The Youth Association Against Malaria (TAYAM) in collaboration with the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare, on Wednesday, began a five-day bednet retreatment exercise in the Greater Banjul Area and Western Region in a bid to fight malaria in the country.

The programme which is the last of its kind for this year is sponsored by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) through the Global Fund.

Speaking to the Daily Observer, Alimatou Manneh, a beneficiary and resident of Old Jeshwang commended the Department of State for Health and its partners for the initiative revealing that since the start of the programme, her family has been sleeping comfortably .She expressed optimism that the exercise would drastically reduce the burden of malaria and infant mortality and urged DoSH and its partners to conduct the exercise on a monthly basis.

Sarjo Drammeh, also a beneficiary from Old Jeshwang, said since her bednet was dipped in the exercise, she has been going to bed comfortably. She added “I am glad that this exercise is going on. I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to DoSH and its partners to conduct the exercise on a quarterly basis”.

Kebba Jassey, a bednet dipper in Fajikunda said even though some people in the community have long lasting nets, the response from the community has been positive. Mam Drammeh, stressed the need to stop illegal dumping within the community, adding,  “Although the retreatment is effective, we also have the obligation to clean the environment to stop mosquitoes from breeding ”.

Pa Alfusainey Fofana, a supervisor with the Bakau team said the mere fact that the community is responding proves that malaria is a burden on the populace.
For his part, Jim Jallow, a Public Health Officer at the Serekunda Health Centre said that the distribution, a few months ago of bednets was responsible for the  low turn-out in some areas.