The Department of State for Health and Social Welfare last Sunday sensitised over 100 imams across the country on good hygiene practices and sanitation at the Supreme Islamic Council headquarters in Kanifing.

Speaking at the opening, Imam Momodou Lamin Touray, president of the Supreme Islamic Council, described the meeting as timely noting that the imams can play an important role in the area of health information to the general public.

Imam Touray urged the imams to use their sermons in the various mosques to preach about good hygiene practices and sanitation adding that health should be everybody’s business. He said that imams can be used as an entry point to disseminate health information to a wider community.

He commended the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare for their laudable initiative and called on them to continue their collaboration with the Supreme Islamic Council.

For his part, Amadou Sowe, programme manager health education unit DOSH, stated that the role of imams in health information dissemination is fundamental, noting that religious leaders can easily pass information to the entire umma and this can be done through gathering.

He added that DOSH will continued to engage imams in their activities.

Babou Faye, a representative from MRC, said imams are blessed with knowledge and any time they talk people listen to them.

He said every year globally so many children die of diseases adding that the health workers alone cannot do it. “We need the contribution of the imams because they are importance in society,” he said.

He called on the imams to use their sermons to advise the public to use soap to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet.

In delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of his colleagues, Imam Sarja Fatty assured the health personnel that the lessons learned during the meeting will reach the right people and imams will continue to sensitise the public on health issues based on what they get from the health authorities.