Personnel from the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare, UNICEF and WHO, last Friday,   convened a press conference to sensitise journalists from the print and electronic media,  ahead of the 2007 National Measles Campaign, to be held between 27th November to 3rd December, 2007.

Speaking at the press conference, Sulayman Samba, Permanent Secretary at the DOSH, said his department is planning to embark on a  nationwide measles campaign.

He described the media as partners in development, noting that without their participation in this campaign, people will not be able to get adequate information about it.

Mr Samba, said the aim of the press briefing, is to provide journalists with technical information about the campaign, in order to help them disseminate it easily.

He called on the media practitioners to contribute towards the campaign, by giving airtime sensitisation.

P.S. Samba also revealed that the Gambia ’s RPL programme has over the years achieved higher coverage in the sub-region.

For his part, Kebbah Gibbal, Programme Manager at the EPI Unit, DOSH, said the last campaign that was held in 2003, got 93% coverage, adding that this year’s target is pegged at 95% coverage.

He called on parents to vaccinate their children during the campaign period. Bakary Jallow senior Programme Officer at the NANA described worms as parasites that live in the intestines of people, noting that it greatly affects children.

Amadou Sowe, Programme Manager at the Health Education Unit, DOSH, said there will be mobilisation at regional, district and village levels to raise awareness about the immunisation campaign against measles.

He added that a variety of Information, Education and Communication materials will be distributed countrywide.

Other speakers included Bagay Downes Thomas, Communications Consultant at UNICEF.

Saihou Janneh, Deputy Permanent Secretary at DOSH, chaired the conference.