The Government of Japan, in partnership with UNICEF and The Gambia Government, has handed over essential medical, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) supplies to support efforts to address the scabies outbreak and strengthen community-based health services.
The supplies target approximately 157,000 people across the West Coast, Central River and Upper River Regions.
The handover ceremony was held on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at the West Coast Regional Health Directorate in Brikama.
The supplies were procured through the support of the Government and people of Japan under an initiative titled “Addressing Urgent Scabies Outbreak and Strengthening Community-Based Health Response in The Gambia.”
Speaking at the occasion, Ambassador of Japan to The Gambia, His Excellency Takeshi Akamatsu, said the project aims to address the scabies outbreak while strengthening community-based health responses.
He explained that infectious diseases pose serious threats to children’s health and development, particularly in overcrowded communities with limited access to safe water and sanitation.
He stressed that tackling scabies required more than medicines, adding that early detection, appropriate treatment, improved hygiene and community awareness were equally important.
Akamatsu disclosed that training under the project had strengthened the capacities of more than 400 healthcare workers and surveillance officers. He added that over 68,000 children under five had been screened for malnutrition, while safe handwashing and sanitation facilities were being provided to benefit more than 55,000 people.
He expressed hope that the supplies would reach those most in need and be effectively utilised, reaffirming Japan’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of Gambian children and families.
UNICEF Country Representative in The Gambia, Nafisa Binte Shafique, said the initiative demonstrates how international partnerships could translate into tangible improvements in the lives of children and communities.
She said the initiative had reached approximately 157,000 children, families and community members across the three regions through integrated health, nutrition and WASH interventions.
She emphasised that the project went beyond distributing supplies, as it also sought to strengthen community-based health systems and build the capacity of frontline health workers and volunteers to identify health concerns, connect families to essential services and respond to disease outbreaks.
She thanked the Government of Japan, the Ministry of Health, NaNA, the Department of Water Resources, health workers and community leaders, stressing that every child had the right to be healthy, well-nourished and safe.
Representing the Governor of the West Coast Region, Natoma Fofana, expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Japan. She noted that the West Coast Region, being the most populated region, faces considerable pressure on essential services, particularly healthcare, due to rapid population growth, urban migration and expansion.
She cited Brikama District Hospital as one of the busiest health facilities and said the support would strengthen disease surveillance, support the response to the scabies outbreak, and improve access to essential medical supplies.
Mariama Anta Secka, Deputy Speaker of the Children’s National Assembly, highlighted the impact of scabies on children, explaining that it causes discomfort, affects concentration in school and exposes affected children to embarrassment and stigma.
Malang N. Fofana, Director General of the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), described the handover as another milestone in the partnership between Japan, UNICEF and the Government. He said a cost-of-hunger study had estimated that child malnutrition costs The Gambia approximately 5.1 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product.
Dr Musa Kamara, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, thanked Japan for providing nutrition commodities for children with severe acute malnutrition, medicines for scabies treatment and essential WASH supplies, describing the contribution as timely and important.
