AMMREN Gambia Observes World Malaria Day

AMMREN Gambia Observes World Malaria Day

As part of its activities to mark World Malaria Day AMMREN Gambian chapter in collaboration with its parent body AMMREN International based in Ghana, organized a day’s sensitization for journalists and partners at the head offices of Media Agenda.

Malaria is the leading killer disease in the world, a child dies every 30 seconds of malaria and over one million people are killed by this disease every year, out of this figure 95% of malaria related deaths involves children. The parasite (plasmodium) is transmitted from sick person to a healthy person by a female Anopheles mosquito.

The most serious signs are fever that can exceed temperatures at 40 degree (104) this can lead to lose of consciousness, coughing, liver failure and kidney failure. The less serious syrups of a malaria disease are fever, headache, digestive problems, muscular pain, breathlessness, convulsions for children and pains in body joints

It is against this background that the workshop aims to create awareness among journalists who can convey the message to a larger audience.

 In his opining remarks, Mr. Madi Ceesay the director Media Agenda, who chaired the workshop, told his audience that the Gambia chapter AMMREN has done a lot in connection to malaria issues since its official launching a year ago. He assured the participants that a lot will be done to make sure that the world get rid of this killer disease. He commended AMMREN International for all the support

Mr.Emilly Touray, the Secretary Generally of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) said, malaria is a deadest disease that is affecting the sub-saharan as we all know the number of children and pregnant women who died of it every day is alarming. Touray urged the journalists to be investigative in their work and also to cross check their stories before publishing them. Journalist must go and find out what % of children die from malaria and its related diseases, as well as that of pregnant women.

Pa Modou Faal, the country coordinator of AMMREN Gambia chapter welcomed all and informed them that there is a lot that can be archived, when we put out efforts together. He said our chapter is grateful to the parent body in Ghana especially to Charity Binka the executive director of AMMREN international. He told the gathering that we will embark on a tour of the sites by next months.

In his presentation Lamin Jarju of the National Malaria Control Programme said there are 500 million cases of malaria annually world wide and 75% of that comes from malaria stable countries like Gambia. Every day 3000 die of malaria and this statistic is authentic. Malaria account for 10% of deaths in the Gambia annually and 40% of our public accounts goes to malaria burden.37.2% of deaths among pregnant is cause by malaria. He acknowledges and appreciates the collaborative efforts of the media and others like AMMREN.

The second presenter was Dr. Kalifa Bojang of the MRC who called on pregnant, women to take their anti-natal drugs and vaccine to help protect their un-born babies from malaria.

Mr. Bojang went on to say that during the past four to five years, malaria has being going down. He told the participants that Gambia might be the first to eradicate this disease. He talks on various vaccine trials with little progress. Given as an example, FDF66, this vaccine was given a trial and it was carried out in the URD, but it does not work.

At the end of the day a delegation comprising of reporter led by Pa Modou Faal the AMMREN country coordinator called on the National Patron Sir Dawda Jarawa former President of the Gambia. The meeting was to brief him on the workshop and other plan AMMREN Gambia have for the future. Sir Dawda urges AMMREN to continue its good job in trying to fight this dreadful disease malaria. 

He asked Modou to extend his greetings to the executive director Binka who he said almost met with him. Binka try to attend the launching of AMMREN Gambia last year but only fail due circumstances beyond her. He thanks every one for the briefing and said the group has his support.