Welcoming the gathering, Falalo Touray, Chief of Kombo South, underscored the importance of the event, urging communities to take proactive stance in eliminating malaria.
Chief Touray however, while calling for environmental cleanliness in the community, reminded that containing malaria is beyond the role of health practitioners alone.
He equally called on community members to join the crusade, while applauding gains made in technology and innovation in curbing the prevalence rate.
Further, he made reference to the persistent challenges and poverty, which he believes, continues to hinder progress.
Mrs. Jeandarc Jarju, Regional Health Director, Western 2, said the fight against malaria has reached an important turning point and the actions today would decide whether we will win or not.
She noted that malaria remains a challenge especially for pregnant women and that eradicating it will largely depend on sustained and collective action.
Jarju also disclosed that Kombo South, particularly Farato, remains a malaria hotspot but emphasised that the situation can be reversed through joint efforts.
Thus, she called for called for increased investment in malaria interventions, acknowledging that the disease cannot be eradicated without adequate funding.
She urged families to ensure pregnant women registered at health facilities receive the recommended four doses, sleep under insecticide-treated nets, and seek early treatment when symptoms arise.
Mr. Balla Gibba, Deputy Programme Manager at the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), reminded that this year’s theme not only intensifies ongoing efforts to contain this devastating disease, but it is also declaration of possibility and shared responsibility.
At this point, he paid glowing tribute to health officers, community leaders for their tireless effort in the collective fight.
Gibba disclosed that malaria has long been a public health challenge in The Gambia and that this preventable, treatable disease continues to rob the communities of their productive lives.
He made reference to the remarkable strides made in the country especially in reducing its prevalence rate to 46 percent in 2025, marking significant progress.
However, he stressed the need for concerted efforts and involvement of every individual to the disease once and for all in the country.
The president of the Gambia Red Cross Society, Mr. Fabakary Kalleh, reminded that the organisation is non-political and focused on supporting national development, and maintained that they will continue to support humanity whenever the need arises.
He disclosed that since its inception in 1966, The Gambia Red Cross Society has remained a trusted partner to the Ministry of Health.
In line with their auxiliary role, Kalley maintained that the GRCS would continue to support national efforts to help improve health outcomes and strengthen community resilience.
A key milestone of this initiative, he added, was the launch in 2025 of the Accelerated Malaria Elimination in The Gambia Project.
The two-million dollar initiative, he said, was launched in April with funding by the China International Development Cooperation Agency through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent and implemented by GRCS in collaboration with the Ministry.
Zhang Tong, a Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in The Gambia, spoke about his government’s commitment to supporting The Gambia’s health sector, noting that health remains a key pillar of bilateral cooperation.
Dr. Nathan Nsubuga Bakyaita, Country Representative of the World Health Organization, explained that the main importance of the day is to raise awareness, renew and mobilise action against one of the most debilitating diseases in the world.
Beyond awareness, he said the day represents a global moment of alignment where science policy and community actions converge around a shared goal- ending malaria.
In light of this, Dr. Nathan spoke about the gains made in malaria prevention and treatment in the country through improved access to medicines, bed nets, and other essential equipment.
Lamin Dampha, Deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health, called for collective responsibility and broader participation in the fight against malaria, reminding that scientific and technological progress has greatly strengthened the fight against the disease.
DPS Dampha revealed that malaria has remained one of the greatest public challenges in Africa, claimed many lives, disrupted families and even slowed down progress.
However, in the face of myriad challenges, he acknowledged the country’s significant progress thanks to aggressive community campaigns.
To that end, he applauded and extended warmest appreciation to the People’s Republic of China, the Gambia Red Cross Society and their international partners for their continued support.
The evet was punctuated with entertainment by local ‘Kanyeleng’ and Scout band as well as drama series.
The event wrapped-up with a symbolic handover of integrated community case management medicines by the Gambia Red Cross Society sponsored by China to the Ministry of Health as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate malaria in the country.
