The event took the form of a match past led by scout band, children, mother clubs and activists and voluntary organisations. The event also coincided with the launch of Gambia Red Cross Society’s nearly two million ‘Accelerating Malaria Elimination in The Gambia project’.
However, the theme of this year’s commemoration dubbed; ‘Malaria Ends with us; Reinvest, Reimagine and Reignite’, seeks to highlight the many successes and challenges in the global fight against this oldest and deadliest disease of our times.
At the event, Balla Gibba, deputy programme manager at the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), acknowledged that World Malaria Day is an opportunity to highlights achievements and breakthroughs that have been made against malaria.
“It also gives us an opportunity to raise awareness in the fight for those most affected by the disease such as pregnant women and young children.”
In observance of the day, he said, the day should serve as a moment of reflection on the gains made by government with support from partners on fight against malaria.
“Through effective partnership, the Gambia government is committed to transitioning from malaria control to malaria elimination.”
The Gambia, he added, has developed a collaborative working relationship with neighboring Senegal, adding that the two countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that governs their communication, data sharing and programme interactions.
Fabakary Kalleh, president of the Gambia Red Cross Society, expressed delight to be associated with the event, which he said, also marks the launch of their nearly two million ‘Accelerating Malaria Elimination in The Gambia project’.
This landmark project, he said, is being funded by China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) of the People’s Republic of China.
Kalleh said this CIDCA project is intended to complement and enhance the ongoing national efforts spearheaded by the Ministry and its Roll Back Malaria Control Partnership as part of a broader efforts to eliminate malaria in the country.
Dr. Nathan Nsubuga Bakyaita, country rep for the World Health Organization, spoke highly of this year’s theme of the commemoration, which he said, offers great important moment to reflect progress, recognized the work ahead and renewed their collective commitment to ending one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases.
He talks about the commitment of government and key stakeholders on eliminating this deadly disease, pointing out that malaria control intervention work and when use effectively, it helps give children a future to reach their full potentials.
He recalled the olden days when he started working at the Malaria Control Programme in his country some 26 years ago amid old fashion malaria vaccine many used, and that new treatments have come up thus the need to join efforts together and eradicate this disease.
Liu Jin, Chinese ambassador to The Gambia underscored the importance of the day, which he said, also mark the launch of a project totally funded by the Chinese Government through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and implemented by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Ambassador Jin recalled that in last September, The Gambian leader, H.E President Adama Barrow attended the Summit of the Forum on Africa-China Cooperation (FOCAC) and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the two Heads of State jointly announced plans to renew the relations between the two countries.
This, he said, includes upgrading strategic partnership based on important consensus in further strengthening China Gambia cooperation in various fields, a move that depicts a new blueprint for the two countries joining hands to advance modernization.
“The world is a global village and the whole world will be better only when each country develops well. However, some country with the excuse of my interest first’ drastically cut foreign aid project including malaria prevention and treatment project, giving a serious challenge to the global humanitarian work.”
The Chinese government, he added, opposes such policies and practices and will continue to help their African brothers and increase investment in Africa so as to build a China-Africa community with a shared future.
In his statement, Dr. Ahmed Lamin Samateh, minister of Health, said the day is a moment for global solidarity, reflection and renew commitment in the fight against one of humanity’s oldest and deadliest diseases.
He acknowledged that this year’s theme not only calls us to recommit ‘ourselves’ to ending malaria, but also embrace innovative approaches and invest with renew energy and purpose.
Malaria, he said, continues to affect millions of people around the globe and that The Gambia has made significant gains over the years but ‘we are not yet at the finish line’.
For this reason, today’s event mark hope and celebration of our stride and a bold leap forward towards our journey to a malaria free country.
Minister Samateh also welcomed a new lifesaving initiative by GRCS dubbed ‘Accelerating Malaria Elimination in The Gambia project’, funded by China International Development Agency (CIDCA) through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in partnership with the NMCP among a host of others.
He thanked al partners for their solidarity and commitment to bring about meaningful change in their collective efforts to contain malaria pandemic.
To this end, Minister Samaeh saluted the GRCS team for their commitment and selfless sacrifice, professionalism and presence in every community from urban Gambia to remotest parts of the country.
In observance of the launch GRCS new accelerator Malaria Elimination in The Gambia project’, the society presented wheel barrows, brooms and rakes to various organizations to ensure increase community sanitation to eliminate in the country.
