Sukuta Health Centre recently organised an open day vaccination programme aimed at saving lives. The programme was organised by the MRC unit in partnership with the Gambian Governments’ Department of State for Health.

Delivering his speech during the programme, the MRC unit Director Professor Tumani Corrah underscored the significance of centres in sub-Saharan Africa in researching the mechanisms of infectious diseases and the development of effective interventions. He added that health, and the conditions which promote it, are a common theme across the Millennium Development Goals. Technology, he said, has a key role to play in their attainment.

The MRC Director further explained that in 2002, the MRC in the UK established a partnership with The Gambia’s Department of State for Health in order to investigate how the immune systems of infants respond to vaccines and infections encountered in early life.

According to Professor Corrah, the MRC Sukuta field team works in close collaboration with the staff of the health centre. He went on to say that the Government’s extended programme of immunisation and the National Leprosy and TB Control Programme are fully informed and supportive of the research activities that are taking place.

Dr. Corrah went on to explain that since 2002 some 1,300 children have been recruited into studies of infections and vaccines at the Sukuta Health Centre.

This has led to some breakthroughs in our understanding of the infant immune system. Among these is a better understanding of immunity to the chronic viral infections Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Cyto Megal Virus (CMV). The effects of malaria contracted during pregnancy by the mother, on a child in its early life are also better understood as a result of the research.

Other speakers included Chief of Kombo North Demba Sanyang and Sukuta Clinical service Dr. Jane Adefita. The closing remarks were delivered by Dr. Katie Flannagan.