As part of celebration marking world Malaria Day across the country the western Regional Health team in western Division last Saturday observed the day in Besse Foni Brefet.

Deputising the National Assembly Member of the area Mrs Bintanding Jarjue, Chairman of the Brikama Area Council Mr Sunkary Badjie said Malaria is not only one of the most serious public health problems, but also has negative impact on social and economic development in the  Gambia.

He stated that Malaria is a  contributing factor to Africa’s poor growth and development noting that in the Gambia Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five and pregnant women.(it is also responsible for most school and work absenteeism) he noted

For his part Lamin Jarjue Program officer National Malaria Control program (NMCP) said the first World Malaria Day is being commemorated globally under the theme:  " Malaria -a  disease  without borders"

Mr Jarjue Said the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that  350 to 500 million cases of clinical malaria worldwide occure each year, killing up to 1.3 million people, most of whom live in developing Nations. According to him in countries Malaria is highly endemic, priority should be given to accelerating implementation of cost-effective interventions and strengthening surveillance, monitoring and evaluation systems to enable us to measure progress noting that (The benefits of scaling up interventions are already reaped in the Gambia with both Financial and material support from the Global Funds and with a strong political commitment and investment form the Gambia since 2004)

He said the NMCP and partners has distributed over 300 Long Lasting insecticide-Treated Nets (LLINs) to the most venerable groups of the population to malaria infection.

(We have procure Number of ambulances to support timely referral of patients where medical care is require)

Mr jarjue disclosed that the Gambia has change from CQ as 1st line anti-malaria treatment to the most effective drug Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) in 2007.

The occassion also was marked by cultural performances by various communities with the Region.

Present at the ceremony were the Governor of western Region Abdou F.M. Badjie and the Chief of the area Bala Musa Sanyang