Banjul, The Gambia – The Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Health, has successfully concluded a highly impactful nationwide Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccination, Vitamin A Supplementation, and Deworming Campaign, reaching over 352,000 children, an impressive 91.8% coverage of the targeted 385,720 children aged 9 to 59 months.

Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, GAVI, the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), and the Medical Research Council (MRC), the campaign marked another major milestone in the country’s ongoing effort to protect children from preventable diseases and strengthen routine immunization.

The national campaign was officially launched on 22 October 2025 by Dr. Momodou T. Nyassi, Director of Health Services, on behalf of the Minister of Health.

“Health is a shared responsibility, and protecting our children from preventable diseases is a national obligation,” Dr. Nyassi said. “Together with our partners, we are determined to close the immunity gap and ensure that every child in The Gambia is protected against measles and rubella.”

He highlighted that the campaign’s success reflects the strong collaboration between the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and community leaders, working together to safeguard the health of Gambian children — the nation’s future.

The campaign, conducted from 23 to 28 October 2025, recorded over 4,700 zero-dose children vaccinated for the first time, a strong step toward closing equity gaps and ensuring that no child was left behind.
In addition, Vitamin A supplementation reached 345,325 children and Mebendazole tablets were administered to 317,465 children, contributing to better nutrition, immunity, and healthy growth.

During the launch, Dr. Nathan Bakyaita, WHO Representative in The Gambia, commended the Ministry of Health for its leadership and the dedication of health workers and partners who made the campaign possible.

“By strengthening immunization coverage and delivering essential child health interventions such as Vitamin A supplementation and deworming, The Gambia is investing in a stronger, healthier future generation,” said Dr. Bakyaita.

He noted that the high coverage demonstrates both strong community trust and the unwavering commitment of the health workforce across all regions.

The campaign restored public confidence in vaccination, as parents and caregivers expressed relief and gratitude, knowing their children are now protected from diseases that once caused fear and uncertainty.

Their smiles and words of gratitude reflected the campaign's deeper impact: empowering families, restoring community trust in health services, and strengthening collective commitment to raising a healthier, safer generation of Gambian children.

The success of the 2025 MR Campaign was made possible through the strong partnership of WHO, UNICEF, NaNA, and MRC, with financial and technical support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Their joint effort ensured vaccines, Vitamin A, and deworming tablets reached all corners of the country — demonstrating that effective collaboration delivers lasting results.

With only 2.98% of eligible children remaining unvaccinated, the campaign stands as a powerful success story of national leadership and global partnership — a step closer to a measles- and rubella-free Gambia.