobe, vice president of Rotary Club of
Fajara, said RAM – Rotarians against Malaria - is a voluntary organization of
Rotary Clubs and Districts to work on malaria control.
RAM
aims to achieve worldwide control of malaria through increasing availability of
bed nets, making education available on causes, symptoms, treatments, and
preventions of malaria, connecting people with a focus on linking potential
donors to projects, and encouraging discussions on malaria control.
Mr
Jobe also said that handing out nets to homes is a proven, trusted solution. In
high coverage areas, bed nets can reduce the incidence of malaria by 90 percent
through programmes such as Changing Lives and Malaria kills, and Nets save
lives.
“We
protect families from this deadly disease with every net delivered,” he said.
He
also dilated on the cordial relationship between the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare and Rotary Club of Fajara.
“Rotary
Club of Fajara has been very supportive of the health sector and will continue
to give them support,” he said.
He
also thanked their donor country in Canada for the magnificent gesture that
will go a long way in reducing malaria cases in The Gambia.