The workshop, which was held at Metzy Hotel near Palma Rima Junction, attracted key stakeholders from different institutions such as The National Roads Authority, Non-Communicable Diseases of The Ministry of Health, Statistics Unit of The Gambia Police Force, Gambia Red Cross Society, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Mobile Traffic and University of The Gambia.
Currently, in The Gambia, there are many different sources of getting information on road crash incidences. Such sources are The Police, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, World Health Organization (WHO), Banjul office among other sources.
In his brief opening statement at the event, Ousman Ceesay, deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, described the event as ‘timely’, as the Ministry explores possible avenues of how best to tackle frequent road crash accidents in the country.
“It could be recalled that the issue of road traffic crashes have been identified as one of the critical issues for The Gambia in its road strategy 2021-2030. This document is in line with regional, continental and global strategies on road safety issues.”
He further revealed that efforts are in the pipeline to develop an electronic data reporting system, which he said, will monitor road crashes, all geared towards ensuring road safety in the country.
“As the world been a global village, The Gambia is aware of the numerous efforts taking place both at the regional, continental and global to mitigate road crash incidences.”
Lamin King Colley, commissioner of Mobile Traffic disclosed that from January to August, this year, The Gambia has registered a total of 637 road crash incidences, out of which, he added, 75 have been fatal.
Meanwhile, a WHO report published in 2018, has ranked The Gambia fourth in terms of road crash incidences.
The vaccine has proved its effectiveness as it has reduced the number of both hospitalisations and deaths at the treatment centers in The Gambia, according to Gibril Gando Baldeh, a senior health communications officer at the Health Communications Unit, Directorate of Health Promotion and Education at the Ministry of Health.
Rohey Malick Lowe, Mayoress of Banjul City Council (BCC) has underscored the significance of unity in the fight against the deadly coronavirus, arguing that “we should work collectively with a view to completely fight the spread of the invisible enemy in the country.”
Flag-Up Gambia, a youth-led initiative established to encourage youth to have sense of patriotism was recently launched at a ceremony at the American corner.
The United Nations General Assembly earmarks March 22nd each year to observe World Water Day globally.
