The Agency for the Development of Women and Children (ADWAC) in collaboration with Catholic Relief Service(CRS) recently distributed 34,000 insecticide treated long-lasting bednets for children under the age of five years and pregnant mothers in over 350 communities in North Bank Region.

The distribution of the bed nets is meant to reduce malaria related diseases

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mam Samba Joof,  Executive Director of ADWAC, said the  bednets will contribute to enhance the health status of children and pregnant women, which according to him is in line with his agency’s goal.

He commended the Global Fund through CRS for supporting the agency towards the realization of their set objective, adding that the relationship that exists has been very cordial.

He urged the beneficiaries to sleep under the net to prevent them from malaria.

Mr Joof underscored ADWAC’s commitment to raising awareness on the use of bednets .

The Gambia Red Cross Society in collaboration with the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare, on Tuesday, launched the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) program and distribution of bednets to pregnant women at a ceremony held at Essau Health Centre, in the North Bank Region.

In his opening remarks, Baba Njie, GRCS health team officer at Essau Health Centre, commended the GRCS for implementing the programme for the North Bank Region. He said that this IMCI program is divided into two folds, the training of volunteers in the region and the distribution of bednets to pregnant women in the area.

He noted that 18 villages in the eastern part of NBR and 36 villages in Jokadu will benefit from the bednet distribution.

For his part, Dr Malick Njie, secretary of state for Health and Social Welfare, expressed delight to be associated with the GRCS in implementing such a benevolent program. He noted that DoSH has a mandate to address all health needs in the country, adding that his department will always collaborate with GRCS to embark on any health development programme.

“From now on, all health programs should focus more on areas that require urgent assistance and as part of our mandate to fight against malaria, DoSH has started this IMCI program and bednet distribution to areas that urgently need help,” Dr Njie revealed.

Lamin William Jammeh, secretary general of the GRCS explained that the project is designed to address matters regarding health and community service. He added that as a matter of policy, the GRCS does not implement programmes, but complement and collaborate with the DoSH to help implement such programmes.

He expressed delight in collaborating with DoSH to fight against malaria.

“We hope that we would not only distribute bednets, but we will also sensitise the beneficiaries on how to use them,” he concluded.

Aji Fatou Sanneh, senior community health nurse, delivered the vote of thanks.

A half million Euro nursery school project was, on Friday, inaugurated in Badibu-Suware Kunda, North Bank Region at a ceremony presided over by Edward Seckan, governor of North Bank Region.

The school, a four-year project sponsored by Belgian couples, Rita de Brocher and Hermma Brocher, was facilitated by a Gambian friend, Baba Fatty, a native of Suware-Kunda in the Lower Badibu District.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rita de Brocher, founder of the project, said the initiative came as a result of her visit to The Gambia in 2004 as a tourist during which she met Baba Fatty and explained to him that she was a teacher in her country and had some money kept for her daughter who died and wanted to use it for something to benefit Gambian children. She added that Baba Fatty welcomed the move and in return said “in my area we need a nursery school. If we can build a school there, it will be so helpful to the community.”

According to Rita, her school in Belgium also welcomed the initiative undertaken to invest in the education sector of The Gambia and pledged their support to the project.

For his part, Baba Fatty, coordinator of the project, said the idea of building a school will contribute immensely to the socio-economic development of the country. He briefed donors on the importance President Jammeh’s government attaches to education.

Mr Fatty then urged the community of Suware-Kunda and its satellite villages to help them to achieve their mission. He thanked the donors for their efforts in making the project possible.

Kalilu Drammeh, chairman, Parent Teachers Association (PTA), on behalf of the committee applauded the donors for making their dreams come true and assured them of their full support.

Officially declaring the school opened, Edward Seckan, governor of North Bank Region, remarked that the school will be remembered, as it is the first project to be inaugurated in 2008 in NBR.

Governor Seckan then pledged his office’s support to the couple with regards to any other project to be undertaken in his region. He renewed the government’s commitment in welcoming any development initiative and informed the donors that education is one of President Jammeh’s government priorities.

Governor Seckan then challenged the community of Suware-Kunda to send their children to school, noting that the school has not been build just to beautify the environment but to educate the young ones who are the future leaders of tomorrow. He was then happy enough to declare the couple honourary citizens of The Gambia.

He also commended Baba Fatty for his efforts in bringing a school to the doorstep of his community.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Muhammed Ousman Kebbeh, senior education officer at the Regional Education Directorate, Region 3 and Fafanding Kinteh, chief of Lower Badibu District.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by friends of the donors and a cross-section of the community of Suware-kunda and its surroundings and punctuated by a football match.