As part of activities marking the official establishment of the West African Pranic Healing Foundation in The Gambia, a day’s free pranic healing session was held at its new office in Bijilo, Western Region .

The session aimed, among other things, to promote healthy living,to minimise the risk of accumulated fats and excess energy in the body and to promote the culture of peace, unity and understanding among people of diverse cultures and backgrounds.

The free pranic healing session, which started at 10:00am and ended at 7:00pm on August 30 brought together hundreds of participants from the government, private sector, the business community and individuals.

Mr Srikanth Jois, pranic healer and trainer, who doubles as the country representative of the West African Pranic Healing Foundation, in an interview with the Daily Observer at the end of the session, expressed happiness over the large turnout.

He said he had been a pranic healer for the past couple of years and has worked in many countries, especially in West Africa and other parts of the world. He spoke about the efficacy of pranic healing.

According to Mr Srikanth Jois, pranic healing is an ancient science of healing the whole physical body based on two laws or principles, the law of self recovery and life force.

“What the pranic healing essentially does is that it enhances the healing process of the body by increasing the life energy on the affected part of the body.  Every peron is surrounded by a luminous energy field called bio-plasmic body or energy body.

 This energy body keeps the physical body healthy and alive.  Therefore any disturbance in the energy body can manifest as an ailment,” he said. On what pranic healing can do for you as an individual Mr Jois said, it heals fever, headache, muscle pain, cough and cold, asthma, liver, kidney ailments, fracture, cancer to name a few.  

“It help you attain inner peace, physical and emotional balance, brings you awareness of the energy world. It could be used to solve family or marital differences and improve relationships at the office and increase performance at work,” he said.

Eva Wagher, a health practitioner who also spoke to the Daily Observer described pranic healing as very effective. According to her, she has been doing pranic healing for quite some time and it has proven to be effective.

For his part, Lamin Camara, pranic healer, trainer and assistant country representative of the West African Pranic Healing Foundation also reiterated comments made by previous speakers in describing the healing as cost effective.

A week-long training of trainers workshop for Islamic institutions ended on Sunday at the Imam Malick Islamic Institute in Kanifing.  

The training, which drew together participants from various Islamic institutes across the country, was centered on areas such as ‘Tafsir’, Islamic psychology, and the history of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), among others.  

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the principal of the Imam Malick Islamic Institute, Muhammed Kaba, thanked the participants and described them as ‘heroes’.  

He said that the only way forward for Islam is knowledge, which according to him is very vital in human society.  He said that the training was a step towards the sustenance of Islam. He thanked the Serahule community for sponsoring the training.

For his part, Oustass Sheikh Saja Fatty, who was the guest speaker, thanked the school for the good initiative and called on all Islamic organisations in The Gambia to be cooperative and maintain the brotherhood that already exists among them.

He hailed the participants for their hard work, noting that they deserved to be certified.
Speaking earlier, Sulayman Ahmad Manjang, a lecturer at the Bundung MaSanneh Islamic Institute, thanked the students from Saudi Arabia who served as lecturers during the training.

He urged the participants to put the knowledge gained to good use and thanked God for His blessings.  

Sulayman Camara, a lecturer, also spoke at the ceremony.  
The occasion was punctuated by recitations from the Holy Qur’an and presentation of certificates to participants.

Ousman Sonko, the secretary of state for Interior, has said The Gambia, like many other countries, is faced with challenges in its attempts to combat child abuse in all its forms and therefore called for partnership to combat it.

Delivering his keynote statement at the opening of a day-long 2008 Children’s Bantaba organised by the Voice of the Young, a child wing of the Child Protection Alliance (CPA), at the KMC Chambers, SoS Sonko expressed the need for strenuous efforts by all stakeholders in making The Gambia safe for all children.

“The creation of a protective and child-friendly environment for children will have to start from home which is the primary sanctuary and heaven for any child. Parents, guardians and care givers in general should bear in mind that their action or inaction will contribute greatly towards what happens to their children when they go out to a community,” he told the children gathering on the theme Creating a protective environment for children in The Gambia: Strength and challenges.

Sonko pointed to the evidence of The Gambia government’s commitment under the dynamic leadership of President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, to the fulfillment of the rights of children and ensuring that they are protected from abuse and exploitation.

He stated that at the Gambia Police Force (GPF), the government has created a Child Welfare Unit to deal with cases relating to children and had identified police child welfare officers in all major police stations country-wide.

However, he expressed his department’s concern with the surge in child abuse cases recently. “My department of state has noted with concern the increasing number of reported cases of child abuse in the newspapers, in particular rape and defilement of children by adults in position of power, trust and responsibility over the children,” he noted, while advising children to always bear in mind that rights come with responsibilities.

“The responsibilities you owe to your parents, adults in authority, community, country and the international community must be fulfilled,” the Interior SoS emphasised.

Lt Abdoulie Manneh of the CPA Board, challenged parents to discipline children in order to acquire skills and to behave well in society. Lt Manneh assured stakeholders that they will ensure that child exploiters are brought before the law.

For his part, Modou Secka, the president of the Voice of the Young, said the forum will no doubt create a platform for children to discuss key issues confronting them in their daily lives. The 2008 Bantaba attracted a least 150 participants from various parts of the country.

The community of Janjangbureh, led by their National Assembly member, Hon Foday Manka, expressed gratitude and appreciation to President Jammeh for the decision taken by his government to construct a bridge at the Sankulay Kunda River ferry crossing point and the donation of a tractor to the community.

In an interview with the Daily Observer, Hon Manka said this development will not only salvage the insular community from socio-economic decline and isolation, but will also address the underdeveloped rural infrastructure APRC government inherited from the first republic. He noted that the strategic location of Sankulay Kunda Bridge will undoubtedly facilitate communication between all the administrative regions in the country.

The district chief, Bakary Jam Jawo, commended President Jammeh for giving a tractor to the people of Janjangbureh.

He said the donation of this tractor has significantly boosted rice production in the district. Seyfo Jawo further highlighted the important role President Jammeh plays in providing agricultural inputs to the people of The Gambia.

Other speakers were Mariama Manneh, councillor, and Ebrima Janko Foon, the ward councillor, both of whom expressed  similar sentiments.

It is a common believe that responsible tourism goes with proper enviromental management, and if communities are to benefit more from the tourism sector, proper management of the Flora and Fauna must be considered.

Conscious of the fact that the environment plays a preponderant role in tourism, the people of Kartong in collaboration with ASSET climate committee, last Saturday embarked on a tree planting exercise at Sandele hotel in Kartong. Over 3,000 trees were planted and the species included Gmalina, Cashews and Jatraphas.

In a press briefing, Jeri Michell, the co-proprietress of Sandele hotel, disclosed that the whole idea of the tree planting exercise is to create a fire belt around the hotel. She also asserted that, they  will do their best to protect the environment;

For his part, Maurice Phillips, co-proprietor of Sandele hotel, explained that trees like Jatraphas seed produce oil that can be used to generate fuel and it does no harm  the environment. He then added that the water table in certain parts of The Gambia is very deep due to the scarcity of  trees.

This tree planting at Sandele was the third  planting exercise of the Association of Small Scale Enterprise in Tourism (ASSET) climate committee in this year’s rainy session.

Officials of the Department of State for Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the executive members of the Ansaar (Helpers) Agency, a Muslim youth organisation, on Tuesday, reached out to Frankfurt Youths in Old Jeshwang and the Handover Youths of Serrekunda, where they discussed an array of issues affecting their lives, including unemployment, harmful drugs, illegal migration and attitudinal change.

The delegation from the state department comprised Mambayick Njie, the permanent secretary, Alieu Jammeh, the principal assistant secretary, and Malang Jassey, the director of Youths and Sports.

Ansaar was founded to help change the attitudes and behaviours of the youth in ghettos, through the provision of social services.

Speaking at both meetings, Abu’bakr Jeng, the Amir of the Ansaar Agency, praised Allah for giving them the opportunity to carry out such a noble task. Mr Jeng preached to the youth about the expectations of Allah and also their roles and responsibilities to their community.

According to Amir Jeng, it is the first time in the history of The Gambia that the officials of the Department of State for Youth and Sports abandoned the conduciveness of their offices for such an important assignment.

For his part, Mambayick Njie, the permanent secretary at the Department of State for Youth and Sports, thanked Ansaar Agency for the initiative. He said religion and culture are needed to build a fruitful future for “our children”.

PS Njie, therefore, called on the youth to organise themselves in the form of youth groups, register with the Attorney General’s Chambers and request for support from the Department of State for Youths and Sports in order to improve their lot.

He told the youths that President Jammeh attaches a great importance to the youth of this country and advised them to be always obedient to their parents. He also discouraged them from the use of cannabis and other harmful drugs.

Malang Jassey, the director of Youths and Sports, also expressed the same sentiments.
Muhammed Lamin Hydara, fondly called Naria, a ghetto youth leader at Old Jeshwang, expressed delight at meeting with the officials from the Department of State for Youth and Sports to discuss problems affecting them directly.

Mr Hydara appealed for help from the Department of State for Youth and Sports in the areas of skills and multi-purpose centres, where they can explore their talents and skills.

Skeikh Omar Faoutiyu Jack, another ghetto youth at Handover in Serrekunda, thanked Ansaar and the Department of State for Youth and Sports for organising the campaign. He called on the government to support them in order to contribute effectively to national development.

Other speakers at the meetings included Malang Sanyang, Pap Ousman Kanteh and Omar Chune, all ghetto youths.

As the Muslim Ummah prepares for the Holy month of Ramadan, Alhaji Momodou Lamin Touray, the newly-elected president of the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC), has urged Muslims, notably those in the business sector to reduce the prices of basic foodstuffs and be honest in their dealings with the masses.

Some business people and vendors are in the habit of raising prices of basic commodities during the month of Ramadan; an act that is contrary to the spirit of the blessed month in the Islamic calendar.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily Observer, Imam Touray urged people not to take advantage of the Holy Month of Ramadan to hike prices, which according to him, would be to the detriment of Muslims, especially average Gambians.

“Anyone who is faithful to God and to his religion and believes in the Day of Resurrection, will never take advantage of this Holy Month to exploit the people. It is sad to see a businessman increasing the prices of foodstuff at the expense of Muslims, when they should rather have mercy on their fellow Muslims and give as much Zakat (charity) as possible,” he said

According to the veteran Imam and erudite scholar, Ramadan creates an opportunity for Muslims to repent, purify their faith and seek the blessings of Allah.
“It is a month full of peace, and blessings; and as such, Muslims should not allow unIslamic practices to go unchecked,” he said.

Imam Touray also urged businessmen not to promote their business and services through music, dancing and drumming during this period, as it is against the teachings of the religion.

Moon sighting

On the commencement of fasting, Imam Touray disclosed that the first sighting of the moon is on Sunday, August 31. If the moon is sighted on this day, he went on, “We will start fasting on Monday, September 1”.

“But if Muslims sight the moon on Monday, September 1, then the following day will be the starting day of fasting,” Imam Touray explained.

He advised Muslims to immediately report information to GSIC if the moon is sighted in any part of the country.

The GSIC President Touray then called on the Muslim community to nurture unity, honesty and good neighbourliness throughout this period and beyond. He also prayed to Allah to enable the Muslim Ummah to see His servants through a successful Ramandan.

The Agency for the Development of Women and Children (ADWAC), a local NGO based in the North Bank Region, recently organised a day-long validation workshop for stakeholders on vegetable marketing research and community action planning at a ceremony held at the UNAID Resource Centre in Kerewan.

The programme, which was centred on presentations and discussion on the draft report, attracted participants from government institutions, NGOs and other partners. Speaking at the ceremony, the executive director of ADWAC Mam Samba Joof underscored his agency’s intervention in the North Bank Region since they took over from Save the Children in 1996.

According to Mam Samba Joof, his agency, in 2007, commissioned a vegetable marketing research in the Njaba Kunda Eco-Zone to assess the economic viability of the women vegetable gardens in the Eco-Zone with a view to formulating effective plans and programs to address constraints encountered by vegetable growers.

He went on to urge participants to take the workshop seriously and come out with good recommendations in order to pave the way forward.  

For his part, Burang Danjo, chairman, board of directors, ADWAC, thanked the agency for their timely intervention in the region adding that vegetable production is a major economic activity undertaken by women in the North Bank Region.

According to him, vegetable production is a lucrative business but the lack of an organised marketing structure has hampered the development of the business in the region.

To effectively develop the horticultural sector, Mr  Danjo said there is the need to formulate programmes to address market constraints faced by growers.

He, however, expressed hope that the outcome of the programme will help in overcoming the issue of marketing.  He finally urged the participants to look at the report carefully in the interest of national development.  He further urged them to share the information gained from the workshop with their colleagues.

by Momodou A.I. Tekanyi
School of Medicine
University of The Gambia.

Introduction
It is astonishing to mention that disease conditions (like noncommunicable diseases) which were peculiar to the western world are becoming an order of the day in developing countries, The Gambia inclusive and in which diabetes isn’t an exception. This is what made me write about this disease to help some of my mums and dads victimized and the public at large in enabling them get a little about it.

What is Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is defined by the WHO, as a disease characterised by an excessive increase in the blood glucose concentration on three different occasions (i.e. hyperglycaemia) determined by measuring its concentration (fasting blood glucose [after an overnight fast] ≥ 7.0 mmol/L or random blood glucose [any time of the day] ≥ 11.1 mmol/L).

The increase of which can be as a results of insulin deficiency (TYPE I, which can be autoimmune [A] self immune or idiopathic [B] of unknown cause), insulin resistance (TYPE II), gestational during pregnancy (TYPE III) or secondary to diseases like infections, exocrine diseases i.e. pancreatic diseases, etc (TYPE IV).

The most common and cause of writing, is the type II diabetes which has a strong relationship with the lifestyle and is predominantly found in the older age group (particularly women). Patients with gestational diabetes also have a high chance of developing type II diabetes later in their lives i.e. those women with normoglycaemia(normal glucose concentration) and only diagnosed of diabetes during their pregnancy which can lead to complications like macrosomia(delivering very fat babies).

Once diagnosed, diabetes mellitus (except gestational diabetes) is for life and is strongly twined with cardiovascular diseases like hypertension hence the most essential is the PREVENTION and CONTROL.

Presentations (Signs & Symptoms)
This range from polyuria (excessive urination), polydepsia (increasing thirst), tiredness, weight gain to pruritus balanitis or vulvae combined with other associating symptoms. The patterns of presentation are similar in both type I and II but vary in their intensity and duration. Type I (commoner in the young) has a rapid development with a short duration unlike type II that takes a slow developmental trend with a longer periodicity and often leads to systemic complications.

Risk Factors
This is the most important to the society because it tells how and what increases the chance of being a victim of the disease because majority of the populace are ignorant of things that predispose them to diabetes. Thus, they have to be really sensitized on such issues to decrease the morbidity and mortality related to the disease.

However, the factors involved in the development and complication of diabetes are largely centred on the lifestyle particularly in type II diabetes (the commonest) and complications relate mostly to the late diagnosis or delay in seeking medical intervention.

Such factors like uncontrolled diet (high sugar consumption), sedentary lifestyles, smoking, bleaching (which decreases the defensive or protective potentials of the skin thus increasing the vulnerability to local and systemic infections together with skin cancer), types of clothing (tight & nylon clothing) which increases the risk to abrasion, uncontrolled of associated diseases like hypertension, hyperlipidemia (high lipids), etc can all contribute to the development of diabetes and severe systemic complications consequently leading to the death. The increase of which (risk factors) has been a contributing factor to the increase burden of diabetic cases in developing countries.

“The boarding of vehicles in travelling short distances like going to the market instead of walking to exercise the body which utilises the glucose in the production of energy and consumption of food stuffs sugary foods stuffs & those highly rich in fat (as in mayonnaise, butter, oil etc) instead of rich vegetative diets as a means of demonstrating richness, wearing of tight dressings like shoes & clothing for seduction, bleaching of the skin for beauty, smoking to show transition from childhood to adulthood, increasing obesity taking as a sign of relief from constrains and a start to freedom”, to name but a few are all awry concepts and identifiable risk factors failed to be taken into consideration. What a predicament to our being that needs the call for change! Or else, our hospitals shall continue to be transits to the grave yards.

What are the Complications of Diabetes?
The complications of diabetes have a wide range of systemic distribution, counting from diabetic foot, retinopathy (as a results of haemorrhage of capillaries of the retina which can lead to blindness), neuropathy (diseases of the impulse conduction pathway of the nervous system), nephropathy (diseases of the kidneys causing proteinuria i.e. protein lost in urine), encephalopathy (diseases of the brain) to ketoacidosis (which can lead to coma i.e. loss of consciousness).

But the most leading complications and as cause of seeking medical attention & admissions at the hospitals are diabetic foot and ketoacidosis presented at late stages of the disease. Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs as a result of increase synthesis of ketone bodies (proteins) manifested by the presence of acetone in urine with other signs and symptoms of diabetes consequently leading to coma and often death in the absence of prompt and correct medical intervention.

Unlike ketoacidosis, the diabetic foot is as result of ulceration of the foot mostly but can involve any part of the body leading to infections. Other attributing factors like wearing of tight clothing (as in shoes) which can cause abrasions subsequently leading to ulceration and because the blood supply particularly to the lower extremities in diabetic patients are usually diminished due to the low elasticity of the blood vessels coupled with invasion by micro organisms (bacteria) which consume the excessive glucose thus extending their living and causing more infections in the absence of the blood cells (WBC) that fight against them.

This leads to the prolongation of the infections which can cause severe systemic infections and subsequently to death due to conditions like septic shock in the absence of the amputation of the part(s) involved. And this has accounted for about 75% of the causes of amputations done in the hospitals. Smoking can be a prerequisite to the harvesting of cardiovascular(heart & blood vessels) complications like hypertension, myocardial infarction(death of heart muscles), etc as diabetes causes decreased elasticity of the blood vessels due to the high amount of glucose in the blood thus increasing the vascular resistance resulting to hypertension (increase blood pressure).

What is the role of the health sector in quelling the burden of risk factors?
This is a question that has to be answered collectively by all heath professionals in order to vanquish the accelerating burden of noncommunicable diseases in our country. It has to be a due mandate to all heath professionals, to initiate and implement preventive and supportive measures for patients (like diabetics) to use for their betterment and for the benefit of the health system in general.

It is sad to say that the mortality rate of our nation attached to these diseases shall continue to increase if health education and promotion at community level regarding non communicable diseases aren’t taken into consideration. But credit goes to the government for the availability of the community doctors program, graduates of which shall work in the community to combat such menaces like diabetes yet still there is need to complement government’s efforts towards the attainment of the MDG by initiating tangible means well before the graduation of these community doctors.

 Therefore, the community has to be sensitised on health education, promotion and prevention to surmount the increase of non-communicable diseases for all to live a happy, and healthy living.