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Change for A Change, a non-profit organisation, recently organised a daylong
symposium on malaria for young people in commemoration of World Malaria Day,
celebrated on April 25 annually.
In a presentation on the occasion, Dr Saikou Omar Saidy said malaria is one of the most serious and complex health problems facing humanity in the 21st century.
Malaria is present in 102 countries worldwide and about 40 per cent of the world population and more than 80 per cent of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is at risk of the killer disease.
“Approximately, 300 - 500 million people are affected by the disease,” Dr Saidy said.
Fatou Joof, higher scientific officer at Medical Research Council, said approximately, 3 billion people are at risk of malaria, which amounts to about half of the world population.
She said 438,000 deaths were caused by malaria and most of them were children which makes the disease the leading cause of death for children in endemic areas.
She also said most cases of malaria, about 88 per cent, occur in Africa; similarly, it is estimated that about 90 per cent of the deaths were in Africa in 2015.
The MRC scientific officer said the last decade has witnessed major progress in the fight against malaria as the burden has substantially reduced, even in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Gambia is one of the African countries where a substantial decline has been observed,” she pointed out.
Alieu Sowe said YCFaC envisioned that expecting mothers and under-privileged children throughout the world shall one day not die to curable and manageable diseases affecting them today.
He said they will strive to achieve the vision by soliciting contributions from philanthropists “to assist such charitable causes”.
Mr Sowe explained that YCFaC is committed to delivering respectful, compassionate, quality preventive services and access to medical assistance for the under-privileged.
The organisation, since inception, has given medical items including insecticide treated mosquito nets and bedsheets to the health sector.
In 2015 and 2016, the organisation organised series of health fair dubbed ‘Mind, Body, and Spirit Health Fair’, an educational and interactive daylong events in many parts of the country including Basse.
The purpose of the event was to educate Gambians on how to take charge of their health, be it fitness, healthy eating, preventive care, or other lifestyle changes.
YCFaC is a global organisation launched in The Gambia in 2011 by young Gambians with the aim of contributing meaningfully to the country’s health sector.
YCFaC’s
goal is to thwart the dangers of preventive yet deadly health issues affecting
expecting mothers and children by providing medical or health incentives,
preventative services and health education.
