Gambia News

Banjul, Thursday, 6 June 2013 -- The Gambia has successfully participated in the 2013 synchronized, sub-regional National Immunization Days (NIDs) against polio in which 13 countries in West and Central African countries took part. The four-day exercise began on Friday 24 and ended on Monday 27 May 2013.

MenAfriVac mass campaign vaccination that is conducted in the Gambia since the 28 of November will give the opportunity to about 1.2 million people from 1-29 years old to get immunized against meningitis « A » the more epidemic type of meningitis in Africa.

Banjul, Wednesday 05 June, 2013 -- The Gambia joined the international community in commemorating World No Tobacco Day on 31 May 2013. The event was launched in the village of Sibanor in the West Coast Region, about 70 km from the capital, Banjul.

On the second day of the campaign, UNICEF and WHO Representatives in the Gambia were in the field to make a follow up and a supervision visit. The two Representatives were with their technical teams.

Banjul, 16 May 2013 -- The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, this morning, hosted a press briefing at its headquarters in Banjul, the capital city of the Gambia, marking the official launching of African Vaccination Week (AVW). It will be recalled that the Gambia could not, for various reasons, join the rest of the continent in observing the 3rd edition AVW in April 2013 but today’s press briefing is construed as a demonstration of commitment to strengthening immunization services in the country.

Banjul, 6 November 2013 -- The Gambia successfully concluded a second round of 2013 synchronized national immunization days against polio. An esti-mated 412613 children, aged 0 – 59 months, were targeted during the four- day exercise - Friday 25 to Monday 28 October 2013. Overall, 99.5% of the target population was immunized with marked im-provement registered in all the seven health regions.

The African Region is still dominated by very high prevalence of communicable diseases as well as high maternal and infant mortality in weak and fragmented health systems thus facing significant health challenges in spite of the multitude of stakeholders active in health.

Banjul, 02 may 2013 -- The Gambia observed World Malaria Day with series of activities including a press briefing, official statements and public sensitization on the national radio and television and the official launch in the Central River Region by the Hon. Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Bala Garba Jahumpa.

Banjul, 14 august 2013 -- The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has, this afternoon, formally introduced the Rotavirus vaccine into the national immunization programme. This is the newest vaccine introduced into the national immunization programme and the eleventh since establishment of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in the late 1970s. It is also the third since 2009. Pneumococcal vaccine and the second dose of the measles vaccine were introduced in 2009 and 2012 respectively.

Banjul, 06 September 2012 -- The tenth edition of the African Traditional Medicines Day was planned, coordinated and commemorated by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the WHO Country Office and the national Traditional Healers Association of The Gambia (TRAHASS). It was launched at the Kanifing Municipal Council’s Grounds on Friday 31st August 2012.