This call was made on Tuesday during a presser convened by the Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Control Programme ahead of the event at held at the National Malaria Control Programme Conference Hall in Kanifing.
The event which brought together health officials, international partners, and representatives from the WHO, also seeks to highlight challenges and progress made and further reaffirming the country’s quest to continue its advocacy in totaling eliminating malaria burden in the country.
However, the theme of this year’s commemoration; “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” with renewed call on governments, donor partners, researchers, and the global community to scale up efforts and unite efforts to contain malaria burden on the face of the earth.
At the event, Balla Gibba, assistant programme manager, NMCP, said the day serves as a moment to reflect and take stock of how far the country has come in its battle against this deadly disease.
Thus, he said, the country has done a lot but a lot more need to be done, while calling for more investment and promoting innovative approach and tools to better handle this deadly disease that still pose threat to humanity.
Gibba reminded that malaria prevention and elimination is a call to action for all and the day’s presser has amply demonstrated that.
Huja Jah, deputy head of programme Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Deputizing for the Country manager, CRS, said CRS has been in the country for six decades and for almost three of those decades, they’ve had the privilege of working closely with the Ministry of Health through NMCP, one of their longest partners.
“Together, we have worked shoulder to shoulder striving to make significant impact in the fight against malaria. We are immensely proud of the achievements we’ve accomplished together”.
This year’s WMD, she said, is particularly symbolic in the sense that it gearing towards the mass ITL distribution campaign slated for next week.
She noted that so much have been done and several meetings have been held which involves all stakeholders, thus demonstrating the importance of partnership in the fight against malaria.
Dr. Nathan Nsubuga Bakyaita, country rep for the World Health Organization, spoke about the importance of this year’s theme, acknowledging that its offers important moment to reflect on their progress, recognize the works ahead and renew their collective commitment to ending one of the world’s oldest and deadliest communicable diseases.
WHO Country rep reminded that in the Gambia malaria is not a far of issue, but it is a familiar and persistent burden, noting from the banks of river Gambia to the community of Basse and other major towns, the impact of malaria is recognized by families across the country.
Dr. Bakyaita noted that malaria has a devastating impact on young children and expecting mothers.
He also made reference the achievements made by the country in its malaria crusade, recalling that over the last decade, the country has recorded a 56.7% reduction in malaria cases from 249. 473 in 2015 to just slightly over a hundred thousand in 2024.
This, he observed, is a powerful sign of what can be accomplished when government leadership, dedicated health workers, strong partnership and active community work hand in hand.
However, he said, the fight is far from over as each year especially during the rainy season, new cases continue to emerge and every single life lost is a stark reminder that our ultimate mission remain unaccomplished.
Despite intensified global and regional efforts, malaria continues to pose a significant threat. In 2023 alone, the WHO reported an estimated 263 million new malaria cases and nearly 600,000 deaths—95 percent of which occurred in the African region.
Stepping in for the Director of Health Services, Musa Camara, Regional Health Director for Western Health Region 1, reminded that the day is a sober reflection on the progress made, challenges the country is faced with in its broader efforts to eradicate this endemic disease.
He spoke about the significant gains made by the country
“This year’s Theme, Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite is very fitting as the world is faced with reduced global financial investment towards malaria control, which is further exacerbated by the recent USAID funding cuts across the globe. This calls for adopting innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms to maintain the gains registered. The Ministry of Health and its partners will continue to harness domestic and international resources towards proven and cost-effective interventions and services to achieve elimination in the Gambia.” he said.
To this end, he reminded that malaria should be seen as an issue in isolation and that people also cannot work in silos as entity or individuals and achieved malaria control prevention and control initiatives.
However, the event also witnessed various presentations on malaria situation in the country.
